The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
This is a special one. I’m doing a collab with a bar in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood called Time Warp, and this is the variety I’ve picked for July 2024 for their menu. This is the pack version and they’ve got the cup version – for some reason, nobody’s got any cups around here of this one which is a bummer, but it’s very similar. So, let’s cook it up!
Really happy I got to try this range thanks to a local Asian grocer. Quite a few, and this is the last. I’m wondering if this will be akin to tom yum? Let’s find out.
Now here’s one I haven’t seen since 2011 and thought could use another taste. I really enjoy tom yum and was wanting to review a Wai Wai variety, but the others they had at Evergreen Asian Market weren’t what I was looking for. So here we are – let’s cook it up!
This one came by way of James from Lakeside, California – thanks again! This is kind of interesting – a global export version. Let’s give it a try!
Here’s one that haiols from Vietnam for the US market – and 99 more, so it’s getting the label of it’s country of origin. . This came by way of James from Lakeside, California – thank you! Let’s give it a try.
But that’s not ramen! The throng of people screamed in unison! They wept openly. Well, that was silly – this one could be found on the instant ramen aisle . This is popular stuff in Hong Kong and I found it locally and figure hey why not. Macaroni only seems to enjoy the company of cheese here, but not elsewhere. Let’s cook.
Big thanks to Pher Engi for sending this over from Australia! I haven’t reviewed one of these in such a long time, and I remember they were pretty darn good. I’m also going to guess this is pretty spicy as well. Let’s cook it up and give it a try.
Another great one sent by Pher Engi – thanks! This should be pretty good – tom yum is an excellent flavor. Let’s give it a try!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Lately, I’ve been getting noodles in the mail. A lot of noodles. I’ve kinda got a stack of them and need to get through reviews, and so I’m doing a bunch in a row. Well, the last sentence I wrote about two hours ago and guess what? More noodles arrived. That’s how it works I swear! This most certainly isn’t a complaint though – the more the merrier – especially if I’ve not reviewed them. Well, let’s hit it!
Here’s one that came from an Umai Crate! These are subscription boxes with a myriad of instant ramen varieties in different forms as well as DIY at home stuff and a recipe card. Use coupon code THERAMENRATER at checkout if you want to get one – check ’em out!
This is the third of three immi varieties I received from the company – thanks! They use pumpkin flour to make these noodles and thus far, I’ve had mixed results on the noodles’ consistency and chew. The first one I disliked a lot, however the second I liked quite a bit. Let’s check out this third and final iteration.
This one was on the global top ten list last year, but under a different brand name. This time, it’s by Red Chef. But does it taste the same? One easy way to find out! I remember a strong prawn flavor that was just relentless – and if you like sweet prawn sauce like me, you’re going to really lose it over this. Let’s check it out!
Yesterday, I tried making bread with Mom’s Dry Noodle brand instant noodles from Taiwan. I figured I’d continue the theme with MAMA – maternal instant noodle time over here I suppose. But anyways, this one is a completely different kind of deal. Let’s give it a go and see what kind of results we end up with.
Today, we have one that was part of Japan Crate’s Umai Crate. So Japan Crate is a subscription service which has all sorts of different options for you. pretty neat stuff from Japan! There’s a coupon code for you too – just use THERAMENRATER to get a special discount at check out.
I must admit, it’s been an interesting stroll down memory lane retrying these about ten years after I had them previously. I remember back then I would walk every day to the Asian grocery store, pick a pack, come home, then review it. Much has changed since those reviews pre-1000, that’s for sure. This one I remember being quite nice. Let’s check it out!
Here’s another one I got at Family Asian Market on Aurora. A gift box type of thing – maybe from Lunar New Year? Not sure, but looks interesting. I’m in the mood for interesting – let’s check it out!
Thanks again to the guy in Montana for sending this a little while back. These days, the unboxing video’s comments have provided speculation, xenophobic diatribes, and some weird entertainment. Turns out these are the ramen at Walmart now and Walmart customers are seriously unhappy about it – it’s pretty hardcore if you ask me. Fascinating and entertaining nonetheless. Some of these varieties I’ve liked, some not. I actually saw them this weekend at a Walmart – they had these cups at 37 cents for a single, $1.78 for a six pack. That’s an extremely low price point for six meals. Let’s check this one out.
I’ve reviewed the bowls, now here come the cups! This is a shrimp variety and should be a good one – let’s find out!
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 –
Here we have the second of two varieties (one spicy, this one not), clad in paper. Pretty neat – they have character, that’s for sure. Let’s give this non-spicy variety a try!
Oh so you like shrimp? I do as well. I also like how on the serving suggestion they’ve got some carved squid going on. Carved squid is quite nice! Let’s give it a try.
Okay. This one’s interesting. This product is produced by Paldo Vina, a Vietnamese branch of Paldo Food of South Korea. It is for sale in Taiwan (formerly called Formosa). It was sent to me by Daniel – one of the guys from www.exoticnoods.com who visited Taiwan recently and brought it back for me – thanks again! Let’s check it out!
Yet another one of these cups! I think I actually have two more. It’s tough doing a series honestly; but it’s just something I have to do. Let’s see how this shrimp variety does.
Time for another Peruvian variety today! This is shrimp flavor, and these are coming via a reader (thank you very much!). The company that produces these is Ajinomoto, the inventor of monosodium glutamate. Let’s give it a try!
Here’s the second of three new Top Ramen bowls from here in the United States. At first I though ‘okay, it’s just Top Ramen in a bowl.’ But the extras in these are very interesting. Definitely excited to try ’em. Let’s do it!
Another Loblaw’s variety found at the Canadian SuperStore. I like shrimp. Sounds interesting and lacking a name which I enjoy. My wife’s favorite color is yellow. Let us begin.
Today, we have one that was part of Japan Crate’s Umai Crate. So Japan Crate is a subscription service which has all sorts of different options for you. pretty neat stuff from Japan! There’s a coupon code for you too – just use THERAMENRATER to get a special discount at check out.
Today, we have one that was part of Japan Crate’s Umai Crate. So Japan Crate is a subscription service which has all sorts of different options for you. pretty neat stuff from Japan! There’s a coupon code for you too – just use THERAMENRATER to get a special discount at check 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 – ‘This is a special kind of “yakisoba” soupless noodle dish. Shoyu and miso based sauce is flavored with a toasty taste of shrimp, and the curly noodles catch the delicious sauce well. The savory sauce, the crunchy cabbage, and the meat. Everything in the bowl intensifies your appetite.’
Here’s the first of a new range from Nissin Mexico that they sent recently – thanks again! This is a shrimp variety in the new spicy trio that should be pretty spicy! Let’s find out if the ‘fire shrimp’ means business!
Another one sent by way by Robert over at www.dadbert.com – thanks again, man! So like their Cup Noodles Very Veggie range,Nissin USA has gone with a cup that instead of a large amount of vegetables has gone with more meat and seafood. To be honest, I like this new direction Nissin is moving towards. However, I think marrying the two concepts – why not lots of meat and lots of vegetables? Call it something like Cup Noodles Gold Label or Cup Noodles Supreme or Cup Noodles Real Loaded or Cup Noodles Fully Loaded… I dunno – just seems like it would be pretty rad. Let’s check this one out!
Today, we part ways with Miandom and their Tasty Asia range. I have a feeling green curry and black pepper crab might not be the only products we see from this new company. This is the green curry cup version. Let’s take a look!
Miandom’s Tasty Asia range currently has three options: a green curry shrimp pack and cup and a black pepper crab cup. Today I’ll be reviewing the pack version. You get 4 packs in this large bag. Green curry is good stuff! Let’s see how it does!
Oh man tom yum. I really like tom yum as lot – especially the creamy stuff. Here’s a little about it from Wikipedia –
Here’s another one from Zenpop.JP. Zenpop offers a lot of diverse Japanese boxes – lots of assorted things like ramen and also stationary among other things. Here’s what they have to say about this variety –
Today, we head to the second half of this series with the shrimp pack version. Cups and packs, packs and cups. As you may remember, I was pretty impressed by the cup version. I’ve tasted shrimp flavor instant noodles in a few different ways. Sometimes, it’s kind of like as buttery broth which doesn’t taste like shrimp, but one that shrimp may go well in. – kind of the way that oyster sauce doesn’t taste like oysters. The cup version with this brand has a nice sweetness that you find in shrimp. Let’s see how it translates to the pack version.
Sapporo Ichiban offers four standard pillow pack style noodles, four special varieties, and four cup varieties. It makes it easy to do a different one every day during this Meet The Manufacturer series. I have, however, reviewed them all before, but it was a very long, long time ago. I usually don’t like to do re-reviews, but I think in this case I’m very happy to make an exception. I’ve been wanting to do a Meet The Manufacturer with Sanyo Foods America for years and getting the chance to has been a lot of fun!
This box arrived by way of my buddy the DHL driver. So I initially thought they were something else and started the video – then I see it’s not so if it seems like I’m a little funny in this one, it’s sheer embarrassment because of that… I had to improvise because I’d opened it – so watch for that. Okay – let’s crack it open!
