No matter what mood you are in, a pack of Japanese instant ramen can immediately cure all your cravings! Not only it is super convenient, it is also affordable and of course, delicious!

            No one does instant noodles quite right like the Japanese, the nation has its fair share of history with instant ramen and it is definitely one of the nation’s most favourite food, no matter if you are on a budget or not. Over the past years, the taste and texture of instant noodles has improved drastically, one could say a good quality instant ramen can almost complete with freshly made street ramen!

            Japanese instantly noodles not only make a great meal, it also makes a good souvenir from Japan, as a lot of the deliciously unique favours are only sold in Japan. You can find any kinds of Japanese instant noodles at the local Japanese convenient store and supermarket. We know it is almost impossible to pick one, so, today we have combined the top 12 best Japanese instant noodles you should not miss in 2020.

 

 

 

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1. Nissin Lao Back Fat Rich Shoyu (Soy Sauce) Ramen

 

 

It is a delicious rich ramen with a perfect chicken soup broth, it has an ingredient of thinly sliced char siu pork, works perfectly with soft boiled egg. It is a soy sauce soup with a delicious and rich flavour combination, with back fat floating in a chicken glass soup.

The more you chew it, the more elastic the noodles become, and it works perfectly well with the mellowly soup. Ingredients include thick-sliced char siu, green onion, white onion, and grilled seaweed with a delicious meat taste.

 

Price: 3-pack for $16.40

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2. Nissin Cup Noodle Ramen

 

 

The ultimate classic of all Japanese instant ramen noodles, it is without a doubt the most popular instant noodle of all time. Nissin Cup Noodle has a mild flavour of soy sauce-based soup, the perfect amount that hits all the right spots. The noodles are perfectly elastic with only 3 minutes cooking time.

It is effortlessly delicious; many people love the perfect chewiness of the noodles that they even use the noodles to cook other delicious meals. Nissin Cup Noodle can be found at local supermarket, even in many western countries, Nissin has made its way through western countries and has grown to become one of the top ranked instant noodle companies.

 

Price: 3-pack for $11.30 USD

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3. Acecock Super Cup Max Tonkotsu Ramen

 

 

Convenient yet flavourful, the Acecock Super Max is packed with super-rich flavour of the umami soup broth. It has a taste of marinated pork-bone with a pinch of spiciness, adding character to the cup ramen.

            A round-edge noodle that has a smooth and firm texture, perfectly bouncy in your mouth and compliments well with the pork bone ramen soup. It uses several types of pork extract to give more depth to the flavour with a mellow scent. It has a garlic accent with sesame seeds.

 

Price: 3-pack for $10.00 USD

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4. Hachioji Onion Shoyu (Soy Sauce) Ramen

 

 

This delicious ramen originated from the Hachioji City and has the taste of onion oil ramen. It has a strong taste of boiled chicken broth which compliments well with the perfectly elastic noodles.

Rich in flavour of sautéed onion with an aromatic scent of soy sauce soup-based boiled in chicken broth. The Hachioji Onion Shoyu Ramen is no doubt considered as a premium quality instant ramen, by adding meat and boiled egg, this ramen can almost compete with street ramen in Japan. 

 

 

 

5. Nissin Mongolian Tanmen Nakamoto Spicy Miso Tanmen

 

 

One of the best Japanese Cup Noodle from the classic brand; Nissin Japanese Ramen. It is known for its authentic Japanese flavour – people believe that the flavour and even the noodles themselves, are close enough to kick in nostalgic memories of your trip in Japan.

Travellers often bring Nissin Mongolian Tanmen as a souvenir from Japan, as Mongolian Tanmen is actually a popular Japanese ramen shop in Shinjuku. People say that the taste and spiciness of this cup noodles is so rich and full of flavour that you cannot stop eating. If you want something extra, add a soft boil and marinate some eggs in mirin and soy sauce and sugar, and add one to your cooked ramen with a couple squares of soft tofu to give it a boost. But it's amazing on its own.

 

 

 

6. Cup Noodle Curry Ramen

 

 

This is a staple item in the household of those who love ramen and Japanese curry! An absolute classic, the Cup Noodle Curry Ramen has a rich flavour of Japanese curry, combined with fresh ingredients like potato and carrot. It is definitely a classic and a must try if you are looking for something delicious and flavourful.

            To elevate the experience, make the curry and noodles in the cup, then pour them into a larger bowl and add a can of peas and carrots and then some chicken, eggs or tofu.

 

Price: 3-pack for $13.25 USD

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7. Nissin Nippon Ramen Wakayama Tonkotsu Shoyu (Soy Sauce) Ramen

 

 

This ramen has a rich pork bone broth flavour with soy sauce soup, it is high quality and is made with rich and flavourful ingredients. It is the luxury of instant ramen noodles. The Tokuno pork bone soy sauce from Wakayama is authentic in its rich taste of Tonkotsu soup, specially using the slowly cooked pork bone soup method, combining with the richness and crispness of the soy sauce of Wakayama ramen!

This is a cup noodle that the Wakayama City Tourism Association recommends and is recognized by the local community.

 

 

 

8. Acecock Wakeme Seaweed Sesame/Soy Sauce Ramen

 

 

Acecock Wakeme is a favourite to many, it holds its place as a best-selling cup noodles for a long time. The delicious broth has a kick of wakameyo sesame, creating an umami taste with the flavour of soy sauce soup rich in wakame and sesame. Perfect for those who are looking for something healthy, as it contains vitamins and dietary fibre. The noodles cook under 5 minutes, making it super convenient during a rush hour.

The aromatic combination of sesame and soy sauce create a perfectly rich Japanese broth, mixing with the chewiness of the noodles, this dish is to die for, especially during those cold winter nights.

 

Price: 3-pack for $11.20 USD

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9. Maru-chan Seimen Rich Shoyu (Soy Sauce) Ramen

 

 

A soy sauce soup with a strong umami that has a smooth and firm texture like raw noodles and a slightly dried sardine. The rich flavour of soy sauce broth combining with the thickly cut noodles with a perfect chewiness. Chicken pork-based soup broth has a mixture of rich tamari and soy sauce.

            Many ramen lovers believe that this is THE real ramen and it is not a cheap thin soup cup noodle. This ramen’s noodle is incredibly good with the perfect saltiness of the soy sauce soup. Although the price is higher than the regular cup ramen, it is definitely worth it considering its amazing quality.

 

10. Cup Noodle Seafood Ramen

 

 

Another staple in Japanese household, this Japanese cup noodles seafood contains delicious ingredients such as crab bite, squid, cabbage, egg and green onion. This seafood broth is perfect when you are craving for something more mellow and soft.

A soup with pork and seafood in the unique thick noodles. The ingredients are squid, crab-flavoured fish paste, eggs, cabbage and leeks. If you do not like the fishiness of seafood, this may not be your favourite, however if you do love seafood, this cup noodle is quite delicious!

 

Price: 3-pack for $10.90 USD

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11. Kin-chan Noodle Ramen

 

 

Kin-Chan Noodle Ramen is a long-selling cup noodle that are kneaded with meat extract for flavour and fragrance, and it has a firm, crisp texture. Ingredients include shrimp, pork, eggs, shiitake mushrooms and green onions.

Kin-chan instant ramen offers a nostalgic taste of childhood, it has definitely been the classic for many years. It contains basic ingredients that make a great ramen such as spring onion, shrimp and meat. It is rated quite high in the instant ramen community as it offers basic rich flavour of ramen, although it is nothing fancy, it is just simply delicious!

 

 

12. Nissin Chicken Ramen

 

 

The world’s first instant ramen, well-loved for its immediate deliciousness. Chicken ramen cup noodles is packed with flavourful ingredients, it can be enjoyed in various ways, the best way is to add meat and a soft-boiled egg. Creating delicious meal effortlessly.

            The main ingredient "Katatama" has evolved into "Torofutamago". The fluffy, thick, and smooth texture of kitakita gives you a firm taste of the egg. It is an absolute classic that you must try if you are searching for an instant authentic Japanese ramen flavour.

 

 

 

13. Nissin Cup Noodle Chilli Tomato

 

 

Here we have the very popular Chili Tomato flavour. It's been around for a while due to its popularity. The broth has a nice tomato soup like taste with just a dash of chili spice. The chili really compliments the slightly sour taste of tomato. Very delicious!

            The noodles here are thick and broad wheat flour instant noodles. It’s good change from the normal Nissin noodle textures that are offered in other editions. If you enjoy spicy noodles, then you’ll definitely enjoy the Nissin Cup Noodle Chili Tomato Flavour.

 

 

 

14. Maru-chan Assorted Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen

 

 

Rich soy sauce flavour ramen noodles with a chicken and pork stock-based soup, made with rich soy sauce and a delicious garlic and ginger taste. Using Maruchan’s special drying technique.

These noodles have a delicious flavour and texture just like fresh noodles, but they are much more convenient for keeping in a backpack or cupboard for quick and tasty meals! Feel free to add your own flavour to the soup such as sprouts, cut scallions, a sliced hardboiled egg and some sliced pork.

 

 

 

15. Sugakiya Foods Kara Kara Ou Spicy Fish Ramen

 

 

Spicy fish ramen supervised by "Mendokoro Inosho", a popular restaurant in Tokyo Shakujii. It is a hot spicy ramen, although it has been12 years after its release it is still very popular and is highly loved by the instant ramen lover community, which has been very well received every year. 

They have a balance of spiness, pork bones and seafood, and richness of soup to bring it closer to the taste of the ramen shop. It is a cup that you can enjoy rich and mellow flavour with distinctive texture

 

 

16. Sapporo Ichiban Hakata Mentai Flavoured Tonkotsu Ramen

 

 

The firmness and crisp texture of the thin elastic noodles goes well with the pork soy sauce-based flavour in Hakata-style pork ramen soup. The spiciness is derived from the tangy mentaiko powder works in harmony with the taste.  

Mentaiko minced is an excellent combination with the flavour and spiciness, allowing the amazing taste to shine through all in your mouth. It is amazing with a lot of sesame seeds inside the flavour packets. It can be enjoyed by adding ingredients like chicken, soft boiled or poached eggs to give this Ramen the little kick of flavour it needs.

 

 

 

17. Sapporo Ichiban Shio Salt Ramen

 

 

The deliciousness of "Sapporo Ichiban Shio Ramen" is reproduced as it is in a cup instant ramen form. Noodles has a firm, sticky texture that have a slushy surface.  The soup is often entwined by adding a twist. It is used as a subtle flavour enhancer to bring out the natural sweetness and flavour of vegetables carefully blended to create a flavourful yet refreshing clear soup. The included seasoning packet of sesame seeds adds a nutty and deep richness to the delightful dish.           
            A salty soup flavoured with chicken and pork, flavoured vegetables, spices, and chopped sesame. It is an edible ingredient that uses the freeze-dried method to reproduce the charm of the material by using 5 kinds of vegetables, which are chopped Chinese cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, other corn, and carrot.

 

 

 

18. Myojo Chuzanmai Akasaka Eirin Sour and Spicy Ramen

 

 

It is a sour non-fried noodle made using Myosei Foods' original technology and sour hot noodles that reproduce the refreshing acidity and spiciness of Akasaka Eirin to enjoy the taste of the shop.

            Enjoy the intense flavours of the best Chinese-inspired Japanese cuisine with Myojo’s range of luxury ramen noodles. The rich umami flavours of this Sichuan style miso variant come from a combination of seasonings, including sweet sour paste, salty black bean paste and spicy broad bean chili paste. This is instant ramen at its finest!