Ramen is a tasty bowl of noodles that everyone loves. But what should you eat with it? The right extras can make your meal even better. Whether you like something crunchy, something fresh, or something different, there are many side dishes to pick from.

Here are 21 easy and delicious ideas that go great with ramen. Try them and enjoy a whole new way to eat your favorite noodle dish!

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The best side dishes to serve with ramen are spring rolls, edamame, chicken fried rice, Alaska roll, gyoza, egg roll in a bowl, tempura vegetables, bok choy, chicken dumplings, beef and broccoli, Las Vegas roll, cucumber salad, fried shrimp, crispy tofu, teriyaki chicken, Ling Ling potstickers, narutomaki and seaweed salad.

Now, let's get cooking!

1. Spring Rolls

Spring rolls are a light and refreshing side that pairs beautifully with ramen. They are typically filled with a combination of fresh vegetables, sometimes shrimp or pork, and wrapped in a thin rice paper. The crisp texture and fresh flavors of spring rolls contrast nicely with the rich and savory broth of ramen, providing a delightful balance to your meal.

2. Edamame

Edamame, young soybeans still in their pods, are a simple yet nutritious side that complements ramen wonderfully. Lightly boiled and sprinkled with sea salt, these beans are fun to pop out of their pods directly into your mouth. They offer a subtly sweet taste and a nice crunch, which makes them a perfect, healthful snack to accompany the deep flavors of ramen.

3. Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken fried rice is a satisfying side that goes great with ramen. It combines rice, chicken, eggs, peas, carrots, and onions, all stir-fried together with soy sauce. This dish adds a wonderful texture and flavor contrast to ramen, offering a filling and flavorful boost that complements the soup perfectly.

4. Alaska Roll

An Alaska roll, a type of sushi, includes raw salmon, avocado, and cucumber, all rolled up with rice and seaweed. The fresh, clean flavors of the salmon and avocado provide a cool contrast to the warm, spicy broth of ramen, making this sushi roll a delightful side dish that adds an elegant touch to your meal.

5. Gyoza

Gyoza are Japanese dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables, pan-fried to achieve a crispy bottom and steamed to ensure a tender top. These dumplings are a fantastic complement to ramen, with their rich filling and doughy texture, offering a satisfying chew that pairs well with the soup.

6. Egg Roll in a Bowl

Egg roll in a bowl is a deconstructed version of traditional egg rolls, offering all the flavor without the wrapper. This dish combines ground meat (like pork or chicken), cabbage, carrots, and onions, all seasoned with soy sauce and spices. It's a low-carb option that adds a hearty element to your ramen meal, blending well with the noodles and broth.

7. Tempura Vegetables

Tempura vegetables, consisting of battered and deep-fried veggies like bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and green beans, add a crispy, indulgent side to ramen. The light batter and the crunch of the vegetables contrast nicely with the soft noodles and flavorful broth, enhancing the overall eating experience with different textures.

8. Bok Choy

We love bok choy, and you can, too, with this bowl of ramen noodles. The tagged recipe can help you make bok choy in your air fryer that gets ready within ten minutes.

Make sure that you have all the ingredients mentioned in the recipe card for the perfect dish. Follow each step, and you are good to go.

9. Chicken Dumplings

Ramen also tastes great with chicken dumplings. This recipe can help you make these healthy snacks within a few minutes.

To make the best dumplings, you need chicken breast, carrots, peas, onion powder, oregano, and other herbs and spices. These dumplings are often served with soy sauce, so ensure to have it in a small bowl.

10. Beef and Broccoli

Beef and broccoli is a hearty and flavorful side dish that complements the savory notes of ramen beautifully. This classic dish combines tender strips of beef with fresh broccoli in a savory garlic and soy sauce glaze. The robust flavors and satisfying textures make it a perfect match for ramen, adding both protein and greens to your meal.

11. Las Vegas Roll

The Las Vegas Roll, a unique and indulgent sushi option, is perfect alongside ramen. It typically includes salmon, cream cheese, and avocado, deep-fried to create a crispy exterior. The roll is then drizzled with a sweet and spicy sauce, offering a delightful mix of textures and flavors that contrast nicely with the soothing broth of ramen.

12. Cucumber Salad

Cucumber salad is a fresh and crunchy side that brings a light, refreshing touch to a ramen meal. Thinly sliced cucumbers dressed in vinegar, sugar, and a hint of chili provide a cooling effect, balancing the heat and richness of ramen with their crisp texture and tangy flavor. This salad is particularly good for cleansing the palate between bites of flavorful noodles.

13. Fried Shrimp

Fried shrimp, with their crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior, make a fantastic side dish for ramen. The shrimp can be lightly battered and quickly fried to golden perfection, offering a delightful crunch that complements the soft noodles and rich broth. Pair them with a dipping sauce like sweet chili or soy sauce for added flavor.

14. Crispy Tofu

Tofu is a wonderful dish; when it is crispy, you may find it hard to resist. Enjoy your bowl of ramen with crispy tofu using the tagged recipe.

You can use your air fryer to cook the tofu and turn each piece golden brown and crispy. The good thing is that you don't require many ingredients to ace this recipe.

15. Teriyaki Chicken

Ramen tastes beautiful with some teriyaki chicken on the side. The chicken recipe has sweet, salty, and spicy flavors that are perfect to balance the ingredients that go into ramen. Both dishes are a crowd-pleaser, so you can pair them to make an ideal meal for your family.

If you want your chicken to taste spicy, add ready chili flakes to the recipe.

16. Ling Ling Potstickers

Have you ever tried potstickers? They are quite like dumplings with a tender and soft filling. They taste great with ramen, and making them is also quite convenient.

As the tagged recipe mentions, you can buy frozen potstickers and cook them in your air fryer using cooking spray. Then dip them in your ramen or eat them separately.

17. Narutomaki

Narutomaki, a traditional Japanese fish cake, is an excellent addition to ramen for several reasons. Its distinct, swirled appearance adds visual appeal to the dish, while its mild, slightly sweet flavor complements the savory broth without overwhelming it. The chewy texture of narutomaki provides a pleasing contrast to the soft noodles and tender toppings commonly found in ramen.

It also absorbs the broth's flavors, enhancing the overall taste experience.

18. Chinese Tea Eggs

Go the extra mile and make Chinese tea eggs to enjoy with ramen. According to the recipe card, you may require many ingredients for this recipe. However, make sure that you have all of these in your pantry, as you need them to make the perfect eggs.

These eggs are better than eggs that you may have tried before. So, take the leap and prepare them for your ramen lunch or dinner.

19. Vegetable Stir Fry

If you are not ready to cook anything challenging with ramen, just follow the tagged recipe and make vegetable stir fry. You can use all the vegetables mentioned in the recipe card or customize the dish according to your choice. We love stir-frying as many vegetables as possible because they come together beautifully.

20. Seaweed Salad

This salad tastes divine when served with ramen. It is easy to make and can also be enjoyed with other Asian soups and sushi.

If you haven't tried seaweed before, we recommend this salad. We assure you that you will love every spoonful.

21. Pickled Vegetables

We want you to have a treat while eating ramen. Therefore, serve it with pickled vegetables. You can serve pickled cucumbers, peppers, and even carrots to make your meal full of flavors.

Pickled vegetables are usually crunchy and complement the soft texture of your noodles quite well. You can buy store-bought vegetables and use the tagged recipe to make them at home.

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