Instant ramen noodles are cheap, easy, and quick to prepare; add hot water, a seasoning packet, and soup’s on.

Since the introduction of Chikin Noodles by Nissin in 1958, the instant noodle market has grown to over 103.6 billion servings sold globally. Besides being wildly popular, instant noodles are a source of pride. In a poll conducted in 2000, the Japanese public considered it their nation’s greatest 20th-century invention, quite the honor considering the island also brought us Pokémon, DVDs, and the Walkman.