12 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Ordering Ramen At A Restaurant, According To An Expert

There are different types of ramen dishes that will give you an entirely different experience based on which one you order. You might think that the difference in different ramen dishes lies mostly in the toppings, but you’d be mistaken. The four main types of ramen dishes are shio (salty ramen), shoyu (soy sauce ramen), tonkotsu (pork ramen), and miso (usually a yellow miso broth ramen).

“Shio and shoyu ramen are lighter broths, but they can also be packed full of flavor,” says Chen. “I recommend these types of ramen to people who enjoy flavorful, but not fatty ramen.” Tonkotsu ramen, on the other hand, is a much richer, creamier pork broth. On milk-based broths, Chen adds, “They are great for people who enjoy a soft, creamy texture.”

Miso will often be used for vegetarian ramen. It’s a salty, umami broth that is somewhat similar to shio ramen. It falls into the category of being a lighter ramen broth. There’s more than one kind of miso; white miso has the lightest flavor, yellow is most commonly used for ramen, and red is richer and saltier.