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A cereal bowl holds about half what a bowl of ramen needs. That is why homemade ramen always looks mean.
Which ramen bowl should you buy?
Buy a bowl that holds around a litre, at least 18 cm across and 8 cm deep, in stoneware or porcelain rather than melamine. Wide and deep matters more than the pattern on the outside, because noodles, broth and toppings all need room without the broth reaching the rim.
Size is the whole thing
A restaurant portion is roughly 500 ml of broth plus noodles and toppings. Put that in a standard 15 cm cereal bowl and it comes to the brim, which makes it impossible to lift the noodles without slopping.
| Bowl | Diameter | Holds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cereal bowl | 15 cm | Around 500 ml | Too small |
| Pasta bowl | 22 cm but shallow | Around 700 ml | Wide enough, not deep enough |
| Ramen bowl | 18 to 21 cm, 8 to 10 cm deep | 900 ml to 1.2 litres | Right |
| Donburi bowl | 15 to 18 cm, very deep | Around 1 litre | Works, better for rice bowls |
Material
Weight is what keeps the broth hot. A thin, light bowl loses heat within a couple of minutes, and ramen is meant to be eaten hot enough to be slightly uncomfortable.
- Stoneware. Heavy, holds heat longest, and takes a knock. The best choice.
- Porcelain. Lighter and finer, still holds heat reasonably. Chips more easily.
- Melamine. What many restaurants use. Nearly unbreakable, but it does not hold heat and cannot go in the microwave.
- Wood or lacquer. Looks the part, but not for daily use or the dishwasher.
Warm the bowl with boiling water while the broth finishes. It buys several minutes of heat whatever the bowl is made of.
Shape and rim
Look for sloping sides and a rim that flares out slightly. The flare keeps the heat off your hands and gives you somewhere to rest chopsticks. A straight sided bowl is harder to lift and harder to eat from.
A foot ring on the base matters more than it sounds. It stops the hot bowl sitting flat against the table.
What comes in a set
Most sets pair each bowl with chopsticks and a spoon. The spoon is worth checking, since a proper ramen spoon is deep and flat bottomed so it sits in the bowl rather than sinking. A standard soup spoon does not do that.
- Two bowls is enough for most households. Four if you cook for guests.
- Check the chopsticks are not the disposable kind padding out the box.
- Confirm dishwasher and microwave safety on the listing, since it varies.
- Buy one bowl first if you can. Stacking four large bowls needs real cupboard space.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a ramen bowl be?
Around a litre, which usually means 18 to 21 cm across and 8 to 10 cm deep. Below that, a restaurant sized portion fills it to the rim and you cannot lift the noodles cleanly.
Can I just use a pasta bowl?
At a push. Pasta bowls are wide enough but too shallow, so you end up with a lot of surface area and broth that cools fast. It works, it just does not hold much.
What is the difference between a ramen bowl and a donburi bowl?
A donburi bowl is narrower and deeper, made for rice with a topping. A ramen bowl is wider so the noodles spread out and the toppings can be arranged on the surface. Either holds soup, but they eat differently.
Are ramen bowls microwave safe?
Stoneware and porcelain usually are, melamine never is, and anything with a metallic glaze or gold rim is not. Check the listing rather than assuming, since it varies by maker.
Where to buy
Options on Amazon UK that match what is described above. These are affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission if you buy through them. Stock and prices change, so check the listing before ordering.
- Ramen bowl sets. Look for a bowl at least 18 cm across and 8 cm deep, or the broth will not fit.
