Cup Noodles

Cup Noodles(カップヌードル,Kappu Nūdoru)is a brand ofcupinstant ramendeveloped in 1971 and manufactured by Japanese food companyNissin Foods. Single servings of the product are packaged infoam, plastic, or paper cups and are prepared by adding boiling water.
The brand nameCup Noodleis also a registered trademark of Nissin Foods.In some countries, such as Japan, the singular form Cup Noodle is used. The product has inspired various competing products, such asMaruchan's Instant Lunch.
Instant noodleswere invented in 1958 byMomofuku Ando, theTaiwan-born founder of theJapanese foodcompanyNissin. He used Chicken Ramen as the first instant ramen noodles.
In 1970, Nissin formed the subsidiary Nissin Foods (USA) Co. Inc., to sell instant noodles in the United States and opened a factory inLancaster, Pennsylvaniain 1973.Nissin recognized that the bowls traditionally used to package instant noodles in Asia were not common in the US, so the paper cup was designed by Ron R. Matteson. In 1971, Nissin introduced instant ramen packaged in a foam cup. The three original flavors in the US were beef, chicken and shrimp; pork flavor was added in 1976. All flavors originally contained pieces of dehydrated egg which was removed in the early 1980s. In 1978, Nissin Foods offered more new varieties ofTop Ramenand Cup O' Noodles.Japan Airlineshas offered Cup Noodle with the exclusivede Skyflavor on board since 1992, and since 2021 the product has been available in the airline's online store.The product was known asCup O' Noodlesin the United States until 1993.In 1998, Cup Noodles Hot Sauce Varieties were  introduced (Beef, Chicken, Pork and Shrimp).
Today, instant noodles in Japan are often sold in foam bowls, sometimes with plastic utensils. Foam bowls are inexpensive, disposable, light, and easy to hold, since they insulate heat well. Different flavors are available in other parts of the world, such astom yuminThailand,curryin Japan,crabinHong Kong, andchurrascoinBrazil.
In 2016 the US version was changed, reducing sodium and removingMSGandartificial flavors.
From 1996 to 2006, a 60-foot (18 m) Nissin Cup Noodle sign was installed inTimes Square,New York City. It was located prominently near the top of theOne Times Squarebuilding, the location of theTimes Square Balldrop on New Year's Eve. The sign was the most recent example in a tradition of steaming signs in Times Square, which started with anA&P8 O'Clock Coffeecup in 1933.
In 2006, amangabook was published about the invention of the cup noodle and the founder of the Nissin Cup Noodle brand,Project X: Nissin Cup Noodleby author Tadashi Katoh and artist Akira Imai (publisher:Digital Manga,ISBN9781569709597). The book was nominated for anEisner Award for Best Reality-Based Workin 2007.
Cup Noodles are often seen in the 2012 video gameBinary Domain, which is set in a futuristic version ofTokyo. It is commonly seen in billboards and advertisements throughout the city, and is even seen being eaten by some characters. Cup Noodles were also prominently featured asproduct placementin the 2016 video gameFinal Fantasy XV. This partnership also resulted in a crossover TV ad in Japan.
The popularity of Cup Noodles has also resulted in the creation of a Cup Noodle Museum. The museum features displays on cup noodles and their founder, Momofuku Ando. The museum is located in both Yokohama and Osaka, Japan,with the Museum also launched in Hong Kong following the stint on My Cup Noodles Factory at the Hong Kong International Airport.
In 2018,Manpukuwas broadcast in Japan. The television drama series documented Momofuku Ando and his wife Masako's lives, including the invention of instant noodles and cup noodles. It is the 99th Asadora series. It premiered onNHKon October 1, 2018, and concluded on March 30, 2019.
Flavors include Beef, Chicken, Duck, Shrimp, Teriyaki, Mushroom Chicken, Laksa, Chilli Crab, Black Pepper Crab, Tom Yam Seafood, Spicy Seafood, Seafood Curry, Kyushu White, Seafood, Thai Basil Chicken, Cream Of Chicken, Sriracha Chicken, Spicy Lime Shrimp, Hot and Spicy Shrimp, Spicy Chicken, Tonkotsu, Pork, Oriental Flavor, Yakitori Chicken and Roasted Sesame Soup.