Over 5,000 Instant Ramen Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Here’s another from my friend in Jakarta, Indonesia – thanks! I’ve got high hopes for this one. Why? Well, the Spicy Chicken version placed on my Top Ten Instant Noodle Cups of 2013. Also, Indomie’s Rendang placed in the Top Ten Instant Noodles of 2013 list. I guess we’ll see how this does! Let’s check it out!
Another one that was sent from Indonesia – thank you! Soto varieties usually have a broth with them, rather than mi goreng which are dry. Cabe means chilli and hijau means green; so green chilli flavor noodle soup. Let’s check it out!
Here’s another from my friend in Indonesia – thank you! When I translate ‘seribu,’ it says ‘thousand.’ This may be a reference to the Thousand Islands – here’s a Wikipedia excerpt:
Another one sent by my friend in Indonesia – thank you! A little translation. So it’s onion chicken flavor – rasa means flavor, bawang is onion and ayam chicken. Mi instan is instant noodle, but rebus? Rebus translated to boiled and here I think refers to the noodles being ‘cooking noodles.’ As I’ve mentioned in the past, what makes a noodle ‘instant’ is the fact that you can put the noodle block and seasonings in a bowl, add boiling water and then cover for a few minutes, stir and eat. Anyways, let’s check out this Indonesian variant.
Here’s something new – green barley noodles. I’ve had noodles that were green from a myriad of ingredients before (wonder if someday there’ll be blue?). These are supposed to be for the health conscious. Let’s check ’em out!
Here’s another one my friend from Indonesia sent me – thanks! This is a departure from the norm for me – very rarely have I had Indonesian varieties of rice noodles. I think I’ve had them maybe thrice before. This one’s by the Indofoods people – makers of Indomie Mi Goreng. Let’s see how it translates to a rice noodle variety!
Here’s one that was sent to me by a reader in Jakarta, Indonesia – thank you! Spicy green chilli soup – green chilli seems to be gaining popularity in Indonesia. Let’s check it out!
Found this the other day and hadn’t ever seen it before. Then I looked closer and saw it was Rasa Soto Mie. Now, I’ve reviewed the export version of Soto Mie before, but there’s a difference: this one’s beef and the other was chicken. Interesting! Always nice to see a new Indonesian variety available in the states! Let’s check this one out.
This year, we’ve got some new fiery additions to this list of spicy and burning hot varieties. If you can find them, you’ll be feeling quite the burn! If you think you’ve found anything hotter or noteworthy of being on this list, please comment below or send me an email. Without further adieu, here’s the 2013 picks for the spiciest instant noodles I’ve found after 1,128 reviews!
In the last day, lots of people have been coming to The Ramen Rater from Indonesia! One person who commented via the facebook page said”you should try this one fried noddle, it has black pepper flavour. will not disappoint you :)” (for those wondering, this is friend black pepper chicken flavor noodles). I looked through the box of varieties my friend in Jakarta sent me and lo and behold, I had it in there! Thank you very much! Let’s check this one out!
I noticed lots of visitors to the website tonight from Indonesia – it looks like they’re happy that thje Indomie cup was the #1 on the Top Ten Instant Noodle Cups Of All Time 2013 Edition! Well, I’ve been asked if I’ve reviewed more Indomie varieties, and so here is a link to an interview I did with Indomie CBP and lots of links to local varieties – enjoy!
Another Indonesia variety sent by a kind person in Jakarta! Thanks! This is called ‘gulai’ – something I’ve never heard of. I consulted Wikipedia and found this:
Here’s another from my Indonesian friend – thanks! Another new brand! Let’s check it out.
You’re probably wondering what the deal is here. Well, I’ll tell you! These were sent along with a slew of other Indonesian (yep – it’s from Indonesia!) instant noodles. These are made by Indofood, the same company that makes Indomie! They only take 4 minutes to make, and I think they’re unique enough that I’d review them. Thank you to my friend from Indonesia for sending me noodles I could never lay my hands on here! Let’s check ’em out!
Hey – a box!
Ooh – Indomie!!!
A rad bowl! Indomie just had their 40th anniversary!
Here’s another one a fan shipped me from Indonesia. Never tried this variety before – very few Indonesian cups that I’ve tried. Let’s check it out!
Here’s another Indonesian variety from the big donation I was sent recently – thank you! Tropicana Slim – sounds like a character from an old mobster movie or something involving orange juice? I assure it’s neither – they’re low fat noodles from Indonesia! Let’s check these out!
Well folks, this has been a long time coming. Indofood tried sending some, but it got snagged in customs around Christmas 2012, and then a reader from Indonesia sent a big pack of varieties and this was in the package – which we both thought wouldn’t make it, but it arrived via seamail after a sixty-six day journey. This is going to be a neat review – it’s supposed to be ultra hot and spicy! Not only that, it’s supposed to be green! Their press release says it “draws inspirations from the traditional food of Padang that has been a popular delicacy among Indonesians.” Let’s check it out!
I got an email in April saying a package was on its way from a fan of The Ramen Rater in Indonesia – in late March! Today when I checked the mail, there was a note saying a package was in the office. So my son and I walked up to the office and here’s the package! After sixty-six days of travel via Seamail, it is here!The sender wishes to remain unnamed, so I will just say thank you very much! So the outside of the box was covered in a woven plastic covering.
My son went and picked out a bunch of instant noodles at the Asian grocery a couple weeks ago and today he would like to try this one. A good pick – nothing’s more interesting than curry! I put curry up there with garlic, bacon and kimchi… Indescribably tasty.
Of the re-reviews I’ve done recently, I would say this is one of the most recent. Here’s the link for it’s first review, #858. Cakalang is also known as Skipjack tuna.
This is one that ended up at second place on the Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time – that means its really hot! There are these tiny little peppers (chilli paddi) that are real scorchers and they’re small enough that when you happen to find one, you get quite a jolt! I reviewed this a while back this year – #732 and during the Meet The Manufacturer: Indomie special. This is one of the packs sent directly from Indofood in Indonesia – I am told they will be sending some new samples very soon! Can’t wait to try them!
I’m going to go out on a limb here. I would say that if I were held down and demanded to answer the question “what is your favorite instant noodle of all time” that I would probably say it was this one. I would also say the Special Fried Curly Noodle that tops the Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time list; they’re both equally amazing and awesome. What I can’t believe is that I haven’t had it since review #51! That’s ANCIENT! I used to eat this one all the time.
Someone asked quite a while back if I would re-review this one, so I thought I’d do that today. Pedas means spicy in the Indonesian language.
Here’s what I had for lunch today (click to enlarge) – not a new review or anything, but thought it was interesting how many international flavors came together on this one. First, FMF Chow Noodles Masala Flavor from Fiji. Added kimchi, a Korean dish, some Urashima Sesame & Salt furikake from Japan, Dua Belibis chili sauce from Indonesia, some ham, stirfry veggies and sweet onion, and a 2 egg omelet with 2 slices of processed cheese and some Tabasco Jalapeno hot sauce – which I presume is all from the United States but might not be. Was pretty good – quite an interesting combo!
This is the final one – the last one that my friend from Jakarta, Indonesia sent. These have been a lot of fun since there’s no way you can buy them here in the states! Awesome! Thanks again! So what does bawang mean? Onion. And what about kriuuk? Crunchy. Let’s try this out.
Here’s the next to last of the packs that my friend from Jakarta, Indonesia sent. Hate to see them running out – so good! This one’s onion chicken flavor. Let’s check it out!
Here’s one of the last couple from my friend in Jakarta, Indonesia – thanks again – mailed off your sticker yesterday! Mi Goreng – always a tasty treat! Today, I’m doing things a little differently. Not only am I reviewing these noodles but…
Here’s one of the last couple packs that my friend from Jakarta, Indonesia sent. ABC is well known for their sweet soy sauce. This looks really interesting though – spicy and tomato! Let’s try it.
Here’s one of the last couple of packs sent by my friend from Jakarta, Indonesia. Thanks again – these have been a real treat to review! This one’s one of SuperMi’s well-know fusions. Goreng and Ayam Bawang; a sdry noodle with a flavor of a soup noodle! Pretty cool. Ready to eat!
This one was sent by a friend in Jakarta, Indonesia – thank you! What a day – so around 11am, people started flooding into the site! LifeHacker ran a story about The Ramen Rater and literally thousand of people have checked out the blog. Well, here’s one from Indonesia – Soto Koya Pedass. Pedas means spicy, so I guess Pedass means really spicy or it could be a nod to Turturro in The Big Lebowski. I have a feeling it just means really spicy. I’ve seen this kind of thing before – extra letters = extra emphasis, at least in Indonesian. Well, let’s dig in to this one!
Here’s another one that from my friend in Jakarta, Indonesia was kind enough to send – thanks again! So curly noodles with onion chicken flavor – sounds tasty!
This is a real treat – this is one of the varieties not available in the United States and was kindly sent by Edwin N. of Vancouver, BC! Thank you again so much! So what is Coto Makassar anyways? Well, here’s something I found here:
Here’s something special! This is the version of the special fried curly noodles that they get in Indonesia! What’s funny is that it looks like the date on the front is today! The special fried curly noodles we get here in the US from Indomie tops my Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time list. Let’s give these a try.
Haven’t had an Indomie in a while! This one’s Cakalang. Cakalang is also known as Skipjack tuna. Been looking forward to this.
Here’s another one sent to me by my friend in Jakarta, Indonesia – thank you again! So ‘rasa kari ayam?’ Chicken curry flavor! Sounds awesome – let’s hit it.
Here’s another one from my friend in Jakarta, Indonesia – thanks again! This is another Indonesian noodle soup – not a dry noodle. Let’s give it a try! By the way – ‘Baru’ means new.
Here’s another great one sent to me by my friend in Jakarta, Indonesia – thanks again! This is some really neat stuff – like Mi Goreng on steroids! Pedas means spicy! Extreme! Check it out.
Here’s another that was sent by my friend in Jakarta, Indonesia – thanks again! Next week, I’m starting up a new Meet The Manufacturer spotlight and so I thought I’d have something very different from what I’ll be sampling. Let’s give it a try!
* UPDATE * See here.
A couple of days ago, I received an email from a man who was angry. He was angry that the instant noodles he bought said that they were spicy Chicken flavor but weren’t spicy whatsoever and that I needed to change the seasonings ASAP. Every once in a while, I get a comment or email from someone who thinks that I make instant noodles or am affiliated with an instant noodle company. I decided to reply and do a review of the product he had problems with, adding some hot spices, sauces and peppers from around the world to really heat it up. It then occurred to me that a lot of people really like spicy instant noodles and that there’s really no list of the hottest ones out there. I figured I’d better do something about that, and so here’s the Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time!
