TOP4 Japanese Premium Instant Noodle・Ramen (2024 Updated)

Ramen has become popular not only in Japan, but all over the world. Famous restaurants have long lines of customers every day, and many people come to Japan to eat ramen as a tourist attraction. Japanese ramen is loved by people all over the world, and now you can easily enjoy the taste of famous ramen restaurants with instant ramen. In this issue, we will introduce four instant ramen dishes that reproduce the authentic taste of ramen, which can be enjoyed by those who have given up trying ramen because it is too far from home.

 

■ Top 4 Recommended Instant Ramen from a Famous Restaurant

１Ippudo（一風堂）

This is the official instant ramen from Ippudo, a famous ramen chain that also operates worldwide.
Ippudo produces many instant ramen products, and this series of instant ramen for gifts is a very close representation of the taste of Ippudo in Japan. We recommend this set, which allows you to enjoy three different flavors: "Shiro-Maru," a staple since the company's founding; "Akamaru," with its characteristic spicy miso and the richness of soy sauce; and "Karaka," which combines flavor and heat with a hint of spice.

Ippudo Souvenir Ramen Set of 3 (1 White, 1 Red, 1 Karaka)
First, this one! This is a bargain set that includes Ippudo's signature ramen products, Shiro-Maru, Akamaru, and Karaka. This is a set of three of Ippudo's representative ramen dishes.

 

２AFURI

AFURI's ramen is characterized by its refined and sophisticated taste, and its gift ramen is also authentic, recreating the taste of ramen at home. The golden broth is a blend of carefully selected salts and seasonings to create a soup with a deep flavor. The noodles are available in two types, thin and thick, just like in the actual restaurant.

Shio Ramen (Pack of 3)
The blended broth and homemade noodles are the main features of this ramen, and you can taste the same flavor as in the restaurant.

３ Ichiran (一蘭)

Ichiran Ramen is probably the first name that comes to mind when you think of ramen in Japan. It is no exaggeration to say that Ichiran Ramen Instant Noodle is loved by all. Ichiran Ramen is characterized by its secret red sauce, a spicy condiment that Ichiran makes by carefully selecting the best chili peppers from around the world. Of course, the instant ramen comes with the red secret sauce, so you can adjust the heat to your liking. The soup also has the same rich and umami flavor as the restaurant, while suppressing the distinctive pork bone smell.

Ichiran Ramen Instant Noodle (pack of 5)
This 5-serving instant ramen package is produced by a company that continues to research tonkotsu ramen.

 

４  DARUMA（だるま）

Last but not least, we introduce Daruma, a famous ramen restaurant with a long line of customers in Hakata, where many popular ramen restaurants are located. If you like richly flavored ramen, this long-established ramen restaurant is highly recommended. Daruma's ramen, still loved by locals as the only one in Hakata, the holy land of tonkotsu ramen, is a must for any ramen lover. While the other three ramen restaurants featured here have overseas operations, Daruma is a ramen restaurant with branches only in Japan, so if you are far from the city, please enjoy the instant ramen. You can also enjoy the richness of DARUMA's soup in instant ramen.

Daruma Tonkotsu Ramen(pack of 3)
Enjoy the flavor of popular Hakata ramen restaurants that you will be addicted to once you try it.

 

■Did you find your favorite?

How was it? Did you find any instant ramen that caught your interest? In this article, we introduced slightly premium instant ramen developed by ramen shops themselves. Instant ramen may often have a cheap image, but the instant ramen we featured this time allows you to easily enjoy the taste of popular Japanese ramen. These products are designed not only for personal enjoyment but also as gifts or souvenirs, so they are sure to be appreciated if you give them to your ramen-loving friends! If you find a favorite among these instant ramen, we highly recommend visiting the actual restaurants in Japan next time.