Many people would likely mention ramen as a must-try when coming to Japan. It’s something to enjoy not only while in Japan but also to share the taste with family and friends upon returning home. This time, we’ll focus on recommending bagged noodles among instant noodles. With bagged noodles, you can definitely enjoy the process of making ramen.
Nissin Foods Chicken Ramen
Chicken Ramen was developed as the world’s first instant ramen. Its convenience lies in simply placing the noodles in a bowl, pouring hot water, and waiting for 3 minutes to complete. Its distinctive feature is the taste of chicken broth. Inside the bag, you’ll find dried noodles shaped in a circle. There is a hollow space at the center of the circle where you can place an egg. The creamy egg blends with the soup, creating a mild flavor.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Chicken Ramen 5-Pack
Manufacturer: Nissin Foods Co., Ltd.
Suggested Retail Price: 680 yen (excluding tax)
Hausu Shokuhin Tonkotsu Kyushu Flavor Ramen Umakacchan
Umakacchan is a tonkotsu ramen developed with the aim of creating a ramen loved by people in Kyushu. The soup, based on pork bone extract, contains vegetable extract and spices, resulting in a light flavor amidst the rich tonkotsu taste. It’s recommended for those who want to experience tonkotsu ramen for the first time.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Umakacchan 5-Pack
Manufacturer: House Foods Corporation
Suggested Retail Price: 680 yen (excluding tax)
Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen
Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen is a miso-rich ramen made with a soup blend of 8 types of miso and noodles kneaded with miso. It comes with shichimi spice, allowing you to enjoy a spicy miso ramen as well. It goes well with any toppings, so try adding vegetables, meat, or your favorite ingredients.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen 5-Pack
Manufacturer: Sanyo Foods Corporation
Suggested Retail Price: 680 yen (excluding tax)
Sapporo Ichiban Salt Ramen
Despite being called salt ramen, it’s not overly salty. The soup of Sapporo Ichiban Salt Ramen is made with a base of chicken and pork, combined with the umami of vegetables and spices, resulting in a refreshing taste. The noodles are kneaded with yam powder, giving them a chewy texture.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Sapporo Ichiban Salt Ramen 5-Pack
Manufacturer: Sanyo Foods Corporation
Suggested Retail Price: 680 yen (excluding tax)
Nissin Foods Nissin Yakisoba
Nissin Yakisoba features a special sauce with a spicy kick and aroma. Simply soften the noodles in boiling water in a frying pan and mix in the included sauce, making it easy to create delicious yakisoba. You could even compare it with cup noodle yakisoba.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Nissin Yakisoba 5-Pack
Manufacturer: Nissin Foods Co., Ltd.
Suggested Retail Price: 680 yen (excluding tax)
Nissin Foods Nissin Raoh Tan Tan Men
The Nissin Raoh series offers ramen made with a focus on noodles, featuring a chewy texture. This Tan Tan Men provides the aroma and richness of roasted sesame, along with the mild spiciness of chili oil. It’s recommended for those who want to try a ramen with just the right amount of heat.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Nissin Raoh Tan Tan Men 5-Pack
Manufacturer: Nissin Foods Co., Ltd.
Suggested Retail Price: 680 yen (excluding tax)
Acecook Wantanmen
Acecook, having expanded overseas, may be familiar to some. Acecook Wantanmen is a long-standing ramen that celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023. The soup is based on bonito with a subtle flavor of matsutake mushrooms. It features noodles with a firm texture and thick wonton, providing a satisfying meal.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: (Bagged) Wantanmen 5-Pack
Manufacturer: Acecook Co., Ltd.
Suggested Retail Price: 680 yen (excluding tax)
Toyo Suisan Curry Udon (Mild)
Curry Udon is a Japanese noodle dish with udon noodles in curry sauce, as the name suggests. Toyo Suisan (Maruchan) uses soy sauce as a hidden flavor in their curry udon, resulting in a simple and light taste that doesn’t get boring. It may not be available in small local supermarkets, so try looking for it in larger supermarkets when traveling.
＜Basic Information＞
Name: Curry Udon (Mild) 5-Pack
Manufacturer: Toyo Suisan Co., Ltd.
Suggested Retail Price: 680 yen (excluding tax)
Summary
With bagged noodles, you can recreate authentic ramen or yakisoba at home, even more so than with cup noodles. There’s a wide variety of flavors available beyond those introduced here, including soy sauce and sesame flavors. Furthermore, different manufacturers offer variations in flavor, so comparing tastes is also recommended. One thing to note about bagged noodles is that they usually don’t come with toppings. Prepare classic toppings like roasted pork filet, green onions, bean sprouts, or seasoned eggs, or add your favorite ingredients to enjoy. Bagged noodles are available at supermarkets, convenience stores, drugstores, and elsewhere, and some products are available for purchase in single packs. Be sure to find your favorite flavor!
