Big thanks to the folks at MAMA for sending a couple of neat new varieties! These sound really great and gonna give em a try soon!
Tag: ramen reviews
#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.
Hard To Find Varieties Sent From Australia!
Big thanks to Pher Engi – she has sent another big box of varieties from Australia containing things I’ve never seen before – including a Buldak variety you may not have known existed! Check it out!
#4474: Nissin U.F.O. Singapore Black Pepper Crab Flavour – Singapore
This one should be good. Nissin SG seems to do justice to Singaporean flavors and this is certainly a well-known Singaporean flavor. Let’s give it a try!
#4473: Nissin Miojo Turma Da Monica Sabor Tomate Suave – Brazil
Here’s another one sent in by Cian – thanks again! I reviewed this one with different packaging quite a while back. It’s kind of neat – all I see is different packaging and Once I’ve scored this one I’ll see if I agree with my old review.
#4472: Miliket-Colusa Mi Huong Vi Lau Thai Tom – Viietnam
Here’s one that came by way of James from Lakeside, California – thank you! I don’t review a lot of Vietnamese varieties as I don’t see them very often in these parts, so this is great! Let’s check it out.
#4471: Nissin U.F.O. Korean Hot Chicken Flavour – Singapore
This is definitely a challenge to the popular spicy Korean varieties that are so popular right now. I’m really curious if it will also bring a Singaporean savoriness. Logically, this will be formulated to appeal to Singaporeans; like how we have American Chinese cuisine here, perhaps there’s a Singaporean Korean cuisine there? I don’t know but I think I’ll find out shortly!
#4470: Predilecta Praja! Lamen Sabor Carne – Brazil
Happy Meat Day! Well, I don’t know if there’s a meat day but there probably is. This is one that came from Brazil and from a reader named Cian – thanks, man! I’ve never tried one from this brand so this should be interesting – let’s give it try.
#4469: Pran Mr. Noodles Instant Noodles Beef Flavour – Bangladesh
This is one of the waning varieties I found at a store called JD’s Market right between Edmonds and Lynnwood. I end up checking them out usually right around Halloween every year as it’s right next to the Spirit Halloween store. Usually something I’ve not tried in there and this year was great for something new as well. Let’s try this beef instant from Bangladesh.
#4468: Vite Ramen Beef Pho v3.0 – United States
This is another departure from the more Japanese styled flavors they had originally and I’m really curious as to what it will taste like. I’m doing a few beef reviews this morning – I tend to cook a certain protein and then see if I’ve got some of the same flavor profiles to go along with it and I have three. So, let’s start out on the healthy end of the stick!
#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.
The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Japanese Instant Noodles Of All time 2023 Edition
I get asked to do different top ten lists often – ones for people with dietetic restrictions, one for specific types of noodles, etc. The return of the Japan list should satisfy those who have wanted it to return. The problem with the Japan list is that Japanese varieties often come and go very quickly like the seasons; they are to be enjoyed and then remembered. Hopefully you’ll be able to find most of these, but if not it is because of this reason. This list is comprised of my ten favorite varieties from Japan out of my reviews up to number 4,400. If you’re in Japan and have varieties you think I should try or are a manufacturer there, please contact me. With that, here is The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Japanese Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition.
#4464: Samyang Buldak Carbonara Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen – United States
I figured out – I’ve never reviewed the cup version of this one, nor the export version either. So, let’s do it!
#4463: Vite Ramen Vegan White Miso v3.0 – United States
Here’s another one from Vite Ramen – another cup! So last time, I didn’t use the cup and this time I’m going to. Should be interesting. Let’s find out!
#4462: 7-Eleven Gold / Myojo Myojo Tomita Tonkotsu Ramen – Japan
This came out of a box from Frank over at 5amRamen! Check out his stuff over at www.instantramen.jp – use the coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount! Super premium stuff!
#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.
#4458: Paldo Teum-Sae Ramen – United States
Are you scared? Well, I’m not. I’m curious. This is an export package version of this one and it doesn’t mention the SHU (Scoville heat unit) number. What’s interesting also is that they’ve hyphenated Teumsae. Well, they must have a reason.
#4457: Vite Ramen Vegan Japanese Curry v3.0 – United States
Another new one from the Vite Ramen folks – thanks again! If you don’t know about this brand, check out the nutrition facts below. Tons of fiber, lower sodium, packed with protein, and a ton of vitamins. Let’s cook it up!
#4455: 7-Eleven Gold / Maruchan Iida Shoten Ramen – Japan
This came out of a box from Frank over at 5amRamen! Check out his stuff over at www.instantramen.jp – use the coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount! Super premium stuff!
#4454: Vite Ramen Massaman Curry v3.0 – United States
Yep – another Vite Ramen. This has been really neat trying all these new versions and varieties! You should take a look at the image below of the nutrition facts – they’re very impressive. Curry. This is a serious thing for me – let’s tale a look.
#4452: Samyang Buldak Jjamppong – South Korea
Here’s another Buldak variety that came by way of The Fat Hipster – he’s got a great YouTube channel you should check out! This guy drank s’mores flavor Pepsi. You should really look at what he’s up to!
The Ramen Rater’s Definitive Guide To Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast
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.
#4622: Nissin Cup Noodles Creamy Tom Yam Flavour – Singapore
Here’s one that came in a really neat box from Singapore’s arm of Nissin Foods – thank you! This is a limited edition variety and it sure sounds good. Tom Yam and Tom Yum? Same thing – just a different spelling – as far as I can tell – guess I should look that up – one moment.
#4451: Vite Ramen Yuzu Shoyu v3.0 – United States
This is one of their newer ones and I’ve not tried any version of it previously (I don’t think there has been one?). This one is in collaboration with Girl_DM. Never heard of that – okay what does Google have to say?
#4450: Myojo Hiyashi Chuka Mazesoba – 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?
#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!
Umai Crate Ramen Subscription Box – April 2023 + Coupon Code
Check this out! These subscription boxes come straight to your door and have some neat stuff inside! It’s a pretty great thing to get people who are into ramen for the holidays! Check out www.japancrate.com and use the coupon code THERAMENRATER to score a sweet discount and get some neat noodles! Here’s the latest unboxing of the March 2023 Umai Crate!
#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!
Nissin Singapore Sends Limited Edition Creamy Tom Yam!
The folks at Nissin Singapore keep sending me these wonderful boxes in the mail – they usually are about a brand new product (well, they always are) and they have such interesting things inside. It seems my postal carrier doesn’t like to deliver them though. They’ll say it need a signature, leave a slip, I’ll sign it, leave it for them, and either they won’t do anything with the slip or not even fill out the info so I can have it redelivered. They’re really a pain. However, their incompetence led to some fun in this one – check out the video and you’ll see and of course a neat limited edition Cup Noodles variety from 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).
#4446: A-Sha BT21 Dan Dan Noodle Dream Team Scallion Sauce – United States
First off, thanks to the folks at A-Sha USA for sending these over! There are two different boxes, four varieties in total. I thought I’d go with this box first. So, I live under a rock; I’m not exceedingly hip to things that aren’t noodle related or politics related. God, I’m old. I do know there is a Korean group called BTS that’s quite popular, and a messaging service called LINE. Well, LINE did a collab with BTS and made BT21 characters, and A-Sha collaborated with LINE and made these noodles featuring these characters.
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.
#4444: Aces Sriracha Ramen Noodle Soup Original – United States
Well, the name Aces reminds me of playing cards, and the number 4 sort of looks like an A missing a leg, and 4444 looks like 4 of a kind, so I thought this seemed a fitting review number for this one. My wife said something earlier about the number four being unlucky – never heard that before. Well, I like the number four so there. Let’s try
#4443: Mom’s Dry Noodle Wasabi Almond Sauce Noodle With Tapioca – Taiwan
This is really quite interesting – I’ve never tried a noodle with boba! Boba is what you’d find in bubble tea. It’s big tapioca. Also, I’ve never heard of that particular ingredient paired with wasabi. This is going to be a trip – let’s try it!
#4442: Aces Sriracha Ramen Noodle Soup Extra Spicy – United States
A lot of spicy stuff coming my way lately – that’s pretty rad! Not so many last year for the new spicy list, so I’m guessing some new stuff will bring new heat. Let’s see how hot this one is!
#4441: A-Sha BT21 Dan Dan Noodle With BT21 Sauce – United States
First off, thanks to the folks at A-Sha USA for sending these over! There are two different boxes, four varieties in total. I thought I’d go with this box first. So, I live under a rock; I’m not exceedingly hip to things that aren’t noodle related or politics related. God, I’m old. I do know there is a Korean group called BTS that’s quite popular, and a messaging service called LINE. Well, LINE did a collab with BTS and made BT21 characters, and A-Sha collaborated with LINE and made these noodles featuring these characters.
#4440: Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast Ramen Noodles In Sauce – United States
Well, I got one. More coming. There will be a definitive guide. That being said, it’s spring break and the kids are home with me. I’ve been walking ten miles a day for the past 44 days. I think I broke them; I did almost 7 with them today in two walks. I think they had fun, but they look pretty tired. Only four more days of it, kids! Anyways, I went crazy on the Nissin Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice Ramen Noodles In Sauce a couple years back; did a whole definitive guide and even a poster heralding it’s existance, with a graphic combination of that cup, a 2001: A Space Odyssey (it was review 4001) as well as references to Dune which had just come out. Now it’s time for a Cup Noodles Breakfast meltdown. Let’s give it a try.
#4439: Nissin Miojo Lamen Sabor Carne – Brazil
Big thank you to Cian for sending this along! So, this should be you basic beef instant from Brazil. I have found the stuff from Brazil to be really great – let’s check this one out.
#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.
#4437: Aces Sriracha Ramen Noodle Soup Chicken – United States
I’ve tried these bowls in the past, however never the pillow packs. Really curious – let’s give them a try!