In 1958, Nissin Foods USA's founder, Momofuku Ando, created the world’s first instant noodles. On a trip to the U.S. in 1966, Mr. Ando noticed Americans curiously eating forkfuls of noodles out of cups instead of using bowls and chopsticks. With that simple observation, the worldwide Cup Noodles® phenomenon was born. Shortly after, Nissin officially put down its roots in the U.S. In 1972, our Gardena, CA, plant started production of Top Ramen®—the first instant ramen manufactured and sold in the U.S. And ever since, Nissin Foods USA has been creating jobs, launching careers, and sharing the joy of noodles with the world.