Well, two if you take into account how rare they are to find.
7-Eleven has been forging ahead of the convenience store pack in recent years with its range of automated countertop machines, letting customers whip up their own freshly made coffee, tea and smoothies.
While the chain’s drink machines are widely known, not many people know that at some branches you can find special ramen machines, which use the same system of automation to turn frozen ramen into piping hot, ready-to-eat ramen, all in a matter of seconds.
Despite having gone viral when they were first introduced, with the chain’s original introductory video receiving over 7 million views, the machines remain a hidden gem, as they can only be found at 40 locations, all in Tokyo’s neighbouring Saitama Prefecture.
After trying the machines in December last year and again in May, we’ve been waiting for them to be rolled out at more locations, but alas, the number of stores offering them has remained unchanged, sitting at 40, all in Saitama.
▼ The ramen varieties have expanded, though, with Taiwanese Mazesoba and Beef Udon recently added to the range.
When our reporter P.K. Sanjun headed out to Saitama to try the noodles, he came across an inherent problem which he’d like to share, as he thinks it might be one of the reasons why the machines haven’t been installed nationwide.
▼ First, though, he picked out a tub of noodles from the freezer and paid for it at the counter.
Popping the noodles into the machine, he was happy to find that it was an intuitive process, as he just needed to press a button and wait for the machine to do its thing. 
As he watched, he was instantly impressed by the speed of it all, because less than a minute after putting the frozen ramen into the machine, and watching the giant metal rod pierce through the plastic lid to whip it up…
▼ … a piping-hot bowl of ramen was ready.
Normally, frozen ramen takes around three minutes in a microwave, or about five minutes if heating it up on a stovetop. The fact that the ramen takes just around a minute to be ready is a big part of the machine’s appeal, but after he took it out of the machine, that’s when he realised the one glaring problem with it.
▼ “Where am I supposed to eat this ramen?”
Like most 7-Elevens, this one didn’t have an eat-in space, and one of the staff members sensed his unease, saying, “Sorry, we don’t have anywhere for you to sit! I guess everyone eats theirs in their cars?”
Well, if he’d driven here, in-car eating would definitely be a good option, but he’d come here by public transport, and to make matters worse, it was raining that day. With one hand occupied with the task of holding an umbrella and the other holding a bowl of seriously piping-hot ramen, the whole experience almost felt like some sort of punishment.
When he did get around to tasting it, he found himself feeling incredibly self-conscious as he had to slurp up his noodles while standing outside the store, in front of arriving cars and curious passersby.
▼ P.K.’s alfresco dining setting.
Despite the embarrassment, the ramen itself turned out to be very tasty – the noodles had a satisfyingly firm texture, and the broth was hot and flavourful. At around 700 yen (US$4.38), it wasn’t a bad deal, especially considering the fact that it takes a minute to make and is available 24 hours a day.
Still, at stores in major cities and busy downtown areas in particular, you’re likely to run into the “Where am I supposed to eat this ramen?” problem. So in that sense, perhaps the ramen machine is better suited to regional areas, where people are more likely to be travelling by car.
In any case, 7-Eleven’s ramen machines are still going strong in Saitama so there’s no signs of them disappearing yet. Here’s hoping they make their way into Tokyo soon, so city workers like P.K. can enjoy them in the office, rather than having to eat them outside on the street.
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