Japanese instant ramen began in 1958 when Momofuku Ando at Nissin invented the first instant chicken ramen — a technology demonstration that became one of the most significant food inventions of the 20th century. Today Japan produces hundreds of instant ramen varieties, ranging from the budget packs designed for college students to premium $3-5 single-serve packages that use freeze-dried chashu pork, dehydrated noodles made from high-quality flour, and broth powder engineered from actual stock.
The ranking below separates the Japanese instant ramen that are worth buying from the ones you'll regret.
How Japanese Instant Ramen Is Different
American instant ramen (Maruchan, Top Ramen): flavor powder from MSG and salt, pre-fried noodles, minimal supplementary ingredients. A functional product.
Japanese instant ramen (Nissin, Sapporo, Myojo high-end lines): several layers of broth complexity (liquid concentrate + powder), higher-quality noodle technology (some non-fried, air-dried), freeze-dried toppings that rehydrate with surprising fidelity. The best Japanese instant ramen is a genuinely good product on its own terms, not merely convenient.
The gap is real and noticeable. The best Japanese instant ramen costs 2-4x what American versions cost; it is also substantially better.
The Rankings
Tier 1: Worth Seeking Out
Nissin Raoh (日清ラ王) The current benchmark for premium instant ramen. Raoh uses non-fried noodles (air-dried rather than flash-fried in oil) — the difference in noodle quality is immediately apparent. The broth comes as a concentrated liquid rather than a powder, producing a fuller, more rounded flavor. Available in four varieties: shoyu, tonkotsu, miso, and the standout Umami Soy.
The shoyu version specifically has achieved something that most instant ramen doesn't: a broth that actually tastes like it has dashi in it. It doesn't — but the yeast extract and natural flavor compounds produce something convincing.
Price: ~$3-4 per serving | Available at Japanese grocery stores, Amazon.
Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen The best instant ramen for under $1.50. Sapporo Ichiban's miso variety specifically has a broth depth that most premium competitors don't match — the miso powder and seasoning balance is very well calibrated. The noodles are fried (lower quality than Raoh) but cook to an acceptable texture.
This is the instant ramen that Japanese people who grew up eating instant ramen will cite as one of the best memories of the format. Not the fanciest; one of the most satisfying.
Price: ~$1-1.50 per serving | Widely available at Asian grocery stores.
Myojo Chukazanmai Less well-known outside Japan but consistently excellent. Myojo produces a range of regional Japanese ramen styles — Sapporo miso, Tokyo shoyu, Hakata tonkotsu — each calibrated for regional accuracy. The noodle quality is higher than Sapporo Ichiban; the broth complexity is comparable to Raoh at a lower price.
Price: ~$2-3 per serving | Available at specialty Asian grocery stores and online.
Tier 2: Good, With Caveats
Nongshim Shin Ramyun (Korean, Not Japanese) Technically Korean, not Japanese — but it deserves mention because it is the best-selling Asian instant ramen in the US and is widely available. The broth is spicy and beef-forward; the noodles are excellent (Nongshim's noodle technology is legitimately impressive). If you want something hot and satisfying, Shin Ramyun delivers.
Caveat: it doesn't taste like Japanese ramen. It is a Korean product that fills a different niche. Very good; different category.
Price: ~$1.50-2 per serving
Nissin Cup Noodles (Premium Line) The regular Cup Noodles is not good. The premium line (specifically the "Stir Fry" varieties and the "Spicy Chicken with Lime" variety) is significantly better — different noodle formulation, more complex seasoning packets.
Caveat: still cup format with dehydrated proteins that don't fully rehydrate convincingly. A step up from regular Cup Noodles; far below Raoh.
Nissin Chicken Ramen (Original) The 1958 original — still available, still produced to roughly the same recipe. A historical artifact worth trying once. The noodles are pre-seasoned with chicken flavor; you add only hot water. The result is an undeniably specific taste that no other product replicates because no other product is this old.
Not the best instant ramen. The most significant.
Tier 3: Avoid for Different Reasons
Most "restaurant brand" instant ramen: Several actual ramen shops license their branding to instant ramen manufacturers. Ichiran, Ippudo, and similar brands have released instant versions. These are almost universally disappointing — the product captures the surface aesthetics (the package, the bowl design) without the depth that makes the restaurant version worth traveling for.
Most Western grocery store "ramen": Products marketed as ramen at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, etc., are typically udon or pad thai with "ramen" branding. The noodle type is different; the flavor profile is different; the category is not ramen.
How to Upgrade Any Instant Ramen
Even the best instant ramen benefits from minor additions:
The egg: Soft-boil an egg (6.5 minutes from boiling). Peel and halve. Add to the bowl after the ramen is prepared. The yolk enriches the broth.
Butter + corn: A tablespoon of butter melted into Sapporo Ichiban miso ramen, with a tablespoon of frozen corn, is the Hokkaido combination that became famous and was immediately replicated everywhere.
Nori + sesame + furikake: Lay a sheet of nori against the inside of the bowl. Sprinkle furikake and sesame seeds over the top.
Chashu pork (from the freezer): If you made chashu pork and froze slices, 2-3 slices added to instant ramen transform it from convenience food to something you'd want to eat again.
Gochujang drizzle: A teaspoon of gochujang stirred into the completed broth adds Korean heat and fermented depth. Works with any broth type.
Where to Buy
Japanese grocery stores (Mitsuwa, Nijiya, H-Mart, Marukai): The most reliable source for the full range of Japanese instant ramen, including import products not available elsewhere.
Amazon: Most brands in this ranking are available from Japanese specialty sellers. The shipping cost is often worth it for premium products not available locally.
Regular Asian grocery stores: H-Mart, 99 Ranch, and similar large-format Asian grocers carry most Tier 1 and Tier 2 products.
Ramen subscription boxes: Several subscription services (Japan Crate, Umai Crate) ship curated assortments of Japanese instant ramen monthly — a good option for trying multiple varieties without sourcing each individually.
The full recipes live in the book.
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