From Michelin-starred restaurants to famous chains that have spread from Japan across the world, ramen is having a moment in the global food scene. As such, many ramen establishments have been capitalising on the noodle wave by teaming up with convenience stores such as 7-Eleven to sell instant versions of their top-selling noodle dishes.
Surprisingly, we discovered that they taste pretty darn close to what you’d get at the actual restaurant. They are the perfect late-night cheat meals, and also make cheap and cheerful souvenirs to take home from Tokyo.
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Afuri is best known for its light chicken-based broth that has won over ramen lovers looking for something light and refreshing. One of the best sellers, ramen with yuzu-infused shio (salt) broth, can also be found in this instant variety from your local konbini. The broth is not overpoweringly salty and the little packet of oil gives the entire bowl a nice finishing touch. ¥328 from 7-Eleven
Awarded a Michelin star in the 2017 guide, Nakiryu is one of the hottest ramen joints in Tokyo. Dig into these popular dan dan men instant noodles, which taste almost like the real thing. The bowl is topped with dried spring onions and minced pork, both of which soften when hot water is added. The broth is surprisingly creamy, and the finishing chilli oil rounds up the flavours perfectly. ¥278 from 7-Eleven
Tokyo ramen chain Menya Ittou is renowned for its tsukemen dipping ramen, but it also spins out fantastic bowls of regular ramen, too. This instant rendition is chicken-based and comes with thick noodles and a umami-packed scallop oil that takes this bowl up a notch. If you were to order the ramen at the restaurant, it typically comes topped with slices of pork, but this instant version includes a piece of chicken to complement the noodles instead. ¥298 from Lawson
Iida Shoten is one of the most talked about ramen spots between noodle connoisseurs. The restaurant is in Kanagawa, just south of Yokohama and close to the onsen town of Atami, and only accepts diners with reservations (if you can snag one). Alternatively, you can skip the hassle and pop by 7-Eleven to get this instant version instead. While it's obviously not the same as enjoying it in the shop, the noodles deliver beautifully with a delicate soy sauce soup and enhanced chicken flavours thanks to the small packet of chicken oil. ¥298 from 7-Eleven
Like it hot? Then look no further than Mouko Tanmen Nakamoto, a restaurant chain where almost everything – the shopfront, the walls, the staff outfits and the bowls of super-spicy ramen themselves – are bright red. Specialising in blow-your-head-off flavours, the Itabashi-born shop’s instant offering uses a spicy miso-based broth, which you can personalise by adding more or less chilli oil. Extreme spice lovers will want to pour the whole pack in, or even try the extra-spicy ‘North Pole Super Spicy’ version, which is sure to leave your mouth on fire. ¥220 from 7-Eleven
This beloved ramen joint is known across the globe thanks to slurp shops everywhere from New York to Seoul. The classic tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen is also available in an instant variety to satisfy noodle cravings any time, anywhere. Even the instant packs feature the classic Ippudo toppings, including, rather incredibly, a nice slice of chashu pork, along with a pretty decent broth that’s almost as creamy as the stuff made in the restaurant. ¥298 from 7-Eleven
A well-known vegan noodle shop tucked away inside Tokyo Station, T’s Tantan now also offers an instant variety that you can buy at convenience stores nationwide. This meat-free dan dan men is probably one of the healthier instant options out there – a full serving is only 240 calories and will make you feel less guilty about those late-night noodle slurps. ¥235 from Natural Lawson
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