The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
A longtime follower of the site named Joe C. mentioned I should give this one a try – thanks! It was featured on a YouTube video by a channel called Way Of Ramen. I figured why not and was impressed. The video is at the bottom, but have a look. Maybe a little less mayo? I don’t often do a numbered review in this way, but I thought since apparently it’s very popular right now in Japan, why not?
I got this one up in Canada just like the one yesterday. I’ve seen a lot of these ice cream pint style noodle cups lately from China… I like them they’re pretty neat. Unsure who Mr. Meng is, but I found it at the Osaka Market in Yaohan Centre up in Richmond, BC. Now, let’s give it a go.
I’m going to take a wild stab at something here – that this one contains…. EGGS! I like noodles and eggs quite a bit – I’ve been curious about this one but didn’t know if Samyang was going to send this but I decided to hold of in case. So, I finally got it at 99 Ranch Market! 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 -“Thick and soft udon noodles topped with soft scrambled egg and deep-fried tofu. The simple dashi soup has a flavor of fish. You might want the mild sweetness to complete the ramen touring around Japan.’
Every January 19th for the past 5 years, I’ve done a special post in homage of Momofuku Ando. Who was he? Just the guy who invented instant noodles in 1958. If it weren’t for him, my world would be a whole lot different – and many other people’s as well. Actually, I should thank Mr. Ando’s wife as well – the story is that he was attempting to make an easily prepared, shelf stable instant noodle, but couldn’t figure out how. He tried many different techniques, but it was when he saw his wife making tempura in the kitchen one night that it dawned on him – fry the cooked noodles. This leaves holes in the noodles and extrudes the water. Not only that, the oil keeps the noodles shelf stable for a long time. His vision of a way to create and easy way to feed the masses has been a huge success and considered one of the great innovations of the 20th century. I think he deserves a day in his honor, and that day is today, January 19th.
Here’s one that’s truly unique – not only does it have a stewed egg but something called sour beans. I’m wondering if they’re akin to something I tried in Penang at a Nyonya restaurant. Hmmm. Well, I just looked them up and from what I gather, what is in this may be pickled Chinese long bean whereas the smelly beans I had in Penang are somewhat akin to looking like a lima bean but bigger. Anyways, let’s have a look at this one!
Soon as I saw this one in the box, I was instantly curious. Spicy cheese flavor from Thailand? I didn’t know they liked cheese in Thailand! Ah, well everyone likes cheese I suppose. Spicy cheese is even better in my book – spicy and tasty’s where it’s at. Well, let’s see what we have here inside this fascinating new cup from MAMA!
Seafood curry! This sounds and looks really interesting. I think this is the first that mentions including cuttlefish, too! I got curries cuttlefish at a dim sum joint nearby a few months ago. It’s pretty good stuff – chewy and had a nice curry sauce. I’ve got some nice things to add to this one I just got at the store the other day. For the last few months, I’ve been trying new things from the seafood counter at the Asian markets around me. I’ve tried quite a few fishball varieties, sliced squid, and got some interesting looking fish cakes! Let’s have a look at this seafood curry from Nissin Singapore!
Let’s kick things off with this Cream of Chicken Cup Noodles. I’ve heard of creamy chicken instant noodle, but never cream of chicken! What’s more interesting to me is the part of the world this is coming from; I would think this a more US or British flavor, but Singapore? I looked around online and found this recipe for creamy soups on a Singapore Home Cooking site – I would never have guessed creamy soups would’ve been popular there! Anyways, let’s give it a try!
I asked my wife Kit if she’d pick which instant I’d review today. Well, this is what she picked! We got it at Uwajimaya in Seattle in July at some point (the reason I know that is because the first review I did of this brand was July 20th). I used to end up with a big haul of new stuff every time I’d hit Uwajimaya, but these days they’re a little farther and fewer between. What’s great about these is that they’re much like the first instant noodle I ever got at Uwajimaya a long time ago, just smaller. Let’s check it out!
Went to Uwajimaya in Seattle yesterday and saw these – little four pack of mini noodles! Let’s check ’em out.
Found this one up the road at KS Mart in Lynnwood, Washington. Looks really interesting – an egg block huh? I imagine it will be like a seasoning block or something… Funny; I had a sesame one yesterday too. Well, on with the sesame flavored noodles!
Here’s another one from Sakurai Foods, this time a bowl of miso ramen! I read that the bowl is made of recycle sugar cane stalk – pretty cool!
Here’s another new one from Joe & Gill of the UK! Wow! This is something brand new to me – instant noodles from Poland?! Yup they sure are. But what the heck is ‘Żurek?’ Well, Wikipedia has this to say:
Here’s the last of the Han’s Korea trays that I have found. I think seafood sounds good for today. Let’s check it out!
Decided to do up a video of the nice Golden Pot that was sent to me by Mr. Shin, President of Nongshim Holdings – very kind thank you! Thought it fitting to try it out with some Shin Ramyun Black. Check out the video!
Here’s one I got a while ago at Uwajimaya in Seattle. It’s big, Japanese and tonkotsu flavor – sounds much better than the last one I had!
This is one that came from the nice folks at Ramen Place! Thanks again! Hot and spicy? Soy peptide? Korean? Yeah this should be awesome stuff!
I’ve been waiting a while to have some things in first before trying this one. I wanted to have some seafood to add to it or something interesting. Well, I had two something interestings to add to it, so let’s check this one out!
Decided to go with quick and easy and those words had Nissin Ramen Bowl written all over them. (?)
This is one of the samples sent by Empire International – thanks again to them and Jim C.! Many years ago, I tried this stuff. This was the first Indomie product I’d ever tried! I used to get tons of this stuff – my folks would bring it back to Anacortes from Seattle , a bit of a journey for noodles! All the packets, the draining, the eggs… This is where it all begand for me.
Let’s start the road to 1000 reviews with this gem I’ve been looking for for a while now. I really like the regular old Neoguri and hopefully I like this one too.
Got this one at the new Bellevue Uwajimaya. Shio means salt, so I suppose this is salt ramen. Let’s give it a try!
Been a really really long time since I reviewed some MAMA noodles! That’s because I’ve reviewed so many of them in the past I have a really hard time finding new ones to eat! These are some I got at OC Grocery in Anaheim, California on our vacation. They didn’t have an enormous selection of noodles, however I didn’t have most of them and left with a couple bagfuls – very nice little place – smelled great and nice people! Anyways, on with the review!
Hai Ya! Yet another bowl of Ve Wong’s Kung-Fu line or instant oriental noodle soups! Today it’s artificial beef flavor. Dig it!
Here we have some noodles from Vietnam. I got these during the trip to California in Pleasanton. I’m figuring these won’t be too bad – in my time as a noodle reviewer, I must say that chicken flavor is pretty hard to screw up. So let’s see what we have here!
So here’s something good I’m sure! Haven’t ever seen this popular Korean beef ramen in a big bowl before – let’s try it!
Honestly instead of Big Bowl I think these should be marketed as Huge Bowl, but honestly this is about what you would get if you bought a pack of Nongshim Kimchi noodles in a pack, except you would get better quality noodles there. These noodles are built for fast inflating and absorbency.
So today we went and looked for noodles at the HT Oaktree on 100th & Aurora in Seattle. Found these new Indonesian noodles! Sweet! Kari translates to curry!!!
So here’s some Quickchow from the Philippines. Mami just means noodle soup as far as I know. I like the little ‘Buy Pinoy’ logo on the lower right!
Look at the angry little crabs! They’re saying ‘eat the noodle soup!’ I’m agreeing with them and thusly, I portend to make said soup and have it for breakfast.
This one’s been sitting in the bottom of the ramen box for quite a while now. Wondered how they would be – spicy? Salty? Nasty? Thready? Well, let’s open them and find out!
So we went to the brand new Bellevue Washington Uwajimaya a couple days ago and wow – pretty awesome! Got some nice bowl noodles to try – here’s one!
Well this should be a tasty and tame one after the horror of the zero star review #386. So on we go with some beefiness!
So here’s one of the smaller packs of noodles. This one’s from the Philippines and containes something called Malanggay. Here’s what is said about it on Wikipedia:
The ‘Hot Of Hots’ eh? Sounds interesting! I hope its good as I really like satay…
I rarely have any issue with a nice shrimp flavor bowl of noodles. These are from Vietnam by Vifon – I’d better cook them up and review them ‘cuz I’m hungry!
So today I opted for something different from Nissin – Top Ramen Picante Beef. Kind of funny; why don’t they make a teriyaki beef or a stir fry flavor over here? Anyways, here we go…
So here’s something from Vietnam – some bean thread noodles! Chicken flavored…
Here’s another Namchow Mee-Jang variety, this time its artificial beef. So far, these have been pretty good.
