What To Eat With Ramen: 25 Flavorful Dishes

Ramen might be one of the easiest meals to make and they are rarely considered a family meal. However, can you make this dish into one that you can add to your lunch or dinner table along with your loved ones? Absolutely yes!

We’ve put together a guide with several dishes that you will be able to enjoy along with your ramen without having to spend hours in the kitchen.

In this guide, we included Asian side dishes that will go great with ramen but also dishes from other cuisines that you will love to enjoy.

Keep reading to find the best dishes that can complement your meal!

Best 25 Dishes To Eat With Ramen 

Pick one or even more side dishes to enjoy with your ramen so you can have a more complex and satisfying meal without too much hassle in the kitchen!

1. Cucumber Salad

Cucumber salad is popular in Japanese cuisine. However, it became well-loved in other parts of the world.

All you need is to shred the cucumbers in ribbon shape slices, add white wine vinegar, and a sprinkle of chili. Let your salad sit for 20 minutes with all the ingredients before serving it next to your favorite rumen.

2. Potato Salad

A Japanese potato salad that includes carrots, cucumbers, and onion will also pair well with your ramen. Fry all the ingredients and season well with salt, pepper, and herbs of your choice!

3. Stir Fry

If you are looking for a side dish that is just as fast to make as ramen, a stir fry might be the best for you. There are different stir fry mixes you can prepare.

All you have to do is throw them in a pan and fry them for a few minutes. Depending on the pan that you are using you might need to add a tablespoon of cooking oil.

4. Kimchi

Kimchi is another Asian specialty that you can add next to your ramen.

You can find kimchi already made in stores. Or you can prepare it yourself. However, the recipe is quite complex and you will not be able to eat it on the spot.

Either way, if you have some kimchi in your house, definitely add it next to your ramen and you will love this combination.

5. Spring Rolls

Spring rolls are extremely tasty, easy to make, and compatible with any type of ramen.

Make sure to prepare more rolls than you expect to be eaten since they can disappear fast due to their lovely taste. You can add almost all kinds of veggies inside your spring rolls but carrots and cabbage should definitely be present for a more Asian taste! 

6. Shrimp

When it comes to shrimp, you can enjoy it as a side dish to your ramen. Or you can combine it with your noodles for a more complex taste. Just fry the shrimp or grill it as you prefer. And don’t refrain from adding the seasoning you want to increase its delicious flavor.

7. Seaweed Salad

If you want to stay within the Japanese cuisine, try out seaweed salad along with your ramen.

Seaweed salad is easy to prepare. And you can make it soft or crispy. Feel free to bake the seaweed in the oven for a few minutes, without burning it, then add dressing to it.

8. Japanese Fried Chicken

Japanese fried chicken is also a very satisfying and filling side dish to try out with your ramen.

Just fry your chicken and add a couple of leaves of lettuce for a more complex variety of flavors. Make sure the chicken pieces come in bites sizes for easier consumption.

9. Pickled Vegetables

Pickled cabbage, cucumbers, or peppers will also compliment your ramen nicely.

The crunchy texture of your pickles and the soft texture of your rumen will be a delicacy that you will want to try more often. You can use store-bought pickles as it is a wide variety of them or make your own.

10. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are delicious by themselves. However, if you pair them with a serving of ramen you will love your dinner that much more. This is a great combination for lunch as well. And you can choose to prepare your sweet potatoes as you like them.

You can have them as fries or baked sweet potatoes or even steam them with a bit of herb and salt.

11. Steamed Veggies

Steamed veggies can be served with ramen as a side dish but also combined with ramen for a more complex meal. If you choose to serve your steamed veggies as a side dish sprinkle some garlic, salt, pepper, and rosemary on top of them.

The best veggies for such a meal would be carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, celery root, etc. But if you like other vegetables, there is no reason not to use them in such a combination.

12. Steak

If you like steak, you can have the best of both worlds by pairing your favorite steak with ramen.

Beef and pork are most popular for such a combination. You can also add a sauce to your steak to enrich its flavor. You can use chicken or turkey too if you prefer this type of meat.

13. Meatballs

Meatballs are some of the most popular dishes worldwide! There are several recipes to prepare them as tasty as possible.

But can you enjoy your meatballs next to your noodles? Absolutely! And not only next to the ramen but also in the same bowl if you like!

14. Chashu

Chashu is a Japanese dish made of belly pork. While this dish is rich in calories, it is super tasty and you should give it a try at least once in a while.

This dish will melt in your mouth with every bite and enrich your meal even more. Many people would suggest you add such a dish on top of your ramen but you might like it so much that you want to eat it separately as well.

15. Sashimi

Sashimi is essentially raw fish, especially raw salmon. However, it will taste so much better combined with your ramen.

You can add salt and other seasonings to your sashimi or you can simply mix it with your ramen and let it get the flavoring from your main dish. Either way, you will love this combination!

16. Grilled Fish

Grilled fish is delicious by itself. However, you can also try it with your ramen and you will have one of the best meals ever!

You can use any type of fish and season it with soem garlic and lemon for an extra flavor. Just don’t forget the salt and pepper to compliment all your ingredients but your personal preferences will prevail!

17. Mini Donburi

Donburi is an Asian dish that involves different ingredients on top of white rice. You can use veggies, meat, or fish and season your donburi as you like.

For a side dish for ramen, try out some mini donburis with the toppings you love the most and you will have a great dinner but also a very tasty lunch.

18. Baked Teriyaki Tofu

Tofu is common in Asian cuisine but you will have to prepare it the right way to make the most out of it. Baked teriyaki tofu is one of the tastiest ways you can cook your tofu and add it to your ramen bowl or just have some bites of it on the side.

19. Fried Mushrooms

Fried or sauteed mushrooms are not just easy to make but also very tasty!

If you are in a hurry, get some already sliced mushrooms that come in a jar or a can and simply fry them in one teaspoon of cooking oil for a few minutes.

You can mix them with your ramen or eat them on the side dipped in some tomato sauce.

20. Barbecue

If you like barbecue meat, you should definitely enjoy it next to a bowl of ramen. You can make some fresh barbecue meat of your choice or you can heat up leftovers and set them on a plate next to your rumen.

You can even enjoy your barbecue cold if you like it as such. However, if you don’t heat it up, we recommend mixing it with your warm ramen so the temperature of your food will even out.

21. Baked Veggies

Baked veggies make another delicious side dish for your ramen.

You can choose any veggies you like from squash to potatoes and peppers. Also, get creative with seasonings. Add a garlic sauce or mayo as a final topping and you will have a tasty family meal. Some cheddar cheese would also be a great topping for such a side dish.

22. Edamame Beans

Edamame beans can be a tasty and nutritious snack by themselves. Or you can mix them with your ramen.

They are easy to find and prepare as most of them come frozen and even seasoned. So, you can fry them or simply bake them for a few minutes and add them to your ramen meal!

23. Dumplings

Dumplings are great comfort food if you choose a filling that you like. You can make them with cheese, veggies, or meat and they would all go great next to your ramen.

You can prepare your dumplings on the spot if you have some time on your hands. Add some cheese sauce on them or have it available as a dipping sauce for even more flavor.

24. Tea-Stained Egg

The tea-stained egg is easy to make and a dish that is specific to Japan.

You will have to hard boil the egg, then crack the shell so you can add a combination of tea, soy sauce, and Asian seasonings. Enjoying one of these eggs next to your ramen can add a lot of Asian vibe to your dinner.

25. Cabbage Salad

Cabbage salad is extremely easy to make and rich in vitamin A.

You can enjoy it next to your ramen for a fresher taste and a more wholesome meal. Add some vinegar dressing with the seasonings you like the most for an even better combination.

Ramen Toppings Vegetarian

If you want to add some vegetarian toppings to your ramen, you will find plenty of options in the dishes above.

However, steamed or baked veggies, and mushrooms, make delish vegetarian side dishes for ramen. A type of cheese that you like can also make for a tasty topping in combination with a hot bowl of ramen.

Get creative when it comes to your ramen toppings as you might be surprised by the outcome. You can create your very own combination according to your preferences.

What To Eat With Chicken Ramen Noodles?

Chicken ramen noodles go great with a side dish of veggies or pickles. You can enjoy these noodles with a salad and even a side of mushrooms with tomato sauce.

However, these noodles can be very filling by themselves as well, as they have protein and carbs. And if you feel the need for some extra chicken, you can always add it to your noodles!

Summary

Ramen is the type of instant food that comes in a wide range of flavors. You can add the side dishes in this guide regardless of the main flavor of your ramen as long as you enjoy the final combination.

However, you want to try to balance some meat-flavored ramen with a vegetable side dish or the other way around. By doing so, you will make sure to have a wide variety of tastes and you can get more nutrition out of such a meal!