So the other day, I’m scrolling through IG when my dude drops a post about this Ajinomoto Tokyo Style Shoyu Ramen with Chicken he scooped up at Costco.
His exact words: “Pretty dang good.” Now, if someone says something is pretty dang good and it’s from Costco of all places? I’m listening.
One quick Costco run later, and you know it’s never just a ramen run, and I’m walking out with a box under my arm and a churro in hand, ready to give this freezer bowl a shot.
The Ramen That Comes in Bulk
Right off the bat, the packaging is solid. Bright red box, bold letters, “Tokyo Style Shoyu Ramen with Chicken” front and center.
Each box runs $13.99 and includes six individual bowls — frozen solid and stacked like hockey pucks of noodle potential.
You’ll find them in Costco’s freezer section next to the other Asian-style comfort foods — potstickers, fried rice, bao buns, you name it.
That breaks down to just over two bucks a bowl. Two bucks! You’re not gonna get anywhere close to that price at your local ramen shop, where bowls average $10–$15 easily.
So yeah, from a budget angle alone, this already has my attention.
Ajinomoto: A Name From the Past
Let’s take a quick nostalgia trip: remember those old MSG commercials from Ajinomoto? Yeah, I’m talking “Ah, gee, no mo’ toe!”
We used to joke around in the “hanabata dayz” (that’s baby boi days for you non-locals) with that.
Always cracked us up. Flash forward, and they’re pushing frozen ramen bowls at Costco? Wild how things come full circle.
But I gotta say, the move from flavor enhancers to full-on ramen kits? Respect.
Unboxing the Bowl: What You Get
Each bowl is a red plastic microwaveable container, 268 grams of frozen goodness, measuring about 6” wide and nearly 2.5” deep. Nice size — not massive, but enough to fill the belly.
Open it up and everything’s right there. No packets, no pouches, no DIY assembly line.
It’s all pre-assembled, frozen in time: noodles on the bottom, toppings on top, a brick of flavor-packed broth base hiding somewhere underneath it all.
Now here’s something to note — this thing is FRESH-FROZEN, not the dry stuff you find in Cup Noodles or Maruchan.
That means better texture, fresher flavors, and a way closer to an authentic experience. Major points for that.
Instructions? Easy: add water to the line, microwave for 4 minutes, and boom — ramen’s ready.
Just make sure your microwave isn’t one of those underpowered dorm-room ones, or you might need to give it an extra 30 seconds or so.
Nutrition Breakdown: SALT ALERT
Here’s where it gets real:
Yeah. You read that right. Almost 2,000mg of sodium in one bowl. That’s like drinking seawater with a side of soy sauce.
Okay, maybe not that bad, but still — if you’re watching your sodium, this might not be your daily driver.
But hey, it’s ramen. You don’t go into this expecting a kale smoothie. You’re here for flavor, comfort, and that warm, soul-hugging broth.
Cooking the Bowl: From Frozen to Feasting
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After four minutes in my 1,100-watt microwave, the bowl came out bubbling and piping hot, with a thin layer of frothy foam at the top, always a good sign when ramen’s steaming like that.
Visually, it’s not too far off from what you see on the box.
I mean, they made the marketing version look like it was plated by a Tokyo ramen master, but this one still looked solid.
Gave the toppings a quick rearrange for presentation (and, let’s be honest, Instagram), and yeah — we’re ready to dive in.
First Sip: Let’s Talk Broth
In any ramen experience, the broth is everything. It’s the heart, the soul, the mood-setter.
First sip? Not bad. Not bad at all. The soy sauce base gives it that nice shoyu kick, and you taste the chicken in there.
It’s not too greasy, not too flat — just a good, clean broth.
Do I wish it had the deeper, porkier umami punch of a traditional Tokyo-style tonkotsu blend?
Of course. But considering it’s chicken-based, it does the job.
Honestly, it’s better than I expected for a frozen bowl. I give it one solid thumb up — not both, but respectable.
The Noodles: Almost Restaurant-Worthy
Time to get slurpin’. These noodles aren’t just filler — they feel like ramen. Not the overly thin, limp stuff you get in cheap instant bowls.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being soggy cafeteria noodles, 10 being Tokyo ramen-ya perfection), I’d give these a solid 8.
The texture’s tight. The bite’s there. Only thing missing? That slight “eggy” flavor and bounce you get from real kansui-made noodles.
Ajinomoto says the noodles have kansui in them, but maybe the freezing dulls it a bit. Still, as far as frozen ramen goes? This is top-tier.
Chicken or Pork? That’s the Question
So here’s the curveball: instead of the usual pork chashu, they’ve gone with grilled chicken slices.
Each bowl has a few decent pieces, some with skin still on, adding a smoky, grilled flavor that’s pretty tasty.
But still, Tokyo-style shoyu ramen is supposed to have pork. That’s just the way of things.
I knew going in this was chicken, so I can’t be too mad, but I couldn’t help wishing for that soft, fatty, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly.
That said, the chicken’s juicy, well-seasoned, and totally works in a pinch. Better than most frozen meats, by a long shot.
Toppings: The Good, The Bad, and the “Why Though?”
Okay, let’s talk toppings. This is where things go a little sideways.
The bowl includes:
C’mon, man. Corn? Carrots? Red bell peppers?! This isn’t some teriyaki chicken stir-fry — this is ramen. And Tokyo-style ramen, at that.
Where’s the menma (fermented bamboo shoots)? Where’s the nori? A marinated egg? Anything remotely traditional?
Look, I get it. They’re trying to cater to a wider, possibly Western audience. But as someone who’s been to Tokyo and eaten at legit ramen-ya, this just felt… off.
They could’ve left those stir-fry veggies out and gone with even just one traditional topping and nailed it.
At least the green onion was there, though even that was the green leafy part, not the crisp, thin-sliced white stalks used in traditional bowls. Again, not a dealbreaker, but just not quite right.
Verdict: Should You Buy It?
@noodreview Tokyo Style Shoyu Ramen w/ Chicken #Inverted #ramen #noodleworship #noodletok #costco #costcotok #shoyu #chicken #noodles #review ♬ original sound – Laura
Here’s the deal: for $13.99 and six bowls, this is a solid pickup. Is it perfect? Nah. But is it worth it? Absolutely.
If you’re a ramen purist, you might grimace at the corn and red bell pepper, but here’s my advice: Customize it. Add your menma, soft-boiled egg, and maybe even leftover pork belly from your last BBQ sesh.
For a quick bite before or after, a Jersey Mike’s Sub also hits the spot — perfect if you’re craving something filling and fresh.
With a few tweaks, this bowl could go from good to damn near restaurant quality — all in under five minutes from freezer to feast.