Over 5,000 Instant Ramen Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Here’s another one you can only find… In prison. Yup – clear packaging is a giveaway. You can’t get these elsewhere – you will never see them in a grocery store. They are distributed by a company called Keefe Group – don’t call Keefe Group. They don’t want to talk to you – trust me I found out by calling them. This and three other varieties were sent by an anonymous donor – thanks again! Let’s give this a try.
First, I’d like to send big thanks to a person who works at a prison who doesn’t want to be identified. This is something some of you might know, but many will not. This is prison ramen. Notice the package has a lot of clear space? That’s to make it hard to conceal contraband people might like to bring in. Maybe not bring in per se, maybe things that were brough in and wanted to be hidden? I know a lot of you will ask where you can get this. Prison. Jail. Grocery store? No. Will the distributor sell it to me? No. They’re very clear on that – I’ve contacted them in the past and it’s definitely not going to happen. Yeah. So if you want some of these noodles, you’ll have to do something to end up in a corrections facility, or luck out and be contacted by someone that works at one and offers you some. I will say if you are really wanting this stuff check on eBay as you might be able to find it there from time to time. Anyways, let’s cook it up.
I really wanted to demo this stuff with something like, oh I dunno – Buldak Kimchi – which would’ve been fun. Unfortunately, they have so curtailed their individual pack options at HMart that there were literally only two Korean varieties. Yep. I ended up getting a pack of Meoguri at the local grocery store – pretty sad. I went with Neoguri though because it’s quite nice stuff, and I believe I saw a video of this kimchi mix being used with Neoguri – seems an apt pairing. Well, let’s give it a shot!
This stuff has been enjoyable in the past and if it’s what I think it is, it should be even better. The Choi restaurant ramen is excellent – curious to see how it goes – but for now let’s take a look at it !@
A few redditors mentioned a few chili crisps they thought should be on my Chili Crisp Roundup post and so I reached out and Barnacle Foods’ Kelp Chili Crisp was one of them. You can get it here. As of publishing this, I haven’t tried it yet, but soon it will be on that roundup post, as well as tried with different ramen! This one sounded particularly interesting as many acquaintances over the years from my hometown of Anacortes would head up to Alaksa to do commercial fishing. I also played with kelp when I was a kid on the shore – yeah we didn’t have a whole lot to do.Maybe your ramen junkie friend would like this for the holidays? Check out the vid and a big thanks to Barnacle Foods for sending it along!
I saw a couple new varieties from Ramen Bae coming out and asked for samples – and here’s a couple of them. Today, I’ll toss in some beef mix and the enoki mushroom mix. Today’s an interesting day – it’s national sunglasses day, bingo day, work from home day, and the big debate. It’s about ten a.m. here and I’m really looking forward to making a pizza, having a couple of drinks, and watching 90 minutes of insanity. This will probably come out well after the election is over, so who knows. My prediction is that Biden does really quite well. Whichever side you’re on, hopefully the world isn’t completely broken when you see this. Let’s make some noodles!
Well, the last one of these wasn’t very good. Very salty. Noodle was nice though. This one has a different style noodle and claims to be spicy. Hopefully it isn’t just a spicy rendition of their original flavor. We will see.
Okay so this stuff is cursed. I started writing the post for this one and now I have to write it all over again. WTH??? Anyways, I found it at QFC Supermarket in Edmonds, Washington. It seems this is related to some group or apparel company? That’s a little weird. Anyways, let’s give it a try.
It’s been a while since I tried a bunch of udon varieties and this is the last of the recent varieties sent by Myojo – thanks again! Let us begin.
Chicken udon time! Myojo sent me two of each of these varieties I’ve been reviewing and I have been taking the udon out of the extras and my wife and been enjoying it a lot. She likes to make a cheese sauce and put slices of hot dog with it. True story! I must admit, that sounds pretty good… Anyways, let make some chicken udon!
A couple of years ago, I found out about Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp. A crunch, oil, and a little spiciness. I dubbed it ‘Love Sludge’ – it was so good that I evangelized it to all my friends. Since then, the enamor has most certainly worn off. I don’t know if they changed the recipe, but the last couple of times I’ve gotten some, it’s ended up in the bin, not completely used. Well, I thought a list of alternatives to Lao Gan Ma that are out there that not everyone’s heard of (nor I myself) would be neat. So, I started sending a few emails, asking for samples, and here’s The Ramen Rater’s Chili Crisp Roundup & Buyer’s Guide. I figure 14 varieties is more than enough to show a landscape of flavor and textures that are out in the wild – and I’m sure there are many more. With holidays coming up, if you’ve got a ramen junkie or chilehead to get something for, there’s a lot of different things here that will work that they might not have tried. These are in order of when I received/bought them. Each one has a link to where you can get them. If I end up with more, I will be happy to add them at the bottom. With that, let’s get oily!
The second of two fresh ramen varieties from Myojo USA! This you’ll find in the refrigerated section. Looking forward to this – let’s give it a try!
This one sounds good – it’s a rainy day here so something miso should work well.
I reviewed the hot and spicy version recently. I’ve got some different garnish for this one. These are tricky to photograph and last time I went with the wrong bowl as far as I can tell. Gonna try something completely different. Let’s give it a go!
I saw an Instagram post by Myojo USA and noticed a new bowl version of their popular udon range. So, I decided to send an email – and got a respose in a big way. Big thanks! They sent a ton of new product! Here’s the first.
I don’t usually do this. I don’t show you something almost completely enjoyed. But this is because I’ve enjoyed it that much! You should go over to The Ramen Bae and get this stuff. This is a topping you throw in with your noodles as they steep or boil and it’s truly magnificent. It also works well in soups, rice – you name it. Let’s continue…
Well, Halloween is here and so I like to do something or other to celebrate it here. No, this is not ramen or an instant, but it is a kind of noodle thing. These are macaroni in the shapes required to make a little skeleton. Kind of cool. I think. As it turns out, I saw it at the same place I got my pack for review #5000. Let us begin.
#5000. It took me a long time to decide what to review for #5000, and you might be thinking ‘why this one?’ I found it at a Dollar Tree store, and it had all the hallmarks of something I like to review. First, never have I seen this brand before. That’s a neat thing – I mean after 5000 you’d think I’d seen everything but most certainly not. Second, it’s basic. Really hard to screw up chicken flavor, although I have indeed seen it done before. Third, I got it at a place that was very nearby, in walking distance. That’s pretty cool. The main chunk of my early reviews were fouind when I walked to a 99 Ranch Market. So, it’s kind of a mirror of what got me back to reviewing after my lapse in the 2000s.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hans Lienesch, The Ramen Rater, Releases Landmark 5000th Instant Noodle Review
KENMORE, WASHINGTON, USA – 2024/10/14 – Hans Lienesch, widely known as The Ramen Rater, will reach a major milestone on October 21st, 2024, with the release of his 5000th instant noodle review. Since 2002, Lienesch has sampled and reviewed thousands of quick serve noodle varieties from around the globe, building a dedicated following of instant noodle enthusiasts.
I reached out to A-Sha Dry Noodle recently about their new Hot Ones collab varieties – they sent some other really great looking new products! Let’s check ’em out! Big thanks to the folks at A-Sha USA for sending these along!
You might be thinking ‘almost 5000 varieties this guy’s tried but never this one?’ Yup – never this one. At least not in a paper cup. This is a big change – a timely one as I think there’s a chanbce that unless this change occurres, this wouldn’t be allowed for sale in Washington state. I think. Anyways, yeah – this should be fun to try! Let’s give it a go!
The day after my wife Kit’s birthday, the kids went and visited family for a couple hours and we had a nice lunch together. Kit wanted to check this place out and so we went.
National Noodle Day is coming 10/6 and Nissin has an amazing deal to celebrate – check this out –
This sounds really good – I’ve had rose Buldak before but this is something very different. I’ve had the pack version of Tangle which is more of a creamy thing without a kimchi aspect. Looking forward to trying this – the last one I’m reviewing this week.
I saw on Instagram that Myojo had rolled out some interesting bowls and asked for some samples. I didn’t realize the had new refrigerated premium varieties as well! Let’s open the box and check out all these new things to try! Thanks!
Here’s the second of the 99 Ranch Market varieties. I should mention they’ve also got packs of just noodles in different styles like buckwheat, etc. This is by my calculations probably made by Paldo Vina in Vietnam. Let’s give it a try – jjamppong is one of my favorite varieties.
This is pretty neat. I started reviewing instant noodles in 2002, however I only did about 50-60 reviews by 2010. Well, in 2010, Kit and I moved to Edmonds, Washington. It was within a short walk of a 99 Ranch Market location. I’d never had such easy access to instant noodles before, and that’s what caused me to go full on noodle reviewing at that point. This is the first 99 Ranch Market branded instant noodle product I’ve ever seen. It’s made in Vietnam, and I know there’s an arm of Paldo called Paldo Vina over there and I’m going to bet that’s who made these for them. This is called private label. Anyways, pretty cool – there’s also a jjambbong and I’ll be review that soon.
I was approached by Maruchan recently asking if I’d like to review a couple additions to their Yakisoba Japanese Homestyle Noodles range. I’ve been reviewing them here and there for years, and thought since I have samples of their current range, why not go and do a special guide to the current varieties and ones that no longer exist. So, we’ll start with the current varieties and then go backwards after that to now discontinued varieties. Each one will have a link to the full review. I sent some questions to Maruchan regarding the initial release of these varieties and other things, but never got a reply. If I do, I’ll include these in this guide. Let’s check out all the Yakisoba varieties!
Well, this is it as far as I know. I’ve tried this before (it said new at the time, no longer does) and I wasn’t happy with the finished pics and its possible its changed so here we go. I may do a mukbang as it appears I didn’t in the past.
I realized that to have my complete Definitive Guide I needed this one I hadn’t reviewed. Tried the local store. Nope. Tried a Dollar Tree. Not this one but a different one I wanted to redo. A couple days later, I decided to try the local store again. Found it! So that rounds out the currently available varieties. Completion is good for the soul. Let’s cook it up – I know I really like the teriyaki beef, so let’s give this a try.
This is interesting. The other day I told someone bulgogi isn’t usually in instant noodles. As a soup? I’m skeptical on this one to be honest. WEell, let’s see what happens.
Detail of the packaging (click to enlarge). Contains beef. To prepare, add room temp water to line and clear sachet contents. Microwave for 4 minutes at 1000W. Add powder base. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Wow it sure has been awhile – repackaging and over 14 years! I thought hey – I’m planning on doing a Definitive Guide to these, why not revisit chicken. My last sampling was review #215. There’s something about these trays that drives me nuts. Now, they’re not designed with the thought that there’s a guy somewhere will be scanning the bottom of the tray. Well, this guy here does and it’s horror. They’re shrink wrap, so they dont want to lay flat and fold over, etc. They also get tons of reflective glare. Anyways, yeah. But whaddaya do. Best ya can. Let’s cook it up!
It was 2011. Nobody’d heard of COVID?. Everything was somewhat peaceful as far as I remember. 13 years ago. That was the last time I’d tried this one. There are a ton of these Yakisoba varieties – some are no longer made – the taco one was my 1000th review. Four Cheese, Tomato & Basil, Sweet * Sour – if you want to see them all here you go. But today, it’s cheese! Let’s cook it up.
Hey look – another new one! I’m thinking maybe I’ll have to sauté some chicken and add in some Mandarin orange… Very curious how this noodle will impart such a flavor; in a good way, or like some Tang powder mixed in. Let’s find out.
Hey look – a new one! Big thanks to Maruchan for sending – they sent me a nice assortment of these – maybe time to do a Definitive Guide on these hmmm… This one sounds like fun – let’s do it up.
If you’ve thought ‘hey I wonder what a Funyuns and Maruchan Instant Lunch had a baby, what would it taste like?’ then you’re a very strange individual. But that’s what we have here. Granted, these aren’t the product of some strange snack mating ritual, but hey it’s a snack nonetheless. I’ve seen them just about everywhere lately. I’ve also seen people’s thoughts on them, ranging from dislike to completely evangelism. Well, here’s an unboxing time of the product accompanied by a taste test. Thank you to @officialfunyuns and Maruchan for scooting this my way!
Maruchan USA reached out to me recently and asked if I’d like to be among the first to try their new Yakisoba varieties – and of course my answer was yes. They sent a mega box of stuff and here we’ll delve into this range.
Well, a couple reviews ago I started with how my back was screwed up from doing a lot of work on the weekends setting things up. Well, it still is sore, and today I planned on walking a lot but there were three D’s that kind of ruined that plan… Damn cold, damn windy, damn rainy. So, damn. I walked to the local store and got a couple things including this one to review. I don’t think I’ve reviewed it in a great while, so here it is and here I go.
