Author: Hans "The Ramen Rater" Lienesch

#3093: Sichuan Baijia Green Curry Shrimp Flavor Instant Vermicelli – China

#3093: Sichuan Baijia Green Curry Shrimp Flavor Instant Vermicelli - China

Here’s one I found up in Canada – can’t remember where. Green curry is one of my favorite flavors, however not one that I think I’ve ever seen coming out of China. Sichuan Baijia has been coming out with more and more different varieties – and different little cartoon characters on their packaging. Let’s give this one a try and see how it fares. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #3089: Way Premium Foods Authentic Penang Prawn Mee – Malaysia

Meet The Manufacturer: #3089: Way Premium Foods Authentic Penang Prawn Mee - Malaysia

One thing’s for sure – when I visited Penang, Malaysia in 2014, I tried a lot of prawn mee. A lot. I think upwards of 5 different bowls from different hawkers and restaurants. It’s serious business, folks! Strong prawn flavors, a sweetness, just plain amazing stuff that’s delicious and addictive. When it comes to prawn mee, I’m very interested. Let’s delve into this new one from Malaysia and see what makes it tick. ...see full post

#3086: Nissin Raoh Kogashi Shoyu – Japan

#3086: Nissin Raoh Kogashi Shoyu - Japan

Here’s one from Japan Ramen Box – a subscription service out of Japan. Here’s what they have to say about this Nissin Raoh variety – ‘First released to the public in 1992, Nissin Roa received the title of “Noodle King” for incorporating noodles, soup, and other ingredients together into one amazing dish. As the times have begun to change and technology has allowed
further advancement in the science of ramen, Nissin Rao has also evolved. By creating a dish with deliciousness that cannot be tasted at a ramen shop, this new sensation incorporates the peppery sweet, three-times straightened, and all around delicious fried noodles with their garlic flavored soy sauce. Enjoy pork bone flavors combined with white miso, accented with peppers, and garnished with garlic oil. You’ve never tasted Nissin Rao ramen like this before!’ ...see full post

#3085: Sapporo Ichiban Oil Soba Shrimp – Japan

#3085: Sapporo Ichiban Oil Soba Shrimp - Japan

Today we have a Zenpop.JP variety – so what’s Zenpop? They’re a subscription service for all things Japanese! Definitely, check them out. By the way, use coupon code RAMENRATER to get $2 off! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘This is a special kind of “yakisoba” soupless noodle dish. Shoyu and miso based sauce is flavored with a toasty taste of shrimp, and the curly noodles catch the delicious sauce well. The savory sauce, the crunchy cabbage, and the meat. Everything in the bowl intensifies your appetite.’ ...see full post

#3082: Mivina Banana Flavor Instant Noodles – Ukraine

#3082: Mivina Banana Flavor Instant Noodles - Ukraine

A big thank you to Artur, a friend of The Ramen Rater! This is the very first dessert-style instant noodle I’ve ever tried. Ever! Not only that, It’s fromthe Ukraine! I’ve seen dessert yakisoba before in chocolate as well as strawberry shortcake flavor, and I expected those would be what I would eventually get to try. But this was way out of nowhere. Thank you again! Let’s give it a try! It’s banana time! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #3079: Fu Chung Village Dry Noodles With Sauce – Spicy Sichuan Pepper With Vinegar – Taiwan

Meet The Manufacturer: #3079: Fu Chung Village Dry Noodles With Sauce - Spicy Sichuan Pepper With Vinegar - Taiwan

Here’s the first of a trio from Fu Chung – a spicy Sichuan variety with vinegar. No doubt this includes Sichuan pepper. Now, it’s not like a fleshy chili pepper – it’s a peppercorn. Here’s a little about Sichuan pepper flavor from Wikipedia – ...see full post

#3076: Rooster Chili Chicken Flavour Noodle Soup – Canada

#3076: Rooster Chili Chicken Flavour Noodle Soup - Canada

Here’s one of the many varieties I still have from Rooster, a range made in China for Canada’s Loblaw’s company. Loblaw’s owns The Real Canadian SuperStore, and that’s where I found these. Just think of Walmart, but slightly different and Canadian owned – not American. Let’s check this one out – the others in this range have been surprisingly good despite the very plain look to them. ...see full post

#3075: Sapporo Ichiban Spicy Otafuku Okonomiyaki Sauce Yakisoba – Japan

#3075: Sapporo Ichiban Spicy Otafuku Okonomiyaki Sauce Yakisoba - Japan

Today we have a Zenpop.JP variety – so what’s Zenpop? They’re a subscription service for all things Japanese! Definitely, check them out. By the way, use coupon code RAMENRATER to get $2 off! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘Ripe jalapeno peppers are used to make the Yakisoba addictively spicy. Adding mayonnaise brings out the sour and savory taste of the okonomiyaki sauce. Even in this hot weather, the smell of the yakisoba will always intensify your appetite.’ ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2019 Edition

The Ramen Rater's Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2019 Edition

It’s January 2019, and so it is time for the first of many Top Ten Lists. I always start the year with the latest South Korean Top ten. This list was compiled as of posting 3,058 unique reviews of instant noodles, 349 of which are South Korean. All varieties are manufactured in South Korea. If you are a company interested in having your products showcased, please drop me a line. Let’s begin! ...see full post

#3073: Trader Joe’s Miso Ramen Soup – United States

#3073: Trader Joe's Miso Ramen Soup - United States

A lot of people enjoy visiting Trader Joe’s and trying their products. Actually, there aren’t many products if any that I think are actually ‘their’ products – they get companies who make a good product to do a ‘private label,’ often the same product or some with a couple tweaks and then packaged with Trader Joe’s graphics. I believe this one to be actually a cup of Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen. Anyways, let’s check this new cup out! ...see full post

#3068: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles Soy Sauce Flavor – United States

#3068: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles Soy Sauce Flavor - United States

This is interesting in a couple ways. First off, this variety has been called Original in both the cup and pack versions up til not – in the bowl, however, it’s getting the stamp of Soy Sauce. Not only that, I did see that they also have the Shio version available – not sure about the Miso but I do think I may have seen that. Let’s crack into this one and give it a try! ...see full post

#3063: Maruchan Dining Tantanmen – Japan

#3063: Maruchan Dining Tantanmen - Japan

Today we have a Zenpop.JP variety – so what’s Zenpop? They’re a subscription service for all things Japanese! Definitely, check them out. By the way, use coupon code RAMENRATER to get $2 off! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘Shoyu based soup is spiced up with Sichuan pepper to give it sour and spicy flavor. Plus, the aromatic flavor of sesame adds a rich nuttiness to the dish. Many shops across Japan specialize in variations of this rich and satisfying dish. Now you can try it at home!’ ...see full post

#3062: Nissin Cup Noodle Nice Kimchi Tonkotsu – Japan

#3062: Nissin Cup Noodle Nice Kimchi Tonkotsu - Japan

Today we have a Zenpop.JP variety – so what’s Zenpop? They’re a subscription service for all things Japanese! Definitely, check them out. By the way, use coupon code RAMENRATER to get $2 off! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘Cup Noodle Nice are nice because they have a rich taste but are also better for you than the original Nissin Cup Noodles with fewer calories. Kimchi gives the creamy tonkotsu soup a spicy umami.’ ...see full post

Restaurant: #3061: COCO 2.0 – Budae Jjigae – United States

Restaurant: #3061: COCO 2.0 - Budae Jjigae - United States

Amazingly, we were able to get two weekends in a row with some time for us to go out together without the kiddos (thanks, Aunt Cindy!). I said ‘hey you wanna try some more ramen?’ Kit was up for it and so we checked this place out. But it turned out that although they did have ramen, this was clearly a Korean restaurant in the middle of Bellevue. I thought ordering a Japanese dish at a Korean restaurant just seemed a little off, so I went in for something I’ve been wanting to try for a long time – only had it in instant varieties thus far, so time to try the real thing. Let’s go! ...see full post