Ramen, the popular Japanese noodle soup, is a comforting meal that many people enjoy, especially when they need something warming or quick. While ramen is satisfying on its own, having extra dishes, called ramen sides, can make your meal even better. These sides are chosen to go well with the noodles and broth, adding new flavors, different textures, and more fun to your dining. Ramen sides can include everything from crispy vegetables to savory meats, giving your bowl of ramen more variety and making the whole meal more interesting and tasty.
What Are Ramen Sides?
Ramen sides are extra dishes served with your ramen to match and highlight the soup’s flavors and textures. These can be small snacks or bigger plates, each adding something special to the meal. Think of sides as supporting roles that help make ramen even more enjoyable.
Traditional Side Dishes Served with Ramen
In Japan, choosing the right side dishes with ramen is based on long-standing food customs. Some sides have been enjoyed with ramen for a long time and offer just the right balance to the noodles and soup. Many of these classics focus on fresh ingredients and simple cooking methods.
- Gyoza: Japanese dumplings filled with pork and veggies, pan-fried on the bottom and steamed on top for different textures.
- Edamame: Young soybeans boiled and sprinkled with salt for a mild, crunchy bite.
- Seaweed Salad: Marinated seaweed with sesame oil and soy sauce, giving a salty and slightly chewy addition.
- Ramen Eggs (Ajitsuke Tamago): Soft-boiled eggs soaked in a soy marinade, resulting in a flavorful, runny yolk.
Modern and Fusion Ramen Sides
Beyond traditional sides, new ideas from other cuisines have brought fresh options to the ramen meal. These can include dishes from around Asia or creative versions of classics.
- Kimchi: Spicy and tangy Korean fermented cabbage that can be paired with or added to ramen.
- Crispy Tofu: Firm tofu fried until crispy, offering a vegetarian protein choice.
- Korean Ground Beef and Rice: A savory ground beef mix over rice, providing a heartier side.
These newer sides show how flexible ramen meals can be, letting people try different flavors and textures.
Why Pair Side Dishes with Ramen?
Adding sides to ramen does more than just add more food; it makes the meal more balanced and interesting. Sides help break up the richness of the broth, bring in fresh veggies or extra protein, and let each person build a meal that fits their taste or nutrition needs. Good sides can turn a simple bowl of noodles into a complete dinner with different tastes and textures in every bite.
What Flavors and Textures Go Well with Ramen Sides?
Picking the right sides means thinking about how the flavors and textures mix with the main soup. The best sides bring out the ramen’s taste and keep your meal from being boring.
Balancing Savory, Sour, and Spicy Elements
When choosing ramen sides, think about the main taste flavors: savory, sour, and spicy. Ramen broth is usually savory and full of umami, so adding something sour helps lighten it up. Pickles, rice vinegar, or a bit of lime can do this. Spicy sides like kimchi or dishes with chili oil add excitement and heat. Small touches of sweetness, like sweet corn or glazes with mirin, also blend well with the broth’s saltiness.
Crunchy, Creamy, and Fresh Side Dish Options
Different textures also keep your ramen meal from feeling too heavy. Crunchy sides like gyoza, fried veggies, or fresh bean sprouts work well with the soft noodles. Creamier foods, such as Japanese potato salad or ramen eggs, bring out the broth’s richness. Fresh greens, cucumber salads, and chopped herbs offer a cooling, refreshing bite to balance things out. Mixing these textures makes the meal more fun to eat.
Vegetable Sides for Ramen
Vegetables are not just a garnish for ramen but can play a main role as side dishes, providing fresh tastes, color, and crunch.
Stir-Fried Bok Choy and Leafy Greens
Bok choy is a great veggie side for ramen, usually cooked quickly with garlic and ginger. Its leafy crunch and slight bitterness go well with the soup’s richness. Other greens like spinach or mustard greens can be used similarly, giving the meal extra nutrients and a gentle, earthy flavor. A simple soy and sesame oil dressing is all they need.
Pickled and Fermented Vegetables
Pickled and fermented veggies are classics for ramen sides. Japanese pickles (tsukemono) offer lots of flavors-from tangy pickled radish to spicy ginger. These sides wake up your palate and keep the meal from getting too heavy. Kimchi, with its spicy tang and crunch, is another favorite that livens up the soup and cuts through fatty broths.
Seaweed Salad and Wakame
Seaweed salad is a light side with chewy textures and a salty, ocean flavor. Seasoned with sesame oil and soy, it’s colorful and good for you. Wakame, another edible seaweed, can be added to salads or directly to the soup for a mild, slightly sweet taste and texture.
Cucumber Sunomono
Cucumber sunomono is a thin cucumber salad marinated in sweetened rice vinegar. It’s cool, crunchy, and serves as a refreshing break between bites of ramen, helping clean your palate.
Sesame Spinach (Gomaae)
This side uses blanched spinach mixed with a sweet and nutty sesame-soy sauce. Its richness and gentle flavors add something special to the ramen meal, plus it’s a tasty way to eat more greens.
Protein Sides for Ramen
Add extra protein sides to ramen for a filling meal with more flavors and textures.
Gyoza (Japanese Dumplings)
Gyoza are small dumplings stuffed with pork and veggies, cooked to have a crispy bottom and tender top. These are a favorite with ramen because they’re savory, chewy, and perfect for dipping in soy sauce or vinegar.
Chashu Pork Buns
Chashu pork buns are soft steamed buns filled with rich, slow-cooked pork belly. The sweet and savory flavor of the pork pairs well with ramen, making the meal feel even more special.
Yakitori Skewers
Yakitori are grilled chicken skewers glazed with a sweet and salty sauce. They’re juicy on the inside, a little smoky from the grill, and make a great, lean protein addition to your ramen meal.
Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)
Karaage is Japanese fried chicken that’s marinated first, then covered in a light batter. The result is a super-crispy bite outside and juicy chicken inside. Squeeze some lemon on top to brighten things up. This side goes well with both light and rich ramen.
Crispy Tofu and Agedashi Tofu
- Crispy Tofu: Firm tofu fried until the outside is golden and crunchy, good for vegetarians wanting some protein.
- Agedashi Tofu: Silky tofu cubes lightly dusted and fried, then served in a mild broth. The soft inside and crisp outside give a nice mix of textures.
Ramen Eggs (Ajitsuke Tamago)
Ramen eggs are soft-boiled, with creamy yolks and a savory flavor from their soy marinade. They add richness and umami to every spoonful of ramen or make an easy extra protein on the side.
Seafood and Tempura Sides for Ramen
Seafood and tempura dishes add new flavors and a crispy texture to a ramen meal.
Tempura Vegetables
Tempura vegetables are lightly battered and fried veggies, such as sweet potato or bell pepper. They’re crunchy and light, giving a healthy amount of veggies along with a tasty deep-fried bite. Serve with dipping sauce on the side.
Shrimp Tempura
Shrimp tempura is popular for its crispy coating and juicy shrimp inside. You can eat them as a side or dip them in ramen broth for even more flavor.
Takoyaki (Octopus Balls)
Takoyaki are round snacks made of batter and filled with chopped octopus, then topped with savory sauce, mayo, and flakes of dried fish. They’re crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle-a flavorful, street-food style treat that’s great with ramen.
Rice, Noodles, and Snack Sides for Ramen
For some, more carbs are always welcome! Rice and noodle-based sides, as well as snacks, can make your ramen meal even cozier.
Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri)
Onigiri are rice balls, sometimes filled with salty or pickled ingredients and wrapped in seaweed. They’re easy to grab and perfect for soaking up ramen broth or acting as a mild, filling side.
Japanese Potato Salad
This potato salad is creamier and softer than American versions and often includes cucumbers and carrots. It’s cool and mild, making it a nice break from the warmth and richness of the ramen.
Fragrant Fried Rice
Fried rice with eggs, veggies, and sometimes meat is a hearty side that can soak up extra broth and provide a different texture from the noodles.
Instant Pot Lo Mein or Yakisoba
If you love noodles, try lo mein or yakisoba as a side. Lo mein delivers chewy noodles with savory sauce, while yakisoba is Japanese-style stir-fried noodles with a sweet and tangy taste. This lets you try different flavors and noodle types in one meal.
Spring Rolls and Egg Rolls
Spring rolls are light, filled with fresh veggies (and sometimes shrimp or pork), and often not fried. Egg rolls are deep-fried and have a crunchy shell with a savory inside. Both offer satisfying crunch and balance out the soft textures in ramen.
Unique Sides Inspired by Asian Cuisines
Regional Asian dishes can be creative and exciting as ramen sides, adding even more flavor variety.
Kimchi and Korean Side Dishes
Kimchi’s spicy and sour profile makes it great with ramen. Other Korean banchan, like pickled radish or seasoned bean sprouts, provide different textures and flavors to round out your meal.
Crispy Korean Ground Beef and Rice
Ground beef cooked with soy, sesame, and sometimes a hint of spice, served over rice, makes for a filling side. Great for those who want extra protein and carbs with their soup.
Other Asian Pickles and Slaws
Asian-style pickled veggies, such as Vietnamese pickled carrot and radish or cilantro lime slaw, bring bright, tangy flavors. These sides help cut through rich broth and refresh your taste buds between bites.
Tips for Serving and Pairing Ramen Sides
Serving ramen with sides can turn a simple meal into a small feast. Here are a few helpful suggestions:
Best Side Combinations for Popular Ramen Styles
| Ramen Type | Recommended Sides |
|---|---|
| Tonkotsu (Pork Broth) | Pickled ginger, cucumber salad, seaweed salad |
| Shoyu (Soy Sauce) | Gyoza, pork buns, yakitori |
| Miso | Kimchi, sesame spinach, pickled veggies |
| Shio (Salt Broth) | Tempura vegetables, shrimp tempura |
Timing and Presentation of Side Dishes
- Cold sides (salads, pickles) can be made ahead and served when the ramen is ready.
- Hot sides (fried items, dumplings) should be cooked right before eating so they stay crispy.
- Arrange everything in small dishes and garnish with herbs, green onions, or sesame seeds for a colorful, appetizing look.
Beverages That Go Well with Ramen Sides
- Japanese Green Tea: Refreshes and cleanses your taste buds between bites.
- Water or Sparkling Water: Simple, helps balance stronger flavors.
- Alcohol Options: Light beer, dry sake, or plum wine if you want something stronger. For spicy sides, chilled juice or sweet wine works nicely to cool things down.
Popular FAQs about Ramen Sides
Are Ramen Sides Healthy?
Some ramen sides, like salads, edamame, pickled veggies, and spinach, are healthy and low in calories, giving you fiber and vitamins. Fried sides like tempura or karaage are higher in fat and calories, so enjoy them in moderation. Mixing lighter sides with heavier ones lets you create a more balanced meal.
Can You Make Ramen Sides Ahead of Time?
Yes, many sides are easy to prepare in advance. Marinated dishes, pickles, and salads can sit in the fridge for a day or two. Ramen eggs need to be made ahead to soak up their marinade. Some items, like gyoza, can be frozen and then cooked when needed. Fried sides, however, are best eaten freshly made for the best crunch.
What Are Quick Sides for Instant Ramen?
- Fried or soft-boiled egg
- Chopped green onions, cilantro
- Microwaved edamame
- Store-bought kimchi or seaweed salad
- A slice of American cheese (for those who like it)
- Chili oil or hot sauce for more heat
All of these take just a few minutes and can really change up basic instant noodles.
To wrap up, ramen sides aren’t just small extras-they’re a big part of making a truly enjoyable ramen meal. They add crunch, tang, fresh flavors, or extra protein and fat, helping round out the dish and make each bite more exciting. There are so many options to choose from-traditional or new, light or rich, mild or spicy―so you can customize your meal any way you like. Try out different combinations next time you have ramen, and discover which sides make your perfect bowl even better.