【Foodie Classic】 Tampopo (Japan, 1985, M)

Rating: M – Suitable for mature audiences; contains sex scenes

Are you a food lover? This September, we’re screening the sexiest food movie ever made — a Japanese ramen legend guaranteed to turn you on.

Tampopo (1985), directed by Juzo Itami, is often described as a “ramen western.” The film follows a widowed ramen shop owner who dreams of mastering her craft. When two truck drivers roll into town like wandering cowboys, they take her under their wing and set her on a playful, heartfelt journey to create the ultimate bowl of ramen.

What makes Tampopo unforgettable is how it playfully detours into sensual and hilarious vignettes about food, love, and ritual. From a gangster couple who use oysters as foreplay, to parodies of haute cuisine and lessons in ramen etiquette, the film blends comedy, satire, and desire into a cinematic feast that will leave you laughing, touched, and very, very hungry.

But don’t worry! We’ve prepared this just for you: a full ranking of all Japanese ramen restaurants in Auckland. Made by our organiser Rick, a true ramen fanatic who judged every bowl with a sharp eye and uncompromising standards.

So, join us for a night where cinema meets ramen — come hungry and leave inspired!

Location: Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1000
Date and Time: Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 6:30 PM
Fee: Free entry!

Note: We’re hosting the event on the second floor of the Ellen Melville Center. Please use the entrance on the right side of the building on the ground floor. Once you go up to the second floor, you’ll see our venue right there.