This week we spend almost two hours with the Ramen Beast talking about past, present, and the future of ramen and what he's been working on with the Mensho team overseas. Throw in a little secret drama and this episode will leave you yearning for more.

Follow Ramen Beast ⁠⁠@ramen_beast

Music by ⁠Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop⁠

Host: Keizo Shimamoto ⁠@goramen⁠

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz @ramen_fiendd

This week we welcome a young legend-in-the-making, Payesone Myatmon from Zao Stamina Ramen in Bethesda, Maryland. Born and raised in the shadows of legendary ramen shops in Ikebukuro, Payesone is a second-generation ramen chef who has the culinary pedigree and training every young ramen freak desires. Striving to protect tradition and represent his roots, Zao Stamina Ramen is quickly becoming one of the best ramen shops in the nation.

Follow Zao Stamina Ramen ⁠@ZaoStaminaRamen.md

Follow Payesone ⁠⁠@payesone

Music by ⁠Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop⁠

Host: Keizo Shimamoto ⁠@goramen⁠

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz ⁠@ramen_fiendd⁠ 

This week we welcome a breath of fresh air to the podcast. Rasheeda Purdie is the vibrant, vital chef/owner of Ramen By Ra, NYC's newest darling taking the ramen scene by storm. Her ramen innovates and pushes boundaries to levels every New Yorker expects and all ramen freaks dream of. As her star continues to rise and dine, we chat about her journey of manifesting her ramen dream.

Follow Ramen By Ra https://www.instagram.com/ramenbyra

Beginning clip from First We Feast's Gochi Gang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtb6c5hUCRY

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop https://music.apple.com/us/album/donuts-coffee-single/1634659297

This week we get philosophical with writer/director Tiger Ji of the short film Death and Ramen, featuring actors Bobby Lee and Matt Jones. Hear about the behind-the-scenes vision that led to the plot of this dark comedy and how ramen plays a key role in life before death.

Follow Death and Ramen Film: https://www.instagram.com/deathandramenfilm

Follow Tiger Ji: https://www.instagram.com/tigerjifilms

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop: https://www.amazon.com/Donuts-Coffee-Explicit/dp/B0B6KVVB27

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a professional and call 9-8-8. Text “HOME” to 741741 in the U.S. and Canada to reach the Crisis Text Line.

This week we have three of my fellow ramen freaks from LA--Raphael Cuenca, Shawn Bentz (no relation to Erik), and Jay Chung--just straight talking about the LA ramen scene. Does LA have the best ramen in America? Did Tonkotsu always reign supreme? Is there any hope beyond Raphael's favorite teriyaki chicken ramen? Damn, I hope so.

Follow Raphael Cuenca (@yolodiabetic) https://www.instagram.com/yolodiabetic

Follow Shawn Bentz (@ramen_fiendd) https://www.instagram.com/ramen_fiendd

Follow Jay Chung (@dine.and.drink) https://www.instagram.com/dine.and.drink

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop https://www.amazon.com/Donuts-Coffee-Explicit/dp/B0B6KVVB27

This week we sit down with everyone's favorite Ramen Lord for another epic episode. Mike Satinover has opened Akahoshi Ramen in Chicago, so how has it been going? Three months in and does he regret it? We talk about his preparation, expectations, and what has been his biggest surprise running a full service ramen shop. Tune in and enjoy the adventure.

Follow Akahoshi Ramen https://www.instagram.com/akahoshiramen

Follow Ramen Lord Mike Satinover https://www.instagram.com/ramen__lord

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop https://music.apple.com/us/album/donuts-coffee-single/1634659297

Support this podcast https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-ramen-podcast/support

Episode 1 is here! The first of our 'Talking Shop' series with our good friends over at Pickerel in Providence, Rhode Island, featuring owners Scott LaChapelle and Spencer Smith. Scott is a true student of ramen and a passionate, young chef. Spencer is a talented bartender (cocktail enthuiast!) and a master of hospitality. Together they are re-defining the concept of a local ramen shop and raising the bar with craft ramen paired with original cocktails. Learn about their journey, joys, and struggles opening Pickerel and what the future holds.

Follow Pickerel https://www.instagram.com/pickerel_ri

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop https://music.apple.com/us/album/donuts-coffee-single/1634659297

Support this podcast https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-ramen-podcast/support

Passion prevails from 5am until eternity! This week we welcome Frank from 5 AM Ramen to share his envious story of turning a ramen hobby into a dream business. From social media ramen expert to Tokyo ramen tour guide (and now Kyoto too!), Frank gives us insight on how far one's passion can take you.

Follow Frank @5amramen

Book a tour! https://www.tokyoramentours.com

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

Host: Keizo Shimamoto @goramen

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz @ramen_fiendd 

This week we welcome one of the most exciting ramen shops in the country and maybe even the world. I've been trying to get Clint on an episode for years. I finally got him and this episode never wanted to end. We talk about Japan, the early years of his popup, and the months long battle with the city of SF to open his brick and mortar. Join us as we listen and learn about life in and around the ramen shop called Noodle in a Haystack.

Follow @noodleinhaystack

Reserve a seat

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

Host: Keizo Shimamoto @goramen

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz @ramen_fiendd

This week I welcome Chef Dave Wang from The Aspen Ramen Club in Aspen, Colorado. A high-altitude, down-to-Earth kinda guy whose professional aspirations early on in his career led him back to his love for ramen. Do you have your ramen token?

Follow @chefdavewang

Also follow @ramen_fiendd and welcome my new co-host!!

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

An epic episode that almost got lost forever. This week we welcome Daisuke Watanabe and his wife Yuka (and Jeff!) from Ramen FeeL in Tokyo to talk about their experience making ramen in America. We also welcome the team from Pickerel in Providence, RI & Mochiko in Cincinnati, OH. Grab your popcorn and hot weiners cuz this one hits! Special thanks to Jeff for helping recover the files!

Follow Ramen FeeL @ramen_feel

Follow Pickerel @pickerel_ri

Follow Mochiko @mochikocincy

Follow Jeff @jeffreythewang

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

This week we welcome two brothers who recently took a 'dream ramen journey' of their own and slurped 57 bowls at 40 shops in 22 days. Wow! Hear their take on all of them and how the trip has inspired their own ramen making dreams.

Follow @Zaknoodle

Follow Brett Chalabian @bchalab

Follow Matt Chalabian @daschalaa

View their list of ramen shops here

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

God Speed you ROONEY! Fresh off his three-week trip to Japan, we sit down to discuss his ramen journey from Nashville to the World. Inspired by the famous motto "Ramen is life, Rock & Roll is greatest", ROONEY's enthusiasm is forever contagious. From humble popup to resident ramen shop in a brewery, Black Dynasty Ramen is looking next to find a shop of their own.

Follow Black Dynasty Ramen @blackdynastyramen

Find them in Nashville at Black Dynasty Secret Ramen House

Opening clip from ゴッド・スピード・ユー! Black Emperor

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

This week we welcome my good friend and ramen blogger legend, Brian MacDuckston from Ramen Adventures. Brian is world-wide-famous and a devoted ramen freak always looking for a chance to share his favorite ramen with the world. We talk about the rewards and challenges of taking Japanese ramen shops overseas to do pop-ups in foreign lands. Is it even possible for award winning ramen shops to still make quality ramen outside of Japan? Let's listen and find out!

Follow Brian @ramenadventures

Sign up for Food Tours and Ramen School at ramenadventures.com

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

This week we get the inside scoop from owners Lindsay Steigerwald and Jesse Pryor on Neighborhood Ramen's surprise announcement that they will be closing their shop in Philadelphia and moving to Tokyo. There's still a lot to do before their goal of moving in 2026, but we discuss the reasons for making such a bold leap and the neighborhood's in Tokyo that may soon become home.

Follow Neighborhood Ramen @neighborhoodramen

Follow Lindsay @gyozakween

Follow Jesse @neighborhoodjesse

This week we have the honor of welcoming two ramen freaks from deep within the ramen matrix who share their experiences of learning from the intricacies of the world-wide-web and beyond. John Josephson and Elvin Yung are the next ramen hopefuls leading a new generation of ramen heads to our beloved bowl of soup and noodles.

Follow John Josephson ⁠⁠⁠@kansuibae

Follow Elvin Yung @shikaku.ramen

Music by ⁠⁠Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop⁠⁠

Host: Keizo Shimamoto ⁠⁠@goramen⁠⁠

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz ⁠@ramen_fiendd

Triumph, tragedy, survival, luck...you name it, Ryan Wants Ramen has been through it. After recently losing his newborn son to SIDS, Ryan wanted to come on and talk ramen to help him cope and raise awareness for others. His positive mindset is just what we all need to hear and help with our own struggles. After taking a two year hiatus from ramen, Ryan has announced that he's making a return and will become the new head chef for Kenji's Ramen in Vancouver, WA.

This episode is dedicated to Casey Callahan. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death for babies between 1-month and 1-year-old in the United States. For more information please visit sids.org.

To donate to the family please visit their GoFundMe Page.

Follow Ryan Wants Ramen: @ryan.wants.ramen

Follow Kenji's Ramen: @kenjisramen

Music by ⁠⁠⁠Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop⁠⁠⁠

Host: Keizo Shimamoto ⁠⁠⁠@goramen⁠⁠