Jordan Myrick
Ariana Losch
We’re ranking the best instant ramen today, folks. I don’t know if anyone else is on Japanese-convenience-store-ASMR-tiktok, but I cannot stop watching this dude walk into a konbini and essentially live my wildest fantasies. Sometimes he makes his own flavored iced coffee with an extra crunchy ice cup—but the best vids are the ones with instant ramen. The feeling I get when I watch him prepare that instant ramen is the feeling you should all have when you come away from this article.
How we sourced the instant ramen brands
Alright, so here’s the deal: This is our second taste test in search of the best instant ramen. The first time around, we focused mainly on brands that you can find at popular grocery stores in the U.S. And don’t worry—those recommendations are still on this list. But for our most recent taste test, we thought it was time to finally tap into what the gods of Los Angeles have given us: specialty grocery stores. We hit up 99 Ranch Market for Japanese and Korean brands that aren’t just popular here, but also popular overseas. If you don’t have Asian grocers near you, it’s okay! Most of what made the list can still be found at places like Amazon and Walmart.
What we looked for in the best instant ramen
Instant ramen is not something that will—or should—ever taste like restaurant ramen. It’s its own thing. While I love to jazz up store-bought ramen with a soft-boiled egg, scallions, and chili oil, the very best instant ramen should still be satisfying without all the accoutrement.
We want chewy, springy ramen noodles that don’t taste like rehydrated cardboard. Dried mix-ins like nori, scallions, and kimchi bits that actually enhance the flavor are also a huge plus. But most importantly, the broth needs to be deeply, undeniably savory and umami-fied. I’ve never said “umami-fied” before, and I probably shouldn’t start now, but you get the deal. It can’t just be hot salt water.
From the best Japanese instant ramen to the best vegan ramen and even the best protein ramen, here’s what to pick up on your next noodle run.
Best instant ramen noodles
- Tangle Creamy Mushroom
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Creamy mushroom noodles don’t exactly scream ramen to me, but the brand behind this is Samyang, a certified king of instant ramen—so who am I to define what ramen could be? This “Tangle” product line is all about protein-packed instant ramens. From the flavors we tried, creamy mushroom was definitely the standout. If you’re going to rehydrate a vegetable, mushrooms are really the way to go. The sauce is lightly creamy, a little garlicky and truffle-infused, and tasty enough to win out over the more questionable flavor of soy protein. I don’t think you need to buy this unless you’re trying to get those gains, but for a protein ramen, it’s pretty good! —Ariana Losch
Credit: LIv Averett / Amazon
- Sapporo Ichiban Original Ramen Noodle Soup
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Sapporo Ichiban Original Ramen Soup is a great version of a classic, savory, salty ramen, and you can find it pretty much anywhere. It’s not spicy or zesty or different. In fact, it’s a little boring. But it’s boring in a way that makes it the best instant ramen for any time. It’s warm and comforting and reliable. I would reach for this if I had a cold or if I was looking for a great base for toppings. It’s also delicious enough to eat by itself on a day when you feel incredible. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup
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If you want a ramen that is vegan but isn’t inspired by meat, grab this Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup. It’s a veggie soup that brings vegetables to the forefront of the conversation in a spectacular way. An important thing to note is that this actually has a spicy kick. This is a huge bonus for me, but it did come as a surprise because it’s labeled mild. This ramen is not for spice-haters, but this ramen is definitely for me. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Nissin Hot & Spicy Shrimp Ramen Noodle Soup
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Shrimp lovers, this one is for you! I can’t believe how complex and delicious the broth tastes. It’s giving 100% real shrimp stock, and we loved it. It’s shrimpy without being fishy (negative). On top of that, it’s nice and spicy. There’s also a little citrusy twang. If you put some real plump and juice shrimp on top of this and some thinly sliced scallions, you would be in shellfish heaven. I wasn’t expecting this bowl of instant ramen to be as good as it is, but I’ll never forget it because it’s some of the best store bought ramen I’ve ever had. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Chef Woo Roasted Chicken Flavor Ramen Cup Noodles
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This is the most flavorful vegan take on a meat-based ramen we tried. The broth is so rich and chicken-y, which is shocking considering it’s totally plant based. On top of its great taste, this ramen is high in protein, halal, and kosher. Additionally, Chef Woo products are made in the USA. We love that their ramen packs a big punch of flavor and the fact that they are on a mission to make “more sustainable food that’s truly accessible and affordable.” —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Buldak Quattro Cheese
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When it comes to Buldak noodles, the Sporked hot take is that they’re all too damn spicy. While I do expect to see future scientific literature discussing the negative health effects of consuming this product on a regular basis, believe it or not, I am pro-Buldak—as long as you use, like, no more than half the packet. Seriously. Stop causing permanent damage to your stomach lining. Quattro Cheese was our undisputed favorite of the Buldak flavors; I don’t know if anyone remembers this New York Times article claiming the best instant ramen recipe is simply ramen, egg, butter, and American cheese, but that’s essentially what this tastes like… just triple the amount of cheese. If you like cheesy ramen, it’s the best instant ramen you can buy. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Nongshim Shin Ramyun Original Noodle Soup
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I know, I know. You think this is “the best instant ramen” and you “can’t believe I put it so low on this list.” Well, that’s where it landed. Maybe it’s our fault for coming in with such high expectations—we thought it would land in the top five, but it didn’t. It’s very, very good. I mean, we gave it 8.5/10 sporks. The broth is savory, there’s a slight heat, and the noodles are thin and chewy. I found this to be a little one-note, but it is a very delicious note. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Sapporo Ichiban Momosan Ramen, Tokyo Chicken
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In this house, we love the Iron Chef franchise, so the Masaharu Morimoto instant noodles were an easy sell. His face is on the bag! The portion is large, which I love. If I’m eating noodles, I’m trying to eat a lot of noodles. The broth is buttery and meaty and soaks into the thin noodles. This would be an incredible base to dress up. Adding some pork belly, a soy sauce egg, and some corn (even canned corn) would instantly turn this into a fancy dinner that you could serve to guests. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Nissin Demae Black Garlic Oil Tonkotsu
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Nissin’s Demae Black Garlic Oil Tonkotsu Artificial Pork Flavor Ramen is like the soup you’d get from a cool ramen restaurant in Brooklyn. It tastes deliciously authentic but feels unique and elevated. The black garlic oil adds a savory umami flavor to the rich, salty broth. Nissin makes great ramen in general, but this black garlic oil tonkotsu version is next level. This is easily one of the best instant ramen noodle packets we tried. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Paldo Mr. Kimchi
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I’m still amazed that in a dehydrated noodle bowl, you can get actual crunchy bits of real kimchi that taste kinda fresh. (I’ve been really slummin’ it with Cup Noodle, guys.) While we also liked 99 Ranch’s kimchi instant noodles—yes, 99 Ranch has their own in-house product line, and the packaging is very cute—there is just something especially good about the broth in Paldo’s Mr. Kimchi. It’s so fermented and rich, and it comes with a lot of dried kimchi flakes, cabbage, and scallions. The spice level is definitely high, but it’s not Buldak levels by any means. I would still add my own kimchi to this, but it’s not necessary to enjoy it. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Menraku Ramen Miso
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Y’all, this is delicious. And it proves that ramen doesn’t have to be spicy enough to kill a small child to be the best instant ramen. Umami, umami, umami, people. The miso broth has so much depth and savory fermented flavor to it (thank you, MSG). Plus, Menraku’s noodles are an upgrade from other brands; they’re slightly thicker, chewier, and springier. I’m not saying this is some fancy miso ramen—we’re still talking about dehydrated noodles and veggies here. But I’ve had so many watery and bland miso broths in my time, and this one is not one of them! —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- MAMA Creamy Tom Yum
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This is my favorite ramen we tried. Yes, MAMA’s artificial chicken flavor is our #1 best instant ramen (spoiler!), but this tom yum version is the best store bought ramen in my personal book. It is so unbelievably flavorful. The notes of lemongrass, ginger, and lime are pronounced. It has the perfect amount of spice. The shrimp flavor is subtle without being too fishy. This tom yum is better than some tom yum I’ve had at Thai restaurants. Buy this! Eat it! It’s incredible! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Jin Ramen Mild Korean Style Instant Noodles
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Everything about Jin Ramen Korean Style Noodles is wonderful, but the noodles are particularly spectacular, and that’s what makes it one of the best instant ramen brands we tried. These are restaurant-quality noodles. If you told me they were hand-pulled, I’d believe you. They are bouncy and tender and perfectly chewy. If you’re a noodle fiend, you simply must try this ramen. Don’t let me sell it short, though. The broth is also spectacular. It comes in hot and mild, and both are great. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Paldo Hwa Ramyun Hot & Spicy and Paldo Volcano Chicken Noodle
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Paldo, a Korean noodle brand, might be one of the best instant ramen brands on the market right now. I found both of these flavors at 99 Ranch Market, but they seem to be available at Walmart and Amazon, too. Both ramens are extremely spicy, but the flavors are incredible, so I refuse to complain. The volcano chicken noodle hurts, but gosh, it has this very light, almost teriyaki-like sweetness that’s super addictive. I added a bunch of kewpie mayo to cut the heat, and the result was a flavor very much like okonomiyaki—probably from the caramel syrup and nori bits. (If you’ve never had okonomiyaki, we highly recommend Trader Joe’s version.) Meanwhile, Paldo’s Hwa Ramyun is exactly what you expect from an extra hot, MSG-infused savory ramen. It’s Nissin beef ramen on crack. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon / Instacart
- MAMA Instant Noodles (Artificial Chicken Flavor)
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I don’t know how I have lived my entire life without trying MAMA Instant Noodles. They are maybe one of the best things to ever grace my mouth. These instant noodles come with not one, not two, but three little flavor packets to add maximum deliciousness. They’re a little peppery, delightfully oily, and so, so savory. You do not need to add a single thing to these noodles. They are perfect as is. Oh, did I mention they’re vegetarian?! MAMA Instant Noodles will be a staple in my house moving forward. They are the best instant ramen noodles we tried. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
Best “Protein” Ramen
Best Standard
Best Vegetable
Best Shrimp
Best Vegetarian
Best Buldak Flavor
Best Cup Noodle Upgrade
Best Splurge
Best Restaurant Style
Best Kimchi Ramen
Best Miso Ramen
Best Tom Yum
Best Noodles
Best Spicy
Best of the Best
Other instant ramen noodles we tried:
Nissin Original Cup Noodle, Nissin Hot and Spicy Chicken Noodle Bowl, Top Ramen Chicken, Top Ramen Beef, Chef Woo Ramen Express Beef, Mama Artificial Pork, Shin Beef Bone Broth, Indomie Instant Noodles Soup Special Chicken Flavor, Maggi Chicken Flavor, Immi Black Garlic, Jin Spicy, Maggi Asam Laksa, Sapporo Miso, Sapporo Shio, Nissin Original Cup Noodle, Chef Woo Braised Beef, Chef Woo Lemongrass, Chef Woo Chili Togarashi, Nissin Cup Noodle, Mike’s Mighty Good Ramen Chicken, Maruchan Instant Ramen, Dr. McDougal’s Vegan Ramen, Trader Joe’s Chicken Instant Ramen, Nissin Demae (assorted), Tapatio Chicken, Immi Creamy “Chicken” Flavor Ramen Soup, Immi Spicy “Beef” Flavor Ramen Soup, Annie Chun’s Spicy Miso Ramen Soup Bowl, Paldo Hawaiian Ramen King Instant Noodle Cup, Paldo King Noodle Cup, Lobster Taste Langosta, Paldo Jjajang Ramen, Ottogi Sesame Flavor Ramen, 99 Ranch Market Spicy Kimchi Ramen, Shirakiku Sanukiya Spicy Ramen
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