Best Ramen Flavors Ranked From Worst To Best

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If you're a noodle fan, then you're most likely well aware of the delicious and heavenly food known as ramen. Freshly made ramen paired with meat, vegetables, and a choice of drink makes for an incredibly delicious meal. Many of us are familiar with packaged, square packs of instant ramen too. While instant ramen is full of sodium, it is also a super filling, salty, savory meal that is super convenient. 

There are myriad different flavors of ramen that line supermarket shelves. However, not all ramen flavors are created equal: Some ramen varieties are much better than others. If you're venturing into the world of ramen, it's best to do so knowing which flavors are worth your buck. That being said, since instant ramen doesn't cost much, you could try all flavors, do a taste test, and find out for yourself. Whether you're new to ramen or are a ramen pro looking for a new favorite flavor, there's bound to be something in the ramen world that satisfies all your needs.

Mushrooms can be a bit of an acquired taste: According to a poll conducted by WDRB, only 18% of Americans label mushrooms as their favorite vegetable, making it one of the least favored vegetables in the entire country. For many, mushrooms are simply too slimy and mushy in texture to be an enjoyable addition to pizzas, soups, and pasta dishes. That being said, mushroom lovers can't get enough of this vegetable: Mushrooms are fresh, earthy, and have a wonderfully complex taste. Additionally, they have a ton of health benefits.

Unsurprisingly, mushroom ramen receives mixed reviews. While the mushroom flavor adds more of an earthy taste to the broth and noodles, this flavor could be a huge hit or an even greater miss depending on where you stand with mushrooms. However, even if you like mushrooms, you're unlikely to prefer this flavor over other types of ramen. Something about mushroom ramen simply doesn't work. 

We all need a dose of vegetables in our diets, and some seasoned, baked, or lightly salted greens, cauliflower, carrots, or other veggies are a perfect addition to any dish. A typical ramen dish consists of noodles, broth, delicious vegetables, and your choice of meat, so the idea of a vegetable flavored ramen makes for an expected yet quite exciting flavor that is also vegan- and vegetarian-friendly. While this flavor is decent, meat lovers may miss the hearty flavor of a classic meaty ramen dish. 

Fresh vegetables certainly elevate a dish, and some varieties of veggie ramen such as Nongshim contain hins of spice that give these noodles a nice kick. However, it's difficult not to feel the lack of chicken or beef. If you're after a meatless option, then veggie ramen will definitely make your meal. However, if you're an avid enjoyer of meat then you might want to look for a different kind of ramen flavor. 

There's nothing like heat and spice to liven the senses and comfort a flavor craving at the same time. By this logic, a bowl of chili ramen sounds like the perfect dish. If you like spice, you'll like chili ramen. You could make yourself some delicious chili oil and mix it into ramen for a vibrant, exciting meal. Or, you could go the instant route, stop by the store and pick up a packet of chili ramen that is offered by brands such as Maruchan. 

While chili ramen certainly has a kick to it, this variety doesn't have much more to offer. The addition of chicken to chili ramen can help elevate this ramen type with the layers of flavor, fat, and protein that it so desperately needs. If you simply want spicy ramen, look no further than this flavor but if you're after a bit of complexity in terms of taste, then pick a different ramen flavor.

There are most likely two types of meat families tend to gravitate towards if they celebrate Thanksgiving: Ham and turkey. While some people prefer a honey-baked ham during the festive fall season, many others prefer a classic but tasteful plate of turkey. Turkey lovers tend to favor this meat year-round, whether they're ordering a cold-cut sub from Jimmy John's or having a nice turkey dinner. 

If you're looking to give your Thanksgiving meal an exciting twist, turkey-flavored ramen makes for an outstanding addition to the lineup. Since turkey is flavorful and juicy, it tends to add the same qualities to food and dishes. Turkey really gives ramen that exciting flavor that will leave you smacking your lips long after you've slurped down your noodles. Admittedly, turkey isn't the perfect partner for ramen; however, overall, it's a pretty great flavor and not one that should be limited to just Thanksgiving either. 

There's nothing like a fresh serving of shrimp. Shrimp is commonly found in Italian or Southern-style dishes. Whether you're dipping individual pieces of shrimp into a refreshing shrimp cocktail or swallowing spoonfuls of a properly made dish of spicy shrimp fra diavolo, this crustacean is a wonderful addition to any meal for seafood lovers all over the country. It's also a surprisingly great ramen flavor. 

Even though shrimp and seafood might not be considered meats, shrimp-flavored ramen is almost as tasty and satisfying as meatier ramen flavors. Just one bite of these noodles transports you to a seafood restaurant or a home-cooked batch of shrimp. 

While seafood might not be everyone's first food choice, it most certainly wouldn't hurt to dip your toes into the food group with shrimp-flavored ramen. Brands such as Marchan provide an excellent variety of shrimp ramen. Overall, this is an incredible ramen flavor that is definitely worth trying.

Chicken flavored ramen is the best kind of ramen out there. Maruchan sells this flavor in brightly colored orange packets. When you cook up a pot of chicken ramen, you're met with a warm, classic, one-of-a-kind taste that is a real hit. Those who have relied on a bowl of this ramen during their all-nighter college days will most likely agree that this ramen flavor was a lifesaver when they took to the books and that it is still a delicious, unforgettable food that they will return to every now and then. 

You can't really say anything bad about chicken-flavored ramen: Each mouthful of juicy, rich, and very flavorful chicken noodles is a delight. Chicken ramen is savory and goes well with most toppings or ramen dishes. When you make the choice to cook chicken ramen, you've already ensured that you will experience a mouth-watering meal that will leave your bellies completely satisfied. You may want to try something new in terms of ramen, and while we highly suggest you do, just remember that there's no topping chicken ramen.