Noodles & Company is adding a new type of noodle to its menu on a permanent basis – ramen.
The fast casual restaurant chain revealed exclusively to USA TODAY on Oct. 13 it is making ramen a permanent menu category, launching with three options: Gochujang Carbonara Ramen Noodles, Sweet Sesame Steak Ramen Noodles and Spicy Korean Steak Ramen Noodles. The company said new ramen creations will also rotate into the lineup over time.
The three new dishes will be available at Noodles & Company restaurants nationwide beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14, the company told USA TODAY. Here is a full description of each new dish.
- Gochujang Carbonara Ramen Noodles: Ramen noodles sautéed in a creamy gochujang-Parmesan carbonara sauce with bacon, napa cabbage and red cabbage, finished with grated Parmesan, Asian spice blend and parsley.
- Sweet Sesame Steak Ramen Noodles: Ramen noodles sautéed with marinated steak, carrots and red peppers, then finished with sesame seeds and cilantro.
- Spicy Korean Steak Ramen Noodles: Pairs ramen noodles with marinated steak, napa cabbage, red cabbage and spinach in a sweet and spicy Korean-style gochujang barbecue sauce, topped with cucumber, scallions and cilantro.
According to the company, the Gochujang Carbonara Ramen Noodles and Sweet Sesame Steak Ramen Noodles will be available for a limited time,
while ramen will remain a permanent category with "new creations to evolve the lineup."
"We’ve spent more than 30 years exploring what’s possible with noodles, and ramen gives us another incredible canvas for flavor and creativity," said Tina Massey, vice president of culinary research and development at Noodles & Company.
Expanded ramen menu comes after success of Chili Garlic Ramen
The expanded ramen lineup follows the success of the chain's Chili Garlic Ramen, which according to the company was one of the most successful menu launches in its history. The menu item was launched last October for a limited time and the company says it brought more than 150,000 new customers to the brand.
"The incredible response to Chili Garlic Ramen showed us that our guests are hungry to see what Noodles can do with ramen," said Dwayne Chambers, interim chief marketing officer at Noodles & Company, in a news release. "Ramen gives us an exciting new way to build on 30 years of noodle expertise, bringing guests the comfort they love while continuing to surprise them with bold flavors and unexpected twists."
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Noodles & Company is permanently adding ramen to its menu
