10 Best Spicy Ramen Noodles in 2022 (Ramen Blogger-Reviewed)

When choosing a spicy ramen noodle, there are a couple of things you should consider. These include looking at the spice level, how much spice you can actually handle, how much flavor besides pepper that you want, and seeing how much time the ramen takes to prepare.

Just because you want spice, doesn’t necessarily mean you want spicy! Everyone's spice tolerance is different, and you’ll have to know yourself well on whether or not you can handle spice or not. If provided, we suggest looking at the Scoville scale information when deciding on spice levels of the ramen you're considering. 

The Scoville scale measures the hottest peppers in the world on an easy-to-read graph in SHU (Scoville heat units), ranging from the completely unspicy bell pepper to the terrifyingly spicy ghost pepper. It’s based on the measure of capsaicin, the compound causing that burning feeling on your tongue, in the food item. 

For reference, we’ve listed some of major ones below:

• Jalapeño peppers are 2,500 – 8,000 SHU
• Cayenne peppers are 30,000 – 50,000 SHU
• Habanero peppers are 150,000 – 575,000 SHU
• Ghost peppers are 800,000 – 1,001,300 SHU – and ghost peppers are only the fifth hottest pepper in the world!

Generally, less broth means more concentration of spices, so go for soupy ramen if you don't want it too spicy. You can also opt for a spicier ramen and dilute it with more water than the package recommends to try and lessen the spice levels!

If you are looking for strong spices, then watch out for a few special ingredients that help to kick up the spice level. These are mainly concentrated in the soup or sauce part of the noodles, rather than the noodles themselves.

As you’ll note, many of these are pepper varieties. So, keep an eye out for black pepper powder, red pepper powder, paprika, or chili peppers – or combinations of all of the above for a spicier meal! 

You can also look for sauce names, such as Mala, for more specific kinds of spicy. Mala is a sauce based on Szechuan peppercorns, which is the ingredient that gives it its signature, tingly feeling (this is from the hydroxy alpha sanshool molecule).

Unfortunately, there are only a few studies done on peppers and their effects on the perception of "slow-burning" versus the "immediate burning" sensation you feel on your tongue when you eat spicy foods. So, to make sure of the exact type of spice sensation you're going to get with a spicy ramen, take a look through the reviews.

If you like a simple flavor or prefer to customize your own noodles, you can go for simple flavors like spicy chicken, spicy beef, or kimchi. Since the flavor is nothing too complicated, you can add your own spices like garlic, hoisin sauce, or gochujang paste to make the noodles more special! 

But of course, there are many noodles with a complex flavor profile. Undeniably, Korean noodles are the king of heat. Noodles from brands such as Samyang and Nongshim are widely recognized for their intensely spicy taste. Some are so spicy that you might need to drink milk while eating. 

Besides having a lot of heat, Korean noodles are flavorful as well. Try jjajangmyeon, dried noodles covered in savory black bean sauce. Jjamppong is a Korean spicy seafood noodle soup that has umami and a rich taste! 

Besides Korea, there are plenty of other countries creating ramen noodles packed with flavor. Thai noodles tend to be more acidic, balancing sweetness, saltiness, and spiciness together in perfect harmony. 

Japanese noodles are more subtle in flavor, toning down spiciness in favor of clean, smooth tastes. Chinese noodles that are inspired by Szechuan can also pack a punch with their spicy peppers. There are also spicy and cheesy noodles for those who like a creamy flavor.

In general, when looking at flavor profiles, checking the reviews is your best bet. Find comments on tasting notes such as sweet or sour – not just spicy. This will give you an idea of whether or not you’ll be able to enjoy your ramen noodles beyond that fiery exterior.

When it comes to soupy noodles, you can choose between light or thick and rich soup bases. Light soup bases are usually made from chicken stock, vegetable stock, or soy sauce. Meanwhile, creamy and rich soup bases often contain bone broth and animal fat. Some broths have milk or cheese powder for added creaminess and flavor.

There are also soupless ramen noodles for those who don't like to drink broth! Some great examples include Indomie's Mi Goreng and Maruchan's Spicy Yakisoba. Soupless noodles tend to be spicier and more flavorful than soupy ones since the noodles are directly covered in the spicy sauce or seasoning. 

Another factor to keep in mind is the texture of the noodles. If you like thick, chewy noodles, opt for noodles that require boiling like pasta. They will also remain chewy in sauce or broth for a longer time! 

On the other hand, noodles that only require hot water to cook tend to be thinner and less chewy. They soak up sauce and broth well. However, you should eat them quickly or else they will become soggy. 

Ramen can come in two main types of packaging: cups or bowls, or packets. Cups and bowls are extremely convenient since the ramen can be made right away without having to transfer the noodles from stove to bowl. They also tend to have more extras packaged with them to add more flavor to your noodles.

However, packets are more commonly available to buy online, and they take up less storage space in your home. They also tend to come in multiples and are cheaper to purchase. It’s easy to personalize packets because they come with fewer additional ingredients. You can cook them on the stove or in a microwave.

Though cups and bowls are more convenient for preparation time reasons, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they take a shorter time than packets to make! Make sure to check the label for how much boiling time is required for making the ramen before purchasing.

After looking through countless reviews and weighing our options, we’ve picked the top three best spicy ramen noodles based on flavor, popularity, and spice level. We also chose seven more great options to consider, so take a look below!

*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Cody Mizuno. These prices were gathered from their respective e-commerce pages on February 24, 2022.

Instant ramen might come with dried veggies or meats as a topping, but sometimes this doesn't feel like enough! Maybe you want some acid or some crunch—adding texture, additional spices, or fresh ingredients can really help to make a bowl of noodles sing.

The most common additional topping you'll see on ramen bowls are eggs. They can be softboiled for those who love the creamy, runny consistency of the yolk, or they can be hardboiled for more density. Then there's also spring onions—adding just a bit of it into the soup makes the ramen taste lighter and fresher. This same idea applies to the addition of lemon juice.

Other additions you can think about include sriracha or ginger, for just a bit more spice, and bean sprouts or crispy onions, for crunch. Any fresh vegetable can work, and succulent meats such as big chunks of pork or stewed beef could also pair well with ramen!

Still have lingering questions about spicy ramen noodles? Cody Mizuno is here to answer a commonly asked one.

Cody says, "Before I dive into a spicy noodle, I will often eat yogurt or have a yogurt-based drink to help coat the inside of my stomach. This will help you later on as it keeps your stomach from feeling too fiery after your meal. 

As for the noodles themselves, I will often prepare an egg, sunny side up with a runny yolk, and have it as a topping if I find the dish to be too spicy. The yolk can coat the noodles and make the impact of the spice a bit less intense. I also will have a bit of Kewpie mayo on the side, and I find that the creaminess of Kewpie will help lessen the spiciness of the sauce."

In case you wanted to make spicy ramen with a twist, we made a video!

Click the link below to learn detailed recipes on how to make Super Spicy Ramen Fondue, Spicy Noodles and Tuna Mayo, and Thai-Inspired Spicy Coconut Ramen!

Have you ever wanted to create your own ramen from scratch? There are various ingredients involved in the process, but we’ve got you covered with our top picks for each. Check out the links below for more helpful tips on choosing the best products to make and plate your own perfect bowl of noodles!

Author: Kristina Tan

Updated: Thuy Nguyen, 2/24/2022

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