The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
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!
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:
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
Thin noodles! Let’s have a look.
The back of the package (click image to enlarge).
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:
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:
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.
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!
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:
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!
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.
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
So we are at the end of the Deshome Meet The Manufacturer. Let’s have a look at their aloe noodles with 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.
Today it’s aloe noodles with vegetable sauce – no sesame sauce in this one! Let’s give it a try.
Here’s another flavor variant of the four-types noodle pack. Let’s check it out!
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.
Another one with four kinds of noodles. Let’s delve into this one.
Stickers from the back of the package.
Today it’s back to the aloe noodles. Basil? Never has basil in noodles except for pho! Let’s check it out!
Today I’ll be reviewing pollen noodles. Pollen contains carbohydrates and protein. Sounds interesting – let check these unique noodles out!
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.
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!
A box of samples from Deshome!
All sorts of different kinds of noodles and different flavors.
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
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.
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.
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!
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:
When I first opened the box of samples from A-Sha, I was immediately curious about this one. Big, blocky red type on a stark white background. I’ve been told this black pepper flavor is tradition of a dish served at ‘Night Markets’ in Taiwan. A steak with a black pepper sauce and an egg on the side – a very nostalgic Taiwanese classic (here’s what it looks like). Let’s have a look.
I was sitting in the car for a while yesterday and I turned on a streaming radio app I have on my phone. I searched for noodles and found a story about the popularity of cold sesame noodles in the ’60s there and a guy named Shorty Tang whose restaurant was quite popular. Anyways, here’s the radio broadcast.
Here’s the first of seven in-depth reviews of A-Sha products. Wow – they’re wide! They’re also drained and liquid is stirred in – hmmm! So first, what’s ‘hakka?’ Wikipedia had this to share:
Interview * Samples From A-sha Foods * A-Sha Dry Noodle Hakka Noodle – Chili Sauce * A-Sha Dry Noodle Tainan Noodle – Sesame Sauce * A-Sha No. 10 – Mandarin Noodle – Black Pepper Sauce * A-Sha Dry Noodle QQ Thin Noodle – BBQ Sauce * A-Sha Dry Noodle Mandarin Noodle – Onion Oil Sauce * A-Sha Dry Noodle Hakka Noodle – Spicy Sesame Oil Sauce * A-Sha Dry Noodle Mandarin Noodle – Original Sauce
In the last week, I’ve had a lot of traffic from upset Taiwanese that none of their country’s beloved instant noodles made the list. I saw videos like this one and then this angry one. I felt a video message would be appropriate, and here it is.
Here’s another one found in Canada on my birthday trip there. I’ve had Sichuan flavors before and not a big fan, but I’ve been pretty happy with Wei Lih’s products in the past – looks interesting! Let’s check it out.
