Author: Hans "The Ramen Rater" Lienesch

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Little Couples

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Little Couples

During my trip in November 2017 to Taiwan, I met some folks at a booth that had a slew of different noodle varieties. They knew who I was and were keen on me giving their products a try. They wanted to hand me samples but I couldn’t – my luggage was full and so I recommended a Meet The Manufacturer series – and here we are. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Little Couples Q Noodle

#2809: Acecook Shrimp Tempura Soba

#2809: Acecook Shrimp Tempura Soba

Here’s another neat one from Zenpop.JP. Thank you! So Zenpop has all sorts of monthly boxes including ramen boxes. Nine instant ramen in one box for a good price – check ’em out! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘This healthy soba is low in sodium and moreover, it contains GABA, which helps lower the blood pressure, reduce the stress, and make you relaxed. Of course, it’s tasty too. Katsuo (bonito) dashi and shrimp adds a delectable flavor to it.’ ...see full post

#2808: Super Super Cup Signature White Curry

#2808: Super Super Cup Signature White Curry

I was surprised to find this one in Taiwan – had seen it in images online quite a few times before but yeah – Taiwan! I got this at the Hi-Life store at the Nangang Exhibition Center. I really didn’t think Malaysian food would be popular in Taiwan, but actually I went to PappaRich over there – a chain of Malaysian restaurants.  I’m pretty sure nowhere is immune to the White Curry craze! Strong flavors and spicy broth is pretty good anywhere you go. Let’s crack this cup open and look around! ...see full post

#2807: Maruchan Gotsumori Shio Wonton Ramen

#2807: Maruchan Gotsumori Shio Wonton Ramen

Here’s another neat one from Zenpop.JP. Thank you! So Zenpop has all sorts of monthly boxes including ramen boxes. Nine instant ramen in one box for a good price – check ’em out! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘The soup has a condensed umami of chicken, which matches perfectly with the onion-garlic flavored noodles. Additionally, delicious wontons are included to make your empty stomach happy. Like in many other ramen bowls, sesame works as a hidden hero which brings a balance to the dish.’ ...see full post

#2804: Acecook Chinese Style Yakisoba

#2804: Acecook Chinese Style Yakisoba

Here’s one I found up in Canada at Osaka Market in Yaohan Centre, which is in Richmond, BC. Sometimes they’ll have a bunch of interesting varieties that are there for a short period and this is one of them./ Let’s see what’s going on here – wasn’t able to find a whole lot about this one. At least I know how to cook it, right? Let’s begin! ...see full post

#2803: World O’Noodle Curry Flavour Instant Noodle

Curry #2803: World O'Noodle Curry Flavour Instant Noodle

Found this one in November 2017 at the same place I found some by this brand in 2016 as well – at the Jason’s Market at the base of the Taipei 101. I thought today would be a good day for some relaxing curry – I spent the weekend videotaping and video editing. Curry sounds good to me. Let’s give it a try! ...see full post

#2801: Myojo Ippei-Chan Yomise-No Yakisoba Barbeque Sauce Flavor With Mayonnaise

#2801: Myojo Ippei-Chan Yomise-No Yakisoba Barbeque Sauce Flavor With Mayonnaise

Hey look at this! This came by way of Hobby Link Japan, a great site that has all sorts of amazing Japanese things including instant noodles! Thank you very much! This variety is a yakisoba with barbeque sauce and mayonnaise! I tell ya, this sounds really quite good to me! Here’s a little about it from Wikipedia – ...see full post

#2800: Vedan Original Beef Flavor Noodle

#2800: Vedan Original Beef Flavor Noodle

Here’s one I brought back in my suitcase from Taiwan from my November 2017 trip to Taiwan for the Taiwan International Food Expo. I really hope to live in Taiwan someday. No joke – it’s really that neat there. Let’s crack this meaty beast open and see what’s inside. By the way, no, you’re not going to find this in the United States – it’s got a retort pouch full of meat and that kind of makes it off the table for export. Let’s begin. ...see full post

Unboxing Time: Russian & S’pore Varieties Send By The Halal Food Blog

Unboxing Time: Russian & S'pore Varieties Send By The Halal Food Blog

A few weeks ago, I commented on a post I saw on The Halal Food Blog‘s Instagram. Always really neat things to see there! Well, I saw a picture showing some instant noodles and that they were in Uzbokistan! I was immediately curious and they offered to send me some! Well, today I’ve got a box and it’s Unboxing Time, so let’s get to it! ...see full post

Re-Review: Prima Taste Singapore Laksa Wholegrain La Mian

Re-Review: Prima Taste Singapore Laksa Wholegrain La Mian

When it comes to my favorites and the annual The Ramen Rster’s top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time list, I like to take nothing for granted. This one has been number one for the past two years and I’m guess it will be so again this year – but I have to try it first just to make sure. Did they change the recipe? Has my taste changed? It gets a little tougher every year with this list as every year there’s about 400 new varieties I’ve been sampling. Anyways, here we go – let give it another try and see how it stacks up! ...see full post

Re-Review: Prima Taste Singapore Curry Wholegrain La Mian

Re-Review: Prima Taste Singapore Curry Wholegrain La Mian

Ah, curry. I’ve loved curry since I was very young. My mother would make a curried chicken liver over rice dish that to this day I crave. Unfortunately, she’s not keen on the chicken liver that they sell at the store anymore. Thankfully, curry is popular around the world and there are no end in sight of options to get my curry fix. When it comes to the instant noodle realm, this is one of my my absolute favorite avenues. It’s been on the Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time list for years – both in Wholegrain form and the original. Let’s crack it open and see what’s in this big pack of noodles! ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2018 Edition

NEW LIST FOR 2019 – CHECK IT OUT HERE

The Ramen Rater's Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2018 Edition

Well, it’s that time again. Since the last The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time list came out , I’ve reviewed 383 different varieties. I want to thank the companies and individuals who have sent me varieties I could not easily get. Incidentally, all of these are reviewed the same way – I follow instructions to the letter and taste each variety before I add any external garnish.. I figure that a naked bowl of noodles every day would be quite boring, plus it has given many ideas on what to add to them. As always, if you are an instant noodle company  or a reader who wants me to try one that I’ve not, please contact me. With that, let’s have a look at the top ten for 2018 – the finest and most memorable instant noodles I’ve tried. ...see full post

#2798: Indomie Instant Noodles Mi Goreng Fried Noodles (Taiwan-only Version)

#2798: Indomie Instant Noodles Mi Goreng Fried Noodles (Taiwan-only Version)

Alright so about these – I received a 5-pack from the nice folks at the Indomie booth at the Taiwan International Food Expo in Taipei, Taiwan in November 2017. I asked a little about them. This pack you see here is specifically for Taiwan. So, what’s different? Well for starters, lots of Chinese on the pack. The main difference however is the actual soizie of the package. This one’s a little bit bigger than the ones found elsewhere, and this is unique to Taiwan. You can’t get them like this anywhere else in the world. Period. A huge difference? No, but still a difference. Here’s a little info from Wikipedia – ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2792: Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen Spicy Pork Tonkotsu Flavor Ramen Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: #2792: Mike's Mighty Good Craft Ramen Spicy Pork Tonkotsu Flavor Ramen Soup

So today’s variety is one I’ve been curious about. This is a pork tonkotsu from the United States – something I don’t usually think is going to be great. But if it does as well as everything else has, I think it’s going to be good. Here’s a little about tonkotsu from Wikipedia- ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2791: Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen Vegetarian Vegetable Ramen Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: #2791: Mike's Mighty Good Craft Ramen Vegetarian Vegetable Ramen Soup

Alright so today it’s a Vegetarian variety. To be honest, I used to enjoy a lot of condensed soup and this was my favorite flavor. So, I suppose it has a bit to live up to as far as the name. Let’s have a look inside this cup and see what lurks within! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2790: Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen Savory Miso Ramen Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: #2790: Mike's Mighty Good Craft Ramen Savory Miso Ramen Soup

Okay now I’m seeing a pattern. The cups exclaim that they have rich broth while the packaged versions contain insanely rich broth. All I can say is in the last two, I liked the broth. Now to the topic of miso – here’s a little from Wikipedia – ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2789: Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen Spicy Beef Flavor Ramen Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: #2789: Mike's Mighty Good Craft Ramen Spicy Beef Flavor Ramen Soup

So Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen also comes in cups. Spicy beef sounds good. I’ve been a spicy fan for a long time. I just noticed on the pack reviewed yesterday it mentioned ‘insanely rich broth’ whereas today we have ‘rich broth.’ With a slightly mellower tone, let’s pop the lid and look within. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2788: Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen Fried Garlic Chicken Flavor Ramen Soup

Meet The Manufacturert: #2788: Mike's Mighty Good Craft Ramen Fried Garlic Chicken Flavor Ramen Soup

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Usually, the first instant product a noodle company will put out will be chicken flavor. In fact, the first instant noodle product that was ever produced was chicken flavor. Chicken is just about universally palatable, and most don’t have a religious rule against it. A chicken instant noodle is the beginning and so that’s where we will start today. Fried garlic chicken sounds really good, and on the package, it promises an ‘insanely rich broth.’ Alright – the proof is in the noodle – let’s give it a try! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Mike’s Mighty Good

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Mike's Mighty Good

After I had quite a few people asking me if I’d tried or had any information on Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen, I decided to reach out to the company. They were receptive to doing a Meet The Manufacturer series and so that’s what we have going on today! Here’s the unboxing of the samples that they sent for review. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen

Unboxing Time: Guanmiao Noodle Samples From A-Sha Of Taiwan

Unboxing Time: Guanmiao Noodle Samples From A-Sha Of Taiwan

five years ago, there was a big kerfuffle involving myself and the entire island of Taiwan. They weren’t on the Top Ten 2013 Edition and they were angry – to put it mildly. I decided that a little noodle diplomacy was the ticket here and so put out a call for Taiwanese companies to contact me, send me samples and see how it goes. A-Sha was the first company to come calling and since then they’ve kept me updated on their new offerings – let’s have a look at their new Guanmiao noodle! ...see full post

#2787: Samyang Foods Mala Buldak Bokkeummyun Bowl

#2787: Samyang Foods Mala Buldak Bokkeummyun Bowl

I’ve been kind of on a weird crusade lately. It has come to my attention that the popular Mala variety of Buldak Bokkeummyun is being touted by many people across the Interwebs as 4x Spicy. This is totally untrue – it’s really more like 0.5x. I did an informative video presentation about it – check it out here! ...see full post