Over 5,000 Instant Ramen Noodle Reviews Since 2002
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 that was found in an Umai Crate. Umai Crate is a moonthly subscription box you can get from Japan – lots of cool stuff to try every month! Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount!
Found this on in a Zenpop box. Zenpop is a subscription service from Japan – use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount! QTTA is pronouced ‘koo-tah’ and means ‘I’m full.’ Let’s see how filling this variety is!
Well this is interesting. For some reason, the color on this one didn’t come out quite right when I took the picture. It’s a much deeper red and not really orange. Sometimes this happens so at the outset, just know that. These have been interesting so far – I’ve reviewed a couple of others. Let’s give it a try!
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, I’m going to 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’ve been admiring the packaging on these noodle for quite a while now and thought today must be the day to give them a try. I’ve sampled a very wide array of dry noodle varieties from the beautiful island that is Taiwan. However, none whose name kind of sound like my own! I’m in the mood for something spicy today – a Friday for me. I should mention that this is the second variety from Shin Horng I’ll be trying – the first ended up on the top ten Taiwanese list, 2020 edition. Let’s give them a try!
Here’s one from Zenpop – Zenpop is a purveyor of special boxes full of neat Japanese things! Use coupon code RAMENRATER to get a discount!
I think I found this in Canada but I could be wrong. But I’m thinking I’m not. Either way, this looked interesting and any chance I get to try out something from Taiwan I’m on board. Let’s check it out!
Okay so I’m going to take a wild stab and guess this is a spicy one. Fire, peppers – yeah at least somewhat hot. I don’t remember exactly where this came from – Canada, that’s for sure (Imean it’s Chinese but I picked it up in Canada). Anyways, it’s been a while since I’ve tried one from this brand – let’s give it a try!
This one was sent by a reader named Brett recently. I woke up this morning at 1:20am and decided to do the unboxing of this one and another one sent by a reader as well and hopefully review them both today. I say hopefully because all of us here were blessed with another cold brought home by our beloved son from the school of germ incubation. Let’s give it a try!
Today, we have one that was part of Japan Crate’s Umai Crate. So Japan Crate is a subscription service which has all sorts of different options for you. pretty neat stuff from Japan! There’s a coupon code for you too – just use THERAMENRATER to get a special discount at check out.
So I have this neat little formula; go to Canada, hit a store or two, bring back noodles. Usually bring back peanut butter and maybe oatmeal is involved, but that’s a different formula. These came from Foodyworld up in Richmond, BC. If you can go there, just go that – you’ll be glad you did! Anyways, these look like they’ll be some spicy ones – let’s take a look!
A very long time ago, I tried their pho as part of a Meet The Manufacturer series – a series of one review! I’ve started seeing their products more and more and thought hey look – it’s in Walmrt – I’ll give it a try. So, here we are. I’m curious how it’s going to be – brown rice noodles! Let’s find out.
Another one from Smart’n’Save in Richmond, BC’s Lansdowne Centre. Kumamoto flavor would definitely point towards tonkotsu; not a clue what else it could be. This is a product of Singapore, but labeling definitely makes it clear to me that it’s just for the Hong Kong market. Let’s check it out!
This is an interesting name. I have a feeling lid might be hat? I’m unsure so if anyone’s got better please let me know. I’m guessing this will be a spicy beef in the traditional style. Let’s crack this open and have a look!
These Cremoso varieties have been a blast! This one’s meat with chili – let’s give it a try!
Here’s a neat one I’m excited about that came in an Umai Crate subscription box! It’s a monthly box with all sorts of neat ramen varieties and more! Use the coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount if you want to pick one up or subscribe.
This is the third and final variety of the new Top Ramen bowls – Soy Sauce. Originally called oriental flavor, Nissin decided to change it over to soy sauce flavor. It’s kind of interesting; I’ve been to Asia a handful of times and seen the term oriental all over the place, however here in the states I’ve heard of some discontent with the term, possibly the impetus for this change. Anyways, let’s give this one a try!
A huge shout out and thank you to Breeze K – a regular reader and commenter – for sending these along! She got them from a friend who visited the Cup Noodle museum in Japan! Man, I want to check that place out someday – what a humbling experience that would be… All those Cup Noodles… Anyways, the guy on here’s name is Anpanman. He’s a comic/cartoon hero of sorts from Japan you may have seen before. This cup is very small – only calls for 170ml boiling water to cook it. Shall we give it a try? Let’s!
Today, something I found at the local 99 Ranch Market from Taiwan. If you watch the episode of Instant Noodle Recipe Time at the bottom, you can watch me cook it up, as well as hear my thoughts on an upcoming ban on flavors of vape in Washington State with a lovely message for the Governor, Jay Inslee! This bears nothing ill towards Wu-Mu of course, so apologies for this one being the review that got the cursing, but it was something I had to do. Wu-Mu’s stuff is top-notch! Let’s check it out!
Here’s one I found up in Canada at one of my favorite discoveries this year, a little store called Smart’n’Save in the Lansdowne Centre mall in Richmond, BC. This is a shoyu ramen, which translates to what we call soy sauce in English. I’ve always been impressed with Marutai’s stuff – let’s check it out!
Here’s one I found at 99 Ramen Market in Edmonds, WA recently. Lots of new Taiwanese varieties popping up there constantly. Spicy. Peanut. Let’s Take. A. Look!
I’ve known about Paldo for a long time however never have I seen this one before. Paldo was kind enough to send some local variants I found on their website! Let’s check this bowl out and give it a try!
Here we have the third and final review of the new range from Nissin Foods USA – Sweet Chili flavor. These have so far been pretty good. This one’s vegetarian as well. Let’s give it a go!
Here’s the second of the new varieties from Maruchan. These are definitely more on the authetic and premium end of the stick. The other variety, Soy Sauce, was quite good. Let’s chek this one out!
Here’s an export variety from Paldo. The other day I tried out the Mr. Kimchi with broth – this one has no broth. Sounds good – let’s hit it!
Well here’s something interesting. A big bowl from China! Burning! Spicy! Hot! Man, I hope this one is good – let’s find out!
I’ve had quite a few kimchi flavor ramen varieties over the years. Hell, I used to have a huge jar of kimchi in the fridge all the time when I first started doing reviews – I’d eat tons of it. It’s good stuff and lots of evidence supporting that it’s one of those ‘superfoods’ that promote health.
Here’s something new from Maruchan – a USA version of a premium styling from Japan.
Here’s another one I found up at FoodyWorld in Richmond, BC. It’s nice – we can drive up to Canada in only a couple of hours and visit he largest population of Asian folks in North America. I’m really lucky to live where I do, doing what I do. Destiny? Perhaps. A lot of luck though!
Found this interesting one up at FoodyWorld in Richmond, BC. They’re all geared up for Mid-Autumn Festival and so the mooncakes are out in force! They have display ones that are the size of a huge car tire!
Okay so my lovely wife Kit saw this one up at FoodyWorld in Richmond BC while we were up there. She previously saw the Liang Cheng Mei Biang Biang up there too, and that made the 2019 Top Ten list. She’s got a good track record! Being a person with low vision and light sensitivity, I depend on her a lot when we go somewhere – she will ask me ‘have you seen/ tried this one?’ She doesn’t do it every place we go, but when she does, 99% of the time it’s something I’ve not seen or tried before – she’s got noodle ESP! Let’s check this one out!
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!
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!
Another one I found at that fascination bastian of things Asia in Canada, Smart’n’Save at the Lansdowne Centre mall in Richmond, BC. This is something new to me – green pepper? Sichuan? Hmm… What’s it all about? Let’s fint out.
Check this out! Multi-colored noodles! This is an interesting set. What is coloring these? Well, you have Matcha noodle (green) with original sauce, Red Yeast Noodle (red) with onion sauce, Purple Yam Noodle (purple with sesame paste sauce, Danzai Noodle (yellow) with spicy BBQ sauce, and finally Blue-Green Algae Noodle (blue-green) with chili sauce. Pretty neat! I want to try making a bowl of multi-colored noodles I think. This could be interesting! Let’s check it out!
This one was in a Ramen Trunk subscription box.These boxes are full of extremely high end varieties that you’ll never find in the United States or anywhere outside Japan! Check out this link and use coupon code RAMENRATER20OFF for 20% off any single box or subscription!
Well hello there. A Rooster pack from Canada. These are found at the Real Canadian Superstore – which is kind of like Canada’s answer to Walmart in an equally big box style. It’s a neat place – I generally get my peanut butter there as they have the 2kg jars of Kraft Crunchy and it’s so freaking cheap. Buying a couple of those defrays the cost of gas in savings compared to buying peanut butter here and it’s the best peanut butter I’ve had. Y3eah – I’m a connoisseur of peanut butter. Oatmeal too. I really freaking love peanut butter and oatmeal. Every morning. Every day.
Here we have the last of the three bowls sent on ice by Nona Lim – thanks again! The first two were pretty good – green curry was great and the dan dan was alright – how will this one be? Let’s give it a spin in the microwave and find out!
