Unfortunately, until this gem makes it's way over to the States you will have to be content with the seizure-inducing image from the product page and your plain old Cup Noodles. [Rakuten via Technabob]

The robot makes the soup, which customers order from a computer screen, where they can switch up the amount of soy sauce, saltiness and richness to make the perfect broth. Uchida hasn't quite figured out how to completely replace humans yet, however, since they still make the noodles and add the toppings, though automating those tasks is next on his list. Still, even using meatbags, the entire process of assembling a bowl of ramen takes just two minutes. Yeah, faster than crappy instant noodles. [Mainichi via New Launches]

Hardly automated, the machine dispenses one of four stored Cup Noodles upon insertion of money. The user then peels back the lid and places it under a hot water dispenser. Should they be unsure as to how long their noodles need to soak (or require a beep to activate their Pavlovian salivary glands), the machine also features a three-minute timer.

The Cup Noodle vending machine is more than a little absurd, but only if you're changeless or not hungover. [Cup Noodle via Tokyo Mango]

Rather than sitting down, looking through a menu, and giving your order to a waiter or waitress, at these restaurants the picture-filled menu is posted outside. Sometimes, in the window, there's a display full of examples of what you can order. You make your choice, insert your money into the machine next to the door, hit the button corresponding to what you want, and a ticket pops out. Want to add an order of gyoza or a beer to that? Get another ticket. You then hand your tickets to the nice person at the door, are led to your seat, and soon enough, your food arrives. Since tipping isn't customary in Japan, you just pay up front and leave when you're done.

That isn't to say this makes eating at a restaurant a cold experience void of any human interaction. There's almost always someone standing at the door ready to answer any questions you might have, and people, not robots (yet) serve you your food. Most of the time, it's an open kitchen, and the people who are making your delicious ramen are right there thanking you for ordering along with your server. But, as a traveler who doesn't speak the language, it helps avoid awkward, stilted ordering sessions and lets me use the one Japanese word I do know and that I've used more times than I can count so far on this trip: arigato.

It also includes a red LED to give the impression that you are actually cooking the noodles on a small burner, you know, like hobos! Meh, kind of lame, kind of cool. $8

Product Page [Via Gearlog]

No more, with this Noodle Timer Cap from Japan. Set the time for 3, 4 or 5 minutes and come back when it's done. Pay $9 (plus shipping) and you'll never have bad noodles again. – Jason Chen

Noodle Cap [Rakuten via Red Ferret]