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Here’s one my lovely wife Kit looked at and said ‘what about this one?’ I’ve found there’s a universal truth in the universe: when she sees one and questions me about it and if I’ve not had it, it’s one I should review. This one’s made in China, let packaged for sale in the United States. So, let’s do so!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box. Here’s what they had to say about it – ‘If you’re familiar with the classic Chicken Ramen (チキンラーメン), the very first of all instant ramen produced by Nissin, then you’re in for quite a surprise. We know that Nissin likes to innovate, but we didn’t expect them to come out with this! Here’s their Japanese take on western cuisine, a Showa era (昭和) inspired Chicken Ramen. The Showa period (1926–1989) was one of economic growth and prosperity, during which Japan started important a lot of foreign cuisine, adapting it to their own taste. This Chicken Ramen was turned into a creamy gratin, with the flavor of charred cheese and the sweetness of roasted onions, for a creamy experience. 😋’
A huge thank you to Pher Engi of Australia for sending me this – I’ve been wanting to try it for easily 5 years – probably more. An Indonesian take of white curry just sounds so interesting – let’s give it a try!
Another flower pot cup of noodles. Let’s see how this one treats us.
A distributor / import sticker (click to enlarge).
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
I was down to three varieties to review, then two boxes of noodles showed up, then after doing Chuck E. Cheese’s for Miles’ 8th birthday, turned out a few feet from there was an Indian grocery in Bellevue, WA called Apna Bazar. Found this and five other varieties I’d not reviewed – so that’s pretty good! This is a Maggi Masala with oats in the noodle. Let’s cook them up!
Well, I figured late is better than never. I compiled this list around September of last year and never got around to editing it up. Well, the kids are on spring break so I figured a great time to hunker down and get some work done. This list is a compilation of my favorite varieties of Indonesian instant noodles I’ve tried up to review 4,650. A lot of reviews have come out since I wrote this list, so you can be sure some of those will appear on the next list. I should note I’ve also compiled a list of all of the Indomie varieties I’ve tried here. You can see everything I’ve tried from Indonesia here. Also, I’m making a big change to Top Tens. That announcement can be seen below. With that, let’s look at The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Indonesian Instant Noodles Of All Time 2024 Edition.
After long consideration and thought over the years, I’ve made a decision about the Top Ten lists. Are they going away? No, absolutely not. Top Ten lists going forward are going to have only one entry per company. I’ve had many Top Ten lists (this one is a good example) that have multiple wins by the same company. This list today is the end of that. You’d think ten spots would be enough to cover a lot of stuff, but I find it more and more restrictive, hence this new policy. Don’t worry – other varieties by the company will most likely be mentioned in the video. I think this change does two things. First, it provides more visibility for market diversity. Two, it provides more options for people to find products. This will start with the next Global Top Ten list which should be debuting on Monday, April 22nd, 2024. I should note that this will not apply to the Spiciest and Bottom Ten lists, as those are a bit different. Global, Cups, Bowls, and Trays as well as country-specific lists will be affected going forward. There are some instances this may not work. The USA list might be a little difficult as I don’t know that there are ten different companies to select from. This is going to be a big change, so we shall see how it goes. Global, cups and bowls definitely will adhere to this new policy.
Well, here we go again. This is the third in a series of interesting and very different varieties by Nissin Foods USA. First, the Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice – which people really had strong feelings about. Second was Cup Noodles Breakfast which was kind of like a McGriddle morphed into a Cup Noodles. Finally, (shouldn’t say finally and hope this isn’t the end of the road for these interesting flavors) is Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese Ramen Noodles In Sauce. This is an interesting flavor to me. A big thank you to my wife Kit for getting two of these for me, and also to Nissin Foods USA for sending me an interesting influencer box – very cool! Alright – let’s give this a try – I should note I put this in a bagel with cream cheese – see videos at the bottom of this post.
In the last couple of years, there have been some interesting changes of varieties coming from Nissin Foods USA – neat ones! The biggest are these limited edition varieties – first we got Pumpkin Spice, then Breakfast – now it’s Everything Bagel. I still have high hopes for a pizza in a cup but we will have to wait and see. I think it’s a logical next step. Maybe a cheeseburger one. What’s also cool are the media kits they send out. This one’s especially cool – it makes noise! Yup – watch the video and check it out!
Often I come out with a list and I get a comment saying ‘you should try Indomie.’ Well, I decided after years of telling folks that I have tried Indomie, I’d share a list of all of the Indomie varieties I’ve tried. So, this is that list. I’ve got 77 here. They’re ordered by review score (the last number) and the first number is the review number. So, you can hit the search button and type in that review number and it’ll bring it up. I’m pretty sure there’s a few more that have yet to be published, however this list contains 77 different varieties as on April 9th, 2024.
An emperor gets some new clothes! This has been a brand whose products have graced my top tens for a while now – and they’ve changed their packaging. It looks as though their recipe has changed as well. Malaysia is a place where flavors are changed and improved upon often, and I’m curious how this one will be. Well, let’s give it a try!
Here’s a Thai variety sent by Pher Engi of Australia – thank you very much! This is definitely an export version for a great many places. Tom yum sounds really wonderful – I love it and looking forward to seeing how this one tastes. So, time to try it.
An interesting name for an instant noodle range. It could be construed in different ways; pertaining to it being in the now, or having to do with weather. It also says ‘yummy & mummy’ on there – never heard this phrase before – mummy? In the UK, a ‘yummy mummy’ means an attractive mother. Couldn’t find exactly what this meant in India except possibly a slang pertaining to children that are picky eaters and that mothers could give them this and they’d eat it? Fascinating. Let’s cook – I’m doing the fried directions on this one.
The last of the Turkish Indomie sent by James from Lakeside, CA – thanks again! Sounds like a simple chicken noodle – let’s find out.
Think this is the last of the varieties that Nissin Germany sent – thank you! Really will be interesting what teriyaki will translate to insofar as sweetness is concerned. Let’s find out!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Golder beef sour? These are an interesting set of terms and I’m very curious. Everything these folks have sent thus far as been excellent. Let’s proceed!
Another one found at HMart. – the last one I think I found towards Seattle at Asian Family Market on 130th and Aurora. The other one I’ve tried was a soy sauce flavor, but I’m guessing this one will be way better. Let’s find out!
Oh yes – another one from S*Mart in Bellevue, Washington – shop smart shop S*Mart! They had a ton of these varieties but I thought I’d go with tomato to start with. Let’s begin.
You ready for a historic roadshow in a cup? This variety has gone by a few names and packaging wordings, but I’d say this is my favorite.. For example, here is review #695 – savory vegetable flavor. But wait – here’s good old review #1030 – this one is ’60 ingredients’ flavor! Back in 2011, I reviews the 60 Ingredients cup – review #553! Well, now this one’s called Vegetasty. They’ve dropped the whole looks how many ingredients and given it a very interesting name. I think this one is a troublemaker. The reason I say this is because they want to market it – and indeed it’s been pretty good – but as far as export, it’s a tough one to come up with a good name for perhaps. Vegetasty is kind of catchy, but for a Western audience, it might be a little tricky to pull off. It does bear the Vegan logo on there which is a good thing. Vegetasty sounds very monolithic; like it’s from a sprawling corporate empire. I would say completely revamp. Show farm imagery – crops being cared for or rolling fields in the sun as a background, then in the foreground a basket being held containing lots of different vegetables. Maybe a rustic theme. Then a better name – something like Nature’s Delight or Back To Nature Vegetable Noodle Soup – granted those aren’t taken already. Either way, vegetable and in particular Vegan varieties are very popular. I;ve been asked many times by companies my thoughts on how to name something for Western markets – a real honor I have to say. Anyways, yeah – let’s cook it – maybe I’m ruminate on the episode on Instant Noodle Recipe Time that appears at the bottom of this post – the finest show in the universe – and you all want to like and subscribe to. Yeah.
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box -here’s what they had to say about it – ‘This is a delicious cup of chilled Mazesoba.🍜 The noodles have a chewy texture, combined with a flavorful chicken sauce infused with sesame oil and green onions🍗✨ It’s a refreshing and savory dish, perfect for summer.🏖️🍉 冷やし中華 (Hiyashi Chuka) is a popular Japanese summer dish.🌞 It features chilled noodles topped with ingredients like cucumber, ham, and eggs, drizzled with a tangy soy-based sauce. This Toridare Hiyashi takes inspiration from this dish, offering a unique twist with its chicken sauce and sesame oil😊🍽️ Enjoy this delightful, cool meal to beat the heat!👊🌞 ‘
Today, I’m unboxing MiauMall’s Nakama Noodles box. You can get their monthly selection of 8-10 varieties – and this box they sent was full of varieties I’ve never reviewed before, plus they include PACKS!!! I’ll be doing unboxings for them and have a coupon code you can use – THERAMENRATER (of course)! Watch the video below – you’ll see why I’m excited.
Hey check this out! It was sent by Nissin SG (thanks again!) as part of their Cup Noodles 52nd Anniversary promo.
It’s pretty rare I get to review something actually from the Philippines I’ve not tried as of yet. Today’s review is thanks to James from Lakeside, California who was kind enough to send this along. Beef! Let’s go.
Big thank you to ExoticNoods.com for sending over a box! This company has subscription boxes that aren’t country specific, but have neat varieties from asll over the world! Check ’em out! Here’s what was in a box they sent last week!
Here’s a Vietnamese beef pho, found at HMart recently. This one is a little interesting as instead of a rice noodle it’s a wheat noodle. Also, note that it’s not called pho, but it is a noodle soup. Mi means noodle and bo means beef. Pho? That means soup. Anyways, let’s see what happens.
A couple years ago, Nissin Foods USA came out with something called Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice. Honestly, I really enjoyed it and made many different recipes out of it, stretching it to the limit. This time, it’s a breakfast variety. I couldn’t find it, but luckily Stumpy from North Little Rock, AR, James from Lakeside, CA and Nissin Foods sent me cups which I truly appreciate. Here, I will go into meticulous detail about the product, and create five different things with it. With that, here’s The Ramen Rater’s Definitive Guide To Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast.
Been wanting to try these for a while. We found them at Whole Foods market in Lynnwood, Washington. I’ve tried emailing the company a couple of times, but never received a response. Ah well. These are curious – they really look like Taiwanese dry noodles. Let’s check out this one with more to follow soon.
This one was sent by His Grace, the Rev. Dick Gazinya of the UK – my gratitude knows no bound, my friend. This one is of a brand I’ve not seen previously. It’s also made in Bangladesh for the British company Meeran. Anyways, let’s crack this one open and check it out.
Gomtangmyeon is probably not what you immediately expect when you’re thinking about Korean ramyun noodles. That’s because it’s kind of a creamy beef noodle soup instead of a spicy one. Gomtang is nice and savory – let’s cook some up!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘Get ready to spice up your taste buds with the “Spicy fish ramen” (辛辛魚らーめん) supervised by the famous restaurant “Mendokoro Inosho” (麺処井の庄) in Shakujii, Tokyo! This ramen has been causing a stir since its release and has been on the market for a whopping 15 years – that’s some serious longevity for a single cup of noodles! But that’s not all – Sugakiya has upped the flavor ante with a special spicy fish powder and tantalized taste buds with delicious bonito flakes that bring out the full flavor of the soup. With every slurp, you’ll feel like you’re dining at the “Inosho” restaurant and savoring their rich and savory flavors. So why not give your taste buds a wild ride and spice up your day with this irresistible cup of ramen? (It’s quite spicy: if you’re sensitive, add the powder little by little).’
Here’s another one sent by James from LAkeside, California – thanks again! This one says it’s gluten free so my wife will be giving this a try. Let’s hit it – oh and I know it’s not ramen.
Here’s one made in South Korea for the US market. GS25 is a convenience store chain in South Korea – and I believe all their instant noodles they have as a house brand are made by Paldo. Let’s give this one a try.
Now this is a name I can get behind – Ginataang Monggo sounds like something from Flash Gordon! But it’s not. It’s porridge – I really like foreign languages! Anyways, yeah this one sounds interesting – let’s give it a go – by the way big thanks to James from Lakeside, California for sending this along!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box. This one came from their ‘triple box’ which didn’t come with any literature. Basically, it’s a bowl of ramen with wantan in there. Usually pretty good – let’s check it out!
This came by way of James from LAkeside, California – thanks again! So this company is based in the United States and makes foods for the Filipino folks who live here. While this isn’t an instant noodle, chances are you’ll come across it on the instant noodle aisle. Let’s cook it up !
Here’s one I found in an Umai Crate from Japan Crate! They have boxes full of neat Japanese varieties! Check out www.japancrate.com and use the coupon code THERAMENRATER to score a sweet discount and get some neat noodles!
This is one I tried when it debuted way back. There were a couple of versions as well. This one is made in South Korea and packaged for sale in the US market. Jjambbong is like a spicy seafood stew. This on the other hand is the same but with a more milky broth. This is a really great one when I’ve had it in the past – let’s visit it again!
Here’s another Miliket variety I found over at HMart recently. I’ve seen a ton of different varieties by this company as of late – it’s an invasion! Nice to see Vietnamese stuff I’ve not yet reviewed. This one is a Phnom Penh styl enoodle – Wikipedia had this to say –
