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Trader Joe’s Soy & Sesame Ramen does exactly what the name says. Soy and sesame, straightforward, no surprises. The noodles are the reason to buy it.
Produced by the United States.
What’s in the Package
Inside the packaging, you’ll find a square block of air-dried wheat noodles and a single white sachet of Soy & Sesame sauce.
How to Cook Trader Joe’s Soy & Sesame Ramen
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
- Add the noodles and boil for 4 minutes.
- Drain the noodles well.
- Place the noodles in a bowl, add the Soy & Sesame sauce sachet, and stir thoroughly to coat.
How Does It Taste
The flavor is soy and sesame upfront with hints of onion and garlic powder underneath. It’s a clean and simple profile that doesn’t try to do too much. The sauce is thin and coats the noodles adequately but it’s not going to carry the bowl on its own.
The noodles are the standout. They’re thick and wavy with a hand-cut-like texture that I really liked. Good bite, good chew, and they hold up well under the thin sauce. At a 3 out of 5 on thickness they’re among the better noodles in the American instant ramen space.
How Does It Compare
The noodle quality puts this above most American instant ramens in the same price range. The sauce profile is closest to the Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein. Both are dry soy-forward formats with a clean simple flavor. The Sapporo Ichiban has the seaweed note that gives it slightly more character. The Trader Joe’s wins on noodle thickness and texture. If the sauce feels thin, and it is, treat it like a base and build from there.
How to Level Up Trader Joe’s Soy & Sesame Ramen
Fresh garlic cooked into the sauce before adding the noodles adds the depth the packet alone is missing. A fried egg, rotisserie chicken, and crispy bacon all work naturally here. The noodles are good enough that they’ll carry whatever you add.
Final Verdict
The sauce is basic. The noodles are not. If you’re at Trader Joe’s and want something to build a quick weeknight bowl around this is a solid pick. Skip the sauce packet and make your own if you want even more control over the flavor.
Tasting Notes
- Spice Level: 0/5
- Broth Viscosity: 0/5
- Noodle Thickness: 3/5
- Noodle Type: Hand cut like
- Topping Suggestions: Garlic, Fried Egg, Rotisserie Chicken, Bacon
How do I rate my ramen? Check out the Ramen Rating Guide.
Related Instant Ramen
- Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein
- Maruchan Soy Sauce Ramen Noodles
- Nissin Chow Mein Chicken Noodles
- Boiling Point Sesame Peanut Noodle
- Samyang Vegetasty Noodle Soup
Where to buy Trader Joe’s Soy & Sesame Ramen
Community Ratings
I did not like the flavor but the noodles were really good. I would prefer the noodles with a different broth or flavoring.
I had the spicy version – It was not spicy at all. The sesame paste was watery but the noodles are good.
Not a big fan of the sauce , but I use the noodles as a base for other noodle dishes
pretty bland sauce, but the noodles were well-made! i ended up throwing away the sauce packets and just cooking the noodles alone for a stirfry when i bought these.
