Casual dining chain Red Robin announced Tuesday that it plans to deviate from the traditional burger-bun dynamic in its newest menu offering. For a limited time (until June 5), customers will be able to order a Ramen Burger, a burger that replaces the traditional bread bun with two chunks of ramen noodles.
This monstrosity was not a Red Robin original, but rather a capitalization on a burger craze that has been going on since 2013. The originator of the Ramen Burger is Keizo Shimamoto, a former computer programmer who quit his job in 2009 to become a full-time ramen enthusiast and blogger.
While Shimamoto’s decision may seem foolhardy, the 35-year-old has managed to create a phenomenon in New York and Los Angeles with his work. When he first began offering his Ramen Burger at Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg food market, he sold out within a few hours every week.
If you are shocked at the popularity of this creation, you are not alone. Even Shimamoto seemed surprised at how well his invention was selling. After all, it is just a regular burger (albeit with a special soy sauce glaze) sandwiched between cheap noodles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zguSB8fRrXU
Red Robin’s iteration of Shimamoto’s burger comes with some slightly different ingredients, according to Mashable.
The original Ramen Burger —which Shimamoto debuted at a 2013 food festival in Brooklyn, N.Y. — is comprised of beef patty between two buns made from freshly cut ramen noodles. The burger is served with Shimamoto’s special shoyu glaze and fresh vegetables.
Red Robin’s take is a bit different. The burger is sandwiched between a seasoned ramen-noodle bun and topped with teriyaki and chiu chow aioli, a mixture of chili-infused shredded cabbage, carrots, onions and a basil leaf.
The chain, hoping to capitalize on the popularity of ramen with poor college students, will sell the burger for 22 cents to the first 22 college students through the door at participating restaurants on April 19. The special comes from the average price of a packet of ramen, 22 cents.
If you ever felt like reliving a time in your life when the only food you could afford was 22 cent noodles, Red Robin has got you covered. The Ramen Burger will be available at all 500 of the chain’s locations. You have until June 5 to sample it.
[Mashable]
