I recently did a Meet The Manufacturer series where I tried every single one of TTL’s varieties. TTL is Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor. While these packs don’t include a cigar, they do include a sachet of rice wine – and a big retort pouch filled with meat and sauce! Rad! Looking forward to trying this new variety – let’s check it out!
Category: Pork
#3127: Yamamoto Tanukioyazi Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen – Japan
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.
#3126: Fukumen Noukou Asahikawa Shoyu – Japan
Here’s one from Japan Ramen Box – a subscription service out of Japan. Here’s what they have to say about this variety – ‘If you’re partial to enjoying the raw flavor of noodles, you’ll enjoy these noodles that have been dried over 3 days to achieve the same taste and texture as raw noodles! These addictive noodles will make you thankful that they were so carefully and painstakingly prepared! Coupled with a thick boiled pork and chicken broth, you can be sure your meal will be filling and satisfying! Asahikawa has been working to recreate this ramen shop taste since 1955 – and they succeeded!’
#3121: Luosiking River Snail & Pork – China

Here’s one that was sent to me directly by the manufacturer – thank you! It is a brand I’ve not tried in the past – Luosiking. River snail – that I’ve tried before. Let’s take a look.
#3095: Daikoku Tonkotsu Ramen – Japan

Here’s one from Japan Ramen Box – a subscription service out of Japan. Here’s what they have to say about this Daikoku variety – ‘If you’re a fan of pork bone soup and love the rich, delicious
taste of pork, then Daikokuken Tonkotsu Ramen is a perfect meal for you! It’s a gem of a pig bone soup, and is finished with the rich taste of pork extract. The noodles are mediumfine,
slightly transparent, and the perfect additions to an already flavorful broth. If you’re in the mood, you can even add your favorite ramen soup ingredients to enhance the
experience! Go wild!’
#3086: Nissin Raoh Kogashi Shoyu – Japan

Here’s one from Japan Ramen Box – a subscription service out of Japan. Here’s what they have to say about this Nissin Raoh variety – ‘First released to the public in 1992, Nissin Roa received the title of “Noodle King” for incorporating noodles, soup, and other ingredients together into one amazing dish. As the times have begun to change and technology has allowed
further advancement in the science of ramen, Nissin Rao has also evolved. By creating a dish with deliciousness that cannot be tasted at a ramen shop, this new sensation incorporates the peppery sweet, three-times straightened, and all around delicious fried noodles with their garlic flavored soy sauce. Enjoy pork bone flavors combined with white miso, accented with peppers, and garnished with garlic oil. You’ve never tasted Nissin Rao ramen like this before!’
#3062: Nissin Cup Noodle Nice Kimchi Tonkotsu – Japan

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! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘Cup Noodle Nice are nice because they have a rich taste but are also better for you than the original Nissin Cup Noodles with fewer calories. Kimchi gives the creamy tonkotsu soup a spicy umami.’
New TTL Spicy Pork Rice Wine Noodle – Taiwan – Unboxing Time

Just got done with the TTL (Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor) Meet The Manufacturer recently. Now, they’ve come up with a new variety and it arrived today. TTL’s products always have two things – a retort pouch with real meat and a sachet containing liquor. Let’s have a look!
#3052: Vedan Jhen Mian Tang Stewed Pork Noodles With Mushroom – Taiwan

A little whle back I was asked if I could review some noodles by a Taiwanese instant noodles by a Taiwanese university student working on her master’s thesis. As a thank you, she sent more varieties for me to try including this one. I’m don’t know who this fellow is on the package. It’s a big cardboard box with two servings – and it’s big. Let’s give it a look!
Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: TTL Carbonara White Wine Carbonara Instant Noodle – Taiwan

Happy to be revisiting this variety, It made The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2018 Edition list this year and with good reason: it’s really, really good. Here’s a little about carbonara from Wikipedia –
Meet The Manufacturer: #3033: TTL Bolognese Red Wine Sauce Instant Noodle – Taiwan

Today, we have a traditional Italian variety – from Taiwan? Yup – Italian noodles from Taiwan! Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about bolognese –
Bolognese sauce (UK: /ˌbɒləˈneɪz,
Meet The Manufacturer: #3032: TTL Hua-Diao Dongpo Braised Pork Instant Noodle – Taiwan

Today we have something special. I’ve been curious about Dongpo’s Pork for a while and this looks like it’d be a good one. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about it –
#3024: Nissin Cup Noodle Nice Pork Shoyu (New Version) – Japan

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! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘This is as nice as the name indicates! While the soup is thick and rich, this is also a bit better for you with fewer calories than the original Nissin Cup Noodles. Is that even possible? You’ll know it once you try this.’
Meet The Manufacturer: #3016: Vite Ramen Garlic Pork – United States

Two things I really enjoy are pork and garlic. Two more are curry and bacon. But hey – today it’s garlic and pork and I’m pretty happy about that. Now the question is: can a product made to have lots of protein and vitamins and be made to be healthy taste good. I’m really hoping so! Every once in a while there are game changing products in the instant noodle world and this could very well be one of those. But no way to find out until it gets a taste. Well, let’s hit it!
#3013: Kinchan Noodle Shoyu Tonkotsu – Japan

Here’s one from Wes up in north eastern Canada – thank you again! He has time and again sent really interesting varieties by Kinchan of Japan – really hard to find stuff. This one’s a shoyu tonkotsu – let’s check it out!
#3001: Itsuki Kumamoto Mokkosu Ramen – Japan

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.
#2998: Acecook Goma Negi Tonkotsu Ramen – Japan

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! Here’s what they had to say about this one –
#2977: Vedan Wei Wei Premium Braised Pork Noodle

Here’s one of the very last varieties I found in Taiwan during my last visit in November, 2017. Big thanks to Kyle K. for help translating this one! So braised meats from Taiwan are some of the most amazing flavors – anywhere. I’m telling you – find a Taiwanese restaurant and get some braised pork – it’ll blow your freaking mind. Alright – let’s crack this bowl open and get this going.
#2960: Soup Daren Spicy Pork Bone Noodle

Found this one among others up at FoodyWorld in Richmond, B. I just can’t get enough of Canada – it’s such a nice place with nice people and nice everything. This one looked fascinating – let’s check it out.
#2944: Myojo Japanese Style Noodles Pork Flavor (Gyokai Tonkotsu)

I thought it would be cool since I got a set of those Egglettes things to make soft boiled eggs and I also have chashu and all my veg to make something from the cold case. I’ve been eyeballing these Myojo refrigerated varieties for quite some time now and thought hey – let’s get one and cook it up! So, that’s what I’m doing and here we go!
#2924: Samyang Foods Samyang Ramen Spicy Flavor
Spicy is definitely something that Samyang Foods is known for what with their ubiquitous Buldak Bokkeummyun spicy stir noodle line. This however, should also get some due attention. This is the spicy version of their first-ever product, and indeed the first ramyun to be produced in South Korea. What has come as bit of a surprise lately is that this is not a beef variety – it’s ham. Wait, what?! Ham? Yep. I thought beef was the focal point of this one, but from a TV spot Samyang Foods did, it’s pretty evident that it isn’t. Learn something new all the time. Well, let’s give it a try!
#2894: Maruchan Gotsumori Pirikara Garlic Ramen

This is another one from Zenpop.jp. Zenpop is pretty cool – they have different boxes you can get – Japanese stationery, snacks, ramen… It’s quite a variety. They’re pretty cheap, too. Here’s what they had to say about this variety:
#2871: Island Foods Chiba · Matsudo Tsukemen (Dipping noodles) – Chuka Soba Tomita

Here’s one sent to me by Ippin, a purveyor of lots of different Japanese products. This is definitely a fancy variety from a set of Kanto region varieties based on popular ramen shops. Not a lot of boxes come across my desk so this should be interesting! Here’s what the Ippin website had to say about this variety:
#2856: Maruchan Gotsumori Tantan Ramen

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! Here’s what they had to say about this one –
#2852: Sapporo Ichiban Nagasaki Chinatown Champon

This is another one from Zenpop.jp. Zenpop is pretty cool – they have different boxes you can get – Japanese stationery, snacks, ramen… It’s quite a variety. They’re pretty cheap, too. Here’s what they had to say about this variety:
#2849: 7&i Premium / Maruchan Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta Shoyu Ramen With Black Truffle Oil

This one comes by way of Japan Ramen Box. Japan Ramen Box is a new subscription box outfit with neat varieties to check out! Go visit their website and have a look!
#2843: Sapporo Ichiban CupStar Tonkotsu 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! Here’s what they had to say about this unique variety on their website –
#2842: Vedan Double Bang Pork Broth Noodle
I think I got this one at the Hi Life store at the Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei. This looks to be a pork variety. The Term ‘Double Bang’ refers to the two noodle blocks within. Let’s check it out!
#2833: Myojo Kurume 80 Year Anniversary Tonkotsu Ramen
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! Here’s what they had to say about this unique variety on their website –
#2820: Maruchan QTTA Tonkotsu

Here’s another one I found at the Jason’s Market at the foot of the Taipei 101. So I remember reading that the QTTA range was a more premium one with more inclusions. Sounds nice to me. Let’s find out what in here!
#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.’
Unboxing Time: Simply Shredz Pork
Was contacted recently about a new product called Simply Shredz. Basically, it’s marinated and shredded pork that you can put on just about everything! Well, probably not breakfast cereal… But your could put it on congee! Anyways, let’s open it up and give it a little test run!
Meet The Manufacturer: #2795: Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen Pork Tonkotsu Flavor Ramen Soup

So this is the second pork tonkotsu variety offered by Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen – this being the non-spicy version. Let’s see what Wikipedia has to say about this style of ramen –
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-
#2786: Acecook Supercup Big Pork Kimchi Oil Yakisoba

This one comes by way of Japan Ramen Box. Japan Ramen Box is a new subscription box outfit with neat varieties to check out! Go visit their website and have a look!
#2776: Maruchan Tonjiru Udon

Here’s another interesting one from Zenpop.JP – thanks! So Zenpop is doing monthly boxes of all sorts of things Japan-related including instant ramen of course. This is one that looks to be of the same range as Maruchan’s midori no tanuki and kitsune udon – here’s what the folks at Zenpop have to say about this one –
#2773: Vedan Minced Pork Noodle

Brought this back from Taiwan. Pretty much everything I brought back came through the rigors of baggage handling unscathed; but not every single thing did. Alas, this was one of them that didn’t. To be quite honest, it did better than some I’ve brought back before from abroad – a little crushing of noodles isn’t bad – I’vbe had ones whose noodle blocks were reduced to crumbs. Let’s have a look at this one – I found it at RT-Mart in Taipei.
#2765: Island Foods Kichijoji Hopuken Hompo Backfat Tonkotsu

Here’s one sent to me by Ippin, a purveyor of lots of different Japanese products. This is definitely a fancy variety from a set of Kanto region varieties based on popular ramen shops. Not a lot of boxes come across my desk so this should be interesting! Here’s what the Ippin website had to say about this variety:
#2758: Gookmul Knight Of Ribs
I don’t know if this one came before or after the famous ‘special edition lobster’ variety by this company, but this looks like it’s going to be quite a different variety. Here’s a little about ribs in Korea –
#2756: TTL Carbonara White Wine Sauce Instant Noodle
This was one variety I didn’t want to leave Taiwan without. I was lucky – we walked around the food expo in Taiwan last November and didn’t see it. Then We went through the beer, wine and spirits section and boom – there it is! A huge booth for TTL (Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor) and a guy asks is he could answer any questions. ‘Where are the noodles?’ Well, I showed him my event badge and he knew who I was which was very cool. Nice guy who went by the name of Ben – if you see this Ben, contact me – would love to do an interview about this product line!