This one came by way of Michael over at EastLand Foods – thanks! I haven’t reviewed a Vietnamese instant noodle in ages it seems like – let’s see what we have here!
Author: Hans "The Ramen Rater" Lienesch
#1815: Nakaya Shouten Hingya no Shio Ramen
This one came from Shinichi over at Ramen Mania, a new monthly subscription box you can check out! They have special regional Japanese ramen varieties – good stuff so far! Thanks! So today it’s a special shio ramen. What’s shio you ask? Shio translates to salt. Here’s a little more on shio from Wikipedia:
#1814: Koh Thai Island Of Flavours Tom Yum Instant Noodles Soup
Another one from James B. over in The Netherlands – thanks! I thought this one looked really interesting; it’s made in Singapore specifically for Koh Thai brand in The Netherlands. Let’s crack this one open!
#1813: Nissin Soba Fried Noodles Curry
Here’s another one James B. sent me from The Netherlands – thanks again! I’ve reviewed these varieties in cup form, but not the packs and I’m really pleased to be able to. These come from Nissin Germary! Let’s have a look!
Donations From A Long Time Reader In Hong Kong (2 of 2)
Got an email a couple months ago from Casey P. in Hong Kong. He’s been following the blog for years and wanted to send some thing for me to review! Thank you so much! He sent two boxes – here’s the second one.
Donations From A Long Time Reader In Hong Kong (1 of 2)
Got an email a couple months ago from Casey P. in Hong Kong. He’s been following the blog for years and wanted to send some thing for me to review! Thank you so much! He sent two boxes – here’s the first one.
#1812: Master Kong Mushroom Instant Noodle
There’s a new Asian Food Center on 130th & Aurora – went there hunting for some of the fruit I got to try in Thailand and found mangosteen – and quite a few instant noodle varieties, this being one of them. It’s pretty far and few between that I find Master Kong varieties – always kind of a treat! I want to thank Bobby Y. from Canada for help in translation on this one! Let’s have a look at this one from China!
#1811: Conimex Oriental Noodles Oosterse Groenten
Here’s another one that was sent to me by James B. from The Netherlands – thanks! First off, this one is oosterse groenten, which translates to oriental vegetable. These are from The Netherlands and made by Unilever. Let’s check ’em out!
#1810: MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle (New Version)
As most of you should know, thishas been one of my all time favorites in the past couple years. When it came out, it was a real game-changer; so much so that over 20 different manufacturers started making their own white curry variants to compete. MyKuali has decided to standardize their packaging and now this is how the product looks. Let’s have a look inside and see if anything else has changed.
#1809: Marutai Nagahama Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen
Here’s another one that was sent to me by Javier over at Box From Japan – thanks! Box From Japan is a subscription service – you can get a box sent to you every month with some great noodles within! From what I’m reading, it sounds like this one has a tonkotsu broth – with pork bone flavor! Let’s check it out!
#1808: MAMA Vegetarian Instant Cup Noodle Tofu & Shiitake Flavour
This is one I saw posted on facebook by one of the nice folks I met at MAMA in May. I was very curious about it and so I asked if I could get some samples – thank you! This one and the vegetarian tom yum are made specifically for October. Why? Well, there’s a special Vegetarian Festival in Thailand during October! Here’s a little about it:
#1807: Wai Wai Tom Yum Goong Flavour Instant Noodle
Here’s one I found at the 7-11 next to our hotel when we visit Thai President Foods in Bangkok back in May! I think the first time I tried a tom yum flavored instant, I didn’t like it. Through the years, I’ve gained a serious love for the flavor – the chilli, the shrimp, the lemongrass. It all comes together so well and the place where I had some of the best of course was in Thailand. Really hope to return someday with my sons and have them try all the amazing foods there! Anyways, let’s check out this cup!
#1806: Cintan Mi Segera Mmm… Perisa Goreng Ala Indonesia
So this is the last one that I got during my trip last October to meet the folks at MyKuali in Malaysia. We took a ferry from Georgetown, Penang over to Butterworth, Penang and went to an Econsave where I got to get a ton of instant noodles! It was a real blast for sure. Almost exactly a year ago today we were on our way home – probably was over the pacific at this point! Wow – truly was an amazing trip. I want to thank them for their kindness and for showing us such a good time! Let’s check out this last one that I brought back.
#1805: MAMA Oriental Style Instant Noodles Tandoori Flavour
Here’s another one that the nice folks at Thai President Foods in Thailand sent me after my trip in May. These are made in Bangladesh by their factory there! Tandoori flavor though – what’s that? Wikipedia had this to say:
Vote The Ramen Rater For Best Food Blog!
Hey everyone! I’m hoping you have been enjoying the website and my reviews! I was hoping you could do me a huge favor. There’s a yearly contest (longtime followers of the blog will remember it from previous years) called KING5’s BEST Of Western Washington. Basically, it’s a local contest where people can vote for their favorites. I’ve been in the Best Food Blog category for a couple of years now and hoping this year could be a little different – I really want to win this! The only downside is that you have to sign up and give your email address. Well, this year you can do so and tick a box during the process to ‘opt out’ of receiving any junk mail from them. It would mean a great deal to me if you could spend a minute and vote! It doesn’t matter where or what country you’re in, and if you’re a manufacturer, get everone at your factory to vote, please! You can do so by clicking here. Thank you very much!
#1804: Thai Chef Oriental Style Instant Noodles Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum Flavour
Here’s one made by the same company that makes MAMA instant noodles. They’ve got a factory in Hungary which makes this and other lines for the European market. Let’s have a look!
#1803: MAMA Vegetarian Instant Noodles Tom Yum Flavour
This is a special one sent to me by the kind folks at Thai President Foods – thanks again! So this month (October) there is a special festival that takes place in Thailand and other places in Asia involving vegetarianism. Here’s a little info on it from wikipedia:
#1802: Nissin Cup Noodles Ramen Noodle Soup Beef Flavor [New Package]
Hey check it out – Nissin Cup Noodles got a big facelift.
Here’s how they used to look – cardboard outer packaging is now gone. Less packaging and different materials have been used to make them more environmentally friendly. Also, they’re now microwavable! Yes, I’m sure many of you microwaved them before, but you weren’t supposed to. The new cups also have a little extra room so you can add veggies and meats or whatever you want to oomph up your noodles! Let’s check this new cup out!
1801: Sichuan Baijia Spicy Artificial Fei-Chang Flavor Instant Vermicelli (New Version)
To those of you have followed my blogs and my Bottom Ten lists for a while, you know what this is. To those who haven’t, let me introduce you to this one. In my original review, I was really put off by this one. I thought it had some kind of ‘dirt and urine’ odor to it. But this is a new version. First, what’s fei chang? Here’s something I found on a blog called Food And Drink Chengdu:
#1800: Crystal Noodle Soup All Natural Hot & Sour
Wow – review #1800. I must admit my surprise on how quickly I’m closing in on #2000. I haven’t reviewed one of these Crystal Noodle varieties in quite a while. I was talking to a friend of mine about instant noodles we weren’t particularly fond of and he mentioned his wife really liked these. We both agreed that Crystal Noodle was one of our least favorites. I figure though hey, you never know. This might be the one I really like! Let’s have a look.
#1799: Thai Smile Spring Onion Rice Noodle Soup Bowl
Another one my lovely wife found for me at BigLOTS. This one’s made in Thailand for the US market it seems. Spring onion is an interesting thing; it’s also known as green onion and also as scallions. Another one like that is coriander, which in the USA is known as cilantro – at least uin it’s fresh form. In a seasoning jar, it’s known here as coriander. Weird. anyways, let’s check out this bowl!
#1798: iMee Instant Noodles Vegetable Flavour
Here’s another one that was sent to me by James B. from The Netherlands – thanks! So this one is made in Thailand for the Dutch market. Vegetable flavor can be interesting; there are so many vegetables and so many takes on what ‘vegetable’ flavor is. Some taste like mushroom predominantly while other have a strong broccoli flavor. Some even taste like butter! Very curious to see what kind of vegetable flavor this one has – let’s find out!
#1797: Wai Wai Instant Rice Vermicelli Crab Flavour
Here’s another one my sister got for me while up in Canada a couple of weeks ago! Thanks, Sue! I’ve been really hoping to try more rice vermicelli lately but been having trouble sourcing any from around here and hoping to find some manufacturer who might want me to review some of their stuff! The top ten rice noodles list this year was a lot of fun and definitely want to make it a yearly kind of thing! Anyways, let’s check out these crab flavored noodles from Thailand!
#1796: Fujiwara Salty Taste Chanko Noodle
This one came from Shinichi over at Ramen Mania, a new monthly subscription box you can check out! They have special regional Japanese ramen varieties – good stuff so far! Thanks! So today it’s a very interesting looking shio variety! What’s shio? Here’s what wikipedia has to say:
#1795: Azami Kimchee Flavour Noodle Soup
#1794: Vit’s Shallot Chicken Instant Noodles
Yep – another one we brought back from Malaysia! I think I’m almost through them all. Shallot chicken sounds nice – let’s have a look!
Awesome Box From A Friend In The Netherlands
James B. sent me a box a while back with some great stuff in it and here he strikes again with even more! Thanks, man! Let’s see what’s inside!
#1793: Cintan Mi Segera Mmm… Perisa Asam Laksa
Yet another from last year’s Malaysia trip I gotta wolf down before it goes bad! Asam Laksa is a flavor probably most people in the USA haven’t heard of or know how to pronounce when read or spell for that matter. Well, it’s a sour spicy soup with fish. At least that’s the layman’s way or explaining it. It’s really good – had it while in Penang – man I wish I could go have some more… Anyways, let’s check this one out!
Another Great ‘Box From Japan’
I found out about Box From Japan on Reddit recently and sent the guy who runs the service an email. Javier sent me a sample box and I reviewed the included varieties and they were really great! He was nice enough to send me another one – let’s see what’s inside!
#1792: A1 Soup Spices Noodle Mee Remparan Soup
Another one got in Penang on my Malaysia trip last year I want to get reviewed before expiry. So from looking around, this sounds to be bah kut teh flavor. What’s that? Wikipedia, if you please…
Samples From Eastland Foods – 2 of 2!
I remember hearing about ‘the original’ sriracha sauce a while back. It really seemed illogical that the ‘original’ would be made in Southern California, especially since I was in a city called Sriracha in Thailand this May. I found a Bon Appetit article mentioning the true original and some comment by Eastland Foods. I emailed my contact Michael over there to see if he could help me out with a sample – and he really came through (the original sriracha came in the other box) – thanks! Let’s see what’s in these boxes!
Samples From Eastland Foods – 1 of 2!
I remember hearing about ‘the original’ sriracha sauce a while back. It really seemed illogical that the ‘original’ would be made in Southern California, especially since I was in a city called Sriracha in Thailand this May. I found a Bon Appetit article mentioning the true original and some comment by Eastland Foods. I emailed my contact Michael over there to see if he could help me out with a sample – and he really came through – thanks! Let’s see what’s in these boxes!
#1791: Vit’s Tom Yam Instant Noodles
This is yet another I picked up during my trip last year to Malaysia! Tom yam is a great flavor – whether you spell it tom yam or tom yum. Actually, they’re the same thing. Sounds good to me! Let’s check it out!
#1790: Super Kimchi
Here’s another cup I got during last year’s trip to Penang. As I’ve been mentioning, I’m trying to get everything reviewed before they expire! Not often do I get to go abroad and bring home noodles, so it’d be a horrible waste to lose any. Anyways, this is an interesting one – a kimchi flavor cup noodle from Malaysia. I don’t think I’ve seen many of those. Let’s check it out!
#1789: Cintan Mi Segera Mmm… Perisa Ayam Cendawan
The onslaught of Malaysian varieties continues! This is yet another I got on last year’s trip to Penang, Malaysia. If you’re wondering what Ayam Cendawan means, basically it’s chicken mushroom. My wife Kit really likes mushrooms, so I thought I’d make this one for her today. Let’s check it out!
#1788: Super Curry Flavour Noodles
Another one from last year’s Malaysia trip. Turns out I still have a few more I haven’t gotten to so it’s time to run through them before they expire. Curry. Malaysia. Super. Let’s check it out.
#1787: Pama Kua Teaw Segera
Another I picked up in Butterworth, Penang during my Malaysia trip last year. That Econsave was really great – so many varieties! Trying to run through them before they expire! Not this one’s a little interesting – you might say the logo kind of looks familiar… Well, it’s made in Thailand for the Malaysian market by President Rice Products. They make all of the MAMA branded rice vermicelli – and in Malaysia their products go under the name PAMA. Simple really. Anyways, let’s check this one out!
Friday Video: East Of Occidental
Today, I have a half of a documentary – unfortunately, if you want the other half you have to pay for it… But the first half is a real eye opener for people who have frequented the Seattle International District. Definitely spend 15 minutes of your day to watch this.
Vegetarian MAMA Samples FromThai President Foods
A nice package came in the mail today from Thailand! I saw some pictures one of the people I met in Thailand posted on facebook that showed some neat yellow-packaged varieties I’d not tried and so I asked what they were.
From Seeds To Peppers!
I got a little box in the mail from my friend Dwayne in Tennessee. He asked me a while back about instant noodle from Malaysia and every once in a while, I’ll just send someone who asks about noodles a nice box of them. Since then we’d been conversing and he mentioned he grows peppers. I was given some peppers at the very end of my trip to Malaysia by Annie at MyKuali – cili padi peppers – little hot ones! When I got back here, I thought why not crack some of them open and pull out seeds. I sent some to a coupl eof people and Dwayne was one of them. This was over a year ago and now, the seeds have grown!