Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles [Season 1 Episodes 1-12]

Ramen, Romance, and Repetition: Why Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles Works (and Doesn’t)

Let’s cut to the chase: if you’ve ever stayed up past midnight scrolling food TikTok, or daydreamed about that perfect bowl of noodles you had last weekend, Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles is your new guilty pleasure. But if you’re here for deep character arcs or a plot that doesn’t revolve around pork broth? You might want to order a different dish.

First off, let’s get the basics straight. This 2018 Studio Gokumi series (yes, the same folks who did Yurikuma Arashi—wild, right?) adapts Naru Narumi’s manga about Yuu Osawa, a high schooler who’s low-key obsessed with her classmate Koizumi. Not because Koizumi’s a genius or a secret idol—no, it’s because Koizumi is feral for ramen. We’re talking “will stand in the sun for hours” feral, “travels across town at 6 a.m.” feral. Every episode, Yuu tags along (uninvited, but who’s counting?) as Koizumi hunts down regional ramen styles—from tonkotsu to tsukemen—and geeks out over broth viscosity like it’s the meaning of life.

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: this show is food porn. Like, “I paused the episode to order takeout” levels of food porn. The animation makes every slurp look orgasmic—Koizumi’s eyes light up, steam curls perfectly around her face, and the camera lingers on glistening noodles like they’re a work of art. One fan on MyAnimeList even admitted, “I just ate ramen because of this lol”—and honestly? Same. If you’re a foodie, this is catnip.

But here’s the catch: not everyone’s here for the carbs. A lot of viewers (myself included, at first) side-eye Yuu’s borderline-stalkerish crush. She follows Koizumi around like a lost puppy, gushing about how “cool” she is for knowing the difference between shoyu and miso. Some fans called it “baffling”—like, girl, get a hobby that isn’t creeping on your classmate. And Koizumi? She’s basically a human ramen encyclopedia with zero personality. No backstory, no friends, no hobbies outside of noodles. One reviewer put it bluntly: “She has the personality of a pool of soggy noodles.” Ouch.

Then there’s the repetition. Let’s be real—12 episodes of “Yuu follows Koizumi, they eat ramen, repeat” gets old. Halfway through the season, I found myself checking my phone during the “ramen fact” monologues. A fan summed it up perfectly: “This would’ve been better as a 10-minute short.” The show tries to mix things up with side characters (like Yuu’s friend Misa, who’s just as confused by Koizumi as we are) but they’re mostly window dressing. Even the yuri vibes—Yuu’s obvious crush—never go anywhere. It’s like the writers forgot they set up a potential romance and just… stopped.

But wait—here’s why I kept watching: it’s charming. Yuu’s persistence is weirdly endearing. She’s so earnest about wanting to be Koizumi’s friend that you can’t help but root for her (even if she’s a little much). And Koizumi? Her passion is contagious. When she rants about how “ramen is a way of life,” you kind of get it. It’s not about the noodles—it’s about finding joy in the small, delicious things. One fan said it felt like “a warm hug with noodles,” and that’s exactly it. This isn’t a show that’ll change your life, but it’ll make you smile.

The music helps, too. The OP is a bubbly bop that’ll get stuck in your head for days, and the ED is a mellow tune that feels like sipping tea after a big meal. The voice acting? Ayana Taketatsu (who voices Koizumi) nails that “cool but secretly dorky” vibe, while Akari Kitō (Yuu) sounds like she’s one ramen bowl away from a breakdown (in the best way).

So, who is this show for? If you’re a food lover, a slice-of-life fan, or just need something low-stakes to watch after a long day, this is perfect. But if you crave plot, character depth, or anything more than “girl eats noodles,” you’ll probably drop it by episode 3. As one reviewer put it: “It’s not a bad anime… just not good.”

Me? I finished all 12 episodes. Did I skip some of the ramen lectures? Maybe. Did I order ramen twice while watching? Absolutely. At the end of the day, Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles isn’t a masterpiece—but it’s a fun, fluffy ride that’ll make you hungry. And sometimes, that’s all you need.

Final Verdict: 3.5/5 bowls of ramen. Extra noodles, hold the filler.