The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
This is a special one I’m posting today – it’s the subject of a short film I’m doing as I type this about how I review! I want to thank a fellow instant noodle enthusiast named Andres who was kind enough to donate this to me yesterday – he’s a local who has visited a lot of places in search of instant noodle varieties! This one was found up in Canada.
Hey look at this – pretty cool! This one came in a neat assortment from Sugoi Mart. Sugoi Mart has a ton of neat Japanese stuff – and I mean a TON. So, what’s the flavor in this one? Kibinago is also known as the Silver-Stripe Round Herring and it’s native to Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan. So this is a herring shoyu variety. Sounds good – let’s give it a try!
Well, it’s time for what I think is the very last of the Thai Chef varieties they sent. These have been decent and of course since they’re MAMA instant noodles. Let’s give this tom yum a go.
This is one that came from Sugoi Mart – thank you! These are sold on Japan Airlines flights. This is made by Nissin Japan for JAL. It’s a tiny wee cup and looks like it’ll be pretty good – let’s check it out!
Well, I’ve come to the end of the fresh varieties from Myojo USA which is a bummer because they’ve all been quite good. This one is kind of like a seafood tonkotsu and I’m really curious how it will be. Let’s give it a go!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Another one of the fresh varieties sent directly by Myojo USA – thank you very much! I was curious about what I saw on the package insofar as how to garnish it. Looks to be pork belly and rice cake from what I’m reading – the fish cake is fried. Hmmm… I do have some kamaboko I could fry. Yeah – I’ll try that. Let’s check this one out!
I recently got couple more varieties from Aces of their Sriracha Ramen Noodle Soup range – this lobster and an extra spicy! First, the lobster. Let’s check it out!
When I saw this variety at our local 99 Ranch Market, I definitely wanted to try it out and so I contacted the manufacturer. I was a little confused, but a lot enthused! Thai food from Taiwan? But I remembered I did have some really great Thai food while I was in Taiwan in 2017. Thai Town is a Thai restaurant in Taiwan and looks like they have some very good varieties of food to try. They, like many other restaurants, have branched out to create varieties you can make at home. This one sounds right up my alley. Thanks to the folks at Thai Town for sending some packets over! Let’s give this one a try on the cusp of my 4,000th reviews.
Yet another one from an Exotic Noods subscription box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount! These are neat but a pain at the same time. The plastic bowls with lids can be reusable which is cool, however the labeling is impossible to scan, so that poses issues for me – but thankfully not for you. Let’s check it out!
This one arrived in an Exotic Noods subscription box – check ’em out and use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount!
I did the cup version a couple days ago, now here’s the pack version. Let’s give it a try!
The other day I reviewed the pack version of the non-creamy tom yum. Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum by MAMA is one of my favorite Thai variants. Let’s see how this one is!
A bit of a packaging change has netted this one a new review. I’ve enjoyed this one in the past many times and there have been a few packaging changes. Curious if any of the contents have changed at all in this new iteration. Let’s find out!
It’s been some time since I’ve had some tom yum. I’m certainly in the mood for it. Let’s hit it up!
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.
Yeah I’m back at it. I saw a Zojirushi bread machine at a thrift store the other day and thought ‘man, this thing looks cherry,’ so I carried the thing to the grocery store where I got a gallon of milk and other stuff (which was my original reason for venturing out) and then had to carry everything home. This bread machine isn’t small or anything so yeah – it was a battle I fought and won which I enjoy thoroughly.
Here’s a unique and tradition variety from Taiwan. I’ve had fish head curry in Penang, Malaysia before, but this sounds like it’s quite different. Very curious about this one – let’s give it a try!
Thanks to a nice shipment from the folks at Red Chef in Malaysia (you’ll see the unboxing soon), some Spicy Sakura Prawn Soup Noodle came and that was what I was waiting for! I thought a prawn mee from Malaysia in a loaf of bread could be interesting – especially if I dump a ton of shrimp in with it! Did it work? Of course it did! Check out the video and the recipe is down below.
Yesterday, I tried making bread with Mom’s Dry Noodle brand instant noodles from Taiwan. I figured I’d continue the theme with MAMA – maternal instant noodle time over here I suppose. But anyways, this one is a completely different kind of deal. Let’s give it a go and see what kind of results we end up with.
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.
I must admit, it’s been an interesting stroll down memory lane retrying these about ten years after I had them previously. I remember back then I would walk every day to the Asian grocery store, pick a pack, come home, then review it. Much has changed since those reviews pre-1000, that’s for sure. This one I remember being quite nice. Let’s check it out!
So this was something a little different. When looking for something neat for the review posted a couple of days ago. These are noodles made out of seafood! Yup – trippy huh? What’s more, there’s a processing factory right next to where I grew up with this outfit. Well, I’m down so let’s give it a whirl…
I’ve been a big fan of this flavor for quite a while – thought I’d tried every variety, too. Well, last time MyKuali sent samples, this one was in there as well. Sounds good to me – let’s crack it open!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
It’s rice noodles and fish flavor time! Do you have a wristwatch? Does it talk? Does it tell you when it’s rice noodle and fish flavor time? No? Well, why not? Wouldn’t you like that kind of functionality in a wristwatch? Allergies, Benadryl, and about 16 hours since I had my second shot of vaccine and I’m feeling loopy. I’m not sure if the shot is affecting me but man I sure feel weird. Anyways, let’s give this one a try!
Here’s another one I got at Family Asian Market on Aurora. A gift box type of thing – maybe from Lunar New Year? Not sure, but looks interesting. I’m in the mood for interesting – let’s check it out!
Well look at this! I’ve seen something like this before…
I did a post way back in April of 2013, extolling the virtues of Chapaguri! No clue where I’d heard of it back then – maybe from Nongshim, IDK. I’d long forgotten about it and then I saw this and was like ‘hey – that’s the logo I made!’ It’s a pretty easy conclusion to do something like this from a design perspective and I think it looks nice. If they got the idea from me, I’m honored, but I’m guessing they had the idea of it when it was a popular item back then. Well, let’s see how it tastes!
Thanks again to the guy in Montana for sending this a little while back. These days, the unboxing video’s comments have provided speculation, xenophobic diatribes, and some weird entertainment. Turns out these are the ramen at Walmart now and Walmart customers are seriously unhappy about it – it’s pretty hardcore if you ask me. Fascinating and entertaining nonetheless. Some of these varieties I’ve liked, some not. I actually saw them this weekend at a Walmart – they had these cups at 37 cents for a single, $1.78 for a six pack. That’s an extremely low price point for six meals. Let’s check this one out.
This one arrived in an Exotic Noods subscription box – check ’em out and use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount!
This one arrived in an Exotic Noods subscription box – check ’em out and use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount!
Here’s one the folks sent all the way from Singapore for me – thanks! This one isn’t available in the United States. I’ve tried it before, but they included a special sachet of powder to give it more oomph. Let’s give it a try!
Here’s one that came via Exotic Noods – check ’em out and use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount!
This is a neat looking cup from Nissin Germany! They’ve brought the popular Seafood Cup Noodle to the US market and it’s produced here as well – curious to see how it
As you can see from the sticker, this one was on my top ten 2020 list. I thought I’d better give it another try and see how it is and if I’m still into it as I was. I like to give another go with noodles that I’m thinking of putting on the next list from the previous year. Things can change – especially when it comes to Malaysian varieties – they love to change things up a little here and there with recipes! Let’s check it out!
A very standard (and very wonderful) unique quality of Malaysian cuisine is the fact that tweaks and new recipes are an axiom. I found this out while in Penang, where changing styles of recipes goes on constantly and keeps flavors fresh and fascinating. This culture is present in their instant noodle brands as well – and it’s welcome! MyKuali’s Penang Red Tom Yum Noodle has been on previous Top Ten Lists and is absolutely excellent stuff. Very curious how this new formulation will be – let’s give it a try!
This is the second hottest offering of this new Fire Wok line. I’m very curious about this one – Nissin sent this one unannounced along with the other two. Let’s try the next to hottest of the three.
Did an interview for a Korean magazine and they wanted me to include a shot of various Korean instant noodles on my desk and this was one my wife picked up for me the other day. Let’s check it out!
A big thank you yet again to Daniel from Montana for shooting these over! I found that there’s a HALAL stamp on the back of these mentioning Malaysia, so I can only surmise that’s where these were made. Packaging is definitely for the US market. Let’s check it out!
Yup – Germany! These came by way of the folks at Nissin Germany – thank you! They recently sent a ton of different Cup Noodles varieties they have! Very excited to try them all. Let’s check this one out!
