Instant Ramen Kitchen

Named a Best Cookbook of Summer 2025 by Bon Appetit and Epicurious

“Where some might see a cheap, ubiquitous food product, Kim sees a world of possibilities and wonder.” —The Washington Post

“This is a joyful deep dive into a pantry staple . . . Kim breaks down instant ramen’s innovative invention, explores its historical context, shares his steps for how to make any packet your own, gives you a field guide to the most iconic brands, and more.” —Epicurious

A delightful deep dive into the versatility of instant ramen, this umami-rich instruction manual with 40+ international recipes will help you become a better chef and get creative in the kitchen using a classic comfort food slurped around the world.



Instant ramen, while a seemingly simple dish straight out of the packet, is the quintessential blank canvas to practice improvising in the kitchen. Ready in ten minutes and a forgiving partner due to its baseline deliciousness, a bowl of tasty noodles results from any experimentation, no matter how far-flung. Author Peter J. Kim breaks down his philosophies on creating perfect harmony in your bowl through 40+ transformative recipes, a fool-proof methodology, an instant ramen flavor wheel, and robust pantry recommendations, plus a field guide to different ramen varieties and flavor profiles.

For those in search of even more ways to think outside the packet, Instant Ramen Kitchen is complete with unique comfort food recipes from all corners of the globe that demonstrate the beloved noodle’s versatility and flavor-enhancing qualities, including: Xi’an-style Cumin Lamb Ramen Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew) Ramen alla Marinara Ramen Fideuà (Catalan Noodle Paella) B.E.C. Ramen (Bacon, Egg, and Cheese)

After helping you perfect the basics, Kim offers a peek inside his own improvisations that have resulted in nourishing, delicious, and soul-satisfying meals that are great to enjoy any time of day. Following his example, it’s time to let the flavorful fun begin, creating your own unique ramen masterpieces.