The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Salted egg was something I didn’t really get at first, but these days it’s something I really enjoy. I had one of these ‘flower pot’ style noodles about 40 reviews back that was the same except it was salted egg and crab flavor – and it’s a no-brainer five stars. Let’s see if this one’s solo flavor does the trick.
I’ve long been a fan of the Soon line of products from Nongshim. If asked whether I’d want Shin Ramyun or Soon, I’d hit the Soon. Why? It just has a really nice smooth finish (it sounds like I’m describing a beer but really it does). This time they’ve got a trifecta of new versions – kimchi, a spicy tomato and a miso tofu. Today kimchi is on the menu – let’s check it out.
Here’s the second review of the series. Again, we have 20 grams of protein in this one, coming from the inclusion of bone broth in with egg noodles. Let’s give it a try!
Here we go with this short Meet The Manufacturer series. This sounds interesting – 20 grams of protein in a cup noodle? That’s pretty good – calorie count isn’t too bad at all either. Let’s see how it tastes!
Jesse over at Lonolife sent some samples recently to try out of their new chicken and beef bone broth instant noodle cups! 20g of protein per cup is pretty impressive! Let’s check them out!
A while back I was contacted by Jesse Koltes, COO at LonoLife about a new high protein bone broth noodle cup he was developing. Well, it’s done and here’s an interview I did about the products he’s got! They’re all high protein for those looking to add more of that essential to their diet.
Something new from Taiwan just hit my mailbox recently – this is a dan dan variety from Mom’s Dry Noodle (their dan dan noodles have been on my top ten global list for a few years now). This one’s different though – lots of spicy oil and it’s Vegetarian friendly. Let’s crack it open and see what’s going on in here!
Here’s one that was sent in by reader James from Lakeside, CA! Thanks! He’s sent quite a few neat varieties over the past year and this follows suit. It contains a retort pouch, kind of the high bar when it comes to instants as it’s like a flexible can with fish or meat in there which makes everything better. This one’s got crab – let give it a try!
A couple of years ago, I got a message from someone who was going to publish a book about ramen and asked for an interview. I almost never turn down an interview so I did one and forgot about it long ago. Well, I got an email saying the book had been published and was asked where a copy could be sent. Well, it arrived! Let’s open it up and check it out!
Here’s one sent by reader Cian from Dublin – thanks! This is the first Irish instant noodle I’ll be reviewing and although Cian told me these aren’t exactly great, I’m stoked since to me, they’re new. Let’s try the first curry noodles I’ve ever seen in sky blue packaging. Let’s do it.
Here’s another one for the Filipino market here in the states by Pamana. Sadly, this is the last Filipino variety I’ve got so I’m hoping someone who’s reading from the Philippines might be kind enough to send some new varieties I’ve not reviewed. Very hard to come by these days for me I’m afraid! Let’s check it out – but first, a little snippet from Wikipedia about Sotanghon – oh wait, I guess not. It appears it’s being confused with rice vermicelli – which this dish does use, but the translation in this instance would be to bihon instead so I don’t know what to do… A little research yielded use of mushrooms, however in my years reviewing, I’ve seen a lot of varieties including saltine crackers. We shall see.
To start, I want to take a moment to recognize the passing of Nunuk Nuraini. Many of you haven’t heard of her and so I wanted to tell you a little about her. She was the spice mixer for Indomie and died earlier this year. The flavors she shared with the world are legendary I thought it fitting to honor her with a mention before we start this list. If you’d like to read and article about her life, there is one here.
Here’s another one that arrived on ice from Taiwan. Trying to get a couple out at a time since they’ve invaded our freezer – I’ll add happily to that statement. They’ve been so good up to now and guessing they’ll all be good – at least I hope so.
What a week – just so busy lately! My daughter just started preschool and so another part of the day is taken up by Zoom meetings – not a bad thing and really neat to see her start school! Yet it is a difficult transition for me; I’ve had everything so timed and set up for reviewing that change is difficult – but not impossible. Adjusting had been hard but it’s going well.
It’s pretty inadvisable to run to the mall and hang out with tons of people. Well, check out these subscription boxes – they come straight to your door and have some neat stuff inside! Check out www.japancrate.com and use the coupon code THERAMENRATER to score a sweet discount and get some neat noodles!
This one came out of a Zenpop subscription box. Zenpop has great boxes featuring different themes every month with 7 different instant ramen varieties from Japan. Use the coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount!
This one arrived in an Exotic Noods subscription box – check ’em out and use coupon code RAMENRATER15 for 15% off your order!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop box. Zenpop is a subscription box service – check em out and use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount!
Oh boy, oh boy… I did a big sort of all the noodles I had in my hampers and one thing I found was a huge amount were expired – not just a little, but like expires in 2018 (it’s 2020). Now that my noodle hoard has dwindles (I think I tossed a good 50 packs/cups/bowls), I saw someone else touting this one as a new add to their stash. Well lo and behold, this one made the cut – it expires next week, so I’d better get on it. Not only that, this sounds like a mukbang if I’ve ever heard of one. Let’s do it.
A happy Valentine’s Day to you all! It’s been crazy here – we’ve been dumped on with a ton of snow in the last couple of days. It’s melting though and hopefully it will be all gone soon. It’s been a rough month – the site got hacked, so I started a GoFundMe campaign – which proved that humanity is kind and I have the best viewership/readership in the world – thank you for your kind donations! The site is happy, and a couple items on the wish list were also got – a couple camera for Instant Noodle Recipe Time were donated, and I was able to get a scanner that measure 11×17 (the one I have has condensation on the inside and the new one should be here tomorrow). Then, this morning I come out to the living room to find my data drive where I keep the bulk of my day-to-day assets like templates etc. was hosed. Wouldn’t spin up. Luckily, there were finds left over from the GoFundMe that covered a new hard drive. I though – hey maybe the old one might still be under warranty and fished it out of the trash bin. No dice on that, but gave it one last try and it fired up! It’s backing up data right this second and should be done shortly! The safe bet is to stay with the new one that is coming since who knows how long this one will work. Anyways, I hope every one is having a great Valentine’s Day – it’s been a rollercoaster over here!
I’ve been reviewing a lot of these Kay’s and Tasty.ly products recently – it’s pretty neat! I mean, Malaysia isn’t the first place you think of when you think of macaroni and cheese, is it? I really liked the Creamy variety so guessing this is going to be good too. Let’s find out!
Here’s another one of the ‘flower pot’ form factor large cups from China. These are generally really quite good so I’ve got high hopes for this one. Plus, it’s dry. I know it has to be. I think. I should say I screwed one of these up recently but I did redo it. Dry varieties when broth is introduced isn’t so wonderful. Let’s give this one a try.
Here’s one that came from a Zenpop.jp subscription box. Use the coupon code RAMENRATER at checkout for a discount!
The first thing I noticed about this one was toward the top where it mentioned it has real beef and real pork. I so seldom come across varieties from the Philippines that this was a real score. I think I found it up in Canada but I’m not sure. Let’s see what Wikipedia has to say about La Paz Batchoy real quick –
I’ll admit, this is a really different list. I’ve done cup and bowl form factor specific lists, but never ones that come in boxes before. I thought maybe this would be a good idea since most things that come in boxes in the noodle world tend to be on a more premium side of things. This is a selection of my favorites that came in boxes current as of review #3,702. Let’s have a look at The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Boxed Instant Noodles Of All Time 2021 Edition!
When I heard about this, I was immediately interested. Dried shrimp are a big part of this and I’m curious how ‘shrimpy’ the flavor will be. Let’s find out as I review the first variety from Chillies Brand I’ve tried!
I recently was contacted by the folks at Red Chef who asked if I’d like to try out their varieties again as well as try something new. A total of three of their varieties have held spots on the annual big top ten global list, so I figure yes, of course I want to! Here is what they sent!
Here’s the other spicy variety from the Cheetos Mac’N Cheese series. I should note that we tried the non-spicy regular cheese flavor today. Wasn’t bad; wasn’t amazing. Anyways, I also want to point out something – this isn’t macaroni; it’s rotini. Macaroni is pasta shapen in tubes. Rotini isn’t. Just saying. Alright – let’s give this spicy one a try.
Here’s a fancy one from Japan found in a Zenpop box – check out zenpop.jp and use the coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount! Tonkotsu is a pork bone based creamy wonderful thing. This one has the added bonus of cod roe. Let’s give it a try.
I reviewed the Tanuki Oyaji tonkotsu a couple days ago – this one’s the spicy version of that. Thanks again to Daniel from Exotic Noods for shooting these over – use coupon code RAMENRATER15 over there for a discount! Let’s give it a go!
Every year or so, Prima Taste sneds over some samples. This is nice – especially since they’re so good. These have been at the top of my top ten for years now – it’s because they’re freaking wonderful noodles. Check it out!
This. This created quite a stir (no pun intended) in the Instant Noodles – The Ramen Rater Facebook group. The spicy crowd was fascinated, and the ramen crowd espoused disdain. Cries of ‘that’s not ramen’ rose up in protest. Obviously not; it is pasta – rotini to be exact.
Yes, bread. This is one of many loaves I’ve tried, crafter by the esteemed author Matthew Bellah. Check it out.
Here’s another one from Daniel over at Exotic Noods – use coupon code RAMENRATER15 for a discount – thank you!
Nissin sent me another one of their ‘First Taste Club’ boxes – and inside was a new range of spicy varieties. They range from 4 out of 6 pepper heat. 5 out of 6 and the 6 out of 6 which I really wanted to try first but I figured I’d start with the 4 out of 6 and see the progression.
Every once in a while, I dig through all the noodles and other things I have and this popped up. Actually, the other day I found a slew of expired stuff from 2018 and 2019 – like expired I mean well over a year! Tossed about 25 pounds of stuff, sadly. Luckily I’ve still got a bunch of stuff to review. This one seemed like an interesting one to do since although it’s not an instant noodle, it’s something you’ll eventually run into on the instant noodle aisle. So sit back, relax, don’t have a cow because it’s neither ramen nor a noodle, and check out rice porridge from Vietnam.
This one came once again by way of Daniel over at Exotic Noods – use coupon code RAMENRATER15 for a discount – thanks!
The Tapartio guy is flanked by flames this time! But wait – who is he? How did they end up with this guy on this ramen and of course the zillion bottles of hot sauce bearing the name Tapatio?
Alright so this one’s a little confusing. The bar code on this correlated with review #3035, however there are some distinct differences in the packaging. #3035 doesn’t have side panels and the lid is different. I’m unsure about this one so it’ll get a new review. Let’s give it a try!
It’s pretty inadvisable to run to the mall and hang out with tons of people. Well, check out these subscription boxes – they come straight to your door and have some neat stuff inside! Check out www.japancrate.com and use the coupon code THERAMENRATER to score a sweet discount and get some neat noodles!
