Sapporo Ichiban Original Flavor Cup

The Sapporo Ichiban Original Flavor Cup is the cup version of the brand’s classic original ramen, and the first thing that caught my eye is who makes it. The package says manufactured by Acecook Vietnam Joint Stock Company for Sanyo Foods Corp. of America.

Produced in Vietnam.

What’s in the Package

Open the lid and you’ll find a square block of thin wavy wheat noodles already nested in the cup with dehydrated corn, green onion, and diced carrot scattered on top. A single foil Soup Base packet sits tucked in next to the noodles.

How to Cook Sapporo Ichiban Original Flavor Cup

1. Open the lid to the arrow line, remove the Soup Base packet and empty it into the cup.
2. Pour boiling water up to the inside fill line, close the lid, and wait 3 minutes.
3. Stir well before eating.

How Does It Taste

The flavor is sweet in a way I didn’t expect. It was both sweet and under-salted. Looking at the ingredients line, the top three are salt, sugar, and MSG, followed by soy sauce powder, soybean sauce, caramel color, artificial chicken flavor, and a bit of fish powder.

There’s a soy-forward base with a chicken-adjacent backbone and a faint fishy depth under the sweetness. It comes out closer to a shio or light soy profile than anything assertive.

This tastes like ramen. Cup ramen specifically. The broth is clear and light, the noodles are the brand’s familiar thin wavy wheat, and nothing jumps out either good or bad. It’s the original Sapporo Ichiban you already know, scaled into a cup.

How Does It Compare

The Original Flavor Cup is essentially the cup version of the Sapporo Ichiban Original Flavored Soup pack, just sweeter and lighter, possibly since it’s made in Vietnam rather than the standard production run. If you want the same idea with a warmer, saltier profile, reach for the Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen. If you want another familiar cup ramen like this, the Nissin Cup Noodles line is the obvious one to try.

How to Level Up Sapporo Ichiban Original Flavor Cup

This one is a good base to add whatever you want. The flavor is so neutral that almost anything works. A pinch of salt or a dash of soy sauce is the first fix if you want the savory side pushed up.

For toppings, a soft-boiled egg and a handful of sliced green onions round it out quickly. The broth is mild enough that the yolk is a nice touch here.

If you want to turn it into a real meal, stir in a scoop of shredded rotisserie chicken or a piece of strip steak. A dash of chili oil or a spoon of chili crisp adds the heat the packet doesn’t.

Final Verdict

This runs sweeter and milder than the pack version most people grew up with. It tastes like ramen. Just cup ramen. Not one I’d reach for over the original pack, but a fine pick if cup format is what you need. I’d grab this again if it’s the only option on the shelf.

How do I rate my ramen? Check out the Ramen Rating Guide.

Related Instant Ramen

• Sapporo Ichiban Original Flavored Soup
• Sapporo Ichiban Chicken Flavored Soup
• Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen
• Sapporo Ichiban Beef Flavored Soup
• Nissin Cup Noodle Seafood

Where to buy Sapporo Ichiban Original Flavor Cup

• Yami