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Ramen Calories: Tonkotsu, Miso, Shoyu and Shio ComparedWith or Without the Broth
· 2 min read
Ramen ranges from a light, clear bowl to one of the richest meals you can order. The two things that decide which: the broth style and how much of it you drink.
The quick answer
| Ramen (restaurant bowl) | Drinking all the broth | Leaving most of the broth |
|---|---|---|
| Shio (salt, clear) | 450-600 | 380-480 |
| Shoyu (soy sauce, clear) | 500-650 | 400-520 |
| Miso | 600-800 | 480-620 |
| Tonkotsu (pork bone, creamy) | 800-1,100 | 600-800 |
| Tsukemen (dipping noodles, large) | 750-1,000 | depends on dipping |
| Tantanmen (sesame, spicy) | 800-1,000 | 650-800 |
Where the calories come from
| Part | Typical bowl | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Noodles | 1 serving (~130-150 g raw) | 350-450 |
| Clear broth (shio/shoyu) | ~400 ml | 80-200 |
| Miso broth | ~400 ml | 150-300 |
| Tonkotsu broth | ~400 ml | 250-500 |
| Chashu pork | 2 slices | 120-250 |
| Ajitama (marinated egg) | 1 | 70-90 |
| Menma, spring onion, nori | 10-30 | |
| Aroma oil or back fat (seabura) | 1 tbsp | 100-130 |
The noodles are similar in every bowl. It's the fat in the broth (pork bone emulsions, back fat, aroma oils) that makes tonkotsu and tantanmen so much richer than shio.
Common extras
| Extra | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Kaedama (extra noodles) | 300-400 |
| Extra chashu (3 slices) | 180-350 |
| Gyoza, 5 pieces (pan-fried) | 250-350 |
| Small fried rice (half chahan) | 300-400 |
| Karaage, 3 pieces | 250-350 |
| Beer (500 ml) | 200-220 |
A tonkotsu with extra noodles, gyoza and a beer can easily reach 1,800 calories.
Instant ramen
| Instant noodles | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Standard packet (~80-90 g) | 350-450 |
| Cup noodles (regular) | 300-400 |
| Large cup / "king" size | 500-650 |
| Premium thick instant (e.g. tonkotsu style) | 450-550 |
Instant noodles are usually fried before drying, which is why a small packet has around 15-20 g of fat.
Lighter ramen without losing the point
- Choose shio or shoyu when you want something lighter.
- Drink a few spoonfuls of broth, not the whole bowl. That alone saves 150-300 calories on rich styles, and a lot of sodium.
- Ask for less back fat (abura sukuname) where the shop offers it.
- Add an extra egg instead of extra noodles for more protein, fewer carbs.
- Skip the side of fried rice. The bowl is already a full meal.
Logging ramen
"Ramen" in a food database might mean a packet of instant noodles or a 1,000-calorie tonkotsu. In DietTracker you say "tonkotsu ramen with extra chashu, drank about half the broth" and it estimates that bowl, including the bit about the broth.
Eating out often? See our guide to counting calories at restaurants, or try DietTracker free.