In April 2026, analysts from 2GIS recorded explosive growth in the Asian fast-food segment in cities with over a million people. According to the study, the number of specialized ramen and noodle shops has doubled since 2023, reaching 489 establishments. The number of such establishments grew by 41% in just the last three years, confirming the high interest of Russians in the Asian culture of consumption.

In parallel with the development of street food, retail demand is also transforming, as evidenced by data from the IT company Evotor and NielsenIQ. Despite a decline in volume sales of cheap mass-market briquettes, the category's total monetary turnover grew by 16% at the end of 2025. The average price per package increased to 62–66 rubles. Experts attribute this to a massive consumer shift toward imported and premium noodles with authentic flavors (priced between 100 and 250 rubles). Driven by this trend, major Korean manufacturer Nongshim announced the expansion of its presence in Russia in April 2026.

Retailchina.pro Expert Commentary: The statistics confirm a sustained trend toward the premiumization of Asian noodles in Russia. Consumers no longer view the category solely as 'survival food' and are willing to pay a premium for an authentic, restaurant-like taste. For Chinese food factories, this represents a wide-open window of opportunity: exporting high-quality ramen and convenience food in attractive packaging with original sauces currently offers significantly higher profit margins than attempting to compete in the basic low-cost segment.