How to build a ramen bowl in the right order

A bowl of ramen is assembled, not cooked. Each part is ready before the bowl is touched, and the order decides whether it arrives hot.

01Warm the bowl

Fill the bowl with hot water while the noodles cook. A cold bowl takes ten degrees off the broth before you sit down.

02Seasoning goes in first

The tare, the concentrated seasoning, goes into the empty bowl. Broth is poured over it so the two mix without stirring.

03Noodles next, and fast

Drain the noodles hard, lower them into the broth and lift them once with chopsticks so they lie in one direction. They keep cooking in the bowl, so pull them early.

04Toppings last

Meat, egg, greens, then anything crisp. Chilli goes on at the very end, where you can see how much you have added.

Eat within five minutes. Ramen does not wait.