Ichiran Vegan Ramen

Ichiran sent me their vegan instant ramen and I want to start by saying thank you to the team for the gift. Ichiran is one of the most respected ramen chains in Japan. They’re known for their solo dining booths, their rich tonkotsu broth, and consistency. Making a vegan version of the rich tonkotsu broth is an ambitious undertaking and I went in curious about how close they could actually get.

Produced in Japan.

What’s in the Package

The package contains a bundle of thin, non-fried wheat noodles, a large green sachet containing the concentrated vegan broth base, a white sachet with the seasoning oil, and Ichiran’s signature blend of Japanese peppers.

How to Prepare

1. Bring 450ml of water to a boil.
2. Add the noodles. For the best texture, cook for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
3. Turn off the heat and stir in the soup base and seasoning oil.
4. Pour into a bowl and add the Spicy Red Seasoning.

How Does It Taste

I thought the broth was lighter than a traditional tonkotsu. Tonkotsu is defined by its milky, collagen-rich pork bone depth and a vegan version isn’t going to replicate that completely. What Ichiran has done instead is build a broth with umami depth that feels like it belongs in the same family. The savory richness is there even without the pork. It’s comforting in a way that’s surprisingly close to the real thing.

What impressed me most was that it doesn’t taste like a compromise. A lot of vegan ramen products signal their limitations immediately. This one doesn’t. The flavor is coherent and well-balanced and the umami notes carry the broth further than the viscosity alone would suggest.

The noodles are smooth and easy to slurp. Nothing unexpected here but they’re consistent with the brand’s standard.

I’ll say something I don’t say often: I actually prefer this vegan version to Ichiran’s regular instant ramen. The balance feels cleaner and the lighter broth works better in the instant format than the heavier tonkotsu does.

Even with adding the whole red spice packet, we thought the spice level was a 1 out of 5.

How to Level It Up

To keep things fully vegan, fresh green onions are the first addition. Don’t hold back on the amount.

Thinly sliced cabbage is light enough not to overpower the delicate vegan tonkotsu. If you want to go further, a sheet of nori and a few pieces of bamboo shoots would take the bowl closer to a proper Ichiran experience while staying vegan.

Final Verdict

It’s lighter than the original and the noodles won’t surprise you, but the overall experience is cohesive and satisfying. If you’re vegan, plant-based curious, or just want a lighter instant ramen from a brand that takes quality seriously, this is worth every bit of the premium price.

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