18 Best Instant Ramen Noodles for a Quick and Easy Meal in 2025
Often considered light on flavor and reserved for students in need of simple sustenance, this guide to the best instant ramen proves that this is really not the case. At least, it’s not anymore.
In recent years, this Japanese noodle-based dish has seen a surge in global popularity, with the Institute of Culinary Education describing it as having become a “culinary sensation” around the world.
In a bid to stand out from an increasingly busy marketplace, food manufacturers have been forced to up their game, and the result is a list of good instant ramen that’s so long, we couldn’t possibly include them all in this guide.
Instead, we’ll focus on the very best instant ramen noodles, narrowing that list down to an actionable few that you can go out and try for yourself. So, are you ready to change the way you think about noodles? If so, let’s dive into the very best instant ramen.
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The 18 Best Ramen Noodles To Enjoy
1. Sapporo Ichiban Chicken Ramen
Those among you who remember (fondly or otherwise) relying on cheap, chicken-flavored noodles in order to sustain you during exam season are sure to be in for a surprise when trying this pick for the best packet noodles.
While unadorned with any extra vegetables or sauce, each pot of this chicken ramen from Sapporo offers perfect fluffy noodles, pairing them with a seasoning that tastes significantly more premium than those you ate at college.
2. Nissin Hot and Spicy Chicken Noodles
This is one of the best instant ramen products for those who like some heat when they eat. Don’t worry, it’s not going to blow your head off. At least, not to begin with, although you might find yourself sweating as you approach the bottom of the bowl.
As one of the best ramen brands, Nissin could hardly be accused of skimping on the extras. This particular version comes with a packet of dried vegetables as well as a sachet of chile oil, which really helps to add depth to the flavor. It’s also a little less salty than other contenders for the title of best instant ramen.
3. Paldo Fun and Yum Kokomen Spicy Chicken Ramen
If you’re among those who believe the best instant noodles should be made on the thicker side, this next product might just be the best instant ramen for you. Sold to include packets of colorful vegetables, including thinly-sliced peppers and scallions, each pack creates a highly attractive bowl of noodles. Being slightly thicker, the noodles are also easier to grip, especially if you’re a purist who insists on using chopsticks.
4. Nissin Top Ramen Chicken Soup Bowl
If, like us, you judge the best ramen brands on the toppings included with the noodles, then you’re sure to want to try a bowl of Nissin’s Top Ramen Chicken Soup. Expect a large selection of vegetables, including carrots, red bell pepper, onion and even corn.
Add to this a teriyaki sauce that helps to round out the overall flavor with some essential umami, and this product from Nissin becomes so much more than just good instant ramen. With such an impressive list of toppings and that pull-it-all-together sauce, it becomes one of the best instant ramen options on the market.
5. Tapatío Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup
A unique pick on this list of the best instant noodles is Tapatío Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup. Now, it’s important to note that these Mexican-inspired noodles might not win the award for best instant ramen when enjoyed without the seasoning.
Reviews would also suggest that the included dried vegetables are what you might call “standard,” at least compared to others featured in this guide to the best ramen noodles. Fortunately, the seasoning more than makes up for it, offering a touch of zing to your palate without being overly spicy, thanks to a dose of Tapatío’s signature hot sauce.
What’s more, if your vote for best ramen brand is reserved for those with an eye for sustainability, you’ll be pleased to know that Tapatío minimizes its use of unnecessary packaging. Instead, it includes the ramen’s dried vegetables in the microwavable bowl instead of a separate packet.
6. Maruchan Instant Lunch Chicken Flavor
If you’re searching for the best instant ramen that's also affordable, you might want to add a few of these to your basket. And don’t worry: just because they’re cheap, doesn’t mean these noodles aren't delicious.
If your goal is to ensure you have a quick-to-make and sure-to-hit-the-spot meal that’s ready to go at a moment’s notice, this product from Maruchan may be the best instant ramen for you. Having tasted it once, it will likely become an essential part of your pantry!
7. A-Sha Meteor Noodles with Braised Beef Sauce
Another top contender for the title of best packet noodles, A-Sha’s Meteor Noodles are thick, dense and super satisfying. The brand claims that the noodles’ design is optimized for a perfect coating of sauce. Whether or not that’s true, if you like beef noodle soup, this product is likely to win your vote for best instant ramen.
As you’ve probably guessed by the name, the flavor profile is decidedly beefy. But it also draws on notes of star anise, bean paste, chile oil and soy sauce for a deep and savory balance with just a little hint of spice.
8. Paldo Gompaghetti
With package instructions that encourage you to use milk instead of water when making the sauce, this novel contender for the winner of best instant ramen lies somewhere between Korean noodles and Italian Alfredo. Surprisingly, it works, with the milk lending a decidedly delectable creaminess to the robust beefy base.
The spice packet that comes with this product adds a dash of sweetness thanks to dried onions and garlic, while a hint of spice can be traced to just a touch of black pepper. Add to that a helping of dried carrots, cabbage and bok choy, not to mention chewy noodles that cling onto the sauce like their lives depend on it, and it’s really no surprise that Paldo Gompaghetti makes the list of best instant ramen.
9. Oh! Ricey Instant Rice Noodles Pho Beef Flavor
The name of the brand behind this next entry to the list of best instant ramen should give you an idea of the reaction you’ll have when you take your first bite. While it doesn’t contain actual beef (it contains a wheat-protein alternative), the flavor is very beefy to the point where you likely won't notice the lack of actual meat or meat stock.
These noodles also come with dried scallions and aromatics to create a depth of flavor that ramen connoisseurs have come to expect. These noodles are ready in just three minutes, making them one of the best instant ramen options for those who are hungry and in a hurry.
10. Fly By Jing Chili Crisp Noodles
Complete with no fewer than four seasoning packets, containing dried scallions, chile oil, shallot oil and a blend of soy and vinegar, it’s unsurprising that Jing’s Chili Crisp Noodles have a strong ramen-loving fanbase. And since they’re vegan-friendly, they have to be one of the top picks for the best instant ramen for anybody following a plant-based diet.
Another factor that contributes to this product’s status as one of the best instant ramen is its use of “dao xiao” noodles. This particular type is made by running a knife, over and over again, through a solid block of dough. The result is a wad of thick, ribbon-shaped noodles that are delicious when coated in Fly By’s generous supply of seasonings.
11. NongShim Shin Black Noodle Soup
You might recognize “Shin” as the name behind one of the most prized products in the world of the best instant ramen: Shin Ramyun. This particular product takes the same spicy broth base as its popular sister and upgrades it with the addition of an ox-bone seasoning packet. This gives the dish a rich, creamy profile, which really helps to balance out the spice.
As for the spice packet, well, there’s a reason this product makes this list of the best instant ramen. It contains real chunks of freeze-dried beef, along with mushrooms and scallions, giving the finished dish a genuinely premium feel. Expect chunky, plentiful noodles and a short cook time of around five minutes.
12. NongShim Shin Light
Don’t think for a second that just because it has “light” in the name that this product isn’t deserving of a place among the best instant ramen. Gone are the days when “light” could be translated as “lacking in flavor, texture and anything else enjoyable.”
In fact, while the noodles in this ramen are a little less chewy than others on this list, that’s because, in this case, they’re air-dried rather than fried. Because of that, they contain less oil, which results in a much clearer, cleaner broth than others on this list of the best instant ramen.
As for the flavor, it has a distinctly beefy base. But don’t worry — it’s not so strong as to overpower the mushroom, onion and garlic, all of which are also present. And since it comes with an additional spicy oil packet, it’s one of the best instant ramen picks for those who like to adjust the heat to their liking. Just bear in mind that it’s already quite spicy to begin with.
13. NongShim Shin Kimchi Ramyun
As you may have started to notice, there are multiple NongShim flavors that make the list of the best instant ramen noodles. This pick is subtly flavored with kimchi and offers just a mild dose of spice.
Nong Shim Shin’s Kimchi Ramyun is a Korean pantry staple for many and is notably one of the best instant ramens for those who love the distinct and delicious taste of fermented cabbage. Ready in just three minutes and offering a firm bite from noodles that are soaked in rich soy and mustard flavors, they’re finished with a topping of crisp cabbage, bok choy and a sweet hint of garlic.
14. NongShim Neoguri
This next pick from NongShim features broth that tastes like it's been simmered with real shellfish, bringing to the palate notes of ginger and smoke. Add this to a block of thick and impossibly chewy noodles that grab onto those flavors and refuse to let go, and we had to feature Nongshim’s Neoguri on our guide to the best instant ramen.
Now, it’s worth mentioning that while the brand labels the noodles as “udon type,” they are still curly and deep-fried like other conventional instant ramen noodles. But that doesn’t detract from the authentic seafood flavor of the overall dish. It even contains pieces of dried kelp!
15. A-Sha Meteor Noodles With Danzai Sauce
Another contender from A-Sha for the title of best instant ramen is the brand’s Meteor Noodles With Danzai Sauce. This Taiwanese sauce is known — and absolutely loved — for its rich, umami-forward flavor. It pairs perfectly with noodles. In this case, A-Sha uses its signature, ovoid-shaped noodles, which contain laser cuts that are designed to absorb extra sauce.
Whether or not the noodles work as described is really besides the point. Either way, the cooking instructions on the pack result in the perfect al dente texture, and since danzai is more of a “dry” sauce compared to the runny broths of others on this list of best instant ramen, the noodles stay that way to the very last bite. Expect notes of sweet shallots, savory meat and just a hint of black pepper.
16. Ga Lan Lang Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup
Sure, most conventional contenders for the title of best instant ramen noodles contain just enough to feed one hungry human. However, Ga Lan Lang’s Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup quite literally beefs things up in order to curb the cravings of even the most ravenous of couples. In other words, it feeds two, and reviews would suggest that it tastes great!
It’s named after Lanzhou — the capital of China’s Gansu province — which is famed for its thin, hand-pulled noodles. As one of the best instant ramen, it tempts taste buds with its bright, clear and, crucially, beefy broth. Additional chile oil adds some depth and earthiness to the flavor, while dried cilantro and authentic regional vegetables — daikon, to be specific — give the dish a surprisingly authentic flavor.
17. Indomie Mi Goreng
With some reviews praising its ability to make every taste bud on your tongue sing, this is one of the options on our list of the best instant ramen that you have to try. You can expect no fewer than five seasoning pouches, containing everything from dry seasoning and fried onions to flavored oil, sambal chile and even sweet soy sauce.
While the noodles are fairly standard — deep fried and curly like many others on this list of best instant ramen — the use of a dry sauce instead of broth means that they stay chewy for longer. All in all, if you’re looking for easy dinner food ideas that taste every bit as good as the real deal, this is up there with the very best instant ramen.
18. Buldak 2X Spicy Hot Chicken
While almost all of the Buldak ramen flavors could feature on a list of the best instant ramen noodles, 2X Spicy Hot Chicken is a unique pick in that many love it, many hate it and many simply find it far too spicy to try.
You may recognize the brand and this specific flavor as it was part of a TikTok food trend called the ‘Spicy Noodle Challenge’ and was even briefly banned in Denmark for being too spicy.
Even if you’ve never heard of the brand or this pick for best instant ramen noodle flavor before, if you love spicy food or being a little adventurous, trying 2X Spicy is a must. While the base has a chicken soup type taste, chile pepper is the overwhelming flavor that comes through.
Some suggest using only half the seasoning packet to make the flavor a little more enjoyable (and easier to actually taste among the heat); however, then it’s not really “2x” spicy!
Other popular Buldak flavors include classic instant ramen flavors like kimchi and more unique, almost fusion offerings, such as Carbonara, Quattro Cheese and Lime Habanero.
What Are the Best Ramen Noodles?
We’ll start by saying that nothing compares to fresh, homemade ramen. However, since fresh ramen does expire quite quickly, it can pay to have a few packets of the dried stuff handy in your cupboard. With that in mind, it’s well worth knowing the best instant ramen brands to buy from.
The best instant ramen for you really boils down to personal preference. This partly revolves around the specific type of noodle you like to eat. As you’ve seen in the above list of ramen, some noodles are thin while others are cut thicker in order to better hold onto the sauce they’re served with.
Another point of difference among the best instant ramen is the flavors used to enhance them. You might prefer a beef-based broth, one that draws on the flavors of your favorite shellfish or even one that incorporates a creamy texture that’s more akin to Italian Alfredo than traditional Japanese ramen. You can find ramens that are spicy, those that aren’t and those that offer just enough heat without overpowering your palate.
Further complicating the question of which takes the title of best instant ramen are the toppings and seasoning packets that come with them. Some, more premium brands come with multiple sachets, containing everything from seasonings and dried meat to veggies and infused oils that help deepen the flavor. Other, more budget-friendly options pare things back, often just containing a single sachet of seasoning and sometimes some dried vegetables.
What Are the Best Ramen Instant Noodles in Japan?
If you want to stock your cupboards with some of the best instant noodles in Japan, there are a few options to choose from. Nissin Cup Noodles are a popular choice for those looking for easy, on-the-go lunch food ideas. They’re widely available and often packed with pork and chicken flavors, like the above-mentioned Top Ramen Chicken Soup Bowl.
Other popular brands you’re likely to come across in your local konbini include Sapporo Ichiban, known for its miso and shio flavors; Hikari Menraku, which offers a variety of flavors like pork bone broth, soy sauce and miso; and Maruchan Seimen, a popular brand that's best known for its salt ramen.
From spice-laden pots that are sure to put some fire in your belly to more mellow bowls that promise to hit the spot without setting your mouth aflame, the list of the best instant ramen has something for every palate.
You can choose from those with thinner or thicker noodles, depending on your preference. You’ll also find that while some coat the noodles in “dry” sauces, others rely on punchy, flavor-filled broths. Both have their merits, and again, it all boils down to what your palate prefers.
Whatever tempts your taste buds, if you’re interested in diving into the world of Japanese noodle nourishment, the entrants to this list are a great place to start. Whether you’re looking for premium pots with all the trimmings or a simple, straightforward bowl of no-nonsense noodles, you’re sure to find a meal that pleases your palate in this guide to the best instant ramen.
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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