TIL that in Japan, they have a thing called "nagashi somen", which are restaurants with flowing troughs of water where noodles slide down and you have to catch them
https://tokyocheapo.com/food-and-drink/nagashi-somen/Open linkView original on lemmy.world325
Comments43
I think it's a combination of the 'we use this trough for everyone all day' and the fact that the name is really similar to 'semen,' but this sounds highly unappealing.
It's probably more sanitary in Japan, but in the US I could see the guy sitting in the both next to me sneezing directly into the water, licking his chopsticks before attempting (and missing) some noodles. Then giving up and using his hands, that he didn't wash after coming back from the toilet.
Kind of like buffets.
Tell me you've never spent long in Japan without telling me you've never spent long in Japan. We had a problem during corona where people would remove their masks to sneeze or cough. We have tons of gross people over here.
At least they were wearing their masks, many people I worked with during the pandemic kept masks in their pockets or hanging from the rear view mirror in their cars, but refused to wear them for any reason.
And then there was the whole “dicknosin’” thing which is just… 🤷♂️
The sanitary level of Japan is grossly (sic) overestimated. Barely anyone washes their hands after using the bathroom, so many men cough and sneeze without any effort to stop the spray. In winter, Noro virus infection is a given at least once, while in other countries it’s barely known.
It is unappealing. I would not eat at a place like that. Some do have separate chopsticks for catching the somen (long o, so probably sounds less like semen than you might think), but it's still not great. I have seen it at family events as well.
apparently the noodles are served cold and that sounds awful as well
Why? Cold noodles are nice and refreshing. Pasta salad (cold noodles) is a thing all over the place.
yeah and I hate it
You just made it seem much more appealing.
The noodles just slide down your throat.
In restaurants people often get their own lane apparently.
I read that as nagasaki semen and was very confused.
Confused or aroused?
Yes
Ehhhhh?!
Selamat Pagi
LOL just from seeing the "Ehhhhh" I knew exactly what you're referring to 🤣
Noodle run, gotta catch 'em all
to eat is my destiny
Yeah and it’s disgusting. Later in the day that water will be 50% saliva.
Lol, people don't spittle into the shoot, plus it's constantly washed by the flowing water.
Definitely not pristine, but it's really not an issue unless you make it to be.
Spitting into it sounds very impolite. Japan doesn't do impolite.
Weeaboo detected
I was about to say, this concept sounds like several health code violations in the western world.
Are you under the impression that the water is recycled back in, like in a closed loop?
I heard of this somewhere around a couple years back and it just sounds like an absolute hassle to do. Especially since, despite using chopsticks for over a decade, I still am not the greatest with them.
ewww, imagine how many people have breathed over that water trough
Ewww, imagine how many people have breathed the air you're breathing right now.
Soup is food!
That's how these noodles are prepared, they're run through cold water and served cold. The novelty here is it flows through a trough to you, instead of chilled out of sight and served.
No gazpacho for you!
You mean mean Marge Greene?
Have you never tried cold noodles? One of my favorite dishes to make is to cook up some spaghetti, rinse it under cold water, and pour Italian dressing over top of it. It's refreshing and filling.
Guys check it out this dude hates ice cream
Ok now you're trying just a little too hard to be contrarian
You’ve clearly never had good soba noodles, because they’re fucking delicious.
Out of curiosity, may I ask what country you’re in?
For all everyone is defending them yes I’m sure many people like them. That said, I accidentally ordered cold udon in Japan and it was unpleasant. I like cold foods of some sorts, but cold udon was something I intend not to have in the future if I can