Ramen in Taiwan is super expensive—but if you know where to look, you can actually get a bowl for under NT$100.

Mister Donut has even started selling ramen, with prices ranging from NT$75 to NT$135—relatively affordable. (Photo / Mister Donut)

The “Japanese-style Seafood & Vegetable Ramen” features a rich seafood broth with shrimp, squid, and plenty of vegetables, priced at NT$135. (Photo / Mister Donut)

The “Classic Chashu Ramen” boasts meticulously prepared Japanese-style chashu pork, first pan-fried then braised to create tender, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness, priced at NT$125. (Photo / Mister Donut)

The “Scallion Simmered Pork & Vegetable Ramen” combines refreshing scallion-simmered thin pork slices with four healthy vegetables: wood ear mushrooms, shredded bamboo shoots, scallions, and corn, priced at NT$125. (Photo / Mister Donut)

The “Rich Pork Bone Broth Ramen” uses premium locally sourced Taiwanese pork bones, carefully simmered for hours to emulsify into a thick, creamy white broth. Each sip delivers the smooth richness and layered depth of the broth. Priced at NT$75. (Photo / Mister Donut)

Have frequent diners noticed that whenever a ramen shop carries a Japanese brand name, the prices are rarely cheap? On average, a bowl usually costs between NT$200 and NT$300, and some shops even charge a 10% service fee. This makes those used to affordable beef noodles wonder: the broth, meat, and noodles in Taiwanese beef noodles are no less impressive than those in Japanese ramen—so why do they become so much more expensive after crossing the strait to Taiwan?

In fact, the high price of ramen has long been an acknowledged “unspoken rule” in Taiwan. Last year, the highly anticipated opening of Ippudo Ramen was criticized by netizens who accused the brand of treating Taiwanese customers as “easy marks.” But when you look at it from a cost perspective, Ippudo’s broth is all flown in directly from Japan—the shipping costs alone are staggering. And for other Japanese-style ramen shops, the reason their prices remain high usually comes down to the “broth.”

Many people believe the essence of ramen lies in the broth, which is why vendors put extra effort into crafting it. Whether it's pork bone, miso, or soy sauce flavors, the broth often requires careful simmering for 8 to 10 hours, driving up the cost significantly. However, not every Japanese-style ramen shop charges such high prices—and among them, the famed purveyor of Japanese-style doughnuts, “Mister Donut,” will start offering authentic ramen this Friday (the 19th), with the lowest price starting at just NT$75. This market-shaking pricing has sparked quite a bit of discussion.

The reason Mister Donut has started selling ramen mainly stems from its strategy of diversified development through expansion. Initially, only four flavors are being offered at 10 outlets, with an emphasis on made-to-order cooking—none of the toppings, noodles, or broth have been compromised due to the low price. To promote the new product, Mister Donut is giving away a NT$35 doughnut with every purchase of a freshly made ramen paired with a freshly made drink. It's a small but heartwarming bit of joy in the cold winter.