Noodle Journey Episode 34: Maruchan Gold Soy Sauce Ramen

I’m following up on my review of Maruchan Gold Spicy Miso with the only other variety in the Gold line currently available in the US: their Soy Sauce flavor. I’m curious if this could become my new favorite shoyu-based noodle soup.

This line is Maruchan’s attempt at a craft ramen, and the price point should be under $3 per pack most places. It’s nearly a dollar more than something like Sapporo Ichiban, but if the quality holds up, the upgrade could be worth it. This pack contains 2180mg of sodium across two servings, and just like last time, it’s not vegetarian due to Bonito in the soup base.

Noodles:
I still love these noodles. They’re thick, chewy, and feel premium, which is refreshing in a soy broth since that usually comes with thinner, more delicate noodles. The texture is spot-on.
• 10/10

Spiciness:
There’s no chili oil or spice component in this one, but I acknowledge that some people perceive ginger as slightly hot or tangy. There’s ginger here, but it’s subtle. If ginger lights up your taste buds, you might register this at a 0.5. Otherwise, it’s a true zero.
• 0/10

Overall:
This broth is salty and umami-forward like you’d expect from soy sauce, but there’s a lot more going on here than just soy sauce and water. The ginger adds a bit of bite, and the mushroom powder deepens the flavor with an earthy touch. Then you’ve got the bonito giving it a smoky, umami, fishy note, but nothing overpowering. Garlic and onion come through as well, especially the garlic, adding even more complexity while keeping the soy sauce front and center. My only real gripe, just like last time, is the absence of even the tiniest bit of green onion. For a premium noodle, this feels like a strange omission, especially when even the cheapest soy sauce varieties manage to include it. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s enough to hold the score back just slightly.
• 9/10