Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Instant Ramen Noodles You Should Try

Mark Stock
By

Instant noodles might remind you of messy dorm rooms and equally messy microwaves. And while there are plenty of brands that provide a quick mediocre meal, there are some better options that are worth filling your pantry with.

If you have the time and gusto, we encourage you to make your own ramen. But that’s not always in the cards, though you should still avoid battling through a sodium-driven package of Cup Noodles. You can make something many times tastier just as efficiently. It won’t outdo the slow-cooked batches from your favorite local ramen joint, but it will satisfy with that familiar one-two punch of noodles and umami.

Recommended Videos

Regardless of your stance on MSG, there are a lot of good directions to go for an easy-to-make serving of ramen. So, get your chopsticks and favorite brand of fish sauce ready, and look out for these 7 best instant ramen noodles.

Related

NongShim

NongShim Instant Ramen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A favorite among culinary types and food industry publications, NongShim specializes in Korean-style instant noodles generally with a hit of spice. The deliciousness lurks in the liquid, perhaps the most complex of them all thanks to generous amounts of vegetables and bone broth.

Public Goods

Public Goods Instant Ramen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re going for something vegan-friendly and without broth, the stuff from Public Goods is worth a shot. The original recipe is surprisingly flavorful given minimal ingredients and the noodles themselves are some of the best within the instant category.

Nissin Roah

Nissin Roah Ramen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Consider Nissin’s Roah line of ramen as a few steps above its more famous and ubiquitous Top Ramen. The Tonkatsu umami flavor is especially good, an extra savory broth-based around pork bone but also with a bit of ginger, garlic, and onion. Stock up on the miso option as well.

Sapporo Ichiban

Sapporo Ichiban Ramen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This instant brand started in Japan and has since expanded its production efforts to an additional headquarters in California. The standard flavors are solid but look out for Tokyo chicken, endorsed by the esteemed celeb chef Masaharu Morimoto.

Menraku

Menraku Ramen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The pros of Menraku Japanese ramen reside mainly within the noodles, which are of a texture and flavor that seem a little closer to from-scratch and authentic. Enjoy it on its own or throw in some tofu or chicken for a little extra protein.

Mama

Mama Tom Yum Ramen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The instant stuff from Mama is nice for the price and the solid broth bases can be doctored up with your own custom add-ons like carrots, edamame, bok choy, radishes, or a hard-boiled egg. Look for intriguing flavors like shrimp Tom Yum, which has the ideal amount of fiery spiciness.

JML

JML Chinese Instant Noodles Stewed Beef Flavor
Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of the top instant noodle brands from China, JML comes in a variety of Chinese-style flavors like classic Stewed Beef or Spicy Pork. The noodles here are tasty but the real star is the broth, a pleasantly oily soup filled with the fragrance of Chinese spices like star anise and Sichuan peppercorns.

Indomie

Indomie Instant Noodles Original Flavor
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Unlike the other noodles on this list, these Indonesian instant noodles are not served in soup. Rather, Indomie is a “dry” instant noodle. To make Indomie, the noodles are cooked in hot water before being mixed with the seasoning packets. While Indomie is delicious by itself, it’s even better mixed with meat or vegetables. An interesting fact about Indomie is that it’s extremely popular in Nigeria.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mark Stock
Mark Stock
Contributor
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
The best non-alcoholic drinks to get you through Dry January
All of the flavor, none of the booze. These are the best non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy throughout January.
Flower Power Mocktail
Read more
You should know how to make these 5 sauces
Mastering these sauces will make you look like a pro in the kitchen
il principe lasagna bolognese recipe bechamel sauce over getty images

A good sauce is a core component of culinary culture. Knowing how to make a handful of them can elevate your kitchen game to unforeseen heights. Often, a good sauce is the star of the show. After all, what would Thanksgiving turkey be without gravy? Or Eggs Benedict without hollandaise?

Now, we don't expect you to pull a Béarnaise sauce out of your hat at a moment's notice. But you should be able to whip up a solid tomato-based sauce for pasta, or a good teriyaki sauce for rice and veggies or skewered proteins. We know, there are great pre-made options out there, from complex fish sauce to throw-it-on-anything Japanese Barbecue Sauce. Yet, you know as well as we do that when you pull it off from scratch, it's more rewarding and can even taste better.

Read more
If you’re looking for holiday wines, here are the best 12
Need the perfect wine for the holidays? Check out this list of 12 of our very favorites
Two glasses of wine and Christmas balls on a table in a room with Christmas tree.

A list of the best dozen wines for your holiday table should be as great and varied as the dishes on the table (and the people sitting at it). We've tasted through a bunch this year and settled on a dozen suitable for your biggest end-of-the-year-celebrations. Whether it's a festive sparkler, crisp white, or bone-dry red, look to the following to brighten up your holiday meals.

What makes the grade? What separates the great holiday wines from the good ones are a couple of factors. One, they should be food-friendly. Two, they should offer enough complexity and enjoyment to sip on their own. And lastly, there should be some wow factor involved, at least for a few of the selections. After all, festive December gatherings only happen once a year.
White Wines
Alzinger Riesling

Read more