Over 5,000 Instant Ramen Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Here’s something pretty cool – I was contacted by the folks at Prima Taste who said they had a new product. Now their Whole Grain Laksa has been number one on my top ten for 3 years now, so naturally I want to try something new from them. They don’t come out with new stuff often and never had anything I didn’t like.
Today, we bid a fond farewell to this great series of products from Way Premium Foods of Malaysia with a Malaysian favorite, Asam Laksa. Here’s some info about it from WIkipedia –
Bringing us to the midpoint of this special Meet The Manufacturer series is some Singapore Laksa. Here’s some info about it from Wikipedia –
One thing’s for sure – when I visited Penang, Malaysia in 2014, I tried a lot of prawn mee. A lot. I think upwards of 5 different bowls from different hawkers and restaurants. It’s serious business, folks! Strong prawn flavors, a sweetness, just plain amazing stuff that’s delicious and addictive. When it comes to prawn mee, I’m very interested. Let’s delve into this new one from Malaysia and see what makes it tick.
Well here’s something new to me – Thai laksa. I’ve had Singapore and Malaysian laksa befroe, but never Thai. Here’s a bit about laksa from Wikipedia –
Today we begin a special spotlight series of six different and new varieties from Malaysia. We start with this scallop noodle. Here’s a little something about scallops from Wikipedia –
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!’
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 a special kind of “yakisoba” soupless noodle dish. Shoyu and miso based sauce is flavored with a toasty taste of shrimp, and the curly noodles catch the delicious sauce well. The savory sauce, the crunchy cabbage, and the meat. Everything in the bowl intensifies your appetite.’
Here’s the first of a trio from Fu Chung – a spicy Sichuan variety with vinegar. No doubt this includes Sichuan pepper. Now, it’s not like a fleshy chili pepper – it’s a peppercorn. Here’s a little about Sichuan pepper flavor from Wikipedia –
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.
This was one in a box sent by Mohd from Selangor, Malaysia – thank you again! So I was trying to figure out how to translate this one. Basically, Pedas Giler is ‘crazy spicy.’ I’m all in on this one. Let’s check it out!
Time for dry noodle! This is the second from a set of four new A-Sha varieties. Soybean paste noodles impart a kind of meaty hit to them usually. Let’s give ’em a try!
Here’s one sent by a reader who found it in the Philippines – thanks! Definitely looks different from the ones found in Taiwan. Export version! Let’s check it out!
Got a box with a bunch of these new Samyang Foods Bowl Noodle Soup varieties in it. Definitely something fr export here – haven’t reviewed something in this style in ages! Let’s check it 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! 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.’
So it happened. A date night. These are pretty rare for us and a lot of fun! So we decided to give another ramen joint a try. Tonight, it’s Jinya Ramen Bar in Bellevue, Washington.
I’ve tried all three of the other Xiao Ban Mian flavors. Their Traditional Shallot & Onion Oil variety hit #2 on the Top Ten Taiwan list last year. I’m stoked to be able to try this one – really don’t know what to expect, honestly. This is completely different from the rest. Let’s dive in!
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!
I was sent three different varieties of Mi Goreng from Best Wok a while back and finally we have the third of the three. Spicy seafood sounds real good today – real good. Let’s give it a look!
Found this one at the same place I found some spicy dumplings up in Vancouver, BC called Super 88. So, these are Indomie Mi Goreng flavored potato chips. I suppose there’s really nothing left to do but crack the bag open and give them a try!
Here’s another one I got up at the new T&T Supermarket up in Richmond BC that’s at Lansdowne Centre. Or is it Lansdowne Mall? Either way, it’s a big T&T inside what used to be a Target store. Oh – and sad parents can rejoice – TOYS R US IS STILL IN CANADA. Also, if you go to the Walmart in Richmond, you will often see Teslas, Ferraris and the odd Buigatti. It’s like a mirror universe. Let’s check this one out!
Here’s one I found at the new T&T Supermarket in Lansdowne Center up in Richmond, BC. A Shin Black bowl! I knew they must exist; I mean, there’s generally a pack, cup and bowl for everything that comes out of South Korea. Well, here it is. What’s interesting is that this isn’t available in the United States, and up in Canada it’s not a product of the Nongshim China factory, which most bowls up there seem to be.
It is with great thanks and a week of interesting flavors that we bid adieu to the last of the varieties from TTL. This is the packaged version of the pickled vegetable beef variety. I really wasn’t sure how all these liquor-infused varieties would go, but they’ve been really quite impressive. Let’s check out this final variety.
The second review in this series was the bowl version of this one. Steeping vs non-steeped. Let’s take a look!
Well, here we are again. I goit one of these bowls a long time ago and guess what happened? I opened the retort pouch and spilled it all over my leg and on the floor! Was crushed; hard to find this one and I had only one of them. Egad! Luckily, TTL sent all of these for Meet The Manufacturer (thank you again!) and now I can give it another go. I should note I didn’t spill anything this time – let’s give it a go!
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 –
Here we have another variety with the hua diao cooking wine. Curious what the pickled vegetables are – guessing mustard stem would be one of them. Time to check out another unique variety from Taiwan!
I thought I ought to start at the beginning. I’m pretty sure this and the rice wine spring chicken varieties are the first that TTL shared with the world and it just made sense to go with those to begin Meet The Manufacturer. Here’s a little about Shaoxing wine, featured in this variety from Wikipedia –
When I think of rice wine, my mind immediately goes to sake from Japan. I was surprised to find that there are many different kinds of rice wine – here’s a pretty extensive list from Wikipedia –
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 –
I and my family got the flu – well, unsure if it was the flu but it was definitely a pretty mean cold. Yeah – I got it then my wife, then out kids – and two small children with the sick while you have it is a daunting situation. But we needed to get some things at the store so we all went and I ran in. I got the sick first so was getting to the point of starting to get over it while everyone else was knee deep in it. I thought hey – I’ll look at the noodle aisle. I always look at the noodle aisle. Lo and behold, they had this at Safeway. What?! Yep! something new to review at Safeway. Not the norm! So let’s see what the heck we have here and how it pans out.
Today we’ve got something new from Mom’s Dry Noodle with their new shiitake zhajiang. Shiitake mushrooms… Hmmm… Curious if I’ll like this one… I wish I liked mushrooms more – my wife loves mushrooms – so does my buddy from Germany. Shiitake have a strong flavor to them… Curious how that will translate in here. Hopefully well! Let’s find 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! 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.’
I was in Bellevue the other day and hit Uwajimaya for a couple things. I thought hey – I’ll make yakisoba for dinner! I just got a big huge frying wok and so that should be fun. So I go to the aisle with the cold cases and find the yakisoba. The one I usually pick up was frozen hard as a rock – not cool. I looked for another and most of those were brick-hard. Then I found this one and was happy. Well, I get it home and I’m pissed. It’s curry. Now, everyone knows I love curry; it’s almost a religious thing for me. But not everyone in my place likes curry for dinner. So that was that – no yakisoba for dinner. It’s my fault for not noticing it was curry, but then again I wish the one I wanted wasn’t akin to a cinder block in its solidness. But personally, I know this should be pretty good stuff – let’s give it a try!
Found this at the brand spanking new T&T Supermarket at Lansdowne Centre up in Richmond, BC recently. That place was a zoo the day we visited – so many people! But got out of there with a couple things. Anyways, a straight noodle tom yum sounds just bizarre – and possibly really good! Let’s find 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! Here’s what they had to say about this one –
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!
Today we kick things off on this interesting Meet The Manufacturer series with Vite Ramen’s Vegan option. If you didn’t know, there are three varieties from Vite Ramen – at least initially. Also, just so you know at the outset of this and the following reviews, these are prototypes. From what I’ve been told, this is what you’ll be getting, however the sachets in the final iteration will look different. So let’s give this first one 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.
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 –
