Author: Hans "The Ramen Rater" Lienesch

Unboxing Time: Lowering Your Sodium Intake With Nutek Food Science Salt For Life

Unboxing Time: Lowering Your Sodium Intake With Nutek Food Science Salt For Life

A couple years ago, I was contacted by a company in the Midwest called NuTek Food Science. They noticed I reviewed a lot of instant noodles and thought I might be interested in learning about what they do. They flew me to Omaha, Nebraska to their HQ and I did a blind taste test between foods containing their sodium lowering product and ones with regular salt. I was immediately impressed. This is an unboxing of their consumer product – let’s check it out! ...see full post

#2818: Nissin Donbei Green Curry Udon Cup Noodles

#2818: Nissin Donbei Green Curry Udon Cup Noodles

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 is a very large cup variety containing udon and green curry flavor. To be honest, I’ve not seen much if any green curry coming out of Japanese instant noodle companies in the past. Did I mention I freaking love green curry? Alright – let’s hit it! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Ramen White Chicken Broth

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Ramen White Chicken Broth

Today we finish this MNeet The Manufacturer with the newest variety to be born of this range, the white chicken broth tonkotsu. It’s been quite a week of reviewing here! I did two on Monday, four on Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday, four on Thursday and one on Friday. I’ve found that running through a series with a lot of varieties goes better when I do them in a shorter period of time as I don’t get any kind of burn out on doing the same brand, although I don’t think I could have this time. This was a very nice stroll through memory lane as I’ve reviewed all of these before. So today, we bid a fond farewell to Sanyo Foods and their wonderful Sapporo Ichiban range! Let’s give this one a try! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein

Well, hello there! You know, if I’m not mistaken, we’ve met here before. Oh yeah – multiple times on the top ten list back in it’s infancy! To be honest, this has been one I’ve loved for ages – perhaps decades. Boy, that makes me feel old… I think I should just let this variety speak for itself – let’s have a look at the contents and give it a try! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles & Chicken Flavored Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles & Chicken Flavored Soup

Here’s the one that everybody’s got – chicken. Very few instant noodle companies don’t have a chicken noodle soup on the market. I can think of a few, but they’re kind of far and few between. Chicken is kind of a universally accessible flavor and meat (well, except for Vegans). I think this probably will be a pretty good one. I gave it 4.0 out of 5.0 in May of 2015 when I re-reviewed it back then. I kind of remember people asking me to give them another look and so I did. Anyways, Let’s get to it! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Shio Ramen Japanese Style Noodles

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Shio Ramen Japanese Style Noodles

Hey cool! I’ve been really looking forward to reviewing this one. You might not know, but this is the background for The Ramen Rater logo! It was review #652 – posted February 1, 2012. Six years ago! I really liked how the picture came out and thought hey – let’s make a new logo! But only recently have I said what the background was – didn’t think anyone would be interested. Anyways, now you know! Here’s a little about Shio ramen from Wikipedia – ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles & Shrimp Flavored Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles & Shrimp Flavored Soup

Today, we head to the second half of this series with the shrimp pack version. Cups and packs, packs and cups. As you may remember, I was pretty impressed by the cup version. I’ve tasted shrimp flavor instant noodles in a few different ways. Sometimes, it’s kind of like as buttery broth which doesn’t taste like shrimp, but one that shrimp may go well in. – kind of the way that oyster sauce doesn’t taste like oysters. The cup version with this brand has a nice sweetness that you find in shrimp. Let’s see how it translates to the pack version. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles Hot & Spicy Chicken Flavored-Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles Hot & Spicy Chicken Flavored-Soup

Alright, so I reviewed this one back in October of 2011. This was review #529- well over 2000 reviews ago. Just saying 2000 reviews ago seems crazy. Anyways to be blunt, I really didn’t like this one back then., My wife said it smelled like cooked asparagus. I’m curious whether it’s not going to be something I enjoy; about 7 years later. Hope I do! Let’s take a look. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Chicken Flavor Oriental Noodle Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Chicken Flavor Oriental Noodle Soup

Time for some chicken! Actually, there are quite a few chicken varieties in this range and they’re about to start showing up in this review series. Today,m we’re going to start off with their chicken instant ramen cup. Sounds like a plan – just so you know, the last time I tried this was way back at review #405! Let’s get to it and give it a try! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles & Beef Flavored Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles & Beef Flavored Soup

Beef flavor isn’t usually something I think of when I think about ramen. I generally think of pork, chicken, fish, seaweed, etc. Beef leads me more towards ramyun to be honest. But these are varieties catering to the taste of the United States – and beef is definitely a western kind of flavor as well. Let’s see how a beef noodle goes in this variety. Looks like I did a re-review ion 2017 and the first time I reviewed it was #205 in 2010! Okay – let’s get to it! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Shrimp Flavor Oriental Noodle Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Shrimp Flavor Oriental Noodle Soup

Sapporo Ichiban offers four standard pillow pack style noodles, four special varieties, and four cup varieties. It makes it easy to do a different one every day during this Meet The Manufacturer series. I have, however, reviewed them all before, but it was a very long, long time ago. I usually don’t like to do re-reviews, but I think in this case I’m very happy to make an exception. I’ve been wanting to do a Meet The Manufacturer with Sanyo Foods America for years and getting the chance to has been a lot of fun! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Sanyo Foods (2 of 2)

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Sanyo Foods (2 of 2)

Sanyo Foods Corp Of America sent two boxes of their Sapporo Ichiban products. In fact, these two boxes contain each and every variety that they produce here in the United States. I like it when I can do a Meet The Manufacturer series and sample each and every variety that they make. Let’s look in this, the second box. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Sanyo Foods (1 of 2)

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Sanyo Foods (1 of 2)

Was really happy to get samples directly from Sanyo Foods Corp Of America for this Meet The Manufacturer series. As I said previously, one of my goals has been to do Meet The Manufacturer series with all the instant noodle companies in the United States. Let’s see what’s inside! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Sanyo Foods Corp Of America

#2817: Liangchengmei 30S” Hot Bird Noodle

#2906: Liangchengmei 30S" Hot Bird Noodle

Here’s one my wife spied at FoodyWorld supermarket up in Richmond BC! Wow – what a find, eh? This one’s from China and it has some kind of corrupted chicken who’s into metal wearing a leather jacket with spikes (punk rock chicken?) – I quite honestly must say that this is most likely one of the most interesting instant noodle product packaging ideas ever. Little sayings here and there connote a seedy underbelly – ‘devil’s hotness,’ ‘screaming soul,’ and finally ’30SecondsOpen the hot fantasy life.’ I dunno – does it really get any weirder than this? Maybe? I really hope so – I like weird! Well, let’s check this one out – looks hot… ...see full post

Unboxing Time: New Products From KIKI Noodles Of Taiwan

Unboxing Time: New Products From KIKI Noodles Of Taiwan

You’re probably thinking ‘dang dude, you sure get a lot of samples coming from Taiwan.’ Well, you’re right! The competition in Taiwan is extremely fierce, and people know who I am there, so it makes sense. This box has some tape from TATLTOB, aka  ‘the agency that likes to open boxes that aren’t theirs.’ Hopefully all is intact! Let’s find out! ...see full post

#2816: Nissin Top Ramen Hot & Spicy Beef Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

picante beef #2816: Nissin Top Ramen Hot & Spicy Beef Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

Hey look – Top Ramen got a facelift! They’ve been changing recipes all over their ranges – getting rid of artificial flavoring and MSG. They’ve also been changing names. This used to be picante beef. To be honest, I haven’t had the first variety in years and it’s nice to be able to have it again fresh. Let’s give it a look! ...see full post

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