The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Well, well, well. Here we are yet again. Just not hot enough for you, eh? Well, maybe this will do it for you. I mean look – Hochi (the Buldak mascot) is right there, tears streaming, breathing fire… 3x Spicy – so what it 1x spicy? Well, 4,400 SHU (scoville heat units). 3x would be 13,200 SHU – I guess we’ll have to see if that’s spicy. I know it will be. Time to burn!
This is your basic chicken instant noodle. It’s from ABC who I just did a short series on. We’ve been out of chicken lately and this morning I ducked out of the rain into the store and got some. $1.99/lb! That’s not bad, really. Let’s chicken it up!
Decided to start off the week with a couple Sau Tao varieties today (you should be seeing the second one tomorrow). They sent a ton for a Meet The Manufacturer series (okay, not a literal ton – just 400lbs of samples). Let’s check out their QQ Rice Vermicelli!
Really enjoying giving these Indian varieties a try – I don’t get a lot of them so I’m happily going through everything I got recently. Chicken sounds like it should be a good bet. Let’s go!
You might be saying ‘gosh, you’re reviewing a lot of Sau Tao stuff!’ Well, yes I am – as I have a lot of different varieties in a couple boxes in our bedroom currently. I’m trying to review things that are big to shrink things down so they’ll fit in the hampers.
Lemon chicken sounds good! This isn’t one I’ve seen a lot of. Lemon usually isn’t a pairing with instant noodle flavor profiles. Uniqueness! Hooray! Sure, there’s lemongrass, but this is different. Unique varieties pique my interest – let’s delve into this one.
This is another one sent over by James of Lakeside, CA – thanks again, buddy! So man… It’s Wednesday at least. So Monday my wife Kit got a dreaded kidney stone so if you know what that is, your know what that is. I’ve never had one, but watching her go through dealing with one before, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Luckily, when I type here it’s generally 100 days down the road that it’s published, so hopefully that stone is long gone. Evil things, these stones…
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop box. Zenpop is a subscription box service – check em out and use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop box. Zenpop is a subscription box service – check em out and use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount!
The second of three new single pack varieties from Hakubaku. They’re a pretty neat company – they’ve sent me lots of different products. One I’ve really liked is their Mochi Barley. They also make barley tea as well. The ramen I’ve tried before, but not this specific flavor – it’s brand new! Let’s give it a try!
Well, this appears to be the last of the Peruvian contingent I’ve had on hand. Thanks to the reader that sent it in! So this is basically a chicken noodle soup variety and sounds pretty nice for today. Got chicken thawing right now and so it should be a nice diversion. Let’s give it a go!
Here’s one fro Jame in Lakeside, CA – thanks again! This is an interesting one – oatmeal soup? Hmm!
Here we have one from Japan sent by Zenpop. Zenpop does a few different kinds of subscription boxes you can get and they’re pretty neat! Use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount at checkout!
This one came from Mr. Saturn – thanks again! I know galinha is a kind of young hen – a little oilier than standard chicken, but not exactly up on the whole caipira. I’m getting ‘bush cutter’ which seems a little odd. Maybe one of you will know. Not only that, this is review #3470 and I think 3470 was a standard of terminal emulation from back in the finer days of computer stuff. Let’s give it a try!
I got a few of these during a Lunar New Year promo at 99 Ranch recently. Special thanks to Annie T. for help in translation. Let’s check it out!
This is one that came from a My Ramen Box. My Ramen Box (www.myramenbox.com) is yet another of the ramen subscription boxes out there and features varieties from around the world as well as neat little add-ons. Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for 50% off your first box!
Oh wow so I saved what I’m hoping is the best for last. I love laksa. I love curry. It puts me in a place where I’m weightless, floating above the physical world, not caring one iota for the ridiculous problems humans complain about. Curry is life. Let’s see if this one makes me feel alive.
Well, here we go!I did a Meet The Manufacturer with Mr Lee’s a couple of years ago, and now they’re going to be producing in the USA! Sounds like starting May 2020 their products will be available (and also made) here as well as in the UK. They’ll be available on Amazon and I’ll do reviews of the Us made versions when they become available. This one’s only 222 calories! Not only that, this is one of the few manufacturers that use freeze dried rather than dehydrated bits. Let’s check it out!
First off a big thanks to Chris G. for picking these up and sending them after his whirlwind trip around Europe! This one’s from Spain and the last of the ones he sent a little while back. This one’s soy sauce chicken. Let’s hit it!
Here’s one of a bunch that I found at a 99 Ranch Market near me. I have seen quite a few articles with folks saying that the correct name is Ranch 99 Market. This is incorrect. The store is called 99 Ranch Market. People will debate anything even though they are incorrect, shown data proving they’r incorrect, and just stupid. But year. Let’s look at this one.
Awhile back, Lemonilo started producing a Mie Goreng variety which is honestly one of the best out there. Lemonilo puts everything in a healthy light. When they sent me the samples of their Mie Goreng, they included a shirt and a workout towel. I keep the towel on the stroller actually – handy when doing a dozen miles at a fast clip. This variety’s packaging clearly denoted it’s for the US market, however it’s made in Indonesia. This pack did’n’t come from them though – it was sent by a reader named James in Lakeside, California. Let’s give it a try!
Here’s another one I believe that was sent by Mr. Saturn – thanks again! So I translated this and it spits out creole chicken. Seems odd, but okay. I think this bears more investigation. Let’s give it a try.
Well, Merry Christmas! Hochi has her Santa hat on for this one. Meat spaghetti, huh? Sounds interesting. Christmas is over, but they must have had some leftovers – got these last week and thought hey – maybe some burning would do me good. Let’s give this new variety a try!
Here’s another one of the Aloha bowls that Samyang sent recently. I’ve always been fascinated by the bowl noodle concept – they end up in convenience stores and gas stations a lot of the time and they’re honestly pretty good. Let’s check it out!
This is one that wad sent to me by a reader named Breeze – thank you again! It’s a refill. So there are cups you can get that are specifically made for these – you just pop this thing into the cup and it fits like a foam cup but it’s reusable, so no need for more foam to be thrown away. Yep. So let’s check it out!
Here’s one from a Zenpop box. Zenpop has Japanese subscription boxes and they’re pretty neat – good selections for sure! Use coupon code RAMENRATER at checkout for a discount!
Here we have the latest in the long line of Buldak varieties from Samyang Foods. This is Buldak Light – so let me explain. This one has only 375 calories. The noodles are not fried, so all that oil used in frying isn’t present. But not only is it lighter on calories, it’s lighter on heat. It’s 40% less spicy than original Buldak Bokkeummyun clocking in at 2,600SHU compared to the original’s 4,400SHU.
Here’s one I found at Walmart. They were kind of expensive in the past, but I believe this one was 99 cents when I found it so figured I’ll give it a try. It mentions it’s got bone broth, something imparting extra protein usually. Let’s check it out!
Today’s the third and last say I’ll be reviewing three varieties brought to me from Israel by my brother Moshe. I didn’t know I had a brother until I took an Ancestry DNA kit my wife got for me (I was kind of hoping I might be 1% Asian descent, but that was most certainly not the case). Well, I got to see him for the second time in person yesterday, and this visit, our mother came and visited with him as well – something we never had expected. He was adopted in 1955 and my sister and I didn’t know anything about it – so this is a big deal for us!
I’m going to take a wild stab at something here – that this one contains…. EGGS! I like noodles and eggs quite a bit – I’ve been curious about this one but didn’t know if Samyang was going to send this but I decided to hold of in case. So, I finally got it at 99 Ranch Market! Let’s check it out!
Here’s another Brazilian variety from a reader – thanks again!! This one’s roast chicken with a touch of lemon – sounds good to me – let’s give it a go!
Alas, we come to the end of the road on the samples from the last box from Nissin MExico. They were all fascinating and different, but this I’m hoping is a case of saving the best for last. Their Intensos Cup Noodles Alitas Hot was sensational, and hoping that same flavor carries over to this one. Let’s find out! By the way – Alitas Hot means ‘hot wings.’
I was initially very confused by this one but it seems to have fallen in place with a little translation from Google. Chicken stroganoff flavor! What a unique one here! Never have I seen a stroganoff instant before. Let’s give it a go!
New packaging and a new recipe. Back again is Vite Ramen! They’ve got 500 calories, 500mg sodium, over 25g of protein and enough vitamins and minerals to kill a greasy pizza. Let’s give it a try!
I usually listen to politics on the radio in the morning and the term ‘magic voodoo powder’ was just used. Anyways, this is a chicken curry variety from Spain and that sounds like a neat one to finish the week on – let’s give it a try!
Brazil certainly has a myriad of flavors and instant noodles reflect those very nicely. This one, garlic chicken, sounds really good! I’d better get some chicken defrosting. Let’s check out these noodles sent by a reader!
This one came in a special ‘First Taste Club’ box from Nissin Foods USA – pretty snazzy. So, what’s the big deal? Well, it’s Top Ramen, in a bowl. It also comes with vegetables. It also comes with… teriyaki sauce? I’m very curious about this one – let’s cook it up and ruminate on this…
I was told a while back that Brazilians don’t go all in for ultra spicy and that this range does have varieties that are spicier than others, but not super duper spicy. Either way, this sounded like a good one for today, so here we go.
I found these at the Real Canadian SuperStore up in Richmond, BC a while back. I’ve been quite surprised how good this very, well, boring packaged range is. It all ges to show that you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, or noodles by it’s wrapper. I’m reviewing this one on Canada Day! Let’s give it a try!
This one comes from Zenpop.jp – a subscription box service. If you want to check out their boxes and get one, use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount. Here’s what they have to say about this one – “The Cup Star came out on January 18th in 1973. This limited flavor is made to celebrate the Cup Star’s 44th anniversary. Some members from the idol group Nogizaka48 are printed on the label to give a special touch to the product, and you might see some of their printed autographs when you open the lid. Enjoy the combination of chicken and butter and this shio (salt) based ramen and contains slightly chunky potatoes along with cabbage, corn, and carrots. If you are a Nogizaka48 fan you should save the container after using it!”
