Author: Hans "The Ramen Rater" Lienesch

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Nissin Thailand

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Interview With Nissin Thailand * Product Samples From Nissin Thailand * Nissin Chilli Noodle Spicy Tom Yum Shrimp Flavour * Nissin Cup Noodles Seafood Creamy Flavour * Nissin Instant Noodles Minced Pork Flavour * Nissin Cup Noodles Moo Manao Flavour * Nissin Instant Noodles Tom Yum Shrimp Saab Flavour * 7-Select Nissin Instant Noodles Shrimp Ma Nao Lui Suan Flavour King Cup * Nissin Chilli Noodles Tom Yum Shrimp Creamy Soup Flavour * Nissin Cup Noodles Minced Pork Flavour * Nissin Super Tom Yum Shrimp * Nissin Instant Noodles Moo Manao Flavour * Nissin Chilli Noodles Stir Fried Holy Basil Flavour * Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yum Shrimp Sabb Flavour * 7 Select Nissin Instant Noodles Tom Yum Seafood Creamy Flavour King Cup ...see full post

#2111: Nissin Cup Noodles Chilli Crab Flavour

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I put out a call for varieties to review a couple of months ago – my hamper had gone very low on supplies! Here’s one that the folks from Prima Taste in Singapore sent – thank you! Now this one’s interesting – chilli crab is a Singaporean flavor, but this is a Cup Noodles from Hissin Hong Kong. A few days ago I reviewed a Cup Noodles from Japan which was Laksa flavor – another popular Singaporean taste. Interesting! Anyways, let’s crack it open and see what’s going on here! ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodle Cups Of All Time 2016 Edition

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This is the fourth Top Ten Instant Noodle Cups list I’ve done since 2013 and I just looked at the first one – none of them are still on this list! I will say one thing though – the ones on the 2013 list are all really good too. It’s hard picking a list to be honest; maybe a top fifty? Naw – ten is enough. Maybe when I’ve done 5000 reviews a top fifty might be in order. But for now, here’s the best of the best – my absolute favorite cup varieties from the 2,100+ reviews I’ve done. ...see full post

#2107: Nissin Lamen Sabor Frango Assado Com Toque De Limao

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Thank you again to cousins Adriana and Mike O. for sending this one to me! As I’ve said in the past, anything south of the United States has been just near impossible for me to get – until somewhat recently. This one’s from Brazil. As for the translation? Well, Google says frango assado simply means roast chicken – let’s give it a try! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: NuTek Food Science

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Lowering sodium without compromising taste: a visit to NuTek Food Science

‘Aren’t you worried about the amount of sodium you’re taking in?’ This question has been following me around for years now – from people commenting on a news article to a journalist interviewing me for a story. I’ve usually shrugged it off in some way as I’ve not had high blood pressure – ‘worst I’ve had has been borderline when visiting a doctor from time to time.’ These days however with my second son here and another child on the way, my thinking has shifted a little bit. I’m in my early forties (I mean twenties, cough cough) and thinking about how I definitely want to be there for my children and watch them grow into adults, live forever, and review instant noodles as long as they keep coming up with fascinating and tasty new takes of the local cuisine of the world. I’ve cut back on how much of the noodles I take in when I review in the last year or so – a slurp of broth, a mouthful of noodles and then the supplied garnishes to get the full feel for a product and review it. I then just try to eat the garnishes I might add in after that, and once that’s done, the rest goes down the garbage disposal. It’s hard though; there are varieties that I just have to eat the whole bowl after reviewing – the really tasty stuff, you know? ...see full post

#2103: Roland Ramen Japanese Style Quick-Cooking Alimentary Paste With Beef Artificially Flavored Soup Base

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A big thanks to Colin for finding and sending me this one! Okay, so I have been trying to get this one for a while; anything by Roland honestly. I called them, emailed them, and always got the same reply – ‘we don’t send sample.’ I really love it when companies have such a rigid policy against basically what amounts to free advertising. This one is made in Singapore for Roland company here in the USA, and I have a feeling it’s a private label by Tat Hui/KOKA – all boils down to one aspect which is a giveaway. Let’s check this one out and I’ll show you what that is. ...see full post

#2099: Sanpo Yakibuta Ramen

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Here’s another one from the Box From Japan box from March! BoxFromJapan.com is a monthly subscription service – you get 4 neat and very unique bowls of ramen sent from Japan along with a few chopsticks and a little letter! Really awesome – I’ve not gotten any that I’ve reviewed before at this point which is really quite amazing! Anyways, check them out! Today’s variety looks interesting – they mention that the piece of pork is shaped like a heart to show the care they put into their products. Neat! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Rice Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition

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Seems like it wasn’t that long ago I came out with the first Top Ten Rice Noodles list – was thinking I might not do an update since I hadn’t reviewed a ton of new ones in the last year but since a couple were definitely worthy, here it is. Here’s The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Rice Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition! ...see full post

#2096: Maruchan Seimen Noukou Toro Tonkotsu

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Here’s one from the Box From Japan box from March! BoxFromJapan.com is a monthly subscription service – you get 4 neat and very unique bowls of ramen sent from Japan along with a few chopsticks and a little letter! Really awesome – I’ve not gotten any that I’ve reviewed before at this point which is really quite amazing! Today it’s a shiny gold ensconced tonkotsu. Let’s have a look! ...see full post

#2094: Nongshim Champong Noodle Soup Spicy Seafood Flavor

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There’s been a lot of hub bub coming out of South Korea lately – all the big companies have brand new Jjajang and Jjamppong varieties it seems. They’re all going a little more premium than their old offerings. This is awesome for me, well – as long as I can get my hands on them. I finally was able to score this one at the local South Korean grocery. Let’s crack it open and see what we’ve got here. ...see full post

#2091: MyKuali Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodle Authentic Taste

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The third and final of the cups I received from MyKuali – thanks again! The Hokkien Prawn (aka Spicy Prawn Noodle) was #2 on this year’s The Ramen Rater’s top Ten Instant Noodles Of all Time 2016 Edition. I recently read a little about these cups – the noodle they are using is referred to as ‘shabu noodle.’ Just a little something you might be curious about. Anyways, let’s see how the sweetness of Hokkien Prawn translates with this new noodle! Let’s crack it open! ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Bottom Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition

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A while back, somebody asked me if since I have top ten lists, what about a ‘bottom ten’ list? Well, when I was asked that, I was a little leery at first and then figured hey – why not. That’s what we have here. In it’s fourth iteration since 2013, here are my very least favorite varieties I’ve samples out over over 2,000 reviews. I should note that I see these often and so I’m sure many of you will disagree with me. It’s kind of crazy – some people get really offended at my picks. But these are my PERSONAL least favorite instant noodles; don’t take it personally… Geez… Without further ado, let’s dig in to The Ramen Rater’s Bottom Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2090: Nissin Nupasta Salmon In White Sauce Flavor Instant Noodle

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Well folks, today’s the last day of this Meet The Manufacturer. It’s been a lot of fun – been great to try some new products I’ve never had the chance to before! This will be the 15th review, however Nissin Hong Kong sent me 47 different varieties, so rest assured you’ll be seeing a lot more in the future. I thought I’d go out with something really interesting. I don’t think I’ve seen a salmon instant noodle before. The Nupasta Carbonara cup I had a week or so ago was really quite good and so I’m curious about this pack version. Let’s have a look and bid a fond farewell to Nissin Hong Kong’s Meet The Manufacturer! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2087: Nissin Mie Goreng Indonesia Stir Noodle Original Flavour

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Here one of the more unique varieties Nissin Hong Kong sent. Mie goreng is definitely an Indonesian dish – not something that jumps at me as something from Hong Kong. However, it tastes quite nice anywhere you are, and so I imagine that’s why they’ve added it to their lineup. Let’s have a look at this one from Nissin Hong Kong! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2086: Nissin Demae Ramen Sesame Oil Flavour Instant Noodle

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Here’s an interesting one – probably the most recognizable Demae Ramen. When I first tried it, I was around 18 years old and I couldn’t get past the sesame oil smell – didn’t like it back then. It’s funny since I really like sesame oil scent and flavor now… I guess years change the palate! Let’s have a look at this iconic noodle – Hong Kong style! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2084: Nissin Demae Ramen Straight Noodle Kyushu Tonkotsu Flavour Instant Noodle

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Hadn’t seen this straight noodle ramen style before from Nissin. I’ve had quite a few now by different brand though, and they usually are quite nice! Let’s see how this tonkotsu fare. Tonkotsu is a pork bone broth soup served with straight noodles. It’s usually got a milky colored broth with a rich taste. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2083: Nissin Taisho Fried Noodle Sesame Paste Flavour Instant Noodle

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Last night, we went to a little Taiwanese restaurant nearby and I brought home some leftovers. I got some Hakka style fried tofu, squid and pork belly with vegetables; not covered in sauce but nicely seasoned. I immediately though ‘what noodles night this go well with for Meet The Manufacturer?’ This one sounds like a good bet! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2082: Nissin Cup Noodles Pork Chowder Flavour

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Here’s one of Nissin HK’s standard sized Cup Noodles, and in a flavor I’ve never heard of – pork chowder! My first thought when chowder is referenced is clam chowder; will it be like clam chowder but instead of clams just be pork? I think maybe not. I really don’t know! Let’s check this one out. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2080: Fuku Non-Fried Superior Soup Noodle

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On more than one occasion, I’ve been talking to someone from Hong Kong about instant noodles. It seems like every time, Fuku comes up. This is a really popular brand there and often mentioned as a favorite. Today I’m going to try their non-fried variety. Curious how the noodles differ from the standard instant. Let’s see! ...see full post