Instant Noodle Factory

"Ramen is just plain fun again as you select your package of dried noodles from a wall-mounted assortment of 85 — from Japan, China, Korea, and Thailand — and prepare it yourself using what amounts to a noodle-preparation robot. You can select every element of you bowl, or go with one of the handful of pre-set combinations. We particularly loved the duck duck noods." - Robert Sietsema

"Enter the hospital-white premises and discover displays of dozens of ramen packages mainly from Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Boil them up yourself — with a variety of add-ons — at a line of contraptions that dispense the correct amount of water, set a timer, and cook the noodles. This is all great fun, and an inexpensive lunch or dinner." - Eater Staff

"Maybe you don’t think cooking for yourself is fun, but first, take a look at the dozens of packages of instant noodles from around the globe displayed on the wall. Pick yours and then move to the cooking contraption that automatically sets the timer and squirts in the hot water. You’ll feel like you’re in your college dorm again, in front of the stove in your pajamas." - Eater Staff

"The Automat-like Instant Noodle Factory builds great meals on a convenience-food foundation." - Helen Rosner

"Inside the Instant Noodle Factory, bright white walls resemble an art gallery more than a factory. Customers sit at counters, preparing their own noodle dishes at computerized stations. The restaurant offers 85 packages of dried noodles from various countries and allows patrons to customize their meals with a variety of add-ins. The venue combines elements of a participatory art gallery, automated restaurant, and grocery store. Meals are served in a deconstructed form, and diners are responsible for assembling their dishes. The experience is both bewildering and delightful, offering preset noodle combinations and an extensive range of custom options." - Robert Sietsema