Ramen and soba noodles are both Japanese dishes. The two noodles differ in their thickness, texture, flavor, and the way they are served. If you’ve been to a Japanese restaurant before, you might have been served soba noodles with a dipping sauce or cold ramen noodles in a hot soup. So which one is better?
Ramen noodles are typically made of wheat flour, salt, water, and kansui (a type of alkaline solution). Somen is made of wheat flour, salt, water, and “soda ash” which gives the noodle its unique silky texture. Ramen are typically sold at noodle shops where they are cooked fresh in boiling water whereas soba is more commonly found at restaurants where it is served cold with dipping sauces. That being said…
Which noodle do you prefer? Which do you think tastes better? Is there one that’s healthier than the other? It’s time to find out!
Comparison of ramen vs soba noodles
Ramen noodles are typically made of wheat flour, salt, water, and kansui (a type of alkaline solution). Somen is made of wheat flour, salt, water, and “soda ash” which gives the noodle its unique silky texture. Ramen are typically sold at noodle shops where they are cooked fresh in boiling water whereas soba is more commonly found at restaurants where it is served cold with dipping sauces.
The difference between these two types of noodles comes down to thickness, texture, flavor, and how they are served.
Soba noodles are thinner than ramen noodles. They have a slightly nutty taste to them when cooked with soy sauce or sesame oil. But what sets soba apart from ramen is that it’s served cold with dipping sauces rather than being eaten hot in a soup broth.
Ramen noodles have a thicker texture to them when compared to soba noodles. They’re usually served in a soup broth containing meat or fish-based products. Often times they’re topped with vegetables like green onions or spinach on top for garnish. Their thick texture makes them perfect for absorbing the flavors of whatever you put on top of them while also catching the soup broth below (whereas soba can droop if not given enough broth).
So which one do you like better? Either way, both noodles offer their own unique taste profiles that can be enjoyed in different ways! So don’t worry about picking
Difference between ramen and soba
Both soba and ramen noodles are Japanese dishes. The two noodles differ in their thickness, texture, flavor, and the way they are served.
Ramen noodles are typically made of wheat flour, salt, water, and kansui (a type of alkaline solution). Somen is made of wheat flour, salt, water, and “soda ash” which gives the noodle its unique silky texture. Ramen are typically sold at noodle shops where they are cooked fresh in boiling water whereas soba is more commonly found at restaurants where it is served cold with dipping sauces.
So which one is better? It’s tough to say as it really comes down to personal preference. If you like a thicker noodle that has a firm texture then you’ll prefer ramen noodles. If you want a thinner noodle that doesn’t have as much texture then you’ll prefer soba noodles. So if we had to choose one or the other: we prefer soba noodles!
Cooking methods
Ramen is typically cooked in a broth that varies from restaurant to restaurant, but often includes pork broth, chicken broth, fish broth, or vegetarian. Ramen noodles are cooked in boiling water and the soup is either poured over the noodles in a bowl or served alongside the noodles in a separate bowl.
Somen noodles are boiled for 12-14 minutes in seawater and then immediately plunged into cold water. The result is a noodle that has a texture similar to angel hair pasta. Somen is most commonly found at restaurants and served cold with dipping sauces.
Nutrition facts
Soda ash is not a chemical and it doesn’t contain sodium benzoate. Somen noodles offer more fiber than ramen noodles and they also have lower amounts of sodium and cholesterol than ramen. Ramen noodles are usually 400-600 calories with 2 grams of fat, while soba noodles are about 200-300 calories with 1 gram of fat.
Ramen noodles may be higher in calories but they offer more protein than soba noodles which can help keep you fuller for longer. Compared to soba, ramen noodles offer less dietary fiber and sugars and they also have more sodium. So what’s the verdict? Both types of noodle offer different benefits, but out of the two we would recommend soba over ramen because it’s healthier, offers more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, it’s lower in calories, has less fat content, contains more dietary fiber, it’s thinner, softer, silkier in texture–making it easier to eat–and has less carbs.
Conclusion
Ramen and soba noodles are two very popular choices that people enjoy for a simple meal. Ramen is a type of noodle that can be used in a variety of different dishes, but it is most commonly used to make a type of soup. Somen noodles are a type of noodle that is usually served cold with a dipping sauce. Ramen and soba noodles both have their own distinct traits and uses, but they are both great choices for a quick, easy meal.