andrejthechef
JapanNoodlesLunch

Ham Ramen

A comforting bowl of instant ramen topped with ham, a boiled egg and spring onion, exactly as Sosuke's mother makes it in Ponyo.

prep
10 min
cook
10 min
total
20 min
serves
2
level
easy
Ham Ramen, from Ponyo (2008)

Sosuke's mother Lisa makes this exact bowl of ham ramen for Sosuke and Ponyo during a storm in Ponyo (2008), and the warm, glowing image of it has become one of the most recognizable and most imitated food scenes in Studio Ghibli's entire catalog.

This one is meant to stay simple: instant noodles, a few slices of good ham, a soft-boiled egg and spring onion, the kind of fast, comforting bowl a parent actually makes on a stormy night, not a restaurant showpiece.

Part of our 40 famous movie foods list.

method

  1. Bring the water to a boil in a pot.

  2. Add the ramen noodles and cook according to the package, usually 3 to 4 minutes.

  3. Stir in the seasoning packets.

  4. Divide the noodles and broth between two bowls.

  5. Top each bowl with a couple of slices of ham, a halved soft-boiled egg, and sliced spring onion.

  6. Add a strip of nori if using, and serve immediately, while hot.

chef's tips

  • This is deliberately simple, instant-noodle comfort food rather than a restaurant-style ramen, and that simplicity is exactly the point; it's a quick meal a parent makes at home, not a chef's showpiece.
  • In Ponyo (2008), Sosuke's mother Lisa makes this exact bowl for Sosuke and Ponyo during a storm, and the warm, glowing image of ham ramen has become one of the most recognizable food scenes in Studio Ghibli's whole catalog.
  • A soft-boiled egg, rather than a hard-boiled one, keeps the yolk a little runny, which is closer to how it is drawn in the film and adds richness to the broth.
  • Good quality ham, even just a few slices, makes a real difference in an otherwise simple instant noodle bowl.