Earlier this year, people from Taiwan voiced their displeasure with not being included in the 2013 Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time. They came in droves, shouting the praises of their beloved varieties. They were equally unhinged by having two varieties listed in my Bottom Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2013 list. Two were included there. After all of this outcry and seeing the pride and passion about their noodles, I thought it was a must to do a Top Ten Taiwanese Instant Noodles Of All Time 2013 list; these people are easily as interested in noodles as much as I am! This new list encompasses all of the Taiwanese varieties that I’ve reviewed thus far. So, without further ado, I hope you will enjoy The Ramen Rater’s top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2013 edition!
Tag: taiwan
Samples Of A Fiery Taiwanese Noodle From A-Sha
A package from A-Sha… Hmmm what’s inside?
Ooh what is this? The folks at A-Sha told me this variety is called Hell Spicy Mala and is popular in Taiwan as it is extremely spicy. Sounds like fun!
#1180: Wei Lih What’s That? Leisure Meatballs Spicy Chicken Flavor
When I’m ready to relax and have some ‘me time,’ there are two words that immediately enter my mind: leisure meatballs. What’s that? Leisure meatballs? Yes. Spicy chicken flavored ones. Let’s have a look.
Re-Review: Saigon Ve Wong Kung-Fu Mì Tôm Chua (Sour Shrimp Flavor) Instant Noodles Vietnam Flavor
I recently got a nice box of samples from Duncan T. over at Gemini Food Corp in California. I’d already reviewed them, but I definitely wanted to re-review this one for sure. I last had this in my 97th review – over 1000 reviews ago. Curious about what I’ll think of it these days; it got a low rating at that time and looking at it now makes me think it can’t be that bad! But I guess we’ll see. Let’s check it out!
#1166: Unif Man Han Feast Sichuan Chili Eel Flavor Instant Noodle
Here’s one from T&T Supermarket up in Vancouver, BC! Many Taiwanese extolled the virtues of these Man Han Feast varieties, especially a beef version. I had the Spring Onion Eel flavor a while back and this is the only other one I’ve seen available in North America. So what does Man Han Feast mean? Wikipedia says:
Please Vote For The Ramen Rater For Best Food Blog In Western Washington!
Hey everyone! Thanks to those who have voted so far! The contest is the KING5/Evening Magazine BEST In Western Washington – an annual list of the best of the best of Western Washington state here in the USA. I would be extremely thankful if everyone would vote for me – this would really help the site out a lot! Click on the above image or here to vote. I was on Evening Magazine (a local TV show) earlier this year – Jim Dever and a cameraman came into our little apartment and set up a miniature film studio here in Edmonds, WA (the clip is below).
#1153: Wu-Mu Spicy Flavor Tomato Ramen
Here’s another one from T&T Supermarket up in Canada. This one comes with four of everything! Today however, I’ll just be making one of them. Let’s check it out!
#1131: Wei Lih What’s That? Leisure Meatballs Chicken Flavor
Here’s another one from the T&T Supermarket up in Burnaby, BC. I asked for help with the translation on Facebook. Thanks guys! Snack noodles are very popular in Asia and here’s one variety to check out. Yes – it’s from Taiwan! It’s a package with three little packs inside. Let’s check it out!
Interview With The Ramen Rater On NTD TV!
A couple days ago, I was interviewed via Skype on NTD TV about the recent uproar over The Bottom Ten List as well as what I do. It was a lot of fun and I would like to thank NTD TV for this great opportunity! Thank you! Here’s a direct link to their site.
A STATEMENT REGARDING THE TAIWANESE RESPONSE TO THE RAMEN RATER’S BOTTOM TEN INSTANT NOODLES OF ALL TIME 2013 EDITION
The Ramen Rater’s Bottom Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time
So after sampling so many varieties of instant noodles over the years, of course there have been some that I didn’t like. There also were some that are so memorable for how awful they were. After people asked what my least favorites were a few times, I thought I should just make a list of them. I should point out that these are on the list because I couldn’t stand them. I’m pretty sure they are all still in production, and the only reason they would be is that people somewhere find them enjoyable. So who knows – you might have a completely different opinion on these than me, but I found them to be absolutely the worst of the worst. With that, here’s The Bottom Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time, 2013 Edition.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1097: Amianda Noodle Homely Dried Noodles – Sesame Paste
Today, we have the last of the Amianda noodles. I’d like to thank Amianda for doing the interview and sending the great samples! Sesame paste – let’s get to it.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1096: Amianda Noodle Tachia Noodles – Hot & Spicy Sauce
As we wind down this spotlight on Amianda, we arrive at a hot and spicy variety of their Tachia noodles. Let’s have a look.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1095: Amianda Noodle Tachia Noodles – Fried Shallot
Today it’s fried shallot. Shallots are really quite enjoyable; like an onion and a garlic had a child – strong flavor! Let’s give this one a try!
Meet The Manufacturer: #1094: Amianda Noodle Thin Noodles – Sesame Oil
Meet The Manufacturer: #1093: Amianda Noodle Hakka Flat Noodles – Satay Sauce
I don’t know what made me do it, but I felt a need to consult Wikipedia on satay and Taiwan. So I did and found this:
Meet The Manufacturer: #1092: Amianda Noodle Tachia Dried Noodles – Rou Zhao Meat Sauce
Today, we have the Tachia noodles again but with rouzao. What is rouzao? Wikipedia mentioned that it involves minced pork (Amianda mentioned this one includes it in the sauce) and minced pork rice is the common rouzao:
Meet The Manufacturer: #1091: Amianda Noodle Homely Dried Noodles – Original Flavor
Today I’ll be reviewing a thinner gauge noodle by Amianda. I thought it was funny that they were called ‘homely,’ as here in the US homely usually means ugly, but I think this time it’s meant to be more along the lines of homemade or home-style.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1090: Amianda Noodle Dried Noodles – Spicy Sauerkraut
Today it’s a spicy sauerkraut – kind of interesting to see sauerkraut as a popular addition in Taiwanese noodles, but this isn’t the first time I’ve seen it – I think it’s about the fourth. Anyways, let’s give it a look!
Meet The Manufacturer: #1089: Amianda Noodle Hakka Flat Noodles – Fried Bean Sauce
Today it’s hakka noodles, a variety I have only very recently found out about. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about the Hakka people in Taiwan:
Meet The Manufacturer: #1088: Amianda Noodle Tachia Dried Noodles – Peppery
To start things off, we have tachia noodles. It sounds like Tachung county is where a city called Tachia is, so I’m guessing this is a local version. Anyways, let’s check ’em out!
Meet The Manufacturer: Samples From Amianda Noodle
A great big box of noodles from Taiwan! Let’s open it!
I really like it when companies send printed instructions like this – makes it easier for me when there’s very little English on the packaging if any.
Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Amianda Noodle
Interview * Samples From Amianda * Amianda Noodle Tachia Dried Noodles – Peppery * Amianda Noodle Hakka Flat Noodles – Fried Bean Sauce * Amianda Noodle Dried Noodles – Spicy Sauerkraut * Amianda Noodle Homely Dried Noodles – Original Flavor * Amianda Noodle Tachia Dried Noodles – Rou Zhao Meat Sauce * Amianda Noodle Hakka Flat Noodles – Satay Sauce * Amianda Noodle Thin Noodles – Sesame Oil * Amianda Noodle Tachia Noodles – Fried Shallot * Amianda Noodle Tachia Noodles – Hot & Spicy Sauce * Amianda Noodle Homely Dried Noodles – Sesame Paste
Meet The Manufacturer: #1081: Deshome Aloe Noodle Sesame Sauce
So we are at the end of the Deshome Meet The Manufacturer. Let’s have a look at their aloe noodles with sesame sauce.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1080: Deshome Black Eyed Beans Noodle Basil Sauce & Sesame Sauce
Well, we’re down to the last two Deshome varieties. Let’s check ’em out.
The stickers from the back of the packaging.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1079: Deshome Aloe Noodle Vegetable Sauce
Today it’s aloe noodles with vegetable sauce – no sesame sauce in this one! Let’s give it a try.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1078: Deshome Black Eyed Beans Noodle Spicy Soybean Sauce & Sesame Sauce
Here’s another flavor variant of the four-types noodle pack. Let’s check it out!
Meet The Manufacturer: #1077: Deshome Aloe Noodle Red Onion & Sesame Sauce
Here’s another one of the aloe varieties from Deshome – this time it’s sesame and red onion. Let’s check it out!
Here’s the sticker from the back of the package.
Here’s the back of the package (click image to enlarge). Vegetarian.
The noodle blocks. Purplish is made with purple sweet potato and the other is just aloe.
The sesame sauce packet.
Again, a earthy color and nice aroma.
The red onion packet.
Red onion in an oil base.
Finished (click image to enlarge). Added a fried egg and some Vidalia onion and ham sauteed in a little soy sauce. The noodles are again really good – nice and wide and perfect texture as well as chew. The flavoring was nice and hearty with a strong sesame and nice red onion notes. This was great – 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.UPC bar code 4716873921224.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1076: Deshome Black Eyed Beans Noodles Vegetable & Sesame Sauce
Another one with four kinds of noodles. Let’s delve into this one.
Stickers from the back of the package.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1075: Deshome Aloe Noodle With Basil Sauce
Today it’s back to the aloe noodles. Basil? Never has basil in noodles except for pho! Let’s check it out!
Meet The Manufacturer: #1074: Deshome Pollen Noodles Sesame Sauce & Soy Sauce
Today I’ll be reviewing pollen noodles. Pollen contains carbohydrates and protein. Sounds interesting – let check these unique noodles out!
Meet The Manufacturer: #1073: Deshome Black Eyed Bean Noodle Red Onion Sauce & Sesame Sauce
Today we have something really interesting here. I often hear and see people raving about how many seasoning packets come with a pack of noodles – heck, I usually find that to be of great enjoyment. This one’s a little different – there are four different types of noodles! Let’s have a look.
Meet The Manufacturer: #1072: Deshome Aloe Noodle With Spicy Soybean Sauce
So here’s the first of many reviews I’ll be doing of products from Deshome of Taiwan! These are very unique – naturally sun-dried as well as containing aloe! Definitely different! Let’s check ’em out!
Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Deshome
A box of samples from Deshome!
All sorts of different kinds of noodles and different flavors.
Meet The Manufacturer: Deshome Interview
Interview * Product Samples From Deshome * Deshome Aloe Noodle With Spicy Soybean Sauce * Deshome Black Eyed Bean Noodle Red Onion Sauce & Sesame Sauce * Deshome Pollen Noodles Sesame Sauce & Soy Sauce * Deshome Aloe Noodle With Basil Sauce * Deshome Black Eyed Beans Noodles Vegetable & Sesame Sauce * Deshome Aloe Noodle Red Onion & Sesame Sauce * Deshome Black Eyed Beans Noodle Spicy Soybean Sauce & Sesame Sauce * Deshome Aloe Noodle Vegetable Sauce * Deshome Black Eyed Beans Noodle Basil Sauce & Sesame Sauce * Deshome Aloe Noodle Sesame Sauce
The Ramen Rater Noodle News #29
Here we go with the 29th edition of The Ramen Rater Noodle News! I scour the Internet for articles about ramen and instant noodles and bring them to you! Here are some recent stories you might find interesting!
#1058: Meet The Manufacturer: A-Sha Dry Noodle Mandarin Noodle – Original Sauce
Here’s the last of the varieties that A-Sha sent. This has been a really interesting Meet The Manufacturer – I’ve immersed myself in Taiwan documentaries and listening to music from Taiwan and checking out the architecture. I really never knew anything to speak of about Taiwan, but I must say it looks like an amazing place! Today, I’ll try the original flavor – A-Sha told me it’s their most popular.
#1057: Meet The Manufacturer: A-Sha Dry Noodle Hakka Noodle – Spicy Sesame Oil Sauce
The A-Sha Meet The Manufacturer is winding down here is the next to last of the varieties I’ll be reviewing. Spicy and sesame – two words I like! Let’s check it out.
#1056: Meet The Manufacturer: A-Sha Dry Noodle Mandarin Noodle – Onion Oil Sauce
As most of you have probably noticed, I like onions. I usually pick sweet onion since it tends to smell up the freezer a bit less as I get a ton of them, prep them, then put them in a freezer bag. One time I got some at a grocery that were simply called brown onions, and they stunk up the entire fridge! Looking forward to this one by A-Sha – onion oil flavor!
#1055: Meet The Manufacturer: A-Sha Dry Noodle QQ Thin Noodle – BBQ Sauce
Today we’ve got the thinnest noodles I think I’ve seen in a pack. I was curious about the whole QQ thing so I looked it up and found this on Quora: