Ramen noodle bar coming to Greenville County Schools in new school year: What to know

Students returning to Greenville County Schools (GCS) in the summer will have something scrumptious to look forward to eating at lunch.

On July 2, GCS announced via social media it is testing a ramen noodle bar across its schools. Ronald Jones, director of Food & Nutrition Services at GCS, is hopeful the new menu item will be a hit among students, especially since it is a popular go-to when dining out in the area.

"Ramen has been popular for so long, and our kids are accustomed to grabbing quick cups of ramen. But what we will offer will be a much healthier version of that, so I would think that the student acceptability is going to be very strong." he said.

When can students expect to see ramen on the lunch menu? And what flavors will be available to order? Here's what to know.

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What ramen flavors will there be?

Fans of ramen know the dish comes in many mouthwatering flavors, from sweet and savory to hot and spicy. Two flavor samples are currently being tested by GCS for the ramen bar. The first sample is the Japanese tonkotsu ramen consisting of chicken broth or a chicken and pork broth. A lemongrass scented ramen with chicken broth is being used as the second sample, which Jones thinks students may prefer more.

"The samples are on the way, and we'll test them and we'll run with the one we like." he said. "The tonkotsu was very, very good, but we will taste the lemongrass."

To reduce sodium intake in students' diet, GCS will offer well balanced ingredients. Whole grain ramen noodles will be used, as well as low sodium broths and sauces. A protein choice will also be served, with students given the option to select from beef or chicken with a boiled egg on the side. Green onions and shredded cabbage and carrots are just a few of the vegetable options on the menu.

"We'll give them (the students) the potential to use some siracha to spice that up if they would like." said Jones.

Come lunchtime, students will feel like they are going out with friends to the buffet. On the serving line, broth will be poured over the noodles in a bowl by the cafeteria staff, who will then serve students their preferred protein choice. For a hands-on experience, students will get to top their bowls with garnishes. The experience will be a fun one ― one adult fans of ramen will wish they had in their own schools growing up.

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When will the ramen noodle bar open at GCS?

There is no set date for when the ramen noodle bar will officially open up at GCS. The staff is still in the process of sourcing products, and delivery dates will depend on when the manufacturer can guarantee the school's deliveries.

"Because we're such a large district, it's quite an undertaking to make sure that the distribution lines are complete." said Jones.

As the process moves along, Jones anticipates the ramen noodle bar to open sometime in September, where it will run once every three weeks.

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GCS wants student input for cafeteria menu

During his time working with GCS, Jones has noticed several hot menu items among students. When offered, students are more likely to gravitate toward burgers, chicken sandwiches, and pizza. This is why the school system sources certified Angus beef and whole muscle white chicken with whole grain breading.

Although these menu items aren't going away anytime soon, Jones would like students to expand their palate to international foods. One of the limited time dishes he is excited to introduce to the menu is the Thai red curry, a chicken product with a spicy kick to it served with rice.

At the end of the school day, Jones know it's all about the students. With the new school year coming up, he encourages students to share their ideas of what they would like to see on the menu during their time there.

"We are interested in engaging students at all levels for input on what types of things they are eating when they go out to dinner, what sort of things they're cooking at home so that we can create menus that attract more students to our program." he said.

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Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Ramen noodle bar coming to Greenville County schools 2024 school year