Instant noodles (or ramen, instant noodles) are often misunderstood as a dull, budget-friendly meal. In reality, when prepared correctly, instant noodles can transform into a gourmet dish, irresistibly aromatic. Here are 10 delicious ways to cook instant noodles that you can easily try at home.
1. Seaweed Wrapped Noodles

Forgot to set up the rice cooker for Kimbap? Seaweed-wrapped noodles will be your lifesaver. The tangy taste of seaweed combined with the soft, chewy noodles is a taste sensation worth trying at least once in a lifetime.
Ingredients for 2 servings:
- 2 packs of noodles, preferably thick and chewy Korean or Japanese noodles.
- 4 large seaweed sheets
- 1 avocado
- 1 cucumber
- 6 eggs
- 8 perilla leaves
- Soy sauce, milk, salt, sugar, cooking oil
How to Make Seaweed-Wrapped Noodles:
- Prepare the noodles: boil them in boiling water for about 4 minutes, then drain and mix evenly with seasonings before placing them in the fridge for approximately 5 minutes.
- Slice the avocado and cucumber into long strips.
- Clean the perilla leaves, removing the stems.
- Beat eggs with fresh milk, sugar, soy sauce, and strain to make the eggs smoother.
- Heat a pan to fry the eggs. When the eggs are almost cooked, roll them into a long block and cut them into slices like cucumber.
- Spread seaweed on a bamboo mat, add noodles, perilla leaves, cucumber, fried eggs, avocado, and roll it up as you would with regular Kimbap.
- Slice into bite-sized pieces.
2. Stir-Fried Instant Noodles with Egg

Stir-fried instant noodles with egg is a classic recipe that never gets old. This dish is a staple in school cafeterias and dorms, thanks to its affordable ingredients and addictive flavor.
Ingredients (2 servings):
- 2 packs of instant noodles
- 2 eggs
- Spring onions
- Salt, pepper, cooking oil
- Mustard greens or any preferred greens
How to Cook Tasty Stir-Fried Instant Noodles with Egg:
- Boil the noodles in boiling water until just cooked. Be careful not to overcook to avoid mushy noodles.
- Beat one egg thoroughly with pepper and salt.
- Clean and cut spring onions into bite-sized pieces (about 3-4 cm).
- Heat oil in a pan and fry the remaining two eggs sunny-side-up; then set aside to drain excess oil.
- Pour out excess oil from the pan, add the boiled noodles, seasoning pack, oil pack, and vegetables. Stir-fry the mixture.
- Pour the beaten egg into the frying noodles, quickly flip and mix so the egg blends with the noodles; add mustard greens and stir-fry together.
- Finally, add spring onions and pepper, toss briefly, and turn off the heat.
- Serve the noodles and fried eggs on two plates and enjoy!
3. Jjapaguri (Ram-Don)

Perhaps movie enthusiasts are no strangers to Jjapaguri, the 'hot hit' noodle dish that made an appearance in the blockbuster film 'Parasite.' Despite conveying a bitter message about class stratification in Korean society, the taste of Jjapaguri can be described in just four words: incredibly mouth-watering! Don't believe it? Roll up your sleeves and give it a try right away!
Ingredients (2 servings):
- 200g outer sirloin beef - prioritize choosing Korean Hanwoo beef. It may be a bit pricey, but the quality truly justifies the cost.
- 1 pack of Chapagetti instant noodles
- 1 pack of Neoguri instant noodles
- Salt, pepper, and cooking oil.
How to Make Jjapaguri (Ram-Don):
- Cut sirloin beef into bite-sized cubes.
- Marinate beef with salt, pepper, and cooking oil, adjusting to taste. Allow the beef to marinate for about 20 minutes.
- Heat oil in a pan and briefly fry the beef until seared on the edges; then, set aside in a separate bowl.
- Boil water and cook Chapagetti and Neoguri noodles for about 4 minutes.
- Drain the water. Add the cooked noodles to the pan and stir-fry with the powder soup pack, oil pack, and vegetables.
- Add the seared beef and stir-fry with the noodles until fully cooked.
- Finally, enjoy your meal!
Pairing Jjapaguri with fluffy Dalgona Coffee is simply unbeatable. Let Klook guide you on making the perfect Dalgona Coffee without any adjustments!
4. Potato-Wrapped Fried Instant Noodles

Repeating the same instant noodles can get boring. So, why not try potato-wrapped fried instant noodles for a refreshing change to your family meal. This dish is especially a hit with the little ones.
Ingredients for 2 servings:
- 500g potatoes
- 40g cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/3 teaspoon sugar
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 1 instant noodle pack
- Spring onion, cooking oil
How to Make Potato-Wrapped Fried Instant Noodles:
- Boil and mash the potatoes (note: do not puree).
- Add cornstarch, pepper, sugar, salt, and spring onions; then, shape into bite-sized portions.
- Crush the instant noodle pack.
- Coat the potato portions with crushed noodles and deep fry until golden brown.
- Serve with either chili sauce or ketchup for a delightful taste!
5. Tan-men Noodles

Tan-men is simply Ramen noodles served with pork and stir-fried vegetables. Originating from Japan, known for its intricate cuisine, Tan-men is surprisingly easy to make. Fun fact: this dish has made an appearance on Netflix's Midnight Diner show!
Ingredients for 2 servings:
- 120g pork belly
- 240g ramen or egg noodles
- Chicken broth
- 6 pieces dried shiitake mushrooms
- Sake
- Spring onions, 4-5 cabbage leaves, carrots, snap peas
- Pepper, salt, sesame oil
How to Cook Tan-men Noodles:
- Boil 800ml water and add 1-2 teaspoons of chicken broth for flavor.
- Thinly slice and soak dried shiitake mushrooms until they expand.
- Cut spring onions into 3-5cm lengths.
- Thinly slice cabbage leaves, carrots.
- Heat a pan to sauté pork belly.
- When pork is cooked, add a tablespoon of sake; then add shiitake mushrooms, spring onions, carrots, cabbage, and snap peas. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the vegetables are tender, add chicken broth to the pan, a bit of sesame oil, and bring to a gentle boil.
- Boil noodles until cooked, then divide into two portions. Add the vegetables and chicken broth. You can sprinkle a bit of white pepper for extra flavor if desired.
6. Rolled Fried Noodles with Egg

Have you ever been enchanted by the beautifully presented Omurice in the movie 'The Housemaid'? Then, rolled fried noodles with egg is the next dish you need to conquer. Not only does it have an outstanding appearance, but it's also a trendy dish loved by many youngsters.
Ingredients (1 serving):
- 1 chicken egg
- Half a pack of instant noodles
- 100g bok choy
- 5g shredded cheese
- Salt, seasoning powder, pepper, cooking oil, soy sauce
How to Cook Rolled Fried Noodles with Egg:
- Boil noodles in boiling water for about 3 minutes, then drain.
- Heat oil in a pan, pour beaten egg to make an even omelette on both sides; set aside the egg.
- Add noodles to the hot oil, stir-fry with bok choy. Season with salt and seasoning powder to taste.
- Place stir-fried noodles and bok choy on the omelette, roll it up.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese, pepper, and drizzle soy sauce on top, then it's done.
7. Instant Noodle Pizza

Creativity seems to explode when people... stay at home. This is most evident in the instant noodle pizza - a.k.a Asian-style pizza - truly unique and sure to leave your foodie friends wide-eyed with surprise when you present this dish.
Ingredients for 2 servings:
- 1 packet instant noodles
- 3 eggs
- 1-2 slices of cheese
- Spring onions, bell peppers
How to Make Delicious Instant Noodle Pizza:
- Boil the instant noodles until cooked, then drain.
- Cut the cheese into strips, finely chop spring onions, and dice bell peppers. Choose colorful bell peppers for an eye-catching dish.
- Heat oil in a pan, add noodles, and shape them into a round base.
- Beat the eggs, pour over the noodles, and add bell peppers and spring onions on top.
- When the top of the eggs is slightly cooked, quickly add bell peppers, spring onions, and continue cooking until the eggs are fully cooked.
- Use a spatula to flip the noodle-egg base and fry until fully cooked.
- Finally, sprinkle shredded cheese on top for a delightful 'melting cheese' effect.
- Don't forget to enjoy this dish with ketchup or chili sauce for the complete experience!
Cooking is not just about killing time but also a way to cultivate an active lifestyle. With the 7 delicious instant noodle recipes above, #teamKlook hopes to provide easy-to-make, tasty, and visually appealing meals. Stay tuned to our Blog, Instagram, and Facebook for continuous updates on travel and lifestyle tips!