Nothing beats a steaming bowl of hearty ramen to melt your stress away after a long, tiring day. And as much as we’d love to have our noodle soup meticulously prepared by the best chefs in town, we don’t always have the dough to spare. And let’s face it – ramen is most comforting when eaten slumped on the couch in sweats. So, we made a list of the top ramen brands that you’ll like!
Here are the top ramen brands for people on a budget. They may be affordable, but they’re certainly not short on flavor!
Maruchan Gold Soy Sauce
Some ramen lovers hold Maruchan Gold Soy Sauce to be the gold standard, and they have every reason to do so. For one, the soy sauce broth is rich and flavorful. And best of all, it cooks in as little as three minutes. That makes it a perfect quick fix for nights when you can just cook up a storm.
The Soy Sauce variant is a best-seller. But if you’re craving something new, Maruchan Gold also comes in Spicy Miso flavor.
Price: $17.99 for a pack of five on Amazon
Nongshim Shin Ramyun
Nongshim is a Korean brand, hence the term “ramyun” instead of “ramen.” Despite the slight difference in the spelling, it still has the same soothing broth soup and filling noodles. This brand claims to be the “representative ramyun of Korea” with a lovely spicy flavor loved by Koreans. Be careful, though, because Koreans’ heat tolerance is way up there!
You can cook it on your stovetop or in the microwave, and it will take you ten minutes tops. This also comes in an instant cup.
Price: A single pack sells for $3.76 on Walmart – surely one of the top ramen brands for people on a budget.
Nissin Demae Ramen Original Soy Sauce
It’s hard to beat this one when you’re looking for a cheap but filling hot meal that’s easy to make and tastes divine. This number pairs chewy noodles with a savory noodle soup made even more delicious with specially blended sesame oil. Got a few more minutes? Pop in a soft-boiled egg, and you’re in for a gastronomic experience!
Price: An instant noodle cup costs $1.46 on Walmart.
Indomie Mi Goreng
If you want to take a break from soupy noodles, give Indomie Mi Goreng a try. This instant noodle is manufactured by an Indonesian company and distributed all over the world. It’s also 100 percent Halal-certified.
You basically boil the noodles or zap it in the microwave with water, drain, and mix with the condiments. For an even better version, you can return the noodles into the pan after and stir fry it for about one minute. Yum! Eat with blanched chopped veggies for a healthy meal.
Price: This costs $22 for a pack of 30 pieces on Amazon. Yup, 30 pieces, which could last you for months (weeks if you happen to really love it), making it one of the top ramen brands for people on a budget.
Myojo Ippeichan Yakisoba
Myojo Ippeichan Yakisoba Japanese Style Instant Noodles is somewhat akin to Mi Goreng. It’s a stir-fried noodle that’s easy to prepare and comes in its own square tub. Each kit comes with a cake of noodles, dried vegetables, and a pack of spicy soy sauce. Its secret weapon is a small packet of mustard mayonnaise that makes all the difference and makes this a unique dish.
As with any other stir-fried noodles, you can also add in your favorite veggies, such as carrot sticks, greens, or beans, for added texture and nutritional value.
Price: This sells for $47.59 for a pack of 12 tubs on Amazon.
Samyang Cheese Spicy Hot Chicken
Have you ever had cheese with your ramen? It might sound insane, but it’s weirdly good! Remember, though, that Korean ramyun is really hot. In fact, it launched an online “hot noodle challenge” a few years back.
So here’s a helpful tip when you’re having this ramen: don’t dump all the spicy paste on your cooked noodles at once. Instead, try adding a quarter of it first, mix, and taste to check if you can handle it. By all means, add the whole cheese powder pack for yummy ramen oozing with cheesy goodness.
Price: Samyang Cheese Spicy Hot Chicken costs $14.93 for a pack of five on Amazon.
One Culture Foods – Tawainese Beef Noodle Soup
If you want to take a break from soy sauce and miso soup varieties, check out One Culture Foods – Tawainese Beef Noodle Soup. Unlike its Japanese counterparts, this noodle soup pairs its delicious beef broth with the lovely flavors of five-spice and cilantro.
Each cup noodle comes with cooked noodles and craft seasonings. The bone broth reduction gives the ramen a delicious taste profile that’s as close to a homemade taste as possible. Pop in the microwave for an easy snack or eat with meat and veggies for a full meal.
Price: One Culture Foods Tawainese Beef Noodle Soup costs $34.95 for a pack of eight noodle cups on Amazon.
Hao Hao Shrimp & Onion Flavor
Last but not least, of our top ramen brands for people on a budget is this Vietnamese instant noodle. Hao Hao Mi Tom Chua Cay translates to Hao Hao Hot Sour Shrimp Noodle. This is a great option if you’re looking for a fresh take on ramen.
Unlike traditional Japanese or Korean noodles, the broth of this soup has a distinct flavor profile owing to a blend of onion, garlic, chili, pepper, five-spice powder, and dried scallions. The shrimp taste is also prominent, making this a uniquely tasty ramen dish.
If you’re interested in trying ramen varieties that aren’t the usual ones you see on the market, this brand offers some interesting offerings. They also have satay and shallot as well as pork rib and fried garlic flavors. Vegans would be happy to know that they have a vegetable and mushroom flavored noodle.
Price: Hao Hao Mi Tom Chua Cay costs $29.95 for a pack of 30 on Amazon.
