This is a story about not judging a book by its cover. In this case, the book is amped-up supermarket packet ramen. The cover? The unlikely addition of mayonnaise, a raw egg, and garlic.
I’ll say this several times throughout: Stay with me.
This hack began with one of my favorite YouTube channels, Way Of Ramen, which helps noodle freaks (like myself) achieve their home-cooked ramen goals. One recent video referenced an idea gaining traction among Japanese ramen geeks: Adding Kewpie mayonnaise, a whole raw egg, and minced garlic to supplement instant ramen—specifically Sapporo-brand miso-flavored ramen, which can be found at my local supermarket for under $1. The reaction to this mayo addition has been overwhelmingly positive, according to commenters on the original YouTube video. The Way Of Ramen host was skeptical. I was too.