In which country were instant noodles invented?

Instant noodles, or instant ramen, are noodles sold in a precooked and dried block with flavoring powder and/or seasoning oil. The flavoring is usually in a separate packet, although in the case of cup noodles, the flavoring is often loose in the cup. Some instant noodle products are seal-packed; these can be reheated or eaten straight from the packet/container. Dried noodle blocks are designed to be cooked or soaked in boiling water before eating but can be consumed dry.

The main ingredients used in dried noodles are usually wheat flour, palm oil, and salt.

Instant noodles were invented by Momofuku Ando of Nissin Foods in Japan. They were launched in 1958 under the brand name Chikin Ramen. In 1971, Nissin introduced Cup Noodles, the first cup noodle product. Instant noodles are marketed worldwide under many brand names.

According to a Japanese poll in the year 2000, "The Japanese believe that their best invention of the twentieth century was instant noodles". As of 2018, approximately 103 billion servings of instant noodles are eaten worldwide every year.