Noodles and Company Will Add Permanent Ramen Category
The restaurant chain will launch three distinct ramen dishes at locations nationwide on October 14, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Japanese Food
Live Poll
Do you prefer when fast-casual restaurant chains expand their menus with new culinary styles?
Starting October 14, 2026, Noodles and Company is officially adding a permanent ramen category to its nationwide menu. The lineup features three new dishes, marking a significant expansion of the chain's noodle offerings.
Why it matters
The decision to make ramen a permanent fixture follows the successful October 2025 launch of the Chili Garlic Ramen, which proved effective at drawing in new diners. The company plans to rotate various ramen creations into the menu over time.
Noodles and Company is launching three initial ramen options as part of a new permanent menu category. This expansion comes after the brand successfully leveraged its 30 years of exploring noodle possibilities to attract 150,000 new customers.
The players
Noodles and Company
This is a nationwide fast-casual restaurant chain that specializes in various international noodle and pasta dishes.
The details
The debut menu includes Gochujang Carbonara Ramen Noodles, Sweet Sesame Steak Ramen Noodles, and Spicy Korean Steak Ramen Noodles. While the ramen category itself is now permanent, the Gochujang Carbonara and Sweet Sesame Steak varieties will be available for a limited time.
Timeline
October 2025: Chili Garlic Ramen was launched as a limited item.
October 13, 2026: Noodles and Company announced the permanent ramen category.
October 14, 2026: Three new ramen dishes become available nationwide.
Culture Shift
The rollout of a permanent ramen category follows the pattern of success established by the 2025 Chili Garlic Ramen market test. This move reflects a broader trend of fast-casual chains diversifying their menus to capitalize on the increasing popularity of global noodle dishes.
Customers can now order from the new ramen category at any Noodles and Company location across the country starting October 14, 2026. Because some of the initial launch items are available for a limited time, diners should check local availability soon to try the seasonal options.
The takeaway
This permanent addition suggests a shift toward more frequent menu innovation for the chain. Consumers looking for variety should keep an eye on future updates as the company plans to rotate new ramen recipes into the category periodically.
What happens next
New ramen creations will be rotated into the permanent menu lineup over time starting after the initial October 14, 2026, rollout.
Further reading
Discover more about current culinary trends in the Japanese Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Idaho Statesman.
Live Poll
Do you prefer when fast-casual restaurant chains expand their menus with new culinary styles?
