Popin' Cookin' Ramen Kit: Step-by-Step Guide
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A steaming bowl of ramen, complete with springy noodles, a glossy soft-boiled egg, a slice of pink-rimmed fishcake and a sprinkle of green onion — all small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and all made from coloured candy powders. The Popin' Cookin' Ramen Kit is one of the most jaw-dropping DIY candy sets, and making it is half the fun. Here's exactly how to do it.
What You're Making
The Popin' Cookin' Ramen Kit (in Japan, Ramen-ya-san, "the ramen shop") is a famous DIY candy set that recreates a tiny but astonishingly realistic bowl of ramen — entirely out of soft candy. You'll mould noodles, shape a fried-egg and a fishcake topping, mix a "broth," and even make tiny side dishes like gyoza, all from a few powders and water. Despite looking like savoury food, everything is sweet and edible.
It takes around 25–35 minutes and is a brilliant intermediate kit — a little more involved than the donut set, with several components that come together into one impressive finished bowl.
What's Inside the Kit
Moulding Tray & Bowl
A divided plastic tray with mixing wells, shaping moulds, and the little ramen bowl that holds your finished masterpiece.
Powder Packets
Separate sachets for the noodles, the egg, the fishcake, the broth and the toppings — each turns a different colour with water.
Spoon & Noodle Press
A mini spoon for stirring and a press or mould to squeeze the noodle candy into long, thin, realistic ramen noodles.
Topping Components
Everything you need for the realistic touches — the egg, the pink-and-white fishcake swirl, green onion bits and side dishes.
Step-by-Step: Building Your Ramen Bowl
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Sort your packets
Lay out every sachet and match it to the numbered picture guide on the back. The Ramen Kit has several parts, so grouping them now saves confusion later.
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Make the noodles
Mix the noodle powder with water in its well until it forms a soft, stretchy candy. Load it into the press and squeeze to form long, thin noodles — the signature ramen look.
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Shape the egg
Make the white candy and the yellow candy separately, then combine them so you get a little fried-egg or soft-boiled-egg topping with a bright yellow centre.
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Form the fishcake (naruto)
Make the pink and white candies, roll them together into a spiral, and slice to reveal the classic pink swirl of a naruto fishcake.
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Mix the broth
Stir the broth powder with water in the bowl until you get a smooth, soup-coloured liquid or gel — the base your noodles will sit in.
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Assemble the bowl
Place the noodles into the bowl, then carefully arrange the egg, fishcake and any green-onion bits on top, just like a real bowl of ramen.
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Make the side dishes
If your kit includes extras like gyoza or a drink, mix and shape those now to complete the full ramen-shop set.
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Admire & enjoy
Take a photo of your tiny masterpiece — then dig in. It's best enjoyed fresh, the same day you make it.
Pro Tips for the Most Realistic Ramen
- Add water a few drops at a time. Too much makes the candy sticky and the noodles fall apart; start small and build up.
- Press noodles slowly and steadily for long, even strands — rushing makes them break.
- Work one component at a time and keep tools clean between colours so the egg and fishcake stay bright.
- Make the toppings before assembling, so everything is ready to arrange while the broth is fresh.
- Keep your hands and room cool — warm candy gets sticky and harder to shape into fine details.
Quick Troubleshooting
Noodles breaking apart? The candy is too dry — knead in a drop or two of water. Candy too sticky to shape? Add a tiny pinch more dry powder, or let it rest a minute. Broth too watery? Stir in a little more powder. Toppings won't hold their shape? Let them firm up for a minute before placing them on the noodles.
Why the Ramen Kit Is So Loved
There's something genuinely magical about building a miniature bowl of ramen — noodles, egg, fishcake and all — from nothing but coloured powders and water. It's part craft, part science experiment, part snack, and the finished bowl looks almost too good to eat. That hands-on wow factor is exactly what makes Japanese DIY candy so special.
Want Kits Like This Every Month?
Every PopnCandy Tokyo box is packed with authentic Japanese DIY candy kits and treats — 12 to 15 items including 2+ hands-on kits, shipped straight from Tokyo.
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