Category: * Stars 4.1 – 5.0

#4514: Nongshim Bowl Noodles Ramen Noodles With Seasoning Mix Hot & Spicy Flavor – United States

#4514: Nongshim Bowl Noodles Ramen Noodles With Seasoning Mix Hot & Spicy Flavor - United States

New clothes for the classic! Originally, it was a foam bowl with a paper lid in shrinlkwrap. Then, they reformulated for microwave and had a cardboard sleeve. Now, it’s a plastic wrap with the graphics on that. This is classic – ubiquitous with gas stations and little corner shops, many o which are run by Korean Americans. I used to live in a place that had a little grocery/deli mini mart across the way. The fellow there was Korean American and he had these in there, but with a ridiculous markup. I asked him why once. ‘Because that’s my lunch!’ ...see full post

#4507: MyKuali Penang Black Curry Noodle – Malaysia

This is a review I’m rushing out as kind of a special ‘grand re-opening.’ For the past couple of months I haven’t done more than a small handful of reviews. I’ve been dieting and walking a lot – like over 500 miles in May a lot. With the kids ending their school year today and a couple of months with them at home, I’m back to attempting to do three reviews a day Monday through Friday. I thought I would push this one through because it’s brand new and I know a lot of your will be interested. There’s something else brand new here I’m very excited about which you will be seeing in a while. The finished picture here has a background I created using AI. The ability to make my own backgrounds this was is really something else – I’m stoked. Spent an hour yesterday trying different things – prompts like ‘tranditional Malaysian style wallpaper centered with dark colors’ – things like that. You’ll see them regularly in the fall as even though I’ve taken all this time off, I’m still almost 150 reviews ahead. Yesterday I make a ton of new intros and outros for Instant Noodle Recipe Time, plus a new set of music for the show. So that’s coming up. On with the review! ...see full post

#4505: Maruchan GOLD Spicy Miso Ramen – United states

#4505: Maruchan GOLD Spicy Miso Ramen - United states

It’s a couple days after Christmas and one of the last reviews of 2022. Obviously, it’s not coming out in 2022, but that’s when I did this up. I used some things I got for Christmas, including leftovers from dinner – let’s give this one a try – I reviewed it quite a while back but figure it’s due another looksie. ...see full post

#4502: Quickchow Pancit Canton Toyomansi Flavor – Philippines

#4502: Quickchow Pancit Canton Toyomansi Flavor - Philippines

Toyomansi is a combo of soy sauce and calamansi flavors. Calamansi is a kind of citrus kind of similar to lime. This is great – rarely come across Filipino varieties and they’re some really good ones to try. Found this one at HMart with my daughter after her birthday party this year. We took her to Chuck E. Cheese – what an interesting place – very throwback. Let’s check this one out! ...see full post

#4489: Dara Urai Flat x Cipratasa Rasa Ayam Bawang – Indonesia

#4489: Dara Urai Flat x Cipratasa Rasa Ayam Bawang - Indonesia

So this is a noodle with no seasoning, however the company that make this makes seasoning as well, so that works out great! These are made by Suprama of Indonesia – the same folks that make Best Wok – a great line of mi goreng varieties I really like. Let’s try this noodle in concert with some special onion chicken seasoning! ...see full post

#4481: NoodleMix Chinese Sesame Oil Lion’s Mane Mushroom Pumpkin Konjac Noodle – Taiwan

#4609: NoodleMix Chinese Sesame Oil Lion's Mane Mushroom Pumpkin Konjac Noodle - Taiwan

So, what is a konjac noodle? It’s chief ingredient is a root which it is made from – one that has little tro no calories – so it’s great for people looking for a low calorie variety. This one sounds interesting. I do like sesame, however lion’s mane mushrooms are something I’ve no experience with. I suppose its time to give it a try! ...see full post

#4476: Quickchow Instant Pancit Canton Chilimansi Flavor – Philippines

#4476: Quickchow Instant Pancit Canton Chilimansi Flavor - Philippines

I can’t remember where I found this but I’m stoked. I never find anything from the Philippines I haven’t reviewed which is weird since instant noodles are so popular over there. You might be wondering what is this pancit canton – well, think mi goreng; extremely similar. What’s that chilimansi?! Well, it’s spicy and calamnsi – kind of like a lime. Okay with that out of the way, let’s give it a go I’m stoked! ...see full post

#4475: Samyang Rosé Buldak Stir-fried Noodles – South Korea

#4475: Samyang Rosé Buldak Stir-fried Noodles - South Korea

First – this doesn’t taste like roses. This was sent by The Fat Hipster – thanks man! So, rose is like a chili-cream kind of thing.  I tried a rabokki that was rose before and loved it, so we’ll give this a try with high hopes. I want to also thank Samyang Foods for something very exciting to hear – from the Korea Times: ‘For customers who are blind or visually impaired, the company for the first time printed Braille dots on the packaging of Rosé Buldak Stir-fried Noodles.’ This is referring to the cup versions. I think this is truly excellent. I’m legally blind and while I don’t read braille, I think some day I may need to. Really top notch of them – high marks from me. Let’s see if the flavor matches this kind innovation. ...see full post

#4467: Samyang Buldak Cream Carbonara Artificial Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen – South Korea

Here’s one of the last two from The Fat Hipster – check him out on YouTube as he has eaten pumpkin spice cup noodles, topped with pumpkin spice spam, with whipped cream atop. This is really great. So these noodles are like an extra creamy carbonara as far as I can tell without knowing anything about them. But, I will cook them up and then do a mukbang where I eat them and I will let you know how they taste. Let’s get started. ...see full post

#4466: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Creamy Chicken Flavor – United States

#4466: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Creamy Chicken Flavor - United States

Well, it’s time to revisit a variety that grazes through my mind from time to time. This is creamy chicken and the name delivers. Definitely has been my favorite Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup flavor in the past, but how is it going these days? It’s been since 2018 – so much has happened in the world since those salad days. Let’s give it another go. ...see full post

#4459: Samyang Buldak Quattro Cheese Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen – United States

#4459: Samyang Buldak Quattro Cheese Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen - United States

Here’s another export version for the United States. Four cheese Buldak! What are the four cheeses you ask? Mozzarella, gouda, cheddar, and camambert. It says so in the ingredients. I’ve had the pack version of this and was very impressed. Let’s give the bowl version a try – time for a spin in the microwave. ...see full post

#4450: Myojo Hiyashi Chuka Mazesoba – United states

#4001: Myojo Cold Ramen Soy Sauce Vinaigrette - United States

Here’s a neat cold variety from the United States! Summer months are great for cold noodles as they are more refreshing. My friend Taku-san from Myojo was kind enough to share some new refrigerated varieties  recently and here’s one – arigato! This is going to be a little different though – it’s not summer when I’m making this – it’s late fall and there’s frost every morning. I got a recipe for Hiyashi Chuka Mazesoba from Myojo – a twist which will end up as a hot noodle dish! Shall we give it a try? ...see full post

#4449: Myojo Ippei-Chan Yakisoba – United States

#4449: Myojo Ippei-Chan Yakisoba - United States

I can’t tell you how stoked I am about these! I’ve been a huge fan of Myojo Ippei-Chan in the tray – the ones you make by steeping. This is something different – these are refrigerated section yakisoba! They’re made in the United States! I am really looking forward to this – got the chashu ready! Let’s make it so! ...see full post

#4448: Vite Ramen Vegan Sichuan Chili Edition v3.0 – United States

#4448: Vite Ramen Vegan Sichuan Chili Edition v3.0 - United States

The guys over at Vite Ramen recently sent their entire range of the v3.0 products. I should stress that these guys are pretty amazing – healthy ramen isn’t a small feat. Look at the nutrition facts on the backshot of the package. Protein, fiber, vitamins up the wazoo. I’m really curious about this new patch version. It’s neat – they’re always working to improve their products – something I remember hearing that the street hawkers in Malaysian food courts would do as well which I think is admirable. Let’s see how this new version tastes! ...see full post

#4447: Nissin U.F.O. Osaka Takoyaki Flavour Yakisoba – Singapore

#4447: Nissin U.F.O. Osaka Takoyaki Flavour Yakisoba - Singapore

Takoyaki is a little octopus ball – here’s what Wikipedia had to say –

Takoyaki (たこ焼き or 蛸焼) is a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus (tako), tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger (beni shoga), and green onion (negi).[1][2] The balls are brushed with takoyaki sauce (similar to Worcestershire sauce) and mayonnaise, and then sprinkled with green laver (aonori) and shavings of dried bonito (katsuobushi). ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Global Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition

The Ramen Rater's Global Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition

Another year and it’s time for yet another top ten list. There’s a let of movement here, and a lot of favorites which have stood the test of time. This is a list of my favorite varieties from reviews up to #4440. If you’ve got a variety you think I should try or are a manufacturer who would like me to try your masterful creations – please drop me a line; I don’t know that in the 20+ years I’ve been sampling and opining about instant noodle products that I’ve refused a request for me to try a product. As I’ve said for years, my true favorite variety is the one I haven’t tried yet. With that, let’s look at these true diplomats of flavor in this, The Ramen Rater’s Global Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition. ...see full post

#4438: Samyang Foods Buldak Lovely Hot – South Korea

#4438: Samyang Foods Buldak Lovely Hot - South Korea

A big thank you to The Fat Hipster from YouTube for sending this over – so I figured this sounds like a good place to start. Why? Well, I realized in my post schedule for YouTube that this would come on Valentine’s Day, so hearts, Valentine’s day – not an extreme stretch. This appears to be a less spicy version – but it’s also got something else going on. The packaging scheme looks a lot like Buldak Light. ...see full post