Noodle Journey Episode 138: Marutai Original Ramen

This review of Marutai Original Ramen closes out my 2023 Marutai Marathon with the flavor that started it all. Released in 1959, this was Marutai’s very first stick ramen product and remains in production today. Unlike the regional or restaurant-supervised varieties I’ve reviewed so far, this one is from Marutai’s basic series and comes in simple packaging. It offers a light broth flavored with chicken, pork, soy, and sesame oil.

I ordered this from ZenPlus, a Japanese intermediary site that lets you buy products directly from Japanese vendors. Unfortunately, most of what I ordered at the same time was confiscated and destroyed by U.S. Customs due to pork and chicken extracts, but this single pack somehow survived. Normally, it sells for under $2 before shipping, but for me this one ended up costing far more thanks to that fiasco.

Sodium comes in at about 1680mg, which is on the lower side for Marutai but still high overall. Inside are two servings of Marutai’s classic straight noodles, plus a powdered soup packet and an oil packet. The broth base includes soy sauce, pork, chicken, bonito, spices, and miso, while the oil adds a mellow sesame flavor.

When prepared, the broth turned out light and soy-forward with noticeable sesame oil aroma.

Noodles:
Firm, straight, and consistent with Marutai’s usual excellent quality.
• 10/10

Spiciness:
No chili here. Completely mild.
• 0/10

Overall:
This is the simplest Marutai product I’ve reviewed, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it shows. The broth delivers a gentle balance of soy and meat flavors with a distinct sesame oil nuttiness in every bite. The bonito adds some background umami, but without any noticeable fishiness. It reminds me of a rich chicken stock with soy sauce and sesame oil layered in; it’s comforting and pleasant, but not remarkable. The biggest drawback is the lack of flakes; no green onions, no sesame seeds, no garnish of any kind. Even a small topping would have elevated it. As-is, it’s a bare-bones bowl with excellent noodles and a light broth that has its place, but it doesn’t stand out compared to Marutai’s regional or restaurant lines. It’s still worth trying if you’re a Marutai fan or curious about their first recipe, but it’s not one I’d rank among their best.
• 7/10

Notes since filming:

If this had been the first Marutai flavor I’d ever had, it would’ve been a higher overall score than a 7. While this is certainly no slouch in terms of flavor and quality, it’s far overshadowed by its siblings.