[jedschmidt]

agreed. i think the economics of ramen make less sense outside of japan, where it’s more expensive and turnaround is slower because folks linger longer (often to amortize the cost of waiting to get seated in the first place).

[asyx]

In Düsseldorf that’s not the case. The Japanese restaurant are very distinctly less chill than other restaurants. Like, where you’d usually spend 3 hours in a normal restaurant, it is kinda expected that you eat and leave a Ramen shop within an hour.

[shermantanktop]

I know this is the American in me but: what the heck do you do for 3 hours? Especially at a place that doesn’t serve 5 courses. If you’re hanging with old friends, maybe, but even then the conversation can slow down after a while.

[asyx]

I don’t know how restaurants work in America but generally you go to a restaurant to hang out here as well. I think service is generally slower. Drinks are also not free refills so a lot of restaurants do get fancy with their drinks so you try those as well. We usually also get at least desert and a coffee. Three hours is maybe not the norm but most restaurants plan in 2.5 hours slots.

Like, it’s not just eating. It’s socializing as well. You use the restaurant as a place for conversation.

If the average American fast food place here is reflective of the average American restaurant experience, I think that’s a big difference. Even the most run down gyros or kebab place that also sells burgers and pizza will have tables outside on the street with ash trays and will sell you a cold drink. But even five guys, which is a lot more expensive than those places, has lighting that is more suitable for surgery than chatting.

If you go to places like France, people will get an espresso and a little thing of olives and just sit there smoking and people watching. Alone. That’s maybe a bit much for me but a 2 to 3 hour dinner with friends seems very normal for me.

Oh and now I have a kid so a lot of times the waiters will play with the kid or the environment is suitable for the kid to just play alone and then it’s a good opportunity to just have a cold drink or a coffee with the my wife in peace after a meal so even with only my family we’d do 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

[erikerikson]

The fast food experience is a far end of the experience even for the US. I've experienced long meals here in the US too. They are much less systemic than what I experienced and observed in the UK, France, and, Italy. I've had the fast food experience in the UK too; e.g. sausage rolls at Gregg's.

[mc32]

Isn’t ramen in Japan fast-food? Of the people who dine-in, few people would stay at a McDonalds an hour to “dine”. It’s go in order, eat and get out.

And, like burgers you do have high end joints too.

Also, like burgers ramen isn’t considered “healthy” food. High sodium, high fat, and somewhat low in nutrients. It’s basically fast-food.

[exiguus]

Personally, its my Japanese Pizza. Both ramen and pizza have historical roots as affordable, filling meals for the working class and poor communities. If you avoid the pork, it becomes less fast-food-ish.

[asyx]

I don’t think an hour at McDonald’s is that crazy either though.

[toast0]

Lots of McDonalds locations have signs indicating lingering past 30 minutes is loitering.

[mc32]

I’m guessing back in the late sixties to early seventies going to McDonalds could have been a special night out and it could have been a place people stayed an hour. Some people may still linger in a McDonalds for an hour but I’d have think that’d be an exception. They’re loud, crowded and the seats are not entirely made for comfort. It’s not a place that strikes the imagination with, oh, there’s a place we can go eat and relax at.

[asyx]

They’re not that bad in Germany. The ramen places are actually more noisy.