Category: * Stars 2.1 – 3.0

#2941: A-Sha Dry Noodle Guanmiao Noodle Hakka Sesame Oil Scallion

#2883: A-Sha Dry Noodle Guanmiao Noodle Hakka Sesame Oil Scallion

A-Sha’s US distributor messaged me a little while ago about these new varieties about to hit the US market that are very popular in Taiwan right now. Guanmiao noodles hail from southern Taiwan in the agricultural heartland. Hotter weather and lot of noodles! Let’s crack it open and have a look! ...see full post

#2910: Nissin Top Ramen Soy Sauce Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

#2910: Nissin Top Ramen Soy Sauce Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

Well would you look at that! Top Ramen. An American original. You might be thinking ‘aww that’s Japanese,’ but this stuff is as American as it gets. The flavor is made to appeal to the local market. What bums me out is when I say ‘an American original’ all I can think about is my favorite political show which is no more. My dad used to watch The McLaughlin Group for years and I finally hit an age after he was gone that I checked it out and got hooked on it. I’d torture poor Andy and make him watch it all the time. But Dr. McLaughlin died a couple years ago, and they ended the series long run. I would be curious how it would have been if he would have stayed alive longer – how the show would be these days. Anyways, I’ve gone way off track. So soy sauce is known as Shoyu in Japan. This is a kind of Shoyu ramen. Let’s check i tout! ...see full post

#2905: Sapporo Ichiban CupStar Hokkaido Potato Miso 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 – ‘thanks to its fertile land, Hokkaido produces a wide variety of foods, and this ramen includes potato that grew in the rich land. The soup is seasoned with Red Miso, which has a strong taste and dark red color. You’ll be surprised to find how potato tastes in a great miso soup.’ ...see full post

#2896: myramen Japanese Vegan Noodle & Soup Soy Sauce

I haven’t seen my friend Matthew Bellah in quite a while and he’s stopping by today to hang out. So he’s a writer (you can read some of his stuff at www.matthewbellah.com) and also an odd sort as far as food goes. He’s a vegetarian, however I’ve known him to enjoy bacon and Jack In The Box tacos regularly. Anyways, I thought this myramen would be a good one to let him try. ...see full post

#2877: Super Cup Instant Noodle Seafood Flavour

#2877: Super Cup Instant Noodle Seafood Flavour

Found this one at the Hi-Life store at the Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, Taiwan. Notice on the image it says ‘improved taste’. Making this claim always gives me a bit of a laugh. You could also call it ‘different taste,’ right? Was it too watery before so the amount of liquid added recommendation changed? more of one ingredient? Less of another? Well, we shall never know because all it says is ‘improved taste.’ Also – improved for whom? Person on the left likes it, person on the right wishes it were like it used to be. Anyways, there’s no person A or B here – there’s just me and my tongue. Let’s give it a try! ...see full post

#2827: Myojo Ippei-chan Yomise-No Yakisoba Aurora Sauce Flavor

#2827: Myojo Ippei-chan Yomise-No Yakisoba Aurora Sauce Flavor zenpop zenpop.jp

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 – ‘Yakisoba noodles seasoned with Aurora (French for sunrise) sauce. The pinkish sauce with the fancy name is basically a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise, which are both favorite for the Japanese. It’s unique but addictive!’ Sounds interesting – let’s crack it open and have a look! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Chicken Flavor Oriental Noodle Soup

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Sapporo Ichiban Chicken Flavor Oriental Noodle Soup

Time for some chicken! Actually, there are quite a few chicken varieties in this range and they’re about to start showing up in this review series. Today,m we’re going to start off with their chicken instant ramen cup. Sounds like a plan – just so you know, the last time I tried this was way back at review #405! Let’s get to it and give it a try! ...see full post

#2816: Nissin Top Ramen Hot & Spicy Beef Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

picante beef #2816: Nissin Top Ramen Hot & Spicy Beef Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

Hey look – Top Ramen got a facelift! They’ve been changing recipes all over their ranges – getting rid of artificial flavoring and MSG. They’ve also been changing names. This used to be picante beef. To be honest, I haven’t had the first variety in years and it’s nice to be able to have it again fresh. Let’s give it a look! ...see full post

#2721: Yumei Instant Spicy Hot Pot

#2721: Yumei Instant Spicy Hot Pot - China

Alright kiddie, hold onto your butts! So we have something here I had to review the day after I got it; not because it was going to expire but because I was a little wary of storing it. Why’s that? Well, first off I got this up in Canada at Osaka Market at Yaohan Centre in Richmond, BC. I’d just returned from my trip to Taiwan, my jet lag now gone (for the most part). I had some leftover Taiwanese currency and the Kingmark Currency Exchange doesn’t charge for exchanging which is nice. I converted it so I could treat my family to some wheel cake and milk tea at a little Taiwanese shop at the centre. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2655: Alhami Instant Noodle Prawn Flavour

Meet Ther Manufacturer: #2655: Alhami Instant Noodle Prawn Flavour

I really like prawns – especially the big ones. Mantis prawns are really big – had those in Malaysia. The river prawns in Thailand are spectacular and prepared right they’re just as succulent as can be. I don’t know much about prawns in Indonesia. Let’s ask Wikipedia – ...see full post

#2612: Meet The Manufacturer: Nona Lim Laksa Rice Noodles + Thai Curry & Lime Broth

NL8: Meet The Manufacturer: Nona Lim Laksa Rice Noodles + Thai Curry & Lime Broth

Laksa noodles paired with a curry broth – I can’t really think of anything so well matched. Although I usually think of Laksa a little further south of Thailand in places like Malaysia and Singapore, all the flavors from that area of Southeast Asia play very well together. Let’s give it a try! ...see full post

#2571: KOKA The Original Spicy Stir-Fried Noodles

#2571: KOKA The Original Spicy Stir-Fried Noodles - Singapore - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Here’s one from KOKA left over from the KOKA Meet The Manufacturer series earlier this year. This one certainly looks like an export version. How can you tell? A big giveaway is a number of different languages on the packaging. Not a lot of German-speaking folk in Singapore. Let’s have a look at this one and give it a try! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2489: Nissin Cup Noodles Ente (Duck)

Meet The Manufacturer: #2489: Nissin Cup Noodles Ente (Duck) - Germany - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

For years, I’d avoid duck flavor instant noodles. I always thought that they tasted kind of funny – until I actually ate duck. Duck is to me like curry – something really great and above everything else. Indeed, I consider duck to be a kind of exalted food. I’ve had it in Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan – but never European style. Very curious if there will be a difference… Let’s find out! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2447: KOKA Signature Stir-Fry Original Flavor Instant Noodles

Meet The Manufacturer: #2447: KOKA Signature Stir-Fry Original Flavor Instant Noodles- - Singapore - The Ramen Rater - Tat Hui Foods

Today we have stir-fry noodles. Curious about what these are going to be like – sweet? Spicy? Salty? I do like stir-fry, however it’s like a sandwich. You can put all kinds of things in a sandwich. But a grilled cheese is a long way from a Monte Cristo. Singaporean stir-fry noodles sound good though – let’s have a look! ...see full post

#2427: Ajinatori Halal Chicken Shoyu Sauce Ramen

#2427: Ajinatori Halal Chicken Shoyu Sauce Ramen - Japan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

The nice folks at Ippin sent me this one (SG folks click here) – thanks again! They are purveyors of all things Japanese! So I would say most  Japanese instant noodles contain pork. Whether it be a chicken, seafood or whatever, it’s in there. Not with this one and That’s great for those that follow Islamic guidelines. So what is Halal? Let’s ask Wikipedia: ...see full post

#2393: Ripe’N’Dry Hokkaido Miso Ramen

#2393: Ripe'N'Dry Hokkaido Miso Ramen - Japan - The Ramen Rater - instant ramen

Here’s one I got at Jason’s Market at the bottom of the Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Indeed this Ripe’n’Dry miso is one I’d been searching for for a very long time! I reviewed the Shio version about 45 reviews back and wasn’t extremely impressed. It wasn’t bad, but wasn’t ‘holy cow this is awesome.’ I will say that I really love this packaging though – very nicely done! However, the name evokes thoughts of, well… Flatulence. Smelly dry farts immediately come to my mind. I thought I’d look and see what wikipedia has to say about flatulence: ...see full post

#2379: Nissin Cup Noodles Hot & Spicy Shrimp Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup (New Recipe)

#2379: Nissin Cup Noodles Hot & Spicy Shrimp Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup (New Recipe) - United States - The Ramen Rater

Well, this is it. Right now, I’m listening to the inauguration of Donald J. Trump. It’s January 20th, 2017 and kind of a weird day. I thought it would be fitting to review something from the United States today. Finally, after decades of sticking with the same recipe, Nissin has decided to go with something new. On Cup Noodles’ 45th anniversary here in the USA, they’ve changed it to make it healthier. Some changes are no added MSG and no artificial flavors. Furthermore they’ve lowered the amount of sodium in these cups from the previous versions using potassium chloride.  So, let’s give this Hot & Spicy Shrimp a try! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2337: Nissin Cup Noodles Sopa Nissin Con Camaron

Meet The Manufacturer: #2337: Nissin Cup Noodles Sopa Nissin Con Camaron - Mexico - The Ramen Rater - fideos instantanea

I just realized – I meant to review the chicken Cup Noodles – no matter though! Nissin Mexico was kind enough to send 5 of each variety I’m reviewing, and so I can use one to get all the pictures and one to review. Keeps things tidy! Well, the one I grabbed as the second one is chicken. So… Going to have to switch that as it definitely won’t taste like shrimp haha! Let’s get started. ...see full post