Member Reviews
Ramen has become one of my comfort meals, I love putting on one of my favorite k-dramas or anime’s and just devouring a bowl of ramen. Thank you to @netgalley and @quartopublishinggroup for the arc of this cookbook, I can’t wait to try and make some of the 60 plus ramen recipes. I really liked that the cookbook is broken up into sections. As someone who’s ever had store bought cup o noodles or the packaged ramen it was really interesting to see that there were other kinds of ramen. I also liked how the first section of the book was for the ramen base and noodles, followed by ramen toppings. The cookbook ended with sides which I am also excited to try and make some of them. Overall I really enjoyed this cookbook from cover to cover, I wish there were more pictures for the individual recipes. I cannot wait to get a physical copy of the cookbook.
Great cookbook with illustrations to make the culinary world more fun and bright. The recipes made the ramen cooking process seem more simple to follow.
If you're looking to make ramen at home that’s fun, flavorful, and easy on the wallet, *Kawaii Café Ramen* is the book you need! With over 60 recipes, it offers a playful yet practical guide to crafting your own ramen, whether you're craving a rich pork broth or something light like a California ramen with crabmeat and avocado. My husband and I had a blast picking out ingredients and making our own variations on date nights—plus, the anime-style illustrations make everything feel even more special. The best part? You can prep your soup base ahead of time, making weeknight dinners feel like a treat!
The illustrations are so cute. I almost forgot this was a cookbook. There are so many recipes and there is something for everyone. I can't wait to try a couple of the recipes. I will be requesting my library to purchase this book and buying a copy for myself.
The cutest ramen how to around!
Gorgeous recipes, easily explained with the most adorable illustrations!
Normally in a cook book I’ll find a handful of recipes I’d care to give a go but this has something I’d love to make on nearly every page, highly recommend!
I love this book, it’s absolutely adorable and the recipes are easy to follow!! I love that it covers every aspect of making ramen!!! 😋 thank you NetGalley for letting me check it out!!!!
I forgot to mention, pages 70-71 are upside down!!!! The pages with Egg Drop Ramen and Furikake Salmon Ramen. I would fix that, but it also might just be a NetGalley app problem? A few pages are wonky
But it wouldn’t stop me from using this cookbook!
This is a beautifully presented book - I loved the illustrations so much! I really liked the sliding scale graphics for difficulty and serving quantity. There’s a good variety of broth and topping options and we’re heartily encouraged to experiment! Some of the recipes require special equipment and I liked that the author made this clear right away. I liked how the author incorporated some food science and history into the book as well; Ramen has an interesting history and the cultural context was awesome.
The quantities that the recipes make are HUGE. I rarely see cookbooks with ‘feeds six’ as the default. The idea of having to third everything to make the right amount of food might be overwhelming to some users, especially with the more complex recipes.
I’m grateful to Quarto - Rock Point for making this title available to review on NetGalley. 🍜
*Kawaii Café Ramen* by Amy Kimoto-Kahn is a delightful mix of culinary expertise and pure kawaii-style charm. If you’re a ramen lover—or even just ramen-curious—this book will feel like a warm, comforting bowl of broth for your soul. From start to finish, it’s clear that the author doesn’t just love ramen; she *adores* it, and her passion shines through every page.
The structure of the book is a huge win. It breaks down the art of ramen into approachable steps, guiding you from creating flavorful soup bases to crafting bowls tailored to your taste. Whether you’re a ramen novice or a kitchen pro, there’s something for everyone here, with clear instructions, portion sizes, and even skill-level indicators to help you navigate the recipes.
The variety is impressive, too! From traditional pork and chicken bowls to inventive creations like Indonesian Coconut Curry Ramen and even breakfast ramen (hello, bacon and poached egg!), there’s no shortage of inspiration. I especially appreciated the vegetarian options, which felt just as thoughtful and satisfying as the meat-based recipes.
But let’s talk about the design—because wow, it’s *adorable*. The anime-style illustrations are vibrant and playful, making this book as fun to look at as it is to cook from. It has that kawaii energy that makes you want to display it front and center on your bookshelf (or kitchen counter). It’s the kind of cookbook that’s as much about the experience as it is about the food.
If I had one minor critique, it’s that some of the recipes might feel ambitious for absolute beginners—but the book’s friendly tone and clear instructions help make even the most complex bowls feel achievable. And honestly, experimenting with ramen is part of the fun.
*Kawaii Café Ramen* is more than just a cookbook; it’s a celebration of ramen culture wrapped in an irresistibly cute package. Perfect for ramen enthusiasts or anyone who wants to bring a bit of joy and creativity into their kitchen.
This is a cookbook that makes ramen fun!
You can feel the author's passion for creating different ramen bowls, soups, and toppings throughout the pages with easy-to-follow recipes and guides, but also with tips and tricks to make your own perfect bowl and sides.
Such an incredibly well written recipe book.
The recipes are easy to follow and the steps are broken down in each sections as well as the various components that make up a good Ramen dish.
Also the artwork is so cute and captivating! I really enjoyed this recipe book and I may just purchase one for myself when they're available to buy! Definitely worth it.
Kawaii Café Ramen includes over 60 ramen recipes of varying difficulty levels and with a variety of ingredients. Instead of photographs, the recipes are represented in illustration form. The illustrations are cute, but I generally prefer actual photographs in cookbooks so I know what I'm trying to achieve. I would have liked a combination of illustrations and photographs.
Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Rock Point and NetGalley for an eARC of this cookbook for an honest review.
This book is exactly what the description and title say. It was a delight from cover to cover, filled with beautiful and cute illustrations, and packed full of great information. Fair warning, you will be hungry while reading. I can’t wait to try a bunch of these recipes and I know of lots of friends who would love to get a copy of this book as a present. I’m also going to need to get a physical copy for referencing in the kitchen while cooking.
The design of the book is absolutely gorgeous and super kawaii hahaha.
The recipes look well explained while mantaining it relatively simple. I like the fact that it includes not only the size of the dish and expected time of preparation but also the level of difficulty. If I ever want to try my hand at ramen I know what recipes to start with. I also really like the fact that it teaches how to prepare all parts of the ramen, from the soup to the side dishes to eat it with.
It's also very nice that the author not only included the traditional/most common recipes but also some of her own inventions, because it helps visualize what kind of stuff you can add or interchange in your own ramen as someone that doesn't live in japan nor has the same ingredients they have (or not as readily available)
A very colourful and beautifully illustrated cookbook! Not sure if I’ll personally attempt the recipes. But it certainly does motivate me to try. Especially the slow roasted tomato and miso spinach chilled ramen. It was something I haven’t seen too often. I also really like the inclusion of side dishes as well.
As a ramen lover, I had long been curious about making this dish myself, but the thought of preparing the broth and noodles seemed too complicated. Kawaii Cafe Ramen not only taught me the necessary basics but also won me over with its charming design and lovely details.
Amy Kimoto-Kahn, who gained experience at a ramen school in Osaka, guides the reader through the various aspects of ramen preparation. The recipes are clearly structured and easy to follow, with details on difficulty level, serving sizes, prep time, and required equipment. I especially appreciated that it also explains the different types of soups and toppings— I had no idea how many variations there are!
The adorable illustrations that adorn the book give it a unique charm. It’s a joy to discover new little details with each turn of the page. These loving drawings perfectly complement the book, making it a delightful treat for the eyes.
I really appreciated how clearly and compactly the recipes are presented, and thanks to the handy index at the end, it’s easy to find any recipe again.
Kawaii Cafe Ramen is a book for anyone wanting to learn the art of ramen-making—or just looking for an especially cute cookbook. The mix of helpful information and beautiful illustrations makes it a real gem for any home cook.
And now, after browsing through the book, I’m definitely craving a bowl of ramen!
It's hard to give this anything but five stars because the layout and illustrations are wonderful, the instructions are user-friendly while also being detailed and the overall tone is very inviting. I'd easily gift this to someone who enjoys ramen.
The broth recipes seem very complex to me, but I imagine they turn out deliciously. I'm not sure anyone with small children would have the time to spend on them. The different kinds of ramen are interesting and a nice combination of traditional and non-traditional.
Too bad it isn't available yet to give as a gift for the holidays!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. But I got really hungry reading it!
This novel has such good imagery that it makes reading a cookbook interesting! I moved recently to a smaller area where ramen restaurants are hard to find and I was so excited when this popped up! The recipes are easy to read and they are presented in a friendly beginner way, I will definitely be picking this up in a hard copy as soon as it is released.
I'm a ramen beginner and this book gives great tip and easy explanations that I can use myself! Will absolutely try as many recipes as I can!
Good cookbook. Not sure how your supposed to rate a cookbook, lol!
There are some really good and detailed instructions, which I think is KEY! This cookbook breaks down the various elements that construct a good bowl of ramen and teaches you how to actually construct a proper dish (instead of just following a single recipe for a single result) and so I think that it is incredibly useful. I can see actually learning a lot from this book.
There are no pictures. Maybe this is just an advanced-copy thing, but from the current layout im not sure how they would add pictures. This is disappointing, as pictures go a long way in a recipe book and are also useful to show you what you’re trying to achieve.
Despite the lack of photos, the detailed instructions and the way that this book is organized means I’m giving it 5-stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.