Vegetarian ramen can be hit or miss. The best vegetarian ramen noodles are chewy and bouncy, and the broth is complex, savory, and flavorful. The best vegetarian ramen noodles also have just the right level of salt and a packet of those little dry veggies that rehydrate in the hot broth. Ugh, heaven.
Now, I realize that at one point or another, we’ve all subsisted on little more than instant ramen, an ungodly amount of scrambled eggs, and a dream. So in a way we all have a love-hate relationship with the stuff…well…90% love, 10% hate. Okay, fine, we all have a love-love relationship with store bought instant ramen noodles. And in case you were wondering, when I say “we” love-love ramen, yes, that absolutely includes vegetarians who, as it turns out, are people, too.
We tried a handful of brands (honestly, veggie ramen isn’t that easy to come by), and each one was seemingly trying to accomplish something different. Some are trying to make a veggie ramen that tastes like veggies. Some are making plant-based ramen that’s “chicken Flavored” or “beef flavored,” approximating those flavors as best as possible while still remaining plant-based. Others are trying to make ramen “healthier,” offering lower sodium or higher protein options, like ramen noodles made with pea protein. In the end, regardless of flavor, we were simply looking for the best vegetarian ramen that tastes good and satisfies like ramen made with meat broth. Here’s what we found.
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- Chef Woo Roasted Chicken Flavor
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This high-protein vegetarian ramen has a deep, earthy tasting broth we liked. It really tastes roasty-toasty, kind of like rotisserie chicken, even though this cup of noodles is totally vegan. It’s not a deal-breaker, but the high protein noodles lack bounce (kind of like the pea protein-based Immi noodles, but we’ll get to those in a second). Still, Chef Woo ramen has a lot of plusses: It’s filling, hot, tasty, and it’s really easy to make—just add boiling water to the cup. These are the best vegetarian ramen noodles for people who don’t eat meat but still crave chicken and also want to get. those. gains.
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- Immi Spicy “Beef“
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Immi Spicy “Beef” ramen is super interesting. The broth has a complex, cozy flavor that reminds me of Taiwanese beef noodle soup—it’s surprisingly “beefy” for being plant-based. It’s also a bit spicy, though not overwhelmingly so, and tastes strongly of all of those lovely warm spices that often go into Taiwanese beef soups, like anise, fennel, five spice, and more. If you are a vegetarian looking for some plant-based beef noodle soup, you have to give this a try. Plus, Immi’s broth is lower in sodium than some comparable ramens, so if that is a concern for you, now you know. This one lost some points for the noodles, however, which are…weird. They’re made of pea protein rather than wheat flour, so they aren’t bouncy or chewy; they’re a little bit gritty, tough, and brittle. If you aren’t in this for the protein (a pack as 21 grams), I’d honestly recommend just subbing in different noodles but keeping the yummy broth.
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- Top Ramen Soy Sauce Flavor
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This may not be the best vegetarian ramen on our list, but this one is the Top. Soy Sauce Top Ramen was a pleasant surprise, especially for the price (Top Ramen will set you back around 50 cents a pack, while Immi, for instance, is almost $5 a pack). This veggie ramen has an excellent veggie broth flavor—the first thing you taste is ginger, followed by a savory parade of soy and mixed alliums (a class of veggies made up of onions, garlic, and British people saying the word “aluminum”). This broth was less complex than some of the others, but hey—sometimes less is more (in both veggie ramen broth and syllables in the word “aluminum”…@England). This is the best vegetarian ramen if you’re on a budget. Our one gripe? The noodles are a bit mushy, but hey, we all knew what to expect. It may be tasty, but it is still Top Ramen, after all.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Ramen Express by Chef Woo Chicken Flavor
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If you are vegetarian but have a hankering for good ol’ Chicken Cup Noodles, then you are in luck. These vegetarian ramen noodles by Ramen Express are, a.) vegetarian, don’t let the flavor name fool you), and b.) taste exactly like Chicken Cup Noodles except, dare I say it, better. This cup of broth and squiggly noods is savory and seemingly packed with a rich umami chicken flavor despite being vegetarian. The noodles were good but not mind-blowing—certainly not as bouncy as the winning ramen below, but on par with any quality instant ramen at the store. If you’re sick and a chicken Cup of Noodles is the only thing that will cure what ails you, this is the best vegetarian ramen to buy.
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- Jin Ramen Veggie Flavor
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This was the last vegetarian ramen we tried in our taste test, and it also elicited the biggest reaction. We could smell its rich, deep aroma emanating from the microwave even before we even gave it a taste. And the flavor did not disappoint. Jin really did create the best vegetarian ramen by far. This is (and I really do mean this) restaurant-quality veggie ramen for a fraction of the hassle and price. The broth is excellent—complex and lightly spicy with a strong roasted garlic flavor—the dried veggies that come in a separate little packet cook up tender and flavorful, and the noodles are bouncy with the perfect amount of chew. Jin makes our overall favorite instant ramen, so maybe it’s not a huge surprise they make the best vegetarian ramen noodles, too.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
Best Protein Ramen
Best Beef Broth Dupe
Best Value
Best Vegetarian Cup Ramen
Best of the Best
Other vegetarian ramen we tried: Dr. McDougall’s Miso flavor, Mike’s Mighty Good Vegetable Ramen
