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Ramen eggs are soy sauce marinated eggs that are soft boiled for a runny, jammy yolk. They’re also called shoyu eggs, soy sauce eggs, or soy marinated eggs. In Japan they’re called ajitama or ajitsuke tamago (味付け玉子) and are often served atop a bowl of ramen.

Soft boiled ramen eggs (ajitama) marinated in soy sauce and cut in half to show runny, jammy yolk.

Ramen eggs are delicious soft boiled eggs that are marinated in a soy sauce and mirin mixture. No bowl of ramen is complete without these eggs in my opinion. They can have a soft, runny yolk, or a gelatinous jammy yolk according to your preference.

Ajitama has a savory, umami taste, and depending on how long they’ve been marinating for, they’ll have a stronger soy sauce flavor.

Ramen eggs (ajitama) marinated in soy sauce cut in half and placed on top of a bowl of ramen noodles garnished with green onions and nori.

Ramen eggs are also known as soy sauce eggs, soy marinated eggs, or shoyu eggs. In Japan they go by ‘ajitama’ which is a portmanteau of ‘ajitsuke tamago’ (味付け玉子) which translates to seasoned eggs.

Ramen eggs or soy sauce eggs marinated in a soy mirin mixture that's been cut in half to show jammy yolk.

These soy sauce eggs also make a great snack and can be added to salads, rice bowl, or other noodles. Ramen eggs are low carb, naturally keto friendly, and high in protein.

Ingredients

Ingredients for ramen eggs with soy sauce and mirin marinade with text overlay.
  • Eggs – I used large eggs; cooking times are based on this size. Tip: Older eggs are easier to peel.
  • Vinegar – Adding vinegar when boiling eggs softens the shell which makes it easier to peel.
  • Mirin – This is a Japanese rice wine. Substitute with water or stock with a pinch of sugar and a few drops of vinegar.

How to Make Ramen Eggs – Soy Sauce Eggs

Soft Boiled Eggs:

Cold eggs: Boil for 7 minutes straight from the fridge. Starting with cold eggs protect the center yolk from over cooking.

Room temperature eggs: Allow the eggs to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to cooking. Boil for 6 minutes. The egg shell is less likely to crack due to less variance in temperature.

Ice Bath: Prepare in advance and immediately transfer the eggs to an ice bath to stop further cooking.

Make Marinade:

Add the ingredients for the marinade in a plastic ziplock bag and place it in a bowl for stabilization. Gently add the eggs, then push out any extra air.

Twist and clip the bag closed to allow the marinade to completely cover the eggs. This allows you to make a smaller amount of marinade without any waste.

Ramen eggs (ajitama) marinated in soy sauce cut in half and placed on top of a bowl of ramen noodles garnished with green onions and nori.

Soy sauce eggs can be used after 1 hour and up to 3 days later. Cut in half and serve atop a hot bowl of ramen. Enjoy!

Substitutions & Variations

  • For ramen eggs made without mirin: Use water or stock with a pinch of sugar and a few drops of vinegar. Mirin is a Japanese rice wine that’s slightly sweet and acidic with a low alcohol content. There are also non-alcoholic mirin available.
  • Spices: Feel free to add a few slices of ginger or garlic to the marinade.
Ramen eggs marinated in soy sauce with soft boiled yolk cut in half to show orange, runny yolk on a plate.

FAQ

How do you cook soft boiled eggs for ramen?

For cold eggs directly from the fridge, boil for 7 minutes. For room temperature eggs, boil for 6 minutes. Immediately place them in an ice bath.

How long do soy marinated eggs last?

I recommend consuming within 3 days of making them. Store them in the marinade in the fridge.

Can I reuse the soy egg marinade?

If you’d like to reuse the marinade, I suggest boiling and cooling it first. But I recommend making a fresh batch of marinade for best flavor.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Please share, rate, or comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

Come find me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram! Share your recipes by tagging @drivemehungry. I love seeing your creations!

Thanks so much for stopping by! ? -Jamie


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Ramen eggs marinated in soy sauce cut in half to reveal soft boiled eggs with runny yolks.
5 from 549 votes
Servings: 6

Ramen Eggs – Soy Sauce Marinated Eggs

Ramen eggs are soy sauce marinated eggs that are soft boiled for a runny, jammy yolk. They're also called shoyu eggs, soy sauce eggs, or soy marinated eggs. In Japan they're called ajitama or ajitsuke tamago and is often served atop a bowl of ramen.
Prep: 3 minutes
Cook: 7 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
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Ingredients 

  • 6 eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon vinegar, for easy peeling

Ramen Egg Marinade

  • ½ cup water or stock
  • 5 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 4 Tablespoons mirin, see Note 1 for substitutions
  • 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce, (optional for deeper color)

Instructions 

Soft Boil Eggs

  • Soft boiled eggs: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add vinegar for easy peeling, then gently lower each egg into the pot. Set a timer for 6 minutes for room temperature eggs or 7 minutes for cold eggs from the refrigerator. See Note 2.
    Stir the eggs in one direction for the first 30 seconds for an even cross section.
    6 eggs, 1 Tablespoon vinegar
  • Peel eggs: After the timer is up, place the eggs in an ice bath to stop cooking. Once cooled, crack the shell all over and carefully peel by inserting a spoon between the egg and shell.
    Tapping an egg shell with the back of a spoon to crack the shell.

Marinate Eggs

  • Marinate eggs: Place a ziplock plastic bag in a small bowl or cup for stabilization. Then add the water or stock, soy sauce, mirin, and optional dark soy sauce to the plastic bag.
    Gently place the eggs inside the bag and squeeze the air out of the bag to ensure the eggs are covered in the marinade. Add more water or stock if needed. Twist and clip the bag closed. This allows for a smaller amount of marinade to cover the eggs without extra waste.
    Marinate in soy mirin mixture for up to 3 days in the fridge.
    ½ cup water or stock, 5 Tablespoons soy sauce, 4 Tablespoons mirin, 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
    Soft boiled ramen eggs marinating in soy sauce and mirin in a plastic bag twisted closed..
  • Serve: Cut in half and place on top of ramen noodles or rice bowls. Enjoy!
    Ramen eggs (ajitama) marinated in soy sauce cut in half and placed on top of a bowl of ramen noodles garnished with green onions and nori.

Notes

  1. Mirin substitutions – Mirin is a Japanese rice wine that’s slightly sweet and acidic. For a non-alcoholic substitute, use water or stock with a pinch of sugar and a few drops of vinegar. Otherwise replace with half sake and half water, with a pinch of sugar.
  2. Boiling eggs – Be sure to boil the eggs in a pot large enough to hold them in a single layer. If your pot is too small, the eggs will lower the temperature of the water too much and the whites won’t set in time. Stir in one direction for first 30 seconds for an even cross section. Room temperature eggs should be left on the counter for 30 minutes prior to boiling. 
  3. Marination time – Ramen eggs can be marinated in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can be enjoyed 1 hour after marinating but will taste best the next day.
  4. Storage – Store remaining eggs in the marinade for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 81kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 164mg, Sodium: 630mg, Potassium: 80mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 238IU, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Jamie from Drive Me Hungry

Jamie

Hi there! I’m Jamie, enthusiastic eater and determined cook! I make is quick and easy recipes that still look amazing and taste delicious. Most of my recipes are perfect for weeknight meals as they're simple and easy to follow.

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Recipe Rating




120 Comments

  1. Sara says:

    5 stars
    I love the sandwich bag trick for marinating the eggs without needing to make extra marinade. I boil my eggs for a little over 7 minutes give or take and then soak them for at least 2 days. This makes the best ramen eggs!

    1. Jamie says:

      Yes it’s a great way to save on marinade. Thanks for sharing Sara!

  2. Mia says:

    Where can you find alcohol free mirin?

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Mia! Have you tried on Amazon or specialty stores? In a pinch, you can use water with a pinch of sugar and a few drops of lemon juice since mirin is slightly sweet and sour.

  3. Rosie says:

    5 stars
    I’m in the process of making this recipe. I boiled the eggs with the vinegar as directed, and then I peeled them (moment of truth) and to my GREAT surprise, they peeled perfectly. I tasted the marinade… delicious. Already 5 out of 5 for the egg peeling hack

    1. Jamie says:

      That’s great to hear Rosie! Thanks for sharing!

  4. Miriam says:

    When you say stock, would that be chicken or beef stock?

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Miriam! You can use any stock you’d like.

  5. Hanna Kuhn says:

    Can I use white wine vinegar instead of mirin?

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Hanna! I wouldn’t replace the entire amount of mirin with white wine vinegar because that would be too sour.

  6. miquel says:

    how long do the eggs last in the fridge? three days marinating + 3 days more in the fridge, or three days in total since the day of cooking?
    thanks!

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi miquel! I recommend consuming them within a week for the best flavor.

  7. Diana says:

    5 stars
    First time ever making ramen eggs, recipe was so easy and my eggs turned out so good! Thank you!

    1. Jamie says:

      That’s great to hear Diana! Thank you!

  8. Hannah says:

    5 stars
    Made them twice recently because the first batch turned out so good. Thank you!

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks for sharing Hannah! Glad you enjoyed it!

  9. Andrea says:

    5 stars
    love how simple this recipe is! so good and so tasty!

    1. Jamie says:

      Thank you Andrea!

  10. Robert (NL) says:

    5 stars
    Tried the first time a week or two ago, they were delicious!!!!!

    Making a second batch as we speak, but now with double amount of the sauce so the eggs will be fully submerged in it.

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks Robert! So happy to hear that!

  11. Claire says:

    5 stars
    These eggs really are as perfect as they get! I had remembered loving them in Japan with my ramen, and have always wanted to recreate them at home. Thanks for the tip about cooking the eggs from cold to maintain that great yolk!

    1. Jamie says:

      Thank you Claire! I’m so glad you found the recipe helpful!

  12. Jodi says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! This is my go to ramen egg recipe! Thank you for sharing!

    1. Jamie says:

      That’s so great to hear. Thank you Jodi!

  13. Erin says:

    Just curious where it says water or stock… What kind of stock do you use? I just got mirin and I’m excited to try this out!

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Erin! You can use any stock you’d like. 🙂

  14. Alison says:

    5 stars
    So simple and delicious! I’m never making ramen without these eggs again!

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks Alison! Yes, these eggs are a must have with ramen!

  15. Anita says:

    5 stars
    These eggs are perfect and definitely a must have for ramen. 🙂

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks Anita! Agreed, I can’t have ramen without these eggs!

  16. June says:

    5 stars
    Ended up with a perfectly cooked egg with a jammy yolk. Added it to a rice bowl but will try with ramen next time.

    1. Jamie says:

      Ramen eggs in a rice bowl sound delicious. So happy to hear you ended up with perfect eggs!

  17. Chris says:

    Hey there— this may sound kind of goofy, but I just wanted to let you know that before I tried this recipe I had never boiled an egg before. These came out perfect. Paired them with a rice bowl with shrimp tempura. Just wanted to thank you.

    1. Jamie says:

      Glad they turned out perfect Chris! Thanks for sharing!

  18. Keri says:

    5 stars
    What a great recipe!

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks Keri!

  19. Mirlene says:

    5 stars
    I have always wondered how to get hard boiled egg a different color and make it tasty! Glad i found your recipe and now I can make them! I’ll make it with ramen soup too

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks for sharing Mirlene!

  20. Heather says:

    5 stars
    First time making these soy sauce eggs..and they were so good. Made the ramen SO much better!

    1. Jamie says:

      Yay I’m so glad to hear that Heather! Yes it’s a must have for ramen! 🙂