Looking for the best vegan ramen noodles brands?
The top 10 vegan and plant-based ramen brands worth considering include Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup, Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen, Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods, Nissin Top Ramen Soy Sauce, Chef Woo, Koyo Asian Vegetable Ramen, Annie Chun’s Vegan Tonkotsu, Mike’s Mighty Good Vegetarian Kimchi Ramen, MAGGI 2-Minute Noodles Masala, and Hethstia High-Protein Noodles.
These brands stand out for different reasons, from authentic Asian-inspired flavors and organic ingredients to gluten-free formulas, convenient cup noodles, and high-protein nutrition.
Nongshim is a strong choice for Korean-style vegan ramen, while Lotus Foods appeals to consumers looking for organic, gluten-free, rice-based noodles. Dr. McDougall’s focuses specifically on convenient plant-based meals, and Nissin Top Ramen Soy Sauce offers a familiar, affordable option. Chef Woo stands out for its high-protein plant-based ramen, while Koyo is known for organic vegan ramen. Annie Chun’s Vegan Tonkotsu provides a plant-based take on traditional creamy tonkotsu ramen, and Mike’s Mighty Good offers a more craft-style ramen experience. MAGGI Masala brings Indian-inspired flavor to the instant noodle category.
Hethstia, meanwhile, represents the emerging high-protein noodle category, offering plant-based instant noodles with a significantly higher protein content than traditional instant ramen, making it an interesting option for consumers who want the convenience of ramen while increasing their daily protein intake. In addition, Hethstia also boasts their prized konjac noodles, a konjac noodle brand with over 40 years of history.
| Brand / Product | Company / Brand Origin | Founded / Launched | Founder(s) | Country | Vegan Status / Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup | Nongshim Co., Ltd. | 1965 company; Soon Veggie later product | Lotte Industrial Company / Nongshim founding team | South Korea | Vegan product |
| Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen | Lotus Foods | 1995 | Caryl Levine & Ken Lee | USA | Vegan-friendly |
| Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods Vegan Ramen | Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods | 1993 | Dr. John McDougall & Jim Ahrens | USA | Vegan |
| Nissin Top Ramen Soy Sauce | Nissin Foods | 1970 in U.S. | Momofuku Ando / Nissin | Japan / USA | Vegetarian; suitable for vegan diets based on current ingredients |
| Chef Woo Instant Ramen | Borealis Foods / Palmetto Gourmet Foods | 2019 company; 2020 product launch | Reza Soltanzadeh and team | Canada / USA | Vegan, plant-based, high-protein |
| Koyo Asian Vegetable Ramen | KOYO Foods | Brand history less clearly documented | Not publicly established | Canada / USA market | Vegan |
| Annie Chun’s Vegan Tonkotsu | Annie Chun’s / CJ Foods | 1992 brand | Annie Chun & Stephen “Steve” Broad | USA | Vegan product |
| Mike’s Mighty Good Vegetarian Kimchi Ramen | Mike’s Mighty Good | 2014 concept; 2017 launch | Mike + Rita Vinnicombe | USA | Vegetarian line; verify vegan status by SKU |
| MAGGI 2-Minute Noodles – Masala | Nestlé / MAGGI India | 1982/1983 India noodle launch | Julius Maggi founded MAGGI | Switzerland / India | Vegetarian in India; vegan status depends on formulation |
| Hethstia – High-Protein Ramen/Konjac Noodles | Hethstia / Sentaiyuan China | 1985/2012 China noodle launch | Liu Lei | China | Vegan, plant-based, high-protein |
1. Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup
Brand: Nongshim
Product: Soon Veggie Noodle Soup
Country of origin: South Korea
Company founded: September 18, 1965
Original company name: Lotte Industrial Company
Founder: The company was founded as Lotte Industrial Company; Nongshim’s corporate history is tied to the Lotte Group’s Shin Dong-ik / Lotte founding history rather than a single “ramen inventor.”
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Nongshim began its food business in 1965 as Lotte Industrial Company and changed its name to Nongshim in 1978. The company has since become one of South Korea’s best-known instant noodle manufacturers.
Consider this the mainstream classic. As the vegan cousin of the famously spicy Shin Ramyun, this bowl delivers a mild, savory, and incredibly comforting vegetable broth. It is easily one of the most accessible vegetarian instant ramen brands on the market, perfect for those who want a traditional noodle experience without the meat.
Why it belongs in a vegan ramen ranking
- Korean-style instant ramen
- Vegetable-based flavor
- Vegan positioning
- Widely distributed internationally
- Strong mainstream brand recognition
- A good example of a traditional ramen manufacturer adapting to the plant-based market
2. Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen
Brand: Lotus Foods
Product: Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen
Country: United States
Founded: 1995
Founders: Caryl Levine and Ken Lee
Headquarters: Richmond, California
Lotus Foods has one of the most interesting origin stories on your list.
Caryl Levine and Ken Lee founded Lotus Foods in 1995 after traveling to Asia and becoming interested in heirloom rice varieties and traditional rice-growing communities. Their original business focused on bringing unusual rice varieties to American consumers.
The company later expanded from rice into rice-based noodles and ramen. Its Millet & Brown Rice Ramen is made from organic grains and is marketed as gluten-free and vegan-friendly.
If you are looking for an organic, gluten-free favorite, this is your stop. Lotus Foods focuses on heirloom grains and lower sodium profiles, making it a massive hit for people who want a clean, minimalist ingredient list.
Why it belongs in a vegan ramen ranking
- Vegan-friendly
- Gluten-free
- Organic ingredients
- Rice- and millet-based rather than
- conventional wheat ramen
- Strong sustainability story
- Particularly attractive to health-conscious consumers
3. Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods Vegan Ramen
Brand: Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods
Country: United States
Founded: 1993
Founders: Dr. John McDougall and Jim Ahrens
Headquarters: California, USA
This is probably one of the strongest brands on your list from a vegan-food heritage perspective.
Dr. John McDougall was a physician and prominent advocate of a whole-food, plant-based diet. According to the company’s own historical newsletter, Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods was founded by Dr. John McDougall and Jim Ahrens in 1993.
Mary McDougall, John’s wife, was also an important influence on the brand’s food philosophy and recipe development. The McDougall organization describes her as a pioneer of low-fat vegan cooking.
The company eventually became known for convenient plant-based meals, particularly its vegan ramen cups.
Today, Right Foods states that its products are vegan and non-GMO, with options including organic ramen cups and lower-sodium meals.
When you need an on-the-go hero, Dr. McDougall’s is the undisputed champ for the best vegetarian cup noodles. Their noodles are baked rather than fried, which significantly cuts down on the fat content. The paper cup packaging is eco-friendly, and the chicken-flavored (which is 100% vegan) tastes incredibly nostalgic.
Why it belongs in a vegan ramen ranking
- Deep roots in the plant-based movement
- Entire brand philosophy is centered around plant-based food
- Vegan products
- Convenient cup format
- Strong health-oriented brand positioning
4. Nissin Top Ramen Soy Sauce
Brand: Nissin Top Ramen
Product: Top Ramen Soy Sauce Flavor
Country: Japan / United States
Top Ramen U.S. launch: 1970
Founder: Momofuku Ando
This one is especially interesting because Top Ramen is not a vegan brand, but the Soy Sauce flavor is currently positioned by Nissin as vegetarian.
Nissin Foods was founded by Momofuku Ando, who invented the world’s first instant noodles, Chicken Ramen, in Japan in 1958. Nissin subsequently expanded internationally, and Top Ramen became an important part of its U.S. business.
Nissin’s current U.S. product page explicitly states that Top Ramen Soy Sauce is vegetarian. The ingredient list does not list animal-derived ingredients, although the product is manufactured in a facility that also processes egg, milk, fish, shellfish and other allergens.
Here is a fun fact for the budget-conscious foodie: the “Soy Sauce” flavor (formerly known as Oriental) of this beloved college staple is accidentally vegan! It is the nostalgic budget buy that proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a quick, salty, satisfying noodle fix. Just boil water, toss in the seasoning, and you are transported back to your dorm room days.
5. Chef Woo Instant Ramen
Brand: Chef Woo
Parent company: Borealis Foods
Company origin: Canada
Manufacturing: United States
Founded: Borealis Foods, 2019
Chef Woo launch: 2020
Co-founder: Reza Soltanzadeh
Borealis Foods was established in 2019, and Chef Woo was launched in 2020 as a plant-based, high-protein instant ramen.
Co-founder Reza Soltanzadeh, a physician by training, has described Chef Woo as a product designed to combine the convenience of instant ramen with substantially higher protein content.
The current Borealis Foods product page says Chef Woo provides 20 g of complete protein per serving and is made with plant-based proteins in the USA.
Why it belongs in a vegan ramen ranking
- Vegan
- Plant-based
- 20g complete protein per serving
U.S.-made - Designed specifically around modern nutrition
- Strong fit for fitness and high-protein consumers
6. Koyo Asian Vegetable Ramen
Brand: KOYO
Product: Asian Vegetable Ramen
Market origin: North America
Company: KOYO Foods
Company founded: 1976 according to company profile data
Headquarters: Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
KOYO is somewhat different from the other brands on your list because the company’s history is less well documented publicly than brands such as Nissin, Nongshim, or Lotus Foods.
KOYO Foods is a Canadian distributor of natural, organic, and macrobiotic foods headquartered in Quebec. Company profile information lists its founding year as 1976.
The KOYO ramen line focuses heavily on organic ingredients and simple formulations. Retailers currently list the Asian Vegetable Ramen as organic, vegan, dairy-free, low-fat, and vegetarian.
The product uses organic wheat noodles and a vegetable-based seasoning featuring ingredients such as mushroom, onion, garlic, ginger, green onion and kombu.
For the clean-label artisan experience, Koyo is top-tier. Featuring baked noodles, organic ingredients, and zero MSG, it delivers a lighter, more delicate broth that tastes as if it came directly from a high-end health food store.
Why it belongs in a vegan ramen ranking
- Vegan
- Organic
- Simple ingredient profile
- No animal-based broth
- Lower-fat positioning
- Strong natural-food-store appeal
7. Annie Chun’s Vegan Tonkotsu
Brand: Annie Chun’s
Product: Vegan Tonkotsu Ramen
Country: United States
Founded: 1992
Founder: Annie Chun and Stephen “Steve” Broad
Annie Chun’s has an interesting Korean-American entrepreneurial story.
Annie Chun was born and raised in Seoul and later immigrated to the United States. In 1991, she began selling homemade Asian-inspired sauces at farmers’ markets in Marin County, California. In 1992, she founded Annie Chun’s Gourmet Foods with her husband, Stephen “Steve” Broad.
The brand grew into a broader Asian food company selling noodles, sauces, soups and snacks.
CJ Foods acquired a majority stake in Annie Chun’s in 2005, and the brand was fully sold to CJ Foods in 2009.
The Vegan Tonkotsu product is particularly interesting because traditional tonkotsu ramen is normally made with pork bone broth. A vegan version therefore represents a modern reinterpretation of a traditionally meat-heavy ramen style.
Why it belongs in a vegan ramen ranking
- Vegan reinterpretation of tonkotsu
- Asian American brand heritage
- Convenient bowl format
- Strong mainstream supermarket positioning
- Good choice for consumers who want creamy ramen without pork
8. Mike’s Mighty Good Vegetarian Kimchi Ramen
Brand: Mike’s Mighty Good
Country: United States
Origin: California
Concept started: 2014
Products launched: 2017
Founders: Mike and Rita Vinnicombe
Mike’s Mighty Good was created around a simple question: Why doesn’t store-bought ramen taste more like ramen from a real ramen bar?
The company says the story began in 2014, when Mike became interested in creating a better-quality instant ramen. After several years of development, the first products were introduced in 2017.
The brand focuses on “craft ramen,” using organic noodles that are steamed rather than fried. The company produces its noodles in Woodland, California.
A 2024 industry report/interview also identifies Rita Vinnicombe as a co-founder and explains that the founders saw a gap between high-quality ramen-bar noodles and conventional instant ramen.
Important vegan qualification
This is another brand where I recommend being careful.
Mike’s Mighty Good has vegetarian products, including the Vegetarian Vegetable ramen, but the overall brand is not vegan. Its portfolio also contains chicken, beef and pork products.
9. MAGGI 2-Minute Noodles – Masala Flavor
Brand: MAGGI
Product: MAGGI 2-Minute Noodles / Masala
Brand origin: Switzerland
Indian noodle market: India
MAGGI founded: 1884
Founder: Julius Maggi
MAGGI acquired by Nestlé: 1947
MAGGI noodles launched in India: 1982/1983
MAGGI has the longest history of the brands on the list.
The original MAGGI business was established by Swiss entrepreneur Julius Maggi in the late 19th century. Nestlé’s official history states that Julius Maggi developed a protein-rich dried soup in the 1880s, while the MAGGI brand dates its origins to 1884. Nestlé acquired the MAGGI brand in 1947.
MAGGI 2-Minute Noodles became particularly important in India. Historical industry research records the launch of MAGGI 2-Minute Noodles in India in 1982, while MAGGI India’s current materials refer to the noodle line as having launched in 1983.
The Masala flavor became one of the defining instant noodle products in the Indian market.
MAGGI India states that all of its 2-Minute Noodles variants are vegetarian except the Chicken Noodles variant.
10. Hethstia High-Protein Ramen & Konjac Noodles
Brand: Hethstia
Product: High Protein Ramen / Konjac Noodles
Brand origin: China
Founded: 1985/2012
Founder: Liu Lei
Headquarters: Sichuan, China
The Hethstia brand was founded in Leshan, Sichuan, China in 2012 by Liu Lei. However, as early as 1985, Liu Lei’s father had been growing konjac and making konjac noodles.
The brand’s philosophy is to explore konjac noodles and high-protein noodles and to promote a healthy lifestyle.
The target audience for the Hethstia brand includes people who are seeking health, weight loss, dieting, vegetarianism, exercise, and those with diabetes.
Konjac noodles are low in calories and high in dietary fiber, making them suitable for people who are trying to control their weight, are on a low-calorie diet, or have diabetes.
High-protein noodles offer a higher protein content, making them suitable for fitness enthusiasts and people who need to increase their protein intake.
Why it belongs in a vegan ramen ranking
- Vegan, Plant-Based
- High Protein
- Air Dried
- Saturated Fat-free, Trans Fat-free
- Non Fried
- Cholesterol-free, Kosher, Low Carb
- Non-GMO
Most of the brands above compete on vegan, organic, gluten-free, Korean/Asian flavor, clean ingredients, or convenience. Chef Woo is the obvious high-protein competitor, with 20 g of complete protein per serving.
However, compared to the high-protein noodles from Hethstia, this one still falls short in terms of protein content.
While most vegan ramen noodles brands focus on plant-based ingredients and flavor, the new generation of high-protein ramen is going one step further—turning instant noodles into a meaningful source of daily protein.
| Product | Vegan | Vegetarian | High Protein | Gluten-Free | Organic | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nongshim Soon Veggie | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | Korean-style ramen |
| Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | Gluten-free |
| Dr. McDougall’s | ✓ | ✓ | — | Some options | Some options | Health-focused |
| Nissin Top Ramen Soy Sauce | * | ✓ | — | ✗ | ✗ | Budget |
| Chef Woo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | High protein |
| Koyo Asian Vegetable | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✗ | ✓ | Organic |
| Annie Chun’s Vegan Tonkotsu | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | Tonkotsu lovers |
| Mike’s Mighty Good Vegetarian Kimchi | Verify SKU | ✓ | — | — | ✓ noodles | Craft ramen |
| MAGGI Masala | * | ✓ | — | — | — | Indian flavors |
| Hethstia High-Protein Ramen | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | — | High protein |
| Hethstia Konjac Noodles | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Gluten-free |
