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What Happened to Maruchan Ramen?

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Japanese cuisine is widely known for ramen, an adaption of Chinese wheat noodles soups. Although, more recently, ramen has become one of the top dishes commonly consumed in Japan,

Traditionally, ramen is served in soy sauce or miso-flavored broth and garnished with seaweed, scallions, bamboo shoots, and sliced pork. However, a Taiwanese-Japanese man, Momofuku Ando, came up with a modernization of the traditional ramen known as instant ramen noodles, which he started producing in 1958 under the license of Nissin Foods, the food company he founded. This innovation allows for faster and more convenient preparation of ramen noodles, as it only requires the addition of boiling water, and your meal is ready.

Maruchan is another brand of instant ramen noodles that started producing ramen in 1977 in California. Though they were formerly importing and distributing ramen noodles from Japan, the brand has enjoyed wide acceptance and steady growth since 1977, making it one of the most popular instant ramen noodles in the United States, alongside other brands like Top Ramen.

Unfortunately, Maruchan ramen noodles lovers were shocked when they discovered that many of their local stores no longer have Maruchan ramen noodles. So what happened to Maruchan ramen? Finally, you have come to the right place. Let us see what happened to Maruchan ramen and why it was discontinued.

What happened to Maruchan Ramen? Why was it discontinued?

There are several explanations for what happened to Maruchan ramen and why it was discontinued. But we have been able to pinpoint what happened exactly.

Here it is: Contrary to words from the rumor mill, Maruchan ramen has not been discontinued, at least not completely! Instead, the Maruchan ramen noodles manufacturing company has been struggling with supply chain problems, making it extremely difficult to keep up with customers’ demands. This, unfortunately, made many grocery stores and retail chains drop Maruchan for other brands that can meet customers’ demands. 

Maruchan Company also decided to discontinue a few flavors of their ramen noodles, including tomato flavor, instant wonton, and oriental flavor, due to low demand compared to other flavors. So you can still find other flavors of Maruchan ramen noodles, albeit not as readily as before.   

Read also: Why Was Viniq Discontinued?

Where does Maruchan Ramen come from?

Maruchan ramen is originally Japanese, formerly produced and imported from Tokyo, Japan. In 1977, the Maruchan Company started making ramen in California. Presently, they have about four ramen noodles manufacturing facilities in America.

What does Maruchan mean in Japanese?

In Japanese, “Maruchan” combines two words- Maru and Chan. “Maru” means round or rounded, like a ball’s shape or a happy child’s face. The second word, “Chan,” is an honorific that portrays affection or endearment for a child and is often a suffix attached to the child’s name. 

Read also: How to Open A Pillsbury Can

Are Maruchan Noodles bad for you?

Generally speaking, eating instant ramen noodles regularly may be bad for you because they lack essential nutrients that the body requires for proper functioning, such as fiber, proteins, calcium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, etc.

In addition, instant ramen noodles like Maruchan noodles are loaded with carbs, sodium, and flavor enhancers like monosodium glutamate, which has been linked to symptoms like nausea, headaches, tight muscles, and high blood pressure.

They also contain preservatives such as tertiary butylhydroquinone, commonly known as TBHQ. TBHQ, although considered safe in small doses, has been linked to an increased risk of lymphoma, neurological damage, and liver enlargement when ingested in large amounts.

Seeing that instant ramen noodles are tasty, cheap, and easy to prepare, many people consume them daily or multiple times a day. Unfortunately, this excessive consumption of instant ramen noodles is detrimental to health, so ensure that your ramen consumption is not frequent.

Here are some ways to improve the nutritional profile of your ramen.

  1. Add some vegetables: Vegetables make your meals more colorful and appealing and are also packed with essential vitamins and minerals, which have a plethora of nutritional benefits to your body. You can add vegetables such as onions, carrots, broccoli, spinach, celery, kale, or even cabbage to your ramen to improve its nutritional composition.
  2. Add an egg: Adding an egg to your ramen helps improve your meal’s protein profile. Ramen is a low-protein food, but you can make up for that by cracking an egg in your ramen or boiling an egg to eat with your ramen. In addition, you can add other protein sources like chicken, turkey, meatballs, ground beef, seafood, etc.
  3. Ditch the seasoning or flavor pack that comes with the ramen noodles and replace it with homemade seasonings, such as everything but the bagel seasoning.

Is Nissin or Maruchan better?

Most ramen lovers judge ramen with two major criteria: The ramen noodle and the soup or broth (which is largely influenced by the seasoning pack).

When looking at the ramen noodle, we consider the texture of the noodles. Ramen noodles with great textures can absorb the flavors of the soup, seasonings, and other added ingredients without becoming soggy quickly. On the other hand, when considering the soup or broth, it should have a great taste and not look cloudy.  

According to popular opinion, Nissin offers springier ramen noodles and richer broth than Maruchan, probably because they have been around longer than Maruchan and have had a lot of time to apply changes and develop their products to suit consumers’ tastes better. However, many people are concerned that the ingredients used in Nissin’s ramen seasoning are not as healthy as the ones used in Maruchan seasoning.

Which is Better – Top Ramen or Maruchan?

Top ramen is a ramen noodle brand produced by Nissin Company. Many ramen lovers believe Top ramen has springier ramen noodles and richer broth than Maruchan. This is probably because they have been around longer than Maruchan and have had a lot of time to apply changes and develop their products to suit consumers’ tastes.

However, many people are concerned that the ingredients used in Nissin’s Top ramen seasoning are not as healthy as the ones used in Maruchan seasoning. A few ramen lovers believe that Maruchan has better soups while Top ramen has better noodles.

Our Top Maruchan Ramen Recipe

Considering what happened to Maruchan ramen, you may not be able to get Maruchan ramen from your local store for this recipe, but you can use another ramen noodles brand you like.

Of all the ramen recipes, we have found that one recipe stands out – Tiktok Ramen! Unlike most ramen recipes, tiktok ramen is a broth-less or soup-less preparation of ramen noodles. In addition, you get to ditch the seasoning that comes in the ramen pack and use your preferred seasoning (which is one of the best ways to enjoy ramen noodles if you ask me).

Top Maruchan Ramen Recipe - Tiktok Ramen
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Top Maruchan Ramen Recipe – Tiktok Ramen

Recipe by Chef OluCourse: Guides
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Calories

300

kcal

The below measurements will make about 3 tablespoons of everything but the bagel seasoning.

Ingredients

  • 1 pack of Maruchan instant ramen

  • 1 tsp of minced garlic

  • 1 tbsp of soy sauce

  • 1 large egg

  • ¼ tsp of black pepper or red pepper flakes

  • 1 tsp of brown sugar

  • 1 tbsp of unsalted butter

  • 1 tsp of Everything but the bagel seasoning

  • Toppings (optional) –Scallions, cabbage, carrots, etc.

  • If you can’t get everything but the bagel seasoning from your local store, you can make yours at home using the recipe below.

  • 1½ tbsp. of sesame seeds

  • 1½ tsp of dried minced garlic

  • 1½ tsp of dried minced onions

  • 1 tsp of poppy seeds

  • ½ tsp of sea salt flakes

Directions for everything but the bagel seasoning

  • Toast your sesame seeds slightly in a pan. Allow it to cool, then combine it thoroughly with the other ingredients in a small bowl.
  • You can make a large batch of everything but the bagel seasoning by increasing the measurements of the ingredients. Then, you store it in an airtight jar or spice container.
  • This seasoning is versatile. You can sprinkle it on your salad, avocado, sushi bowl, pizza crust, hard-boiled egg, or any other you wish to sprinkle on.
  • Preparation of ramen
  • Start by cooking your noodles in a pot containing boiling water. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the ramen is cooked but still has an al dente texture, i.e., it is still firm. You don’t want to have soft, overcooked ramen. Ensure you loosen the noodles while cooking by stirring them with a pair of chopsticks.
  • When your noodles are cooked, drain and set aside.
  • Crack an egg into a small bowl, beat it lightly, and set aside.
  • In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add your minced garlic and sauté until it is slightly translucent. Add your pepper flakes, soy sauce, and brown sugar and stir, then allow the mixture to cook for a minute. Then add your drained ramen noodles and toss to combine.
  • With your chopsticks, push the ramen noodles to one side of the pan, add your beaten egg and scramble it until it sets, then mix it with the noodles.
  • Serve the noodle and egg mixture on your plate, and add everything but the bagel seasoning. You can also add other toppings, such as scallions or other toppings you like.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Although Maruchan ramen has not been discontinued completely, we cannot say when it will return to stores and be readily available as before.

But irrespective of what happened to Maruchan ramen, there are other great brands available in the market today that you can still choose from. You will find different brands you like better than Maruchan. However, remember to limit your consumption of ramen for your health.