Ramen is a delicious Chinese and Japanese broth, traditionally made from either meat or fish, with the addition of wheat noodles and, sometimes, toppings such as meat pieces, seafood, or vegetables.
The popularity of ramen has been growing steadily outside of Japan in recent years, partly because it’s so delicious and partly because it has several nutritional benefits.
These include energy-boosting carbohydrates and strengthening protein from the wheat noodles and, depending on the ingredients in the broth and toppings, a whole host of other advantages.
Sure, it’s high in sodium, but we can’t be perfect health gurus all the time!
However, one common problem ramen-lovers encounter on a regular basis is that this noodle-based soup can be quite tricky to serve up and eat without making a mess.
Anyone who’s ever excitedly tucked into a delicious bowl of ramen only to immediately ruin their favorite shirt with chicken broth will understand the struggle.
Luckily, there’s a very simple solution to minimizing this problem, and it’s actually been around for as long as ramen has! All you need to do to simplify your ramen mealtimes is invest in a traditional Japanese ramen bowl!
Stay tuned to find out all about our top 7 best ramen bowls, and find your new favorite dish today!
These authentic, traditional-style ramen bowls from NJ Charms feature at the top of our selection for various reasons.
The NJ Charms ramen soup bowls have been carefully crafted using a screw thread design and hand-painted to achieve the stunning sprayed pattern.
Not only are these bowls gorgeous and decorative to look at, but they’re made to fit the golden proportion recommended in Japan.
We’ll discuss these proportions in more detail later in our buyer’s guide, so if you’re itching to find out more, remember to keep reading!
These bowls come as a set of 2, so if you’re a big ramen fan like we are, you can always have a spare bowl handy when the other is in the dishwasher - because, yes, the NJ Charms ramen bowls are also dishwasher-safe!
And if all that weren’t enough, the ramen bowls even come with beautiful, authentic-looking wooden spoons and chopsticks, so you can enjoy ramen the way it was intended!
Because these bowls are hand-painted and authentic, you will be looking at a higher price point than some other ramen bowls on the market.
However, if tradition and aesthetics are important to you, we think you’ll find them worth the money.
Pros
Set of 2 - Always have a spare ramen bowl
Authentic style - Beautiful and decorative
51 oz size - Ideal proportions
Dishwasher-safe - Easy to clean in the top rack
Includes spoons and chopsticks - Everything you need to enjoy your meal
Like the previous set of bowls we reviewed from this company, these ramen bowls are designed to be traditional and authentic, complete with a beautiful, hand-painted fish design.
Again, the hand-crafted style of NJ Charms bowls does come at a higher price, but
These bowls have a large capacity of 60 oz, which is perfect for enjoying larger portions - because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want more ramen per serving?
Besides, with deeper bowls, it’s much easier to eat your ramen without spilling broth everywhere.
Bamboo chopsticks and wooden spoons are included with the bowls so you can tuck in straight away once they arrived (well, once you’ve washed them, anyway).
And when you’re done, you can just put the bowls in the top shelf of the dishwasher and relax!
Pros
2 bowls - Increased value for money
Hand-painted design - Decorative as well as functional
60 oz capacity - Large proportions
Dishwasher-safe - Effortless cleaning
Chopsticks and spoons included - No separate purchases necessary
Cons
On the expensive side - Not the most budget-friendly
Ramen bowls are often made out of melamine. Melamine is a lesser-known material compared to ceramic, but melamine bowls are some of the best for enhancing the ramen experience.
Melamine is a type of plastic resin formed from organic compounds. It’s lightweight, wear-resistant, and dishwasher-safe, all while looking unbelievably similar to regular crockery!
These bowls feature a simple, white, ribbed design and a glossy finish that closely resembles ceramic crockery.
As an additional bonus, the Vallenwood Melamine Ramen Bowls come with stretchable silicone lids.
These lids shrink down when not stretched over the rim of the bowls, so they’re easy and practical to store away when you don’t need them.
The set also includes plastic chopsticks and spoons, so you won’t need to purchase anything separately.
Because the Vallenwood Ramen Bowls Set is made of melamine, you get all 4 bowls for less than the average ceramic 2-bowl set, which is fantastic value for money.
Just remember not to put these bowls in the microwave because melamine’s chemical composition can be disturbed by high temperatures, resulting in potential damage or contamination.
Pros
4 bowls - Family-sized set
Dishwasher-safe - Stress-free cleaning
Includes stretchy silicone lids - Easy storage and heat preservation
Comes with spoons and chopsticks - All the accessories you need
Affordable price - Excellent value for money
Cons
Not microwave-safe - Risk of damage or food contamination if heated
If neither the traditional ceramic or melamine ramen bowl materials float your boat, there’s always the option of a porcelain ramen bowl!
Porcelain is not as porous and more durable than ceramic, so if you’re looking for something that will stand the test of time and allow you to keep enjoying your ramen for years to come, this would be our recommendation.
But durability isn’t the only thing these bowls have going for them.
They feature a distinctive Ohgigatadon shape that makes them easy to hold, as well as small, practical handles that are great for carrying if the bowl is too hot.
They’re also great for keeping your chopsticks (included along with spoons) off the table.
The DOWAN Ramen Bowls are completely dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe, so you can reheat your ramen easily if it gets cold and leave the cleaning process up to technology after your meal.
The only downside to these bowls is that they only have a capacity of 20 oz, which isn’t very much, especially compared to some of the 60 oz bowls you can find on the market.
However, if you simply prefer smaller portions or are working on portion control, you might find that a smaller size works best for you.
Besides, the Ohgigatadon shape of these bowls makes up for the small capacity by being easy to handle, stack, and store.
Pros
Ohgigatadon shape - Easy to hold, stack, and store
Dishwasher-safe - Hassle-free cleaning
Microwave-safe - Reheat your ramen easily
Practical handles - Effortless handling and chopstick
Includes spoons and chopsticks - All required utensils included
If having a solid and environmentally-friendly lid to keep your ramen warm for longer is a priority for you, we recommend this Japanese Vintage Ceramic Ramen Bowl from Yeking.
Not only does the ceramic bowl itself look lovely with its meticulously crafted, contrasting floral design, but it also comes with a wooden lid that does an excellent job at keeping the contents of the bowl warm.
It doesn’t hurt that it looks authentic and aesthetically pleasing at the same time!
The classic, round (Tayoudon) shape of this bowl makes it a great, versatile option for multiple meal types.
You could use it for cereal, regular soups, rice, or just about any bowl-appropriate meal you like! The large capacity is also perfect for large, hearty portions of hot food after a long day.
This bowl also comes with a pair of wooden chopsticks and a ceramic spoon, so you can finish both your noodles and broth with ease.
However, we wouldn’t recommend putting this bowl in the dishwasher because the painted design may chip off.
Pros
Appealing design - Bring style to your mealtimes
Includes wooden lid - Naturally insulating
Versatile shape - Can be used for multiple food types
Large capacity - Perfect for big portions
Wooden chopsticks and ceramic spoon included - All eating utensils provided
Cons
Paint chips easily - Not suitable for the dishwasher
Kimi Cuisine’s set of 2 Black Melamine Ramen Bowls will make a simple yet visually appealing addition to your kitchen and a massive improvement to your ramen dining experience!
Like many melamine ramen bowls, the Kimi Cuisine bowls look very similar to real crockery, down to their semi-gloss finish and satisfying ribbed design.
Beyond aesthetics, these bowls have plenty of culinary advantages! For one thing, they’ve been formed into the traditional Menbachi shape, so it’s both wide and deep.
This makes it easier to navigate around the noodles and toppings at the top of the bowl while providing plenty of room for the broth to pool in the bottom with minimal risk of spilling.
In addition to this, the melamine material is highly durable and food-grade-safe, so you’ll never have to worry about either breaking your bowls or contaminating your food.
The Kimi Cuisine Black Melamine bowls have a capacity of 37 oz, which is ideal for average-sized portions.
2 soup ladles and 2 pairs of chopsticks are included alongside the bowls, so you can enjoy every last scrap of ramen with just the utensils provided.
Moreover, because of the carefully aligned slots in the rim of each bowl, you can serve up your ramen in style while keeping your chopsticks hygienically off the table!
Just remember not to fill these bowls up too high because the slots in the rims do make leaking more probable if overfilled.
Pros
Semi-gloss melamine - Looks like real ceramic
Durable material - Long-lasting and wear-resistant
Menbachi shape - Easy to eat out of and minimizes spillage
37 oz capacity - Perfect for medium-sized portions
Soup ladles and chopsticks included - Complete set
Cons
Rim slots can cause leakage - Be careful not to overfill
Finally, we have another ramen bowl set from Vallenwood!
As we have come to expect from Vallenwood, these bowls feature a gorgeous, hand-sprayed gradient design with a thick glaze, reflecting traditional Japanese ramen bowl designs.
The bowls are made out of ceramic, so they’re durable, food-safe, and great for keeping your ramen warm for longer.
They also boast restaurant-grade durability, so you can be confident that these ramen bowls will last you a long time.
Vallenwood’s Premium Ceramic Large Ramen Bowls have a 32 oz capacity, ideal for the average ramen portion size.
A major advantage of these bowls over some of the others available on the market is that, in addition to the spoons and chopsticks that typically come with, the Vallenwood Premium bowls also include forks and stands.
So, you don’t need to have the best co-ordination with chopsticks to enjoy your ramen with these bowls!
The only word of caution we have to impart about these bowls is that there have been some isolated reports of damage on arrival.
However, in the situations described, this has been easily remedied through Vallenwood’s effective customer service.
Includes spoons, chopsticks, forks, and stands - Most complete set available
Cons
Some reports of damage on arrival - Keep customer service details on hand
Best Ramen Bowls Buying Guide
Types of Ramen Bowls
It’s important to remember that, when it comes to ramen bowls, one size certainly doesn’t fit all.
There are 7 different types of ramen bowls, all distinguishable by their unique shape.
Menbachi bowls are deep with a wide rim, allowing for ease of use and larger portions of broth.
Tayoudon bowls are round in shape and resemble cereal bowls. Their shape makes them easy to handle and very versatile.
Hira Tayoudon bowls, on the other hand, are slightly flatter than their Tayoudon counterparts and better suited to larger portions.
Ohgigatadon are sheer bowls with fanned edges. They tend to have a smaller capacity, but they’re easy to handle and stack for storage.
Tamadon ramen bowls resemble a ‘ball’ in terms of their shape. They’re perfect for ramen dishes with plenty of toppings.
Koudaidon bowls can be handled easily even when they’re hot due to their thick bases.
Marukoudaidon ramen bowls closely resemble Koudaidon bowls, except that they’re made larger for bigger portions.
Proportions
One of the key factors involved in choosing the perfect ramen bowl for your perfect meal is size.
The smallest bowl capacity we have featured in our selection is 20 oz. If you’re someone who finds ramen very filling or simply prefers smaller meals, a 20 oz bowl will probably be the best choice for you.
However, if you prefer larger portions, you can find bowls up to 60 oz in capacity.
The size of the bowl is completely up to you, but the key to an authentic bowl of ramen, according to the traditional Japanese Golden Proportion rule, is to leave between 20 and 30% of the bowl empty. This will also help to avoid spillage.
Additional Features
Most ramen bowls you can buy through online retailers will also include some cutlery for you to start enjoying your ramen right away on receipt of your purchase.
However, there’s quite a lot of variation in terms of the kind of eating utensils included with ramen bowls.
Most bowls will come with the classic combination of chopsticks and spoons, which are the utensils with which ramen is traditionally eaten. These will typically either be made out of wood or plastic resin.
If you’re looking for a more traditional, authentic feel from your ramen eating experience, you may prefer to prioritize wooden cutlery.
Bamboo, in particular, is a good material to look for if you want to combine authenticity with environmental friendliness.
On the other hand, if you want cutlery that is easy to clean in the dishwasher if necessary, plastic resin comes with less risk of water damage and may prove to be more durable in the long-term.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you eat ramen?
In traditional Japanese culture, ramen is eaten from a specially designed ramen bowl like the ones we’ve showcased for you today.
The noodles are traditionally eaten using chopsticks, while soup can be scooped up using a spoon.
Now, you may have noticed that many of the bowls featured in our selection only include chopsticks and spoons, but that doesn’t mean you have to use these utensils if you don’t want to.
In fact, you can find bowls that come with forks as well, so you don’t need to be proficient in chopstick handling to eat ramen.
Do I need a ramen bowl to eat ramen?
Owning a ramen bowl is by no means a requirement for enjoying ramen! Given that Tayoudon and Hira Tayoudon ramen bowls closely resemble regular cereal bowls, you could easily use another type of round or soup bowl to eat ramen.
However, a traditional ramen bowl is likely to contribute ease and authenticity to your experience.
Best Ramen Bowl Sets: We Test 7 Options
These options are sure to be a hit. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
