Is Making Ramen At Home Really Cheaper Than A Restaurant?

Some people's comfort food is a heaping pile of mac and cheese, while others look forward to a steamy bowl of ramen when they need a pick-me-up. In fact, you can speak to pretty much anyone and they'll all have a favorite ramen flavor or a favorite ramen restaurant. Nothing really soothes the soul like the flavor-packed savory broth of ramen. The only downside to a ramen addiction is that it can really break the bank. Typically, ordering a bowl at a restaurant is rather expensive, and with good reason. An authentic ramen broth consists of an overnight dashi stock (kelp, bonito flakes, and dried shiitake mushrooms), chicken broth, and tare, according to Chopstick Chronicles. Since the broth is the pulse of the entire dish, it's usually not wise to cut corners, but when it comes to making this tasty meal at home there are ways to have it on your table in half the time and with half the price.

We're all for supporting local restaurants, but when you're scrolling through your go-to ramen delivery spots for the fourth night in a row, it's probably time to make those noodles in your own kitchen. With such a complex recipe, it's reasonable to assume making this dish at home wouldn't actually be cheaper than ordering it off a menu, but to our satisfaction, it is.

While we'll refrain from homemade noodles and a two-day broth, we can still succeed in finding that umami-heavy flavor at home. The Kitchn breaks down the price tag that comes along with conquering ramen in your own kitchen and it adds up to less than $3 a serving with fixings like bamboo shoots, corn, spinach, sprouts, scallions, eggs, and even elements to deepen the broth's flavor such as dashi granules, pork broth, miso paste, soy sauce, and chili oil. Considering that Ivan Ramen, a popular ramen joint on Clinton Street in NYC, dishes out tasty bowls for an average of $17, yes, making ramen at home is definitely cheaper than a restaurant. Of course, it'll also take more time than delivery, but what is time when you're having fun in the kitchen?