"Kawaii Cafe Ramen" is an illustrated ramen cookbook by Amy Kimoto-Kahn. The illustrations are colorful and cozy and definitely Kawaii. The recipes are laid out in an easy to follow and simple format. I found the instructions easy to understand. I also enjoyed the author's information in the beginning of the book about how she learned everything she now knows about ramen. There is also a helpful index in the back. A recommended purchase where illustrated cookbooks are popular.

What a precious book this is! Everything is broken down and explained so well that you couldn't possibly make something that didn't taste phenomenal. I can't wait to give several of these recipes a shot.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC.

3 out of 5 star

It's was fine. Just your average cook book but about Ramen 🍜🍜🍜. Could have probably used a different format for the e-arc so it was easier to read.

Kawaii Café Ramen is a cute cookbook illustrated with kawaii characters. It offers great and varied ramen recipes.

Absolutely adorable and would make a fantastic gift for ramen lovers and cooks alike. That said, this book is not for someone new to ramen or Japanese cooking as many terms are not explained. I will also say that while this book is adorably illustrated (I love that) it is hard to read in an e-reader at least at its current edited stage as some of the pages turn 90 degrees inexplicably and I couldn't get them to turn back. Hopefully that is something the editors/formatting folks figure out.

The art in this book alone makes reading this cookbook worth it.
I loved the art so much it brought a lot of joy when sifting through the recipes and seeing what components to make.
I highly appreciated the scale of cooking level that an item made. This made it easier to recognize what to start with.
The author does a fantastic job of explaining the details of each recipe as well as explaining how to make different components of ramen and why you may want to put them in your ramen.

Book Review: Kawaii Café Ramen by Amy Kimoto-Kahn
Amy Kimoto-Kahn delivers a feast for the senses with Kawaii Café Ramen, a charming cookbook that combines the art of ramen-making with the whimsical allure of anime-style illustrations. Whether you’re a ramen enthusiast or a kitchen novice, this book invites you to explore the world of ramen with ease, creativity, and plenty of flavor.

What Makes This Book Stand Out?
Anime-Style Aesthetic
The beautifully illustrated, anime-inspired visuals add a unique, playful charm to the cookbook. Each page feels like a vibrant journey into the world of kawaii culture, appealing to fans of anime and Japanese cuisine alike.

Approachable Recipes
With over 60 recipes, the book caters to a wide range of skill levels. From basic broth-making to more intricate combinations like Teriyaki Beef–Wrapped Asparagus Ramen, Kimoto-Kahn breaks down each recipe into simple, achievable steps.

Variety of Flavors
The cookbook celebrates ramen's versatility, offering everything from traditional Japanese bowls to creative spins like California Ramen and Breakfast Ramen. It also provides options for different dietary preferences, including vegetarian and seafood variations.

Informative Yet Fun
Alongside the recipes, Kimoto-Kahn includes practical tips on ramen essentials, such as creating homemade noodles, selecting ingredients, and achieving the perfect broth. Her down-to-earth writing ensures even first-timers feel confident in tackling these dishes.

Highlighted Recipes
Indonesian Pork Ramen with Coconut Curry Soup: A Southeast Asian twist on classic ramen, blending rich, aromatic flavors.
California Ramen: A sushi-inspired dish featuring crabmeat, avocado, and cucumber for a fresh, light alternative.
Spicy Tofu Ramen: A satisfying, plant-based option with bold, fiery notes.
Crispy Greens Ramen: A nourishing bowl packed with Swiss chard, kale, and Brussels sprouts, perfect for veggie lovers.
Strengths
Affordability and Accessibility
By offering recipes with both homemade and store-bought ingredients, the book ensures readers can adapt their ramen-making journey to their budget and time constraints.

Creative Range
From traditional pork and chicken broths to adventurous options like cold ramen and breakfast-inspired bowls, there’s something for every palate.

Visual Appeal
The anime-style artwork isn’t just decorative—it enhances the reading experience and makes the recipes feel even more inviting.

Potential Drawbacks
Limited Advanced Techniques
While perfect for beginners and intermediate cooks, seasoned ramen enthusiasts might find the techniques and recipes less challenging than expected.

Focus on Fusion
Purists seeking strictly traditional Japanese ramen might find the fusion recipes too unconventional. However, the book's charm lies in its creative take on the beloved dish.

Who Is This Book For?
Kawaii Café Ramen is ideal for:

Home cooks looking to recreate delicious ramen without the intimidation of advanced culinary techniques.
Anime and manga fans who appreciate a visual treat alongside their recipes.
Anyone seeking an approachable, fun guide to ramen that celebrates both tradition and creativity.
Final Thoughts
Kawaii Café Ramen is more than just a cookbook—it’s an invitation to embrace the joy of cooking, anime-style! Amy Kimoto-Kahn combines practicality with whimsy, making it a must-have for ramen lovers and food enthusiasts alike.

Rating: 4.5/5
Delightful, creative, and full of heart—this book will have you slurping in no time!

So cute!!!
And amazing recipes!
I live the it goes into bases, topping, and full recipes separately, so you can mix and match a bit.
I was surprised to see how long some of the bases took to make, so you'll definitely need to have a full day to prepare them.

Really loved this cookbook! I found it to be a very modern and in-depth compared to other cookbooks that focus on ramen dishes, the illustrations were a cute added bonus.
The recipes had a lot of detail, easy to personalise, while also being easy to understand. I loved the cooking difficulty levels, which help make dinner time less daunting for beginners to ramen.
It was clear while reading that the author has done research and enjoys cooking themselves, due to their knowledge about ingredients. Which is great to see and also makes me trust the book more and believe that making the recipe is going to be well worth the effort!
The only thing I wished I could have seen is some pictures of the real finished dishes, while the illustrations were lovely, I sometimes like to see what I need to be aiming for my finished dish to look like. These could be cute with some added kawaii doodles around them.

3.5*

This is a super cute cookbook and I particularly loved the illustrations. They really fitted the vibe of the book - I just wish there were more! Particularly more to go with the actual recipes as the actual recipe pages were very text heavy. The pastel colours were lovely, but I think some more illustrations would had elevated the recipes further.

I really loved the introduction and the introductions to each recipe, especially as the author was able to convey a sense of her personality and I felt like I was being given recipes by a friend.

My main issue with this cookbook is that I just don't think it was written for me. I love ramen, but as a vegan, there were basically no recipes for me. This isn't a huge issue as the book isn't intending to be a vegetarian cookbook, however it would have be nice to include a couple of recipes as even the vegetable ramen chapter didn't have a vegetarian option! I want to emphasise though that because I loved the personality of the author and the rest of the cookbook, it's not that I feel the cookbook has failed in any way, it's more that I don't want to miss out on what I'm sure are amazing recipes! I would definitely recommend this cookbook to my ramen loving friends.

This cookbook is a delight! I have always wanted to learn how to make a proper bowl of ramen and this book does an excellent job of breaking down the recipes in a way that I, someone with limited experience in the kitchen, find very approachable. There are so many recipes that I am excited to try when I finally have some time to spend in the kitchen.

I also want to say that I truly appreciated the introduction in which the author gives some background into what lead her to make this cookbook. It was nice to get to know the woman behind the recipes.

I would be remiss if I didn't also comment on how absolutely adorable the cover and pages of this book are. I have a weakness for pastels and kawaii aesthetics. 🥰

This is the absolute cutest cookbook I have ever seen!
Not only is it super kawaii, it's also very informative and helps you figure out what the level of the recipe and also educates you
on different types of ramens and their origin.
I highly recommend it, even if you are just a ramen eater and not cooking them yourself!

amazing art!

I 100% want to buy this cookbook for my husband when it is released. He is a lover of ramen!

This book is full of recipes from soup bases, noodles, sides, toppings with traditional and non-traditional ingredients all shown with adorable anime-style illustrations. There are difficulty ratings, serving sizes and prep times that are perfect for planning your meal. California Ramen and Crispy Soft-Shell Crab Ramen are two we want to try first!

I want to thank NetGalley, Amy Kimoto-Kahn and Quarto Publishing Group – Rock Point for the e-ARC of this cookbook. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

This book is very cute as is fitting for the title. However, I was disappointed that not even the vegetable section gave recipes that were vegetarian. I know that Japanese ramen dishes aren't traditionally plant-based but it would have been nice to have an option. I did like the sections on how to build ramen dishes from ingredients that you have made in advances, including the noodles.

A cute (Kawaii) cookbook for ramen lovers. It has some great recipes. The illustration is great too.

This cookbook is an absolute delight, and it’s clear that so much love and care has gone into its creation. I was charmed by the adorable illustrations and thoughtful design. The indicators for recipe difficulty, serving size, and preparation time are not only practical but make it easy to decide what to cook, whether you’re in a hurry or planning a more elaborate meal. The recipes themselves are diverse and creative and I appreciated how straightforward and easy to follow the instructions were. However, one area where I think the book could improve is the choice of font. While the overall aesthetic is playful and cute, the font doesn’t quite match the rest of the design. A more bubbly or handwritten style would better complement the illustrations and enhance the book’s charm. It’s a minor detail but one that could make the experience even more cohesive. I also did encounter a technical issue where some pages were either upside down or rotated 90 degrees. I’m not sure if this was a glitch with the app or my device, but it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the cookbook. It’s such a small thing that it doesn’t feel worth deducting points for. Overall, this is a wonderful cookbook that’s as much fun to look at as it is to cook from. Whether you’re a ramen enthusiast or just looking to try something new, this book is a fantastic choice. It’s clear that a lot of heart went into it, and I highly recommend it!

Without having tried the recipes, this book is such a wonderful addition to anyone’s kitchen who loves ramen! Having just got back from Japan last month, I’m craving a good bowl of ramen and I can’t wait to try these recipes out! Illustrations are super cute. I love how the book is broken down, having bases and their recipes first, a section on toppings, then the full recipe. The gauges for difficulty level and serving size is visually very helpful too!!

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

The styling of this book is really cute. The pages are fun colors, and the illustrations are fun. The recipes do sound like they could be delicious, but the broths need a lot of ingredients, so I might just start by making myself some of the food that's supposed to accompany it. There are also some recipes inspired by other cultures, so I thought that was an interesting touch.

A beautifully illustrated cookbook! The recipes are direct and concise given how complex making ramen can be, though I did wish there were illustrations riddled with the steps as well. Having only words in the recipe pages made it quite dense to follow. I see blank sections in the pages, so I assume that images will be placed here eventually, but if that is not the case, as it is now is difficult to follow.

Fantastic recipes which are easy to follow and look delicious. I will be buying a hard copy when it is released!