What to Serve with Ramen Noodles? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Yummy ramen noodles are a filling and quick fix when you're hungry and want instant gratification.

It's a Japanese noodle dish with its roots in Chinese noodle dishes.

Today, it isn't just a popular dish in Japan but in many other places worldwide.

You can eat ramen noodles or enjoy the dish with other items.

Thus, you don't have to worry much about what to serve with ramen noodles.

Japanese potato salad, cucumber, chili salad, stir fry, and karaage are some dishes you can serve with ramen noodles.

Besides these, there are some more which we'll list below later.

10 Best Side Options for Ramen Noodles

Here is a list of all the items you can serve with ramen noodles, including the ones mentioned above - and sesame noodle side ideas for variety if a cold noodle option is wanted.

1 - Seaweed Salad

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It's delicious and versatile and complements ramen noodles - or try sesame noodle side ideas for variety if a different noodle base is preferred.

The salad is made of wakame, an edible seaweed with a soft texture and mild flavor.

Wakame is often found in dry form in stores.

Before making the salad, you must soak it in water for some time.

The process will soften the seaweed and also remove some of the saltiness.

Mirin, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar are the other main ingredients in the salad.

Wakame has gained much attention in recent times and is quite popular.

So, you can find it in many places; just go to an Asian grocery store and get different brands of wakame.

2 - Kimchi

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A Korean delicacy, kimchi is a popular dish worldwide, and it's also versatile.

Hence, you can serve it with ramen, too, as they make a good combo.

Kimchi is traditionally made from napa cabbage, also called celery cabbage, and it's a form of Chinese cabbage.

The dish also contains Korean radish and other veggies. Kimchi tastes more intense when aged.

So you can make the dish at least one day in advance to obtain more flavors.

It doesn't take much time to make kimchi, so you can have it ready in no time.

3 - Sautéed Bok Choy

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Ramen noodles are versatile, so they pair nicely with various ingredients.

Sautéed bok choy is one of the items that you can serve with ramen.

The dish is simple, and bok choy is sautéed lightly in toasted sesame oil with red pepper flakes, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and salt.

Bok choy, like other veggies in the Brassicaceae family, taste best when fresh.

The leaves can turn nasty and even stink when they age.

So, buy only the freshest leaves; they should be crispy, crunchy, and firm.

4 - Fried Rice

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For another hearty dish alongside ramen, fried rice is a perfect choice - and chicken fried rice side pairings for balance help round out the meal.

It's basic, filling, and delicious, making a suitable pairing with the noodle dish.

Fried rice is said to have originated in China, but almost every place has a version.

It's a popular dish, and everyone loves it.

So, you'll have a hit combo with the two dishes.

Fried rice tastes the best when you cook the dish with cold rice.

It would therefore be a good idea to cook the rice at least one day in advance.

5 - Grilled Fish

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Seafood is a staple in Japanese cuisine and a frequent accompaniment to ramen noodles.

You, therefore, have multiple choices to serve with the noodle dish.

How about some grilled swordfish side pairings?

There are wide varieties of fish so you can choose a suitable kind.

However, fish bones can be a nuisance, so you can make a dish with fish that doesn't have a lot of bones.

Making grilled fish is easy as it cooks very fast.

Besides, you don't have to add too many ingredients.

Salt, garlic, butter, and little olive oil are enough to make tasty grilled fish.

6 - Japanese Fried Chicken (Karaage)

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Karaage is a Japanese method of cooking that includes an ingredient being marinated, then coated in a mixture, and fried.

But unlike American fried chicken, which uses flour batter, the Japanese version e uses potato powder or starch.

It's a flavorful dish that combines nicely with ramen noodles - or try fried okra side ideas for crunch alongside fried proteins.

Besides potato starch, the dish contains familiar ingredients such as soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.

Chicken thighs are the most frequently used portion for karaage.

But you can use other parts, too, if there aren't enough thighs.

7 - Stir Fry Vegetables

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The list won't be complete without adding stir fry.

It's an Asian staple and popular with kids and grownups alike.

Stir fry veggies also pair nicely with ramen noodles, so it's a good choice - see stir fry side suggestions for mixes to vary the vegetables.

A stir-fried veggie dish is also convenient to add to the list because it's versatile.

You can work with different vegetables depending on what you have.

Carrots, beans, peas, broccoli, and onion, are all excellent for making stir fry.

Improve the dish's flavor by adding soy sauce, garlic, and ginger root.

It will also give an Asian feel and make a perfect meal with ramen.

8 - Cucumber and Chili Salad

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Cucumber and chili salad is the way to go if you want a cool, crunchy, and spicy dish.

It also complements ramen noodles and completes your meal - pair with cucumber soup side ideas for freshness for more cooling elements.

Of course, the salad adds a fresh element and cleanses your palate.

Cucumber and chili salad is easy to prepare.

But you have to make the perfect sauce, or it won't taste good as expected.

Chili oil or chili garlic sauce is one of the main ingredients for the sauce, so don't forget to add it.

You must also keep one thing in mind.

Cucumbers can get mushy when it's too ripe and dry when stored long after harvested.

If that's the condition, then the salad won't be tasty.

So, choose firm cucumbers without blemishes and wrinkles.

9 - Japanese Potato Salad

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Spuds are famous worldwide, and potato salad is one of the most frequently eaten dishes.

The dish also goes well with ramen noodles, so you'll have a well-balanced meal - consider potato skins side pairings for texture when serving spuds.

Japanese potato salad usually has non-veg ingredients like ham, egg, and imitation crab meat.

But you can exclude them and use only spuds, herbs, other veggies, and seasoning.

Waxy potatoes are suitable for making salads as they hold their shape even after being cooked.

They're also convenient as they have thin skin that doesn't have to be peeled.

10 - Fried Mushrooms

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We'll finish the list with a delicious dish that clicks well with ramen noodles.

Mushrooms are yummy, and they have a meaty texture but are light.

So, you'll have a lovely combo that will fill you nicely.

Fried mushrooms don't need too many ingredients for the dish to be delicious.

You can also use different types of fungi for the dish, like buttons, cremini, oyster shitake, or morel.

Besides the fungi and usual spices and herbs, fried mushrooms can also have bacon and other ingredients.

So, you can add or omit the other items according to preference.

cold soba noodle side pairings suit chilled menus. buttered noodle side suggestions work well when simplicity is preferred.