Bouncy instant ramen noodles in a creamy, rich and savory broth made in 5 minutes with 6 ingredients! This quick and easy kewpie mayo ramen hack will upgrade your instant noodles with a few simple ingredients! A tasty meal or snack.
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Kewpie Mayo Ramen is a Japanese ramen hack that has wildly spread through TikTok and social media for good reason!
It became super popular because with just a few simple ingredients (kewpie mayo or regular mayo, egg and minced garlic) the broth instantly becomes a very rich and creamy one!
That's why it appeals to so many, especially young college students who need a fast, affordable and tasty meal. You can also add dumplings, vegetables, or protein to the noodles (I share topping ideas below).
I personally love this ramen recipe so much that if I'm making instant ramen, I will use this quick and simple trick to elevate it!
What kind of instant ramen do you recommend? The original creator of this hack calls for a Japanese brand, called "Sappora Ichiban" in Original flavour. But use any instant ramen with soup base that you enjoy! I love using Jin Ramen or Nongshim.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Instant Ramen with Soup Base: I recommend using any instant ramen that you enjoy whether that's spicy or not. If you prefer a spicy broth, use Jin Ramen, Nongshim Shin Ramyun or any instant ramen with a spicy soup base. These are sold at Asian grocery stores, online or at select Western grocers.
- Japanese mayo (aka Kewpie mayo): a very creamy Japanese-style mayonnaise with a stronger egg taste because it's made of egg yolks only, instead of using whole eggs. You can find this at any Asian grocery store or online. Or substitute with regular mayo that is thick and creamy, like Hellman's.
- Water
- Egg
- Garlic Clove: or substitute with garlic powder to taste.
- Green Onions: for garnishing. This is optional.
Expert Tips
- Use an enjoyable instant ramen brand that comes with a soup base. If you like spice, I recommend using Jin Ramen or Nongshim Shin Ramyun.
- Finely grate the garlic or make sure to finely mince it, so you're not tasting chunks of raw garlic in the broth.
- Don't overcook the ramen and only boil until al-dente. I recommend cooking it for just 2 minutes or 1 minute less than the instructed time on the ramen packet.
- Very Important! Slowly temper the egg mayo mixture by gradually adding portions of the hot noodle water while mixing to prevent scrambled eggs. If you pour it all in at once, it will cook the eggs.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make kewpie mayo ramen:
- In a large serving bowl, whisk together minced garlic, kewpie mayo, raw egg and the instant ramen soup base powder.
- Then in a small pot, add suggested amount of water (or refer to the amount specified on the ramen packet if it calls for less), bring to a boil. Add instant ramen noodles and boil for 2 minutes or until al dente.
- Very slowly pour half of the piping hot noodle water into the serving bowl with the mayo egg mixture while mixing. Do not just pour all the noodle water into the bowl or it will fully cook the eggs.
- Then pour the rest of the noodle water and ramen noodles into the bowl. Mix the ramen and broth together. Garnish with green onions and enjoy!
Storage
- This dish is best enjoyed immediately.
- Leftovers can last up to 1-2 days in the fridge. Store the broth and noodles into two separate airtight containers in the fridge. To reheat, reboil the broth until hot and add the noodles in the last 10 seconds to warm them up. Note: the noodles won't taste as chewy when made fresh.
- Freezer-friendly? I don't recommend freezing kewpie mayo ramen or cooked instant ramen as the noodles will become soggy.
Topping Ideas
Here are some additional and optional topping ideas to add to your cooked ramen:
- fried egg, soft boiled or hard boiled eggs or ramen eggs
- pan fried or boiled dumplings
- cooked vegetables like baby bok choy, napa cabbage, yu choy sum, bean sprouts, corn niblets, carrots, or bamboo shoots.
- nori or dry roasted seaweed
- chili oil or chili garlic sauce
Pairing Suggestions
Kewpie mayo ramen serves well with:
- appetizers like shrimp tempura, panko shrimp, ebi mayo or gyoza (dumplings)
- protein dishes like chicken katsu or tonkatsu, tofu katsu, fish katsu bites, karaage, teriyaki tofu, teriyaki chicken, or ginger miso salmon.
- vegetables like spicy cucumber salad, bok choy, choy sum, gai lan, garlic green beans or stir fried snow pea leaves
- rice dishes like oyakodon, katsudon, or omurice
- rice balls like shrimp tempura rice ball, tuna onigiri, spicy tuna onigiri, pork katsu onigirazu
FAQ
Kewpie mayo ramen is best enjoyed immediately like most instant ramen. But you can prepare it up to 1-2 days in advance and I recommend storing the broth separate from the noodles in airtight containers. To reheat, boil the broth first and then add the noodles in for 10 seconds to warm them up.
Yes, since the egg is beaten and blended with piping hot water, it'll cook very quickly. Your eggs may even scramble if you don't temper them.
Yes, you can but the broth won't be as creamy.
The garlic gives this ramen a very flavourful taste so I would not recommend skipping it completely, unless you’re allergic. You can substitute the raw garlic with garlic powder to taste.
📖 Recipe
Easy 5-min. Kewpie Mayo Ramen Hack
Ingredients
- 1 serving instant ramen any brand you like with soup base
- 1 packet instant ramen soup base included with instant ramen
- 1 tablespoon Japanese mayo aka Kewpie mayo, or regular mayonnaise
- 1 egg
- 1 garlic clove finely minced or grated
- 2.25 cups water or use the amount instructed on the instant ramen packet
- 1 tablespoon green onions finely chopped for garnishing (optional)
Instructions
- In a large serving bowl, whisk together minced garlic, kewpie mayo, raw egg and the instant ramen soup base powder.
- Then in a small pot, add suggested amount of water (or refer to the amount specified on the ramen packet if it calls for less), bring to a boil. Add instant ramen noodles and boil for 2 minutes or until al dente.
- Very slowly pour half of the piping hot noodle water into the serving bowl with the mayo egg mixture while mixing. Do not just pour all the noodle water into the bowl or it will fully cook the eggs.
- Then pour the rest of the noodle water and ramen noodles into the bowl. Mix the ramen and broth together. Garnish with green onions and enjoy!
Ruth
Dear Christie,
this recipe changed my life! I am usually in a hurry and I have no Asia supermarket close by, it worked anyway. I topped it with Pak Choi and your crispy chicken suggestion (which is like our Austrian Schnitzel!) - it was heartwarming! I am gonna try the Earl Grey Chia Pudding next 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!
Grettings from Austria
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and so glad you liked it so much! Happy my recipe could help you. Enjoy my chia pudding recipe too!
Kimber
This is so good! My new fave way to have ramen. I usually use 2 eggs and add something to make it spicier like garlic chili crunch, chili oil, sriracha or gochugang. Amazing.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing this positive review here! I'm glad it's now your favourite way to enjoy instant noodles! It's mine too 🙂
Marissa
This is perfect! I’ve made this several times since finding your recipe. I’ve made it as written and I’ve also made it with chicken for dinner. Today I made it as written with kimchi on top. Simply amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing your 5-star review here! So glad it worked out well with some chicken and kimchi. YUM!
sofia
loved loved loved it! for some extra protein I added some canned tuna and it was super tasty!
Christie Lai
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Sofia! So glad you enjoyed it with the tuna!
Jarem
Do you add just the egg yolk or the entire egg with the egg white? Is there a difference in flavour from using one or the other?
Christie Lai
You would add the whole egg. It's best to add the entire egg as the yolk makes it creamier than just adding egg white.
Elizabeth
This was so tasty! Such a great way to turn regular ramen into a delicious quick meal!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Elizabeth! So happy you enjoyed this spin on regular ramen!
Sara
I want to try this with a spicy Ramen recipe, so obviously I don't want 16 or even 8 oz of water in my Ramen. What's the least amount of water that works in this recipe?
christieathome
If you're looking for a less soupy version and more creamier version of this recipe, start with 3 tbsp of water and add more if needed until you reach the consistency you're looking for.
Sara
Thanks! Just didn't want to end up with scrambled egg from not using enough boiling water.
Carrie Cullen
I can’t wait to try this! One question. Can I use egg substitute for the egg? (The kind made with egg whites that you buy in a carton at the grocery store). TIA
christieathome
I would suggest to just omit the egg altogether as I've never tried egg substitute for this recipe. I hope you enjoy it!
Marlene
I used Shin black and it was great. I also like to add a slice of American cheese. So delicious! Thanks!
christieathome
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it Marlene! Thanks for making my recipe 🙂
N
Add a poached/fried/soft-boiled egg, veggies, and chili oil, and it's a perfect safe food.
For me, the veggies I love to put in are bok choy, snow peas, and bean sprouts. In a pinch, I use the frozen carrots and peas.
For the chili oil, I love Lao Gan Ma chili oil with fermented soybeans. The soybeans adds a perfect crunchy texture that just elevates the dish that much more.
If you want an extra boost of umami, add a dash of umami mushroom seasoning, especially on the egg.
Tash
I made this one before and used grated garlic. It was way too garlicky and I was worried about trying it again. I used minced garlic from a jar, and it’s so much better! For some reason I only have wasabi kewpie, not regular but it was so good.
christieathome
So glad you enjoyed it! Yes I love using minced garlic from the jar as I find it more subtle in taste. Thanks for making my recipe, Tash!
B
The noodles look so yummy!
I had recently bought a bag of ramen and want to try your recipe. However, it does not come with the seasonings.
What can we sub the instant ramen seasoning with?
Look forward to your suggestions. Thanks
christieathome
Hi there, thanks so much! Unfortunately with this hack, the instant ramen seasoning is crucial to the overall taste. Instant ramen seasoning consists of a blend of spices & ingredients that it may present a challenge to mimic it exactly. However, if you're not able to find a spicy soup based ramen, try experimenting with a beef broth base flavoured with a combination of the following ingredients to taste: salt, sugar, soy sauce, a couple kelp leaves, soybean paste, red pepper flakes aka gochugaru, black pepper, garlic power, onion powder.
Hannah
I just made 2 bowls. I learned quickly that properly tempering the boiling water into the mayo mixture was the secret to a smooth finish vs curdling. Dumping half the pot of boiling water in causes curdling. For the 2nd bowl I very slowly added it in bit by bit and that made a difference. Overall, this is a very good (and unhealthy lol) recipe. Not sure what I was expecting, but I wasn't disappointed. I used Black Shin Ramen, which comes with a beef broth packet in addition to the seasoning packet, so it's already creamy. This just made it even creamier. The grated garlic definitely helps elevate it. Try it at least once! -Note to author, your write-up says you used 550ml of water and your recipe says 500ml. Idk if that was intentional, but I think I would've preferred 550ml for mine! I followed the recipe as written, but will try 550ml and add a teeny drop of sesame oil next time. I made ramen eggs and added veggies and herbs. It was tasty! 🤌🏼
christieathome
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the note. As mentioned in the write up, it depends on how much water your ramen packet calls for. Mine called for 550 ml but as an estimate for most recipes I put 500 ml.
Castelle Edwards
Great hack, very in depth description.
christieathome
So glad you enjoyed this hack! Thank you for making my recipe!
Khenji
It was very good and rich. If you have black garlic on hand, use it in place of the regular garlic. It won't disappoint.
christieathome
Thanks for the kind review and for making my recipe! Glad you enjoyed it with black garlic.
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
I am loving your budget gourmet recipe! This is such a fabulous way to create a gourmet soup with basic ramen.