Ramen vs. Pho: Which Is Better?

One look at ramen or pho and you will notice the similarities between both dishes, most people cannot differentiate between either of them. Pho and ramen are trendy soup dishes in Asian countries. 

It is no surprise that some people mistake one for the other, and this is because they have only tasted one of the two soups. Once you try both, you will realize that they are not the same. However, any conversation involving these noodle dishes always leads to the question of which tastes better pho or ramen?

In this article, we will do a complete breakdown of both dishes, including their respective origins, and show you what makes pho different from ramen. 

Photo Credit: SilverKris

What is Pho?

Pho came into existence during the french colonial rule between 1900 and 1907. During this time, the consumption of beef became common because of the french colonist, and the killing of cows increased. The leftover bones and tough meat cuts are what street vendors used in soups and the birth of pho came as an intersection of several cultures in Vietnam.

Pho which is pronounced “fuh” is a Vietnamese noodle soup dish soup prepared with rice noodles, broth, herbs, and thinly sliced meat. Pho has become a national Vietnamese dish in recent times and is often served in some of the best pho restaurants in Vietnam. There are many variants of pho noodles but three common types are; pho bo (beef), pho ga (chicken), and pho chay (vegetarian).

What is Ramen?

There are many theories behind the origin of ramen noodles dish but the one that stands out is that it was first introduced in 1900s by Chinese immigrants, but the broth was solely Japanese. Shortly after world war II, the number of ramen shops in Japan increased, and sooner than later ramen became an indelible dish in the Japanese culture.

Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup dish made with broth, wheat noodles, and sliced meat, and often topped with a soft-boiled egg. In Japan, the ramen dish is more like fast food, and there are four types of ramen noodles; tonkotsu ramen (pork), shio ramen (salt), miso ramen (fermented bean), and shoyu ramen (soy sauce). 

Pho vs Ramen: Which Has More Flavor?

One distinct difference between these two Asian dishes is their flavors, and to answer the question of which has more flavor? Let’s look at the ingredients and preparation of pho and ramen.

Pho is lighter, fresher, and has fewer ingredients. Ramen, on the other hand, is filled with more flavor and has a thicker broth.

How to Prepare Pho

The number one ingredient you need to prepare pho is rice noodles (made from rice flour and water), and you most certainly cannot make good pho without broth. The most common broth used in making pho is beef, but chicken broth is also a good choice. Some other ingredients are ginger, cinnamon, coriander seed, charred onions, fennel seed, and clove. 

The meat in pho is often sliced thinly and you can choose between using pork or beef. In addition, every bowl of pho is best served alongside herbs. You can decide to throw in some sprouts, and garnish further with fresh chili, hoisin sauce, or fish sauce.

How to Prepare Ramen

We know that the broth in ramen is thicker than that in pho. To make ramen noodles, you will need either chicken or pork along with a combination of various ingredients like pork bones, green onions, dried sardines, and kelp. You can add miso, salt, or soy sauce to the soup base for extra flavor.

Ramen noodles are made out of wheat flour, this is the reason they are heavier and more filling than the rice noodles in pho. There is a special ingredient in ramen noodles called kansui, a form of alkaline water responsible for maintaining the firm texture of ramen noodles.

Your meat choice can either be pork or beef but unlike pho, you have to cut it thicker. There are so many garnishes you can include in your ramen soup; like roasted pork, boiled eggs, seaweed, corn and so many more. 

Apparently, ramen has more flavors than pho, but what are the main differences between both soups?

What’s the Difference Between Pho and Ramen?

Noodles

Pho is made from rice flour, white in color and slippery in texture, while Ramen is made from wheat flour, yellowish in color and firm in texture.

Broth

Pho broth is made by boiling beef bones and seasoning them with a lot of spices and herbs. Ramen broth requires normal meat broth or seafood broth which is then seasoned with soy, salt, miso, or bone broth.

Toppings

A bowl of pho can have a variety of toppings like; basil, cilantro, bean sprouts, sliced onions, and of course some sliced meat. A bowl of ramen can also pack a wide range of toppings, some of which includes; mushrooms, green onions, fish cakes, corn, and a whole lot more, but the difference is in the type of sliced meat you serve alongside it.

Pho Broth vs Ramen Broth

The preparation of both pho and ramen broths is very similar but yields different outcomes. Both are warm and pleasant. Because they are served hot, they are perfect to get you through cold weather as well.

The resulting flavors of both broths are different. However, they are both very palatable and affordable and can be great meal options when hanging out with friends. Which of them you prefer is entirely based on individual preference. You can’t decide until you have tried them yourself, so we encourage you to enjoy them both!

Final Thoughts

Just like apples and oranges, pho and ramen are dishes you can enjoy any time of the year. Though they have a few similarities, there is a lot more that makes them unique.

Now you know everything about pho and ramen, so you should have no problems differentiating one from the other. Go out and try both yourself! The only tricky part might be deciding which of them is your favorite.