Author: Hans "The Ramen Rater" Lienesch

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Japanese Instant Noodles Of All time 2023 Edition

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The Ramen Rater's Top Ten Japanese Instant Noodles Of All time 2023 Edition

I get asked to do different top ten lists often – ones for people with dietetic restrictions, one for specific types of noodles, etc. The return of the Japan list should satisfy those who have wanted it to return. The problem with the Japan list is that Japanese varieties  often come and go very quickly like the seasons; they are to be enjoyed and then remembered. Hopefully you’ll be able to find most of these, but if not it is because of this reason. This list is comprised of my ten favorite varieties from Japan out of my reviews up to number 4,400. If you’re in Japan and have varieties you think I should try or are a manufacturer there, please contact me. With that, here is The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Japanese Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition. ...see full post

#4459: Samyang Buldak Quattro Cheese Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen – United States

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#4459: Samyang Buldak Quattro Cheese Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen - United States

Here’s another export version for the United States. Four cheese Buldak! What are the four cheeses you ask? Mozzarella, gouda, cheddar, and camambert. It says so in the ingredients. I’ve had the pack version of this and was very impressed. Let’s give the bowl version a try – time for a spin in the microwave. ...see full post

Zenpop.jp Japanese Snack Box Taste Test May 2023

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Zenpop.jp Japanese Snack Box Taste Test May 2023

It’s time to unbox a Zenpop.jp box – this is a new one. I usually do unboxing of their ramen boxes – which I will still be doing. However, they’re also sending me their new snack boxes which have a noodle variety, and then a ton of candy and snacks. What’s cool is I’ll be not only doing the unboxing, but inline with it will be a taste test with my daughter Mimi. Great as a gift or to hoard for yourself! Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

Zenpop Japanese Ramen Subscription Unboxing – May 2023

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Zenpop Japanese Ramen Subscription Unboxing – May 2023

It’s time to unbox a Zenpop.jp box – you get seven varieties of instant noodles to try! I would say that almost every time I’ve gotten one of these, I’ve never tried any of them before which is really awesome. Great as a gift or to hoard for yourself! Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Definitive Guide To Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast

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A couple years ago, Nissin Foods USA came out with something called Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice. Honestly, I really enjoyed it and made many different recipes out of it, stretching it to the limit. This time, it’s a breakfast variety. I couldn’t find it, but luckily Stumpy from North Little Rock, AR, James from Lakeside, CA and Nissin Foods sent me cups which I truly appreciate. Here, I will go into meticulous detail about the product, and create five different things with it. With that, here’s The Ramen Rater’s Definitive Guide To Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast. ...see full post

#4450: Myojo Hiyashi Chuka Mazesoba – United states

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#4001: Myojo Cold Ramen Soy Sauce Vinaigrette - United States

Here’s a neat cold variety from the United States! Summer months are great for cold noodles as they are more refreshing. My friend Taku-san from Myojo was kind enough to share some new refrigerated varieties  recently and here’s one – arigato! This is going to be a little different though – it’s not summer when I’m making this – it’s late fall and there’s frost every morning. I got a recipe for Hiyashi Chuka Mazesoba from Myojo – a twist which will end up as a hot noodle dish! Shall we give it a try? ...see full post

#4449: Myojo Ippei-Chan Yakisoba – United States

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#4449: Myojo Ippei-Chan Yakisoba - United States

I can’t tell you how stoked I am about these! I’ve been a huge fan of Myojo Ippei-Chan in the tray – the ones you make by steeping. This is something different – these are refrigerated section yakisoba! They’re made in the United States! I am really looking forward to this – got the chashu ready! Let’s make it so! ...see full post

Umai Crate Ramen Subscription Box – April 2023 + Coupon Code

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Umai Crate Ramen Subscription Box - April 2023 + Coupon Code

Check this out!  These subscription boxes come straight to your door and have some neat stuff inside! It’s a pretty great thing to get people who are into ramen for the holidays! Check out www.japancrate.com and use the coupon code THERAMENRATER to score a sweet discount and get some neat noodles! Here’s the latest unboxing of the March 2023  Umai Crate! ...see full post

#4448: Vite Ramen Vegan Sichuan Chili Edition v3.0 – United States

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#4448: Vite Ramen Vegan Sichuan Chili Edition v3.0 - United States

The guys over at Vite Ramen recently sent their entire range of the v3.0 products. I should stress that these guys are pretty amazing – healthy ramen isn’t a small feat. Look at the nutrition facts on the backshot of the package. Protein, fiber, vitamins up the wazoo. I’m really curious about this new patch version. It’s neat – they’re always working to improve their products – something I remember hearing that the street hawkers in Malaysian food courts would do as well which I think is admirable. Let’s see how this new version tastes! ...see full post

Nissin Singapore Sends Limited Edition Creamy Tom Yam!

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Nissin Singapore Sends Limited Edition Creamy Tom Yam!

The folks at Nissin Singapore keep sending me these wonderful boxes in the mail – they usually are about a brand new product (well, they always are) and they have such interesting things inside. It seems my postal carrier doesn’t like to deliver them though. They’ll say it need a signature, leave a slip, I’ll sign it, leave it for them, and either they won’t do anything with the slip or not even fill out the info so I can have it redelivered. They’re really a pain. However, their incompetence led to some fun in this one – check out the video and you’ll see and of course a neat limited edition Cup Noodles variety from Singapore! ...see full post

#4447: Nissin U.F.O. Osaka Takoyaki Flavour Yakisoba – Singapore

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#4447: Nissin U.F.O. Osaka Takoyaki Flavour Yakisoba - Singapore

Takoyaki is a little octopus ball – here’s what Wikipedia had to say –

Takoyaki (たこ焼き or 蛸焼) is a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus (tako), tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger (beni shoga), and green onion (negi).[1][2] The balls are brushed with takoyaki sauce (similar to Worcestershire sauce) and mayonnaise, and then sprinkled with green laver (aonori) and shavings of dried bonito (katsuobushi). ...see full post

#4446: A-Sha BT21 Dan Dan Noodle Dream Team Scallion Sauce – United States

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#4441: A-Sha BT21 Dan Dan Noodle With BT21 Sauce - United States

First off, thanks to the folks at A-Sha USA for sending these over! There are two different boxes, four varieties in total. I thought I’d go with this box first. So, I live under a rock; I’m not exceedingly hip to things that aren’t noodle related or politics related. God, I’m old. I do know there is a Korean group called BTS that’s quite popular, and a messaging service called LINE. Well, LINE did a collab with BTS and made BT21 characters, and A-Sha collaborated with LINE and made these noodles featuring these characters. ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Global Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition

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The Ramen Rater's Global Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition

Another year and it’s time for yet another top ten list. There’s a let of movement here, and a lot of favorites which have stood the test of time. This is a list of my favorite varieties from reviews up to #4440. If you’ve got a variety you think I should try or are a manufacturer who would like me to try your masterful creations – please drop me a line; I don’t know that in the 20+ years I’ve been sampling and opining about instant noodle products that I’ve refused a request for me to try a product. As I’ve said for years, my true favorite variety is the one I haven’t tried yet. With that, let’s look at these true diplomats of flavor in this, The Ramen Rater’s Global Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition. ...see full post

#4445: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup 45th Anniversary Chicken Flavor – United States

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#4445: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup 45th Anniversary Chicken Flavor - United States

This is a special commemorative packaging for the 45th anniversary of Maruchan in the United States. Want to learn more about this iconic range of Ramen Noodle Soup products? Look no further than my Definitive Guide To Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup! Alright, let’s peel back the wraps and give it a try. Note – the only thing different here as far as I know is the packaging. ...see full post

#4444: Aces Sriracha Ramen Noodle Soup Original – United States

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#4444: Aces Sriracha Ramen Noodle Soup Original - United States

Well, the name Aces reminds me of playing cards, and the number 4 sort of looks like an A missing a leg, and 4444 looks like 4 of a kind, so I thought this seemed a fitting review number for this one. My wife said something earlier about the number four being unlucky – never heard that before. Well, I like the number four so there. Let’s try ...see full post

Best Wok Sends Mi Goreng Made From Corn!

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A little while back, you may have been a review I did of a product called Doroku and it was a corn based noodle. This is a full product with sachets using that same noodle. You might think ‘what, does it taste like corn?’ Not really – but I think most would like the consistency of this and the fact that it’s not too wet, not too dry, and rather light. Have a look and thanks to Best Wok for sending this over to try! ...see full post

#4441: A-Sha BT21 Dan Dan Noodle With BT21 Sauce – United States

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#4441: A-Sha BT21 Dan Dan Noodle With BT21 Sauce - United States

First off, thanks to the folks at A-Sha USA for sending these over! There are two different boxes, four varieties in total. I thought I’d go with this box first. So, I live under a rock; I’m not exceedingly hip to things that aren’t noodle related or politics related. God, I’m old. I do know there is a Korean group called BTS that’s quite popular, and a messaging service called LINE. Well, LINE did a collab with BTS and made BT21 characters, and A-Sha collaborated with LINE and made these noodles featuring these characters. ...see full post

Zenpop.jp Japanese Snack Box Taste Test April 2023

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It’s time to unbox a Zenpop.jp box – this is a new one. I usually do unboxing of their ramen boxes – which I will still be doing. However, they’re also sending me their new snack boxes which have a noodle variety, and then a ton of candy and snacks. What’s cool is I’ll be not only doing the unboxing, but inline with it will be a taste test with my daughter Mimi. Great as a gift or to hoard for yourself! Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#4440: Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast Ramen Noodles In Sauce – United States

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#4440: Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast Ramen Noodles In Sauce - United States

Well, I got one. More coming. There will be a definitive guide. That being said, it’s spring break and the kids are home with me. I’ve been walking ten miles a day for the past 44 days. I think I broke them; I did almost 7 with them today in two walks. I think they had fun, but they look pretty tired. Only four more days of it, kids! Anyways, I went crazy on the Nissin Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice Ramen Noodles In Sauce a couple years back; did a whole definitive guide and even a poster heralding it’s existance, with a graphic combination of that cup, a 2001: A Space Odyssey (it was review 4001) as well as references to Dune which had just come out. Now it’s time for a Cup Noodles Breakfast meltdown. Let’s give it a try. ...see full post

Zenpop Japanese Ramen Subscription Unboxing – April 2023

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It’s time to unbox a Zenpop.jp box – you get seven varieties of instant noodles to try! I would say that almost every time I’ve gotten one of these, I’ve never tried any of them before which is really awesome. Great as a gift or to hoard for yourself! Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#4438: Samyang Foods Buldak Lovely Hot – South Korea

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#4438: Samyang Foods Buldak Lovely Hot - South Korea

A big thank you to The Fat Hipster from YouTube for sending this over – so I figured this sounds like a good place to start. Why? Well, I realized in my post schedule for YouTube that this would come on Valentine’s Day, so hearts, Valentine’s day – not an extreme stretch. This appears to be a less spicy version – but it’s also got something else going on. The packaging scheme looks a lot like Buldak Light. ...see full post