Author: Hans "The Ramen Rater" Lienesch

#1856: Indomie Instant Cup Noodles Mi Goreng Fried Noodles

I reviewed the original version of this a long time ago and really liked it. This is a new version for export – has gotten quite a facelift since review #725! This was sent to me by Michael C. of Eastland Foods! Thank you!  Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1855: Daraz Negi Man Ramen

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No. It’s a superhero which is a leek. Leeks, negi and Welsh onion – they’re all the same thing. I got this one from my friend Shinichi – he’s working with Mr. Yamato of Yakantei, a purveyor of very unique instant noodles to bring the harder to find tastes of Japan to your door! Very excited to try these hard to find varieties! Thanks, Shinichi for bringing noodles over to my apartment! Everybody – go and check out Ramen Mania! ...see full post

A New Poster For The Wall Of Fame

A tube! What’s inside?

An autographed poster from the folks at MyKuali HK! This will go into the Wall of Fame soon as it’s laminated! Thanks! ...see full post

#1854: MAMA Chinese Kitchen Chinese Style Instant Noodles

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Here’s one from Myanmar. This looks unlike about everything I’ve ever seen by MAMA insofar as packaging goes. I notice I also have a Korean Kitchen one which also looks much different. Sounds interesting – let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1853: Bonasia Instant Noodles Shrimp Flavour

Here’s another one that was sent to me from Thailand by the Thai President Foods folks. This is made in Hungary. Let’s have a look! ...see full post

Box From Japan Sends A December Box!

I found out about Box From Japan on Reddit recently and sent the guy who runs the service an email. Javier sent me a sample box and I reviewed the included varieties and they were really great! He was nice enough to send me yet another one – last box had some seriously great stuff inside! Let’s look inside this one! ...see full post

#1852: Myojo Udon Japanese Style Pre-Cooked Noodles With Soup Hot & Spicy Flavor

My wife and I were at the grocery store the other day and she saw this series by Myojo. ‘Have you tried these yet?’ she asked. It’s funny – she finds lots of varieties for me that I never even notice – it’s pretty awesome! Since she’s a fan of udon, I thought I would make her some today. Let’s check ’em out! ...see full post

#1851: Fujiwara Snow Crab Flavor Shio Ramen

Here’s one sent to me by Casey P. in Hong Kong – thank you! It’s not common that I have crab varieties. I think the majority of them have come from Singapore, so this Japanese variety is a real treat! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1850: Nissin Raoh Ramen Noodle Soup Umami Miso Flavor

I got some new samples from Nissin USA a few weeks ago (thank you!) of some varieties from Japan that are now available in the USA. At this piont, you can only get them on Amazon. Not sure if that will change though. So Umami. This is something interesting – first, let’s have a look at what wikipedia has to say about umami – ...see full post

#1849: Pama Instant Rice Vermicelli Clear Soup Flavour

Turns out I had one left from my trip to Malaysia in October 2014! This one’s made by the same company that makes MAMA noodles – just for the Malaysian market. I’ve had chand clear soup varieties in the past but this one just says it’s clear soup. Let’s check out this rice vermicelli! ...see full post

#1848: MyKuali Penang Red Tom Yum Goong Noodle (New Version)

So the number one on my annual Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time list got some new clothes! Why do I like this one so much? Well, when I got to visit the island of Langkawi, Malaysia (which is a stone’s throw south of Thailand), I got to try all sorts of tasty foods. One was tom yum. I got to try it a couple of ways – check it out! ...see full post

#1847: Conimex Oriental Noodles Hot & Spicy

Here’s another one that was sent to me by James B. from The Netherlands – thanks!  These are from The Netherlands and made by Unilever. Let’s check ’em out! ...see full post

#1846: Nissin Chow Mein Premium Savory Sauce And Restaurant Quality Noodles Roast Chicken Flavor

Here’s a new one that you should be able to find pretty easily in the store if you’re in the United States. Nissin has been coming out with a few new varieties lately and this is one of them – let’s have a peek under the hood of this tray! ...see full post

#1845: MAMA Oriental Style Instant Noodles Shrimp Flavour

Here’s one of the last I have from Bangladesh! Got these send to me after my trip to Thailand to visit the folks who make MAMA noodles! Thanks again! Shrimp sounds good today – let’s check ’em out! ...see full post

#1844: Seven & I Gold Sumire Ramen

Here’s another one that was sent to me by Javier over at Box From Japan – thanks! Box From Japan is a subscription service – you can get a box sent to you every month with some great noodles within! Today it’s one from Seven-Eleven in Japan. Seven-Eleven does partnerships with different companies (this on is made by Nissin) and has varieties they make only available there. This is Sumire Ramen, a miso variety. Let’s take a look! ...see full post

Try This Fall Curry Recipe With Your Thanksgiving Leftovers!

I’ve been a huge fan of curry over the years. I’ve made all sorts of sauces and soups and this is one of my favorites – works great with leftover turkey and some easily found ingredients – check it out and if you try it, let me know what you think! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1843: Forest Noodles Sunbaked Noodle With Sesame Oil Sauce

Today, we bid a fond farewell to another Meet The Manufacturer. Forest Noodles products all have one thing in common – they’re all dried in the sun. They also highlight nature which is pretty great as well. Let’s have a look at the last in this series, their sesame oil sauce variety with sunbaked noodles. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1842: Forest Noodles Purple Sweet Potato Noodle With Taiwanese Sauce

I think one of my favorite things are noodles that have something differe – like these. Purple noodles are pretty fascinating – first off, they’re purple. I remember hearing about ‘Space Potatoes’ a while back – somehow crossing the stuff that makes eggplants purple with a potato. I think blue potatoes would be kind of neat, but how would they taste? Well, let’s see how these noodles taste! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1841: Forest Noodles Sunbaked Noodles With Spicy Sauce

Today, we’ve got a sunbaked noodle. Forest Noodles dried their noodles in the sun – which means no sun, no noodles. This variety is served cold – let’s check it out! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1840: Forest Noodles Sweet Potato Noodles With Sesame Paste Sauce

Today, we start with Forest Noodles’ sweet potato noodles. They’re sun-dried (no sun, no noodles). I think it would be neat to have a sun-dried noodle company here in the Seattle company, but it’s so cloudy around here that it probably wouldn’t work very well! Maybe in the summer months though… anyways, let’s see what we’ve got here! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Forest Noodles

A big box from Taiwan! What’s inside?

Nicely packed with bubble wrap!

A Forest Noodles brochure. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Forest Noodles

I was contacted a while back by a Taiwanese company I’d never heard of called Forest Noodles. I thought hey – I live near the forest! They had samples sent and I sent interview questions and so here we are! I interviewed MingYo, Founder of Forest Noodles – welcome to a new Meet The Manufacturer – on with the interview! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1839: Vit’s Taste Of Malaysia Penang White Curry Ramen

Today, we have the last review of the Meet The Manufacturer for Vit’s. It’s been fun – lots of strong flavors and flavors is Malaysia! Penang White Curry is one of my favorites – let’s try the first one I’ve ever seen with fresh noodles. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Vit’s Tom Yam Instant Noodles

Re-reviews are kind of a trip sometimes; they don’t get a number, but they get another try. Usually they end up getting the same score, but sometimes they do a little better or worse. I kind of doubt there’ll be any change – had this one for the first time 40 reviews ago at #1791. Let’s give it a look! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1838: Vit’s Taste Of Malaysia Penang Asam Laksa Fried Instant Noodle

So these new Taste of Malaysia varieties from Vit’s come in two ways: a fried instant noodle accompanying a paste or a fresh ramen pouch with a paste. It’s a very early morning here – we had to be up at 3am! In fact, my first taste of the day was this laksa at 5:42am! Let’s check out this new one from Vit’s! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Vit’s Mi Goreng Pedas Chewy & Springy

Mi Goreng Pedas translates to Spicy Fried Noodles. I brought some of this back after my visit to Penang, Malaysia last year. Mi goreng has long been a favorite of mine – a little sweet, a little spicy, a little salty, kind of like an Indonesian yakisoba – sounds good, right? Let’s give this one another try, about 140 reviews later. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1837: Vit’s Taste Of Malaysia Penang Hokkien Mee Ramen

Here’s another one of the new premium line from Vit’s. The package contains two individual servings (2 noodle pouches, 2 paste sachets). If you like sweet prawn flavor, Hokkien Mee is definitely up your alley! Let’s look inside. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1836: Vit’s Taste Of Malaysia Penang White Curry Fried Instant Noodle

Penang White Curry was a flavor that really piqued my interest in Malaysia back in 2013. I was accustomed to curry flavors, but this was something entirely different. Green, red, yellow – those were all familiar, but white? Nowadays, there are many, many varieties of Penang White Curry instant noodles on the market – let’s check out this new one from Vit’s! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1835: Vit’s Taste Of Malaysia Penang Asam Laksa Ramen

Here’s something fancy – asam laksa ramen! Vit’s has a ramen line which uses these pouches of fresh ramen noodles – haven’t seen this kind of thing before with Malaysian flavors. Here’s a little about what asam laksa is from wikipedia: ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Re-Review: Vit’s Curry Instant Noodles

One of the standard varieties most instant noodle companies produce is chicken. However when you move east towards Malaysia and Singapore, curry ends up as one that is exceedingly common. Curry is a flavor I have loved since my childhood – in fact I remember at a very young ago really enjoying my mother’s curried chicken liver over rice. There’s something seductive about curry that I can’t quite put my finger on, but perhaps that’s part of it’s charm. It kind of has an earthy and mystical property that just enthralls me. Let’s delve into this pack again, one I originally tried about a hundred reviews ago. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1834: Vit’s Taste Of Malaysia Penang Hokkien Mee Fried Instant Noodle

This is the first of a new premium line Vit’s is manufacturing called Taste Of Malaysia. I’ll say right now that I really like Hokkien Mee, but many might not know what it is. Here’s some good info from the Penang Hawker Food Blog: ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1833: Vit’s Instant Noodles With Chicken Flavour

To start things off, I thought I’d go back in time with this one. This is part of the Vit’s Classic line of products. Definitely has that ‘old school’ look to it, eh? Well, let’s have a look inside! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Vit’s Noodles

Got a box from Malaysia today!

I always look at the packing material – it was all paper from a tradeshow in Tahiland called ThaiFex, and from a Hong Kong show called HOFEX. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Vit’s Noodles

#1832: Yum Yum Instant Flat Shaped Noodles Boat Noodles Nam Tok Flavour

Here’s one of the last ones I got during my trip to Thailand to visit the nice folks that make MAMA noodles in May. It was really great over there – really hot, but wow – the 7-11 next to the hotel was a treasure trove as far as instant noodles I can’t source here are concerned! Let’s check this one out. ...see full post

#1831: Kuriki Plum Mayo Ramen

Okay so you might be wondering – plum mayo ramen – that couldn’t possibly mean… Yes – plum and mayonnaise flavor. Where did I get it? ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1830: Zeng Noodles Sichuan Pepper Flavor

Today, we finish off this trifecta by Zeng Noodles with a straight Sichuan Pepper variety.

Here’s the back of the package (click image to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add noodle block to 800ml boiling water and cook for 5 1/2 minutes. Drain. Add in contents of sachets. Stir and enjoy! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1829: Zeng Noodles Hu Sesame Flavor

I think when people here in the United States usually think of something sesame flavor, they think immediately of sesame oil. In Taiwan, sesame is something much different; sesame paste like tahini and peanut combine. The first time we found this out was when my wife got some noodles a few years ago that said sesame flavor and were like this – she’s not a fan of peanut butter, so it didn’t work out so well for her. Very curious about this one though – let’s check it out! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1828: Zeng Noodles Scallion With Sichuan Pepper Flavor

In the past year, I’ve tried quite a few varieties with Sichuan Pepper in them and really gotten a feel for this kind of flavor. In a way, Sichuan Pepper has almost a minty taste to it; it’s really quite different and unique. Let’s check it out! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Zeng Noodles

A big box from Taiwan!

Fist thing – an envelope!

Meet The Manufacturer interview answers! Thank you! ...see full post