The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
I got an email from Michelle over at Homiah.com recently. She mentioned she started a company out of her apartment in New York – one to expose people here to the flavors and nuance of Southeast Asian cuisine. Well, she sent me a box of her products and it’s really amazing stuff – all 5 stars, all top notch. Check out what she sent as well as images of what I created which will appear in upcoming posts!
Lots of people enjoy bowls full of noodles from around the world. They often come with a utensil, and all you need it hot water. For a quick meal, they’re hard to beat insofar as convenience. Some bowls however go above and beyond a utilitarian sense and are truly gourmet. This list is comprised of my favorite bowl varieties from all reviews up to #4120. All scoring is done prior to garnish being added. Do you want me to review something I haven’t? Drop me a line! With that, let’s peruse my top picks on The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodle Bowls Of All Time 2022 Edition!
I’ve been taste-testing products for a long time, and every time I get something from Prima Taste, I’m pretty excited. I remember years back when I first tried their products I was just blown away and have been so ever since! Let’s crack open this box and see what is within this time!
This is a special one I’m posting today – it’s the subject of a short film I’m doing as I type this about how I review! I want to thank a fellow instant noodle enthusiast named Andres who was kind enough to donate this to me yesterday – he’s a local who has visited a lot of places in search of instant noodle varieties! This one was found up in Canada.
Well it’s that awesome time of year again! February 1st will bring in the year of the Tiger! Prima Taste sends me some tasty treats every year – you might know them from their awesome Laksa and Curry La Mian varieties. But did you know they make a lot more than noodles? Prima Group is a big flour mill and makes anything you can make with flour as far as I can tell – noodles, bread, deli treats, etc. Let’s check out these treats and Happy CNY!
Here’s one the folks sent all the way from Singapore for me – thanks! This one isn’t available in the United States. I’ve tried it before, but they included a special sachet of powder to give it more oomph. Let’s give it a try!
After winning the 2021 Top Ten Instant Noodles for the SIXTH TIME IN A ROW, Prima Taste sent some new stuff to try out! Let’s take a look at see what’s going on inside this box!
Every year or so, Prima Taste sneds over some samples. This is nice – especially since they’re so good. These have been at the top of my top ten for years now – it’s because they’re freaking wonderful noodles. Check it out!
I had this one a while back but the packaging was a little different, so this one gets a new review. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the laksa and ton yum kung flavor profiles coming from Sau Tao – so much that they’ve been on the Top Ten for 2 years now. What’s more is they pair them with a myriad of noodle varieties. Let’s do up some laksa!
There are so many varieties these folks make and I’m glad because this has been one of the most varied Meet The Manufacturer series yet. This is a flavor however I could revisit with a different noodle pairing repeatedly with enjoyment, as well as their Tom Yum Kung. Laksa is a tasty thing! Let’s make this one and see how this pairing goes as we march towards review 4000.
Hey this sounds neat – but what are Trolley Noodles anyways? All I can surmise after doing some research is that Trolley Noodles are akin to cart noodles. Basically, hawker style. Let’s open this laksa flavor variety up and take a look!
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Despite all the tumultuous and unnerving events of our current age,, I am happy to announce that I’ve got a new list for our year, 2020. In the past fe hundred reviews I’ve done this past year there have been some real standouts and of course many have remained. These are my absolute favorites of reviews 1 through 3487. It’s hard – I feel like I should be doing a top 20, or even a top 50 at this point, but the sheer amount of time that would take with being a stay at home father of two while trying to get in a few hours of exercise every day just isn’t in the cards. I’m hoping in the coming months to come out with the regular top tens and maybe some new ones, but it’s a tough juggle these days.
Prima Taste has made some really top notch products. I should say, the top notchiest products since their Wholegrain Singapore LAksa La Mian has topped my annual Top Ten Instant Noodle Of All Time lists for the past 4 years. I got a package I wasn’t expecting from them yesterday – and we opened it!
I’m truly stoked on this one – another one found again at that Smart N Save up in Richmond, BC Canada. This is one I decided not to get last time I was in Taiwan that I saw at Carrefour because, well, it was such a big package and I had limited space. What’s great is that they’ve got quite a few varieties up there so I’ll be trying more – and they’re cheap!
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 – ‘Laksa, a spicy noodle soup dish of Singapore, joins Zenpop Ramen this month to try and win the Zenpop Ramen Cup. The creamy coconut flavor is spiced up with chili and coriander. How do you like this iconic Asian taste?’
This is my list of my all time favorites (compiled up to review #3132). These are the best and most memorable varieties – some you’ll be able to find easily, some you won’t. In the images you see, you’ll see garnished bowls of noodles. Note – reviewing is done BEFORE products have anything externally added by myself, and I follow directions on the package – for better or for worse. I should also note that going forward, the official last day for companies to submit varieties to be considered for the annual top ten will be January 31st. That’s enough – let’s have a look at The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2019 Edition!
I mentioned a second box from an Unboxing Time video I posted yesterday. Well, here it is! They’re updated the recipe for their Prawn Soup variety yet again and it’s supposed to be really great stuff. Let’s see what’s inside.
Bringing us to the midpoint of this special Meet The Manufacturer series is some Singapore Laksa. Here’s some info about it from Wikipedia –
Well here’s something new to me – Thai laksa. I’ve had Singapore and Malaysian laksa befroe, but never Thai. Here’s a bit about laksa from Wikipedia –
Here’s another one I got up at the new T&T Supermarket up in Richmond BC that’s at Lansdowne Centre. Or is it Lansdowne Mall? Either way, it’s a big T&T inside what used to be a Target store. Oh – and sad parents can rejoice – TOYS R US IS STILL IN CANADA. Also, if you go to the Walmart in Richmond, you will often see Teslas, Ferraris and the odd Buigatti. It’s like a mirror universe. Let’s check this one out!
I saw some promotional events that Prima Taste was running and some of the neat stuff they did with giveaways and what the folks who were giving out samples were wearing. I asked if I could possible have some swung my way and they obliged! Thank you! Let’s open this boxc up and see what’s within!
Got this one at the Jason’s Market at the foot of the Taipei 101. Asam laksa – possibly a new taste for you. Here’s something from Wikipedia –
When it comes to my favorites and the annual The Ramen Rster’s top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time list, I like to take nothing for granted. This one has been number one for the past two years and I’m guess it will be so again this year – but I have to try it first just to make sure. Did they change the recipe? Has my taste changed? It gets a little tougher every year with this list as every year there’s about 400 new varieties I’ve been sampling. Anyways, here we go – let give it another try and see how it stacks up!
Got this package the other day – and I didn’t expect it. Well, I WAS expecting it, however both I and Prima Taste thought that it probably had been seized by customs. The tracking was going great then it hit Oakland, California and then Import Delay. It stuck that way for over a week – and then started moving again! What’s more, they never opened the package. Let’s have a look inside!
Yet another leftover from the KOKA Meet The Manufacturer series. I’ve still got a bunch more! Wow! So this one should be really great – I love KOKA’s Laksa Singapura every time I try a different version. They make it in quite a few – rice, wheat, fried, non-fried. Let’s crack into this bowl and see what’s within.
Here’s one I found at PriceSmart Foods up in Richmond, BC in July 2017. They had a ton of these and they sounded interesting. These are from Hong Kong – not a place I would think of when it comes to laksa. Here’s a little about laksa from Wikipedia –
Ahh, Laksa – nothing like it. In fact, there are lots of kinds of laksa; sweet, creamy, curry, fish – every area has their own take on the dish. Let’s see what Wikipedia has to say about laksa –
Laksa noodles paired with a curry broth – I can’t really think of anything so well matched. Although I usually think of Laksa a little further south of Thailand in places like Malaysia and Singapore, all the flavors from that area of Southeast Asia play very well together. Let’s give it a try!
Here is a new Cup Noodles variety from Nissin Hong Kong – Laksa! It’s interesting how a lot of flavors of Malaysia and Singapore are making their way further east lately. Many different Laksa varieties exist, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one from Hong Kong before. Here’s a little from Wikipedia about Laksa –
Now for the third year, I’m coming out with the latest Top Ten Instant Rice Noodles list. Rice noodles have some benefits as opposed to their fried wheat counterparts. First, they’re virtually fat-free. Also, they’re not fried. Rice noodles are gluten-free by nature, although the ingredients in the sachets that come with these varieties might not be. People ask me for a gluten-free list often, but that would be rather difficult as I’d have to pore over every ingredient list on every review to do this. Well, let’s have a look at these great rice noodle varieties – the best instant rice noodles varieties of the almost 2,500 reviews to date!
Well folks it’s that time again. This one’s a big deal – the list that people from around the world have been waiting for every year. Since the last list came out, I’ve reviewed over 400 varieties of instant noodles – a new record in one year for me. So many good ones this year! These are my absolute favorites of the over 2,400 reviews of instant noodles I’ve posted to date. There are some big announcements at the end of the video, so make sure to check them out! As always, I invite instant noodle makers to contact me so I can try your noodles! Now without further ado, The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2017 Edition!
Got a big package today! In fact, two packages wrapped together! Let’s take a look!
In the smaller of the two packages (click to enlarge), instant noodle varieties!
Got this neat dual box package in the mail the other day! What’s inside? Let’s see…
I like to collect posters and advertising stuff dealing with instant noodles and really wanted one of the new CarJEN posters featuring their new Hot Curry – so they were kind enough to send some! Thanks! Let’s check them out among the other neat stuff they sent!
Penang. It’s a place I really miss, specifically because friends and flavors live there. some of the most amazing things that I’ve ever tasted are from Malaysia and specifically Penang. I decided to save this for last as I wanted to see how everything else was before I tried something that promises to be good. Today we say hello to this exotic variety and goodbye to the Meet The Manufacturer for Mr. Lee’s Noodles. Here we go!
So this is definitely a first – I don’t think I’ve ever heard of laksa from Taiwan! It sounds good – I mean hey, I make laksa here in the United States quite often but I’m sure my neighbors haven’t a clue what they’re smelling ‘must be some off kind of Hamburger Helper’ probably going through their minds. But laksa is a seriously tasty thing and I’m keen on seeing what Tseng has come up with for us. Let’s have a look!
Today started well, then got a little crazy then got better – I started at 5am with reviewing some noodles. Then the power went out around 7am for over two hours! A bit later, the mailman knocked on the door with a big package of Taiwanese noodles! Tseng was in The Ramen Rater’s top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 list this year – and they have some new products! Let check them out!
Here’s one left over from the Nissin Japan Meet The Manufacturer! Seems like I just did it but that was about 100 reviews ago. time flies! Anyways, this is one of their international flavors varieties – Laksa! Laksa is a popular flavor of Cup Noodles in Singapore, but this one if made in Japan. Let’s check it out!
Got this one sent to me by the folks at Nissin Singapore – thanks! I got it right as I started the last Meet The Manufacturer and so I’ve been waiting patiently to give it a try. Laksa is one of my favorite things – very curious to see what we have here. With that, let’s open the bag and take a look and a taste!
Looks like I’ll be doing some interview here in the USA soon! Those are always a lot of fun. I asked Prima Taste over in Singapore if they could send some samples along of the products they have that are in the Top Ten this year – and they did!
