Review: Ajinomoto - Tonkotsu Ramen

Ajinomoto's Tonkotsu Ramen features ramen noodles in a pork bone-based broth ("tonkotsu" means "pork bones" in Japanese) topped with braised pork belly slices, wood ear mushrooms, green onion, and sesame seeds.

A 9.1-oz package cost me $4.49.

All the ingredients come loosely packed and frozen in the bowl. You just add water and give it a turn in the microwave to cook.

The noodles were plump (from absorbing the water) and soggy but that was expected--I've never come come across noodles turning out otherwise from the microwave. I think the only way you could get firmer noodles is if they packaged the noodles separately and you gave the noodles a dunk in some boiling water for a minute or two.

The pork belly slices were tender but without much seasoning to them. They basically just taste like plain pork. The mushrooms added a firm and somewhat jelly-like texture but not much flavor.

The broth was neither rich nor complex but was still enjoyable with a savory, salty (but not overly so) quality and just a bit of sweetness. The color was more like miso soup rather than the milky tan that I usually see with tonkotsu broth.

Overall, Ajinomoto's Tonkotsu Ramen is definitely a step above instant ramen (even the more expensive ones) but isn't quite your average ramen shop quality (but is much cheaper than a ramen shop). Still, it's awfully convenient to make and makes for pretty good eating.

Nutritional Info - Ajinomoto Tonkotsu Ramen (259g)
Calories - 420 (from Fat - 170)
Fat - 19g (Saturated Fat - 7g)
Sodium - 2250mg
Carbs - 44g (Sugar - 2g)
Protein - 18g