Author: Hans "The Ramen Rater" Lienesch

#2549: Nissin Gekikara Ramen Extra Hot Ramen Goreng

#2549: Nissin Gekikara Ramen Extra Hot Ramen Goreng - Indonesia - The Ramen Rater

Here’s one that Kamran from Ramen Regret Rater sent over from Australia – thanks again! He got this one on a recent trip to Bali. It’s crazy – everything is so far away from here but all sorts of awesome places are just a quick hop from Australia. ...see full post

#2548: Ottogi Plain Instant Noodle No Soup Included

#2548: Ottogi Plain Instant Noodle No Soup Included - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - ramyonsari sari ramen

I reviewed this, however in a different package many moons ago. Back then the packaging said Ramyonsari. Recently, I did one called Sari Ramen. Basically, this is a plain instant noodle block in a plastic pillow pack. ...see full post

Unboxing Time: Happy Noodle From Taiwan

Unboxing Time: Happy Noodle From Taiwan

Today, it’s another installment of Unboxing Time With The Ramen Rater. We have some interesting things from Taiwan to check out! I thought it would be fun to have a special guest on this unboxing, so my son Andy has joined me today. Impressively, he’s sampled some of the spiciest noodles in the world – the number one from my top ten spicy list – and handled it pretty well earlier this year! Well, let’s get to the unboxing – I’ve started a new video series called ‘Unboxing Time With The Ramen Rater’ – I hope you enjoy it! ...see full post

#2547: Sichuan Guangyou 9999 Chongqing Spicy Hot Noodles

#2547: Sichuan Guangyou 9999 Chongqing Spicy Hot Noodles - China - The Ramen Rater - 重慶小麺 麻辣麺

I’ve tried Sichuan Guangyou noodles once before. Today, it’s a spicy and hot variety with a lot of 9’s. Found this one at Asian Food Center on Aurora in Seattle, WA a few months ago. It’s one of a whole slew of Chongqing noodle varieties that kind of leaped into the Chinese export market and headed to the west. Here’s some info about Chongqing from Wikipedia – ...see full post

#2546: New Touch Sugo-men Kyoto Backfat Shoyu Ramen

#2546: New Touch Sugo-men Kyoto Backfat Shoyu Ramen - Japan - The Ramen Rater - Box From Japan

Here’s another one sent by Javier over at Box From Japan. Box From Japan is a subscription service where you can get 4 unique bowls of instant ramen – direct from Japan – they also have subscription packages for Japanese snacks and candy as well as some other things – definitely worth a look – thanks again for sending this along! ...see full post

#2545: KOKA Instant Noodles Laksa Singapura Flavour

#2639: KOKA Instant Noodles Laksa Singapura Flavour - Singapore - The Ramen Rater

Here’s another one left from the KOKA Meet The Manufacturer series. They sent so many different varieties – it’s great! Thanks! ...see full post

#2544: Lipton Cup-a-Soup Chicken Noodle With White Meat Instant Soup

#2544: Lipton Cup-a-Soup Chicken Noodle With White Meat Instant Soup - United States - The Ramen Rater

Okay so I’m guessing what you are thinking right now. He must be out of varieties to review. Nope. Actually, I saw this on the shelf and thought about the uncountable times that people have called domestic instant noodles Cup-a-Soup. This could be due to the fact that Nissin Cup Noodles here in the USA were called Cup ‘O Noodles up until 1993. Yep – sounds kind of alike, doesn’t it? ...see full post

#2543: KOKA Curry Flavour Instant Noodles

#2543: KOKA Curry Flavour Instant Noodles - Singapore - The Ramen Rater - Tat Hui

Here’s another left over from the KOKA Meet The Manufacturer – thanks again for participating For almost a whole year I was reviewing two varieties per day – this is how I got so far ahead in my reviews. Now I’m only doing one at this point and I think I probably will for a while. You see, having a 5 month old baby girl and a very inquisitive 21 month old boy in the house can be a little crazy. He’s really interested in grabbing things and flinging them on the floor. He’s also a big fan of stealing remote controls (we got him a couple just for him, but he still steals ours). He loves the mouse and keyboard too, so I have to put those up when he’s running around. ...see full post

#2542: Acecook Super Cup Yochan Ika Yakisoba

#2542: Acecook Super Cup Yochan Ika Yakisoba - Japan - squid - The Ramen Rater

My wife and I have been trying out something new. We trade cooking for the week. I make all the dinners one week, she the next. It’s actually been a lot of fun – some positives (I have learned how to make some pretty awesome yakisoba in the kitchen) and some fails (red curry slow cooked in a crock pot really isn’t the way to go when the beef  released a thick sheen of greasy fat). Nothing better than to make something your significant other really enjoys! ...see full post

Unboxing Time With The Ramen Rater: Zenpop Summer Fresh Ramen Box

Unboxing With The Ramen Rater: Zenpop Summer Fresh Ramen Box

So Zenpop.jp has sent me another box and I thought I ought to do a video. They asked about this last time and so I figured I’d go ahead and do it. I think if, at all possible, I’m going to do this whenever I get a box from now on – kind of fun to crack these boxes open and see what’s inside! These will be called ‘Unboxing Time With The Ramen Rater.’So let’s check out this box from the noodle box purveyor! I should note that they also do other boxes – stationary for example among other things. ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Taiwanese Instant Noodles Of All Time 2017 Edition

Taiwanese The Ramen Rater's Top Ten Taiwanese Instant Noodles Of All Time 2017 Edition

It’s been quite a year of reviewing as far as Taiwan is concerned. I brought back a trove of varieties I’d never had the chance to try before. Really opened my eyes many varieties that people had recommended I try over the years. This is the top ten – the best Taiwanese varieties I’ve tried from the over 2,500+ reviews I’ve posted to date. As always, if I’ve not tried your noodles, please contact me! I’m interested! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

Re-Review: Great Value Spicy Ramen Noodles (Flu Edition)

Re-Review: Great Value Spicy Ramen Noodles (Flu Edition) - Canada - The Ramen Rater - fire noodle challenge

If you look at the header on the site, you’ll see the Noodle Shop is gone. It used to be there but it’s not anymore. Why? Well, Amazon decided to get rid of their aStore thing, so I guess that’s that for the little store thing. However, that freed up a spot so I decided to put my YouTube Channel up there instead! I have been doing a lot of videos lately – especially ones having to do with hot and spicy things. Anyways, yesterday I posted a video of me attempting to eat a bowl of this really spicy Japanese variety – but there’s a catch. I have the flu. I don’t know if it was violent as it seemed or I am just weakened by the flu. Anyways, I definitely failed the attempt (don’t fret – I’ll be doing it again soon) and thought hey – let’s do something else spicy. ...see full post

#2541: Nissin Cup Noodles Very Veggie Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

VV3: Nissin Cup Noodles Very Veggie Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

Rounding out the Cup Noodles Very Veggie range is Spicy Chicken. All I can say is that if it’s anything like the other two this will be a no-brainer. I still am beside myself on these; these are just about the best thing I’ve seen come from the United States in a long, long time. So Very Veggie has 1/2 cup – which is one full serving – of vegetables. Let’s check it out. ...see full post

#2540: GGE Noodle Snack Wheat Crackers Mexican Spicy

#2540: GGE Noodle Snack Wheat Crackers Mexican Spicy - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater -

Here’s yet another opone of the GGE noodle snack varieties – Mexican Spicy. There are so many of these varieties its kind of mind boggling./ Actually, when you go to Taiwan and go down the noodle aisle, these aren’t there. Indeed, there’s an aisle with chips on one side and noodle snacks on the other. Why do we have so few of them here? I can’t think of any USA branded noodle snacks really at all. It’s like they came out with a few varieties of ways to offer up instant noodles here in the US and then they just stuck with those and kind of quit innovating. I mean, what about a beef stew instant noodle bowl with beef? A A spicy cheese? A pizzas flavor? Closest we get is a cheap cheese cup. I think the instant noodle world in the USA should really go and just kick some major butt and try some new things. I mean hey – no risk, no reward, right? Anyways, let’s check out this snack noodle! ...see full post

#2539: Nissin Demae Iccho Tonkotsu Flavour Instant Noodle

#2370: Nissin Demae Iccho Tonkotsu Flavour Instant Noodle

Today we’ve got yet another one from the massive amount of varieties left over from the Nissin Hong Kong Meet The Manufacturer. Seems like I just keep pulling them out of the hamper again and again! It’s a good thing though – the more the merrier and these days, it is getting harder to find varieties locally to review. So gotta make sure to give everything a try. Tonkotsu is a classic Japanese ramen variety. Most of all, tonkotsu is famous for it’s milky pork bone broth. Next, a little more info from Wikipedia: ...see full post

The Ramen Rater On 92.9FM KISM Bellingham, Washington

Just did a radio show this morning called the Brad & John Show. Check it out below!

The Ramen Rater on 92.9FM KISM ...see full post

‘Discovery Of Ramen’ Children’s Book On Kickstarter

I heard about a book coming out soon called ‘The Discovery Of Ramen.’ The book can be found on Kickstarter currently – here’s a little information about this book and what’s special about it: ...see full post

#2538: Nissin Cup Noodles Very Veggie Beef Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

Nissin Cup Noodles Very Veggie Beef Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

This is the second variety I’m trying of the Very Veggie range from Nissin Foods of America. Soon as I heard about these products I was extremely curious. Will they have enough vegetables? Will these vegetables be good? ...see full post

Product Samples From Happy Noodle Of Taiwan

Got a box today from Taiwan – wasn’t sure what it was at first then realized it was one I’ve been expecting for a couple of months! These are Happy Noodle samples! Let’s have a look! ...see full post

#2537: Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yam Seafood (More Shrimptacular)

#2537: Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yam Seafood (More Shrimptacular) - Singapore - The Ramen Rater

Here’s one I believe I’ve reviewed before – but with a new recipe. Indeed, being more shrimptacular denote more stuff in there! I like that. Let’s see if it’s more shrimptacular! ...see full post

#2536: Lele Instant Noodles Beef

#2436: Lele Instant Noodles Beef - Ghana - The Ramen Rater

This one was sent to me by Chef Ron from Mama Pat’s Foods – hey thanks! This is from Ghana in Africa! Nice to be able to try varieties from Africa; I’ve had so few! Let’s give this beef one a try. ...see full post

#2535: Nissin Cup Noodles Very Veggie Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

VV!: Nissin Cup Noodles Very Veggie Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

When I read about this new product line in my news feeds, I was very curious. For years, I’ve though that the amount of vegetables included with instant noodle varieties in general was way too slim. Of course, vegetables cost money to put in there and so that’s something to consider. ...see full post

#2534: Fujiwara Hokkaido Hakodate Shoyu Ramen

#2534: Fujiwara Hokkaido Hakodate Shoyu Ramen - Japan - The Ramen Rater

Seems like a little while since I did a pack instant ramen from Japan. This is one I found during my trip to Taiwan last November at the Carrefour in Taipei by the Miramar Entertainment Park. I tell you – they had quite an impressive instant noodle aisle – like 4 aisles really. So this one is a shoyu instant ramen. Here’s a little from Wikipedia about shoyu ramen – ...see full post

New Samples From Nissin Singapore

Got a box from Nissin Singapore yesterday – thanks! They’ve been updating recipes and so I reached out to them for some samples. Let’s have a look! ...see full post

#2533: Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black (SK Version)

#2533: Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black (SK Version) - South Korea - The Ramen Rater

So for a long time, I’ve wanted to review the South Korean version of Shin Ramyun Black, and I know lots of people have wanted me to. Here in the United States, we have Nongshim America (NSA) in Rancho Cucamonga. Anywhere you find Shin Ramyun Black in the United States, it originates in California. However, Nonshim Korea (NSK) is its origin. You can thank Anders and his girlfriend Ji-Min from South Korea for sending this along! Thanks again! Here’s a little something about the Shin from Wikipedia – ...see full post

Sauce & Noodles From A Reader In Taiwan

Sauce & Noodles From A Reader In Taiwan

About 3 weeks ago I got a message from a guy named Peter in Taiwan asking me if he could send me a sample of a new sauce he’s making there. I never would turn down a sauce to try, and after a couple weeks here it is! Let’s see what’s inside! ...see full post

#2532: Nissin Nippon Onomichi Ramen

#2532: Nissin Nippon Onomichi Ramen - Japan - The Ramen Rater -

Here’s one sent by Javier from www.BoxromJapan.com. Box From Japan is a ramen subscription service – they have boxes of neat Japanese candy too! This one was a little tough to translate. Think I got it though. Here’s a little about Onomichi from Wikipedia – ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten American Instant Noodles Of All Time 2017 Edition

American The Ramen Rater's Top Ten American Instant Noodles Of All Time 2017 Edition

After a few years, I thought I ought to update this list. I thought I even ought to change the name a little. Honestly, not a huge amount of instant noodles from the United States cross my desk these days and of those that do, not many are 5 stars. Nonetheless, there are some changes in the past few years that I thought were noteworthy and so here you go! These are the best instant noodles from the United States out of the 2,500+ varieties of instant noodles I’ve reviewed thus far. ...see full post

#2531: Uni-President Pickled Cabbage Beef Noodle

#2531: Uni-President Pickled Cabbage Beef Noodle - China - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle sauerkraut

A guy named Mengzhe Z. from China sent me this – thank you again! I think the first time I saw the export version of this one it was called beef and sauerkraut. Cabbage is definitely popular in Asia – goes well with yakisoba, pickled in soup and fermented in ramyun. Let’s give this a look! ...see full post

#2530: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Honey Butter Flavor

#2530: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Honey Butter Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles snack

What have we today? This is a popular South Korean snack noodle – Ppushu Ppushu – and an interesting new flavor. Ppushu Ppushu means… I don’t know what it means, but it’s pretty neat stuff. Let’s check it out – right now! ...see full post

#2529: Maruchan Gotsumori Chanpon Ramen

#2529: Maruchan Gotsumori Chanpon Ramen - Japan - The Ramen Rater - www.boxfromjapan.com

Here’s one from Javier over at www.BoxFromJapan.com, a service where you can get a monthly box of interesting ramen from Japan! So this one is a chanpon variety – here’s something from Wikipedia about chanpon – ...see full post

#2528: Prima Juzz’s Mee Creamy Chicken Flavor (Export Version)

#2528: Prima Juzz's Mee Creamy Chicken Flavor (Export Version) - Sri Lanka - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

So in 2016, the local Singapore/Sri Lankan version was on the Top Ten list. It’s excellent stuff – love it! This is the export version – what’s the difference? Well, it doesn’t have any chicken in there. I’ve been curious about how this stacks up against the chicken version – let’s give Juzz’s Mee a try! ...see full post

#2527: Uni-President Unif Tung-I Ramen Noodles Mushroom Flavor

#2527: Uni-President Unif Tung-I Ramen Noodles Mushroom Flavor - Vietnam - The Ramen Rater

Here’s one sent by Colin from Massachusetts – thanks again! So I don’t usually get thrilled with instant noodles that are mushroom flavored. Mushroom can be hit or miss and usually I find mushroom to be a little funky. Let’s give it a try with an open mind. ...see full post

New Very Veggie Cup Noodles From Nissin

New Very Veggie Cup Noodles From Nissin

I saw an article mentioning a new product from Nissin Foods America which focused on a lot of vegetables and thought ‘it’s about time.’ I’ve had a ton of instant noodles in my time and honestly very rarely have I been satisfied with the amount of vegetables in them. I dropped a line to my contact over there and boom – a day later here are samples. Let’s see what’s in this box! ...see full post

Samples From Xiao Ban Mian

Thought it would be good to do a re-review of these – they’re some of my favorite noodles from Taiwan – on this year’s top ten list too! Let’s look within! ...see full post

A Donation From A Taiwanese Reader

A Donations From A Taiwanese Reader

Got an email from a guy named Jay in Taiwan a couple weeks ago about a spicy variety I hadn’t tried he wanted to send. He also sent some other stuff too! Thank you so much! Let’s have a look! ...see full post

New Samples From Paldo South Korea

New Samples From Paldo South Korea - The Ramen Rater

Nowadays, soon as there’s a knock at the door my son Miles is racing for the door. It’s really funny actually – he wants to steal the box and try to get it open as soon as possible to see what’s inside!  I wasn’t expecting this one from Paldo – unexpected but definitely appreciated! Let’s see what’s inside! ...see full post

#2526: Samyang Foods Jjamppong Big Bowl

#2526: Samyang Foods Jjamppong Big Bowl - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - ramyun

Here’s one Samyang Foods sent a little while back – thanks again! So this is a jjamppong bowl – a spicy seafood concoction from South Korea. Here’s some more info from Wikipedia about it – ...see full post

#2611: Meet The Manufacturer: Nona Lim Tokyo Ramen + Miso Ramen Broth

Nona Lim Tokyo Ramen + Miso Ramen Broth

Thought it would be logical to try these Tokyo Ramen noodles with the Miso Ramen Broth – I mean, it makes sense. These noodles and broth are Vegan, however, I’m going to lay it on thick with some toppings that will not be so Vegan. Let’s give it a go! ...see full post

#2607: Meet The Manufacturer: Nona Lim Hakata Ramen + Miso Ramen Broth

NL5: Meet The Manufacturer: Nona Lim Hakata Ramen + Miso Ramen Broth

I thought it a no-brainer to pick Hakata Ramen to try with the miso. The other I’ll try with it will be the Tokyo Ramen. Anyways: Hakata Ramen. What is it, Wikipedia? ...see full post