Noodle Journey Supplement Review: Ramen Toppers Chashu Pork and Vegetables Mix

Note: This product underwent a drastic overhaul several months after I reviewed it and earned a much better score! Check out the updated review here.

I’m checking out another dried topping meant to dress up instant noodles, this time from a brand simply called Ramen Toppers. The thing that makes them unique among other dried topping manufacturers is clear: chashu pork and full-size narutomaki fish cake in the same jar, plus a pile of vegetables. It’s a neat idea if the proteins and textures hold up after rehydrating.

At the time of review, this is sold on Amazon ($22.99) and Etsy ($23.99) with free shipping, frequently bouncing in and out of stock. There is also a URL listed on the label doesn’t appear to be working. It appears to be made in California and, as far as I can tell, is US-only unless it goes by another name elsewhere. The jar is 5.64 oz, and the mix includes chashu pork and narutomaki alongside peas, cabbage, carrots, mung beans, and green onion; the label also lists seasonings like soy sauce, sake, ginger, rice vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, most likely the marinade/seasoning for the pork. Directions are simple: throw some into boiling water for about 4 minutes to rehydrate, so I added it to one of my favorite budget ramen products, Nissin Demae Black Garlic Oil Tonkotsu, for this test.

Spiciness:
No heat here at all.
• 0/10

Overall:
Convenience is the major selling point here, but I found the quality to be mixed. The vegetables are inconsistent – the peas stayed too firm even after a full 4 minutes, the corn was chewy, and the carrots turned mushy and oddly pale. On the plus side, the green onion was fine. The chashu pork sadly didn’t rehydrate well and ended up dry with an overdone texture along with a slightly gamey flavor note. But the other major selling point, the narutomaki, is solid – the slices are a little thicker than I usually prefer, but the flavor and texture are on target. In the bowl, the topping boosts the look of the soup and adds some variety, but it doesn’t transform the broth the way a strong seafood mix does. The value here is also a little tough: the jar is under 6 ounces and light on protein compared to what you get from competing mixes at a similar price. I can absolutely see this being useful if you can’t source narutomaki or precooked chashu locally and want a one-jar solution, but for me the protein quality and vegetable texture keep it from being an easy recommendation.
• 4/10