#4475: Samyang Rosé Buldak Stir-fried Noodles – South Korea

#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. ...see full post

#4471: Nissin U.F.O. Korean Hot Chicken Flavour – Singapore

#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! ...see full post

#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. ...see full post

#4468: Vite Ramen Beef Pho v3.0 – United States

#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! ...see full post

#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. ...see full post

#4466: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Creamy Chicken Flavor – United States

#4466: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Creamy Chicken Flavor - United States

Well, it’s time to revisit a variety that grazes through my mind from time to time. This is creamy chicken and the name delivers. Definitely has been my favorite Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup flavor in the past, but how is it going these days? It’s been since 2018 – so much has happened in the world since those salad days. Let’s give it another go. ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Japanese Instant Noodles Of All time 2023 Edition

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. ...see full post

#4459: Samyang Buldak Quattro Cheese Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen – United States

#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. ...see full post

Zenpop.jp Japanese Snack Box Taste Test May 2023

Zenpop.jp Japanese Snack Box Taste Test May 2023

It’s time to unbox a Zenpop.jp box – this is a new one. I usually do unboxing of their ramen boxes – which I will still be doing. However, they’re also sending me their new snack boxes which have a noodle variety, and then a ton of candy and snacks. What’s cool is I’ll be not only doing the unboxing, but inline with it will be a taste test with my daughter Mimi. Great as a gift or to hoard for yourself! Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

Zenpop Japanese Ramen Subscription Unboxing – May 2023

Zenpop Japanese Ramen Subscription Unboxing – May 2023

It’s time to unbox a Zenpop.jp box – you get seven varieties of instant noodles to try! I would say that almost every time I’ve gotten one of these, I’ve never tried any of them before which is really awesome. Great as a gift or to hoard for yourself! Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

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. ...see full post

#4450: Myojo Hiyashi Chuka Mazesoba – United states

#4001: Myojo Cold Ramen Soy Sauce Vinaigrette - 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? ...see full post

#4449: Myojo Ippei-Chan Yakisoba – United States

#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! ...see full post

Umai Crate Ramen Subscription Box – April 2023 + Coupon Code

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! ...see full post

#4448: Vite Ramen Vegan Sichuan Chili Edition v3.0 – United States

#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! ...see full post

Nissin Singapore Sends Limited Edition Creamy Tom Yam!

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! ...see full post

#4447: Nissin U.F.O. Osaka Takoyaki Flavour Yakisoba – 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). ...see full post

#4446: A-Sha BT21 Dan Dan Noodle Dream Team Scallion Sauce – United States

#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. ...see full post