Best Gourmet Instant Ramen, Ranked
Gourmet instant ramen ranked: Shin Black, Prima Taste Laksa, Nissin Raoh, A-Sha.
Quick answer: The best premium instant ramen include Nongshim Shin Black (rich beef-bone broth), Nissin Raoh and Ichiran-style Japanese tonkotsu kits, Prima Taste Singapore Laksa, and A-Sha Taiwanese dry noodles. Shin Black is the easy premium upgrade; Prima Taste Laksa often tops global gourmet rankings.
The instant ramen worth paying extra for, ranked by quality.
The picks
- Prima Taste Singapore Laksa — a coconut-curry seafood bowl that regularly tops global instant-noodle rankings.
- Nongshim Shin Black — the easy premium upgrade: a richer beef-bone broth over the classic Shin base.
- Nissin Raoh (Japan) — “fresh-style” noodles and a deep tonkotsu or shoyu broth.
- A-Sha (Taiwan) — air-dried, springy noodles with bold dry sauces.
- Tonkotsu / Ichiran-style kits — restaurant-grade pork-bone broth at home.
At a glance
| Pick | Origin | Standout |
|---|---|---|
| Prima Taste Laksa | Singapore | Rich coconut-curry broth |
| Shin Black | Korea | Premium beef-bone depth |
| Nissin Raoh | Japan | Fresh-style noodles |
| A-Sha | Taiwan | Springy air-dried noodles |
Bottom line
For a sure-thing splurge, Prima Taste Laksa or Shin Black. For Japanese depth, Nissin Raoh.
FAQ
What is the best premium instant ramen?
Prima Taste Singapore Laksa frequently tops gourmet instant-noodle rankings. Nongshim Shin Black is the most accessible premium Korean upgrade, and Nissin Raoh leads on the Japanese side.
Is gourmet instant ramen worth it?
If you want deeper broth and chewier, fresh-style noodles, yes. Premium lines like Shin Black, Prima Taste and Nissin Raoh taste noticeably closer to restaurant ramen than standard packs.
Sources
Image: “Lobster instant noodle” by Ruocaled, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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