The ramen judging panel includes Brad Marr of Lot 2; Charlie Yin of Hiro, Hiro 88 and Pana 88; J.J. Carroll, owner of Choice Custom Framing in Benson; Dapose, a member of the Faint; Summer Miller Widhalm, a food writer for The Reader and Edible Omaha; and me, Sarah Baker Hansen. The winner of the best ramen will be announced Sunday afternoon, and diners will also have the chance to vote on the people’s choice winner.

The best restaurant ramen will take home a trophy, and the prize for the best amateur is a big one: Yin, who is one of the judges, will offer the top-scoring amateur the chance to have his or her ramen on Pana 88’s menu for the next year.

Dabestani said all the competitors will have the choice to use fresh noodles from Sun Noodle Company — one of the biggest ramen manufacturers in the world — which is providing them for the event. Omaha Oriental Food and Gifts is providing ramen, Japanese candy, tea and decorations for the festival tent, which will be set up in Benson in front of Jake’s Cigars on Military Avenue between Binney and Maple Streets. Local artists Iggy Sumnik, Mari Dailey and Peter Scherr also made special ceramic bowls that diners can purchase at the door to use for their ramen during the day.