
Well, I had the pack version the other day and it was fantastic. I’m really looking forward to this one too – curious how the noodle will hydrate in this one. Let’s find out!
Over 5,000 Instant Ramen Noodle Reviews Since 2002

Well, I had the pack version the other day and it was fantastic. I’m really looking forward to this one too – curious how the noodle will hydrate in this one. Let’s find out!

Here’s a special new variety from Mamee Chef – RENDANG!!! Rendang is kind of a dry savory beef – very seasoned and very wonderful. This is a dry noodle – let’s check it out – I’m truly enthused!

Another one found at Asian Family Market on 130th & Aurora . I’ve had Lan Zhou noodles before – and a few Shoo Loong Kan varieties (those were good). During my research on this variety, I’m bombarded by images of lovely beef and coriander aplenty, in really great bowls I wish I had. It makes me really want to go to China; definitely want to try Lan Zhou, the food of Henan, the food of Chongqing… Pretty much every province has their delicacies. Someday I hope. But today, I have this interesting box with a taste of China in it. Let’s give it a try.

The other day I did the competitor’s tray noodle – that was teriyaki beef as well. Been years and years since I’d reviewed either of them. They’re both economy tray varieties and they both dwell on the soup aisle. Let’s give this one a try.

Eventually, I’ll get through everything I want to do for the Maruchan Meet The Manufacturer series – there’s a lot of them to go through and then unite all together. I’m cobbling everything together slowly. I got this one at the Kenmore, Washington Safeway store – your standard American domestic grocery store. In these stores, there are two areas you will commonly find instant noodles. There’s the soup aisle, and the ethnic foods aisle. These are in the soup aisle. They’ve got a few varieties of trays – some Maruchan, and some by a competitor . I think I’ll have to see what other Maruchan ones they’ve got, but thought this might be a good one for the trays. Let’s check it out!

Happy Meat Day! Well, I don’t know if there’s a meat day but there probably is. This is one that came from Brazil and from a reader named Cian – thanks, man! I’ve never tried one from this brand so this should be interesting – let’s give it try.

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.

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!

Big thank you to Cian for sending this along! So, this should be you basic beef instant from Brazil. I have found the stuff from Brazil to be really great – let’s check this one out.

Time for pho. I tried the chicken and remember I wasn’t too impressed, but beef is what pho is all about and it does mention this has received an award so I’ve got high hopes. Let’s give it a try!

Today, I’m trying the third of three different varieties from Homiah, a company started out of an apartment in New York to share the flavors of Southeast Asia. I’ve been seriously impressed – great stuff so far and highly recommend it! Let’s check out the rendang!

Here’s an interesting one from Japan found in a Zenpop box – check out zenpop.jp and use the coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount!

Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!

Here’s the second of the two King David varieties – the first was really good – I must admit I’m surprised how good it was. Let’s see how the beef stands up.

Here’s the second of these varieties I found recently. I reviewed the beef a couple days ago. Anyways, beef is the more predominate way to enjoy pho. Let’s give this one a try.

Well, once again, it’s pizza time. Time for a pizza party. If you like ramen and pizza, this is the place for you as the two worlds collide in this special post. So, why ramen infused pizza? Why the heck not? Anyone can make pizza, and the pizzas I’ve seen involving ramen in the past have sounded more like silly things rather than something intended to be delightful and somewhat gourmet-ish. Today dear friends, I rescue you from marinara atop uncooked noodle bricks! Today I bring you the Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Pizza Party!

Another one from S-Mart (shop smart, shop S-Mart). They had quite a few of these and we bought all of the varieties they had. Let’s check it out – by the was I went to Huaxi Night Market in Taipei. Just sayin’.

Yes, I can hear it again ‘wot?! You’ve not had this before?’ Well, yeah but it was back on December 11th of 2011. Pretty crazy, eh? It was review #600. Back then the packaging was different. Let’s give it a try over a decade later – now with a new recipe and new clothes.

I’m hopeful for this one, although my recent sampling of the chicken flavor variety didn’t go so well. Fingers crossed.

My old sometimes on the show guest Stumpy from North Little Rock, Arkansas has provided some humorous quips in the past. One he often mentions are meaty beefs, cheesy beefs, bell-beefin’, and more. These odd phrases have spilled out a bit; I often say ‘I’m the beef and you’re the cheese’ to my 6 yr old son, and then he says it back – we eventually give up on who is the beef and who is the cheese.

Pretty sure this is one either sent by Nissin Foods or by James from Lakeside, California – thank you! So… these rice with noodles are really interesting – and rather good from what I’ve tried thus far. Let’s cook it up and give it a try!

From the folks that brought you the unique goose oil dry noodles, we now have a braised beef variety. This looks really quite fancy – definitely a super premium range. It’s joined also in this range by a Duck Blood Mung Bean Noodle variant which also sounds good – let’s give this one a try from Kung Fu Noodles, a newcomer to the Taiwanese Top Ten.

I think I recently did another version of this a little while back – that’s usually means it’s been months. Anyways, pretty crazy here now what with Omicron – so I’ve gotten two emails from the kiddos school district saying be prepared if things get worse they’ll be back home with their school tablets again. That would be incredibly unfortunate; they get so much out of socializing. Then again I don’t want my kids getting sick. My son’s fully vaccinated and my daughter got her first one a day after her 5th birthday just before Christmas.

I thought I would do three reviews in a row from China. Why? Well, it’s January 3rd here and I just got done with the arduous Christmas and New Year’s happenings and I want to show off my new musical instrument. You can watch the video below and on the next two reviews. Be kind – never played a bowed instrument before in my life and never a traditional Chinese instrument.

For a long time now, I’ve thought something that would be really quite amazing would be if instant noodles in the US would take a cue from the outside world. That cue is the retort pouch. Retort pouches are basically like flexible soup cans; metallic pouches that can hold meats and vegetables, sauces and more to give a noodle dish a serious boost while retaining shelf stability. I’m really curious about these – I reached out to the company to find out about samples and that worked out well as I’ve got some to try. There are two versions – a beef and a chicken. Let’s start with this beef one and in a couple reviews, the chicken.

Pumpkin seed noodles – it just fascinated me, especially since I’ve been doing weird things with bread. Now I want a noodle machine to load with all sorts of interesting things… Very curious how this oe will turn out. Last time, they were on the extremely chewy side and so we will see. Let’s give these low carb noodles a try!

Here’s the second of the Artisan branded varieties I’ve come across recently. Neat flower pot style big cups with a ton of sachets within. I think I found this at Asian Family Market on 130th Aurora in Shoreline. Let’s check it out.

September 8th, 2010. That was the last time I tried this one – it was review #132. I’ve been reviewing instant noodles since then – it’s kind of crazy. I mean, over 11 years ago and almost 4000 reviews later, I’m still into reviewing instant noodles. Let’s revisit these – it’s not a re-review since in that amount of time, a lot of things can happen. For one thing, the packaging has changed. Another thing is that the same ingredients from suppliers may have changed. After 11 years, a lot changed in a product’s lifecycle. Let’s check this one out.

Well, today it’s the second of the two Little Q varieties they sent. The non-spicy was absolutely wonderful stuff – curious how this one will be. The sheer amount of beef in the first one was really amazing – and it was really succulent. How spicy will it be? Let’s find out!

Look at that cow licking it’s lips – cannibal! Well, probably not but hey! These are made in Taiwan for the Hong Kong market and I’m really curious about them so… Let’s give ’em a go!

Well, didn’t I just hit one of those big numbers a few weeks ago? Well, much earlier than I hit my 4000th review, the video at the bottom of this one got published. See, my episodes of Instant Noodle Recipe Time come out sooner that the posts they’re for. It’s nice having things staggered a bit to be honest. Well, the epiosde at the bottom of this review is my 1200th episode of Instant Noodle Recipe Time! A couple interesting things about this episode are the fact that I’m sure the kitchen will be incredibly hot – tomorrow (I get the posts ready for the review the night before) is probably going to be the last ultra hot day of the summer (if we’re lucky. Today it got up to 93F here if not hotter. It’s also kind of humid. We also have a lot of smoke from forest fires. So, I’ll be slaving away in a hot kitchen tomorrow – I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you for watching the show.

Here’s one from Germany! These cups are pretty cool and this is the very last of them. Let’s see how this ‘Asian Blast’ fares…

Here’s one that came via Exotic Noods – check ’em out and use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount!

Yup – another Chinese flower pot. I like these so much – they’re interesting things. Lots of sachets and bits and pieces to taste. Let’s check it out!

Well my friends, this is it. This is the last of the Aces/Huy Fong Sriracha Ramen Noodle Soup varieties. The first two were good; especially the chicken – that was dare I say yummy. Now we only have a short time left, and it’s with beef. Let’s savor it. Here we go…

I got a big FedEx box yesterday with these and another variety from Vida Food Group and couldn’t wait to give them a try. This one is Menudo – let’s ask Wikipedia about it –

The last boxed variety I tried from Mom’s Dry Noodle was an absolute knockout. It was by far the finest chicken instant I’ve had bar none in all the years of my reviewing. Now, we’ve got a beed variety and I’ve very curious as to how this is going to be. You’re not going to find this one in the states – maybe eBay or eBay.ca might work. This one contains beef and I’m guessing a good amount of it! Alright – let’s get down to giving this a try.

Here’s I think the last one from James of Lakeside, CA. Thanks again! Pho sounds nice – we shall see! Let’s check it out.

Here’s one of the Panda Signature cups sent in by a reader from Montana. Some people have disliked Panda Signature completely; I would say I like some more than others. I figure everything’s worth a shot – and this one is no different. Let’s check it out.

I got contacted a couple weeks ago about receiving some samples from Hong Kong. An interesting new beef noodle made in Taiwan for the Hong Kong market. Well, they arrived today and very excited to give them a try. Let’s check out what’s inside the package!