Over 5,000 Instant Ramen Noodle Reviews Since 2002
This one gets the USA tag since it is made in Japan but only for sale over here in this packaging. This comes by way of James from LAkeside, CA – thanks! So the charumera is the horn the little guy on the pack is holding up. The ramen guy would come to the neighborhood and toot that thing (kind of like the ice cream man playing Camptown Races) and you’d know to go get your noodles. Let’s check it out!
I know, I know. It’s not ramen. No. I know that it’s not ramen. But these things are a trip -here in the United States, it sure seems like Cheetos and ramen kind of have a weird relationship – just look at Instagram. Also seems like adding hot dogs and enjoying with a malt liquor is popular for some too.
Okay so you might not know it, but I’ve tried quite a few varieties of river snail flavor instant noodles. Usually they have river snail powder in them – I didn’t see that here but it could possibly have it. There’s just a huge amount of sachets going on here. Let’s check it out!
This is the second of the Panda Signature variety cup style noodles I’ll be trying today. I must say, the video where I unboxed a ton of varieties a reader in Montana sent me has done really well. Sadly, it’s not because people are excited about the products. They’ve been much maligned by folks who were sad to see their former favorite get replaced by this brand. One thing people have brought up too is the country of origin on these. You see, on the single packs, the closest thing I could find to a country of origin was from the HALAL seal being from Malaysia. People kept saying that they said ‘product of PRC.’ PRC is People’s Republic Of China. Well, this cup says that, so I have visual confirmation that these are manufactured in China. To me, this isn’t a big deal; a LOT of instant noodles are manufactured in China. However, many are incensed by this insofar that the product it replaced was made in the United States. I’m sure some other reasons have led to their anger about this, which I’m not sympathetic to. But I can see their point on the made in the USA viewpoint. More importantly, they’ve been extremely critical of the flavor of these products being different, and have been downright disgusted by them. I won’t say any have been favorites of mine, but I haven’t found them as a range to be incredibly bad or worth of my bottom ten list. This being said, I have heard that 12 packs of the noodles around around $2 – which is pretty inexpensive. I wouldn’t expect filet mignon at under twenty cents per portion,. Anyways, I was able to contact the company that produces these and they’ve mentioned that they are going to be producing a reformulated version (aka a new recipe). So, I’ll of course try them when they debut and hopefully be able to do an interview with them when that time comes. If you’re wondering that since they’re made in China why the title up top says United States, this product isn’t for sale like this in China and specifically made for Walmart stores here. Let’s check out this one out – sounds tasty enough from the name.
Okay so the pack version of this budae jjigae is just all around wonderful. Time for the bowl. Big thanks to Dennis over at Nongshim for shooting this over! Let’s give it a try.
Today, we have one that was part of Japan Crate’s Umai Crate. So Japan Crate is a subscription service which has all sorts of different options for you. pretty neat stuff from Japan! There’s a coupon code for you too – just use THERAMENRATER to get a special discount at check out.
Just when I thought I’d tried them all, they come out with a couple more and this is one of them. These are the quintessential ‘flower pot’ noodles – tons of sachets, vermicelli, and a fork. Let’s crack it open and give it a try!
Here’s one from a zenpop.jp box! You can get these every month with some neat varieties like this one inside! Use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount!
The four fingered hand with a face brings you what you never knew you needed – a microwavable cup of mac and cheese with pizza flavor.
Here’s the last of the recent set of varieties sent by Mom’s Dry Noodle – thanks! Always enjoy trying new stuff from Taiwan. This one is made for a chain called PX Mart. Let’s check it out!
I’m pretty thrilled – this is the second variety I’ve got from Serbia – and I found it semi-locally in the next town over! Pretty rad. Well, let’s give it a try!
This one came by way of Exotic Noods! Check ’em out and use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a nice discount! While made in South Korea, this one’s made for North America and distributed by Ottogi’s American arm. Sounds like fun – let’s give it a go!
Okay so I don’t want to hear a ton of complaints about the flavor of this one. Anyway, all of these have been really quite good! Guessing this will have a good kick to it – let’s give it a try!
Here’s one that came in a box from Exotic Noods – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount!
Here’s one sent by James from Lakeside, CA – thanks again! So yuzu is a kind of Japanese citrus fruit. The idea here is that it would lightly flavor shio, which is a mellow salt ramen. Let’s find out!
Here’s one that’s specifically made for a store chain called PX Mart. Sesame and a peppery oil sounds like a good one – let’s check it out!
Saw this one at Boo Han Market in Edmonds, WA and was like – what? If you notice, there’s a South Korean AND a North Korean flag thing going on here. UPDATE: Ah – I’m wrong it’s a Vietnamese flag and a South Korean flag… At least that is what I’m getting out of it – I could be wrong. This looks to be an export product – very interesting imagery. Well, let’s give it a try!
Here’s a trippy little flower pot found at the local 99 Ranch Market in Edmonds, WA. These little cow dudes are awesome! Let’s check it out – by the way big thanks to Kyle K. for translation assistance!
Here’s one that came in an Exotic Noods subscription box. Use coupon code RAMENRATER15 for a discount! So this is an Indonesian curry variety – today’s going to be a windy, rainy, cold day and it just sounded like a good pick. Let’s give it a go!
I saw these Tapatio cups at the local Safeway supermarket and inquired with UEC about whether I could get some samples – they arrived a couple of days later. I’ve reviewed the bowl versions, so figured I ought to try the cups too. Perhaps pack versions aren’t far behind? Let’s give this Original flavor a try.
Here’s one A-Sha sent – thanks! It’s from one of their boxes you can get at Costco. Neat to see noodles where I know the sellers in a place like that. So these are super thick and chewy with a non-spicy sauce. Let’s give them a try!
Alrighty so here’s another frozen one sent by the folks at PLN Food Co. Ltd. in Taiwan – thank you! This sounds to be akin to a hiyashi udon – I guess we shall see! Let’s cook it up!
Here’s another fresh frozen variety from PLN of Taiwan. So far, these have all yielded perfect scores. Their noodles are just excellent and the flavors are insanely good. This one comes with a crispy shallot topping and a special sauce – looking forward to this one! Let’s give it a try!
I reviewed almost all the Demae Ramen – at least I thought. I used to get them on walks about ten years ago and then I did a Meet The Manufacturer with Nissin HK and they sent over 50 different varieties. Then this one comes in an Exotic Noods box (use coupon code RAMENRATER15) and there’s a new one to do. Let’s kick the tires!
Salted egg was something I didn’t really get at first, but these days it’s something I really enjoy. I had one of these ‘flower pot’ style noodles about 40 reviews back that was the same except it was salted egg and crab flavor – and it’s a no-brainer five stars. Let’s see if this one’s solo flavor does the trick.
Something new from Taiwan just hit my mailbox recently – this is a dan dan variety from Mom’s Dry Noodle (their dan dan noodles have been on my top ten global list for a few years now). This one’s different though – lots of spicy oil and it’s Vegetarian friendly. Let’s crack it open and see what’s going on in here!
Here’s one sent by reader Cian from Dublin – thanks! This is the first Irish instant noodle I’ll be reviewing and although Cian told me these aren’t exactly great, I’m stoked since to me, they’re new. Let’s try the first curry noodles I’ve ever seen in sky blue packaging. Let’s do it.
Here’s another one that arrived on ice from Taiwan. Trying to get a couple out at a time since they’ve invaded our freezer – I’ll add happily to that statement. They’ve been so good up to now and guessing they’ll all be good – at least I hope so.
What a week – just so busy lately! My daughter just started preschool and so another part of the day is taken up by Zoom meetings – not a bad thing and really neat to see her start school! Yet it is a difficult transition for me; I’ve had everything so timed and set up for reviewing that change is difficult – but not impossible. Adjusting had been hard but it’s going well.
This one came out of a Zenpop subscription box. Zenpop has great boxes featuring different themes every month with 7 different instant ramen varieties from Japan. Use the coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop box. Zenpop is a subscription box service – check em out and use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount!
Oh boy, oh boy… I did a big sort of all the noodles I had in my hampers and one thing I found was a huge amount were expired – not just a little, but like expires in 2018 (it’s 2020). Now that my noodle hoard has dwindles (I think I tossed a good 50 packs/cups/bowls), I saw someone else touting this one as a new add to their stash. Well lo and behold, this one made the cut – it expires next week, so I’d better get on it. Not only that, this sounds like a mukbang if I’ve ever heard of one. Let’s do it.
I’ve been reviewing a lot of these Kay’s and Tasty.ly products recently – it’s pretty neat! I mean, Malaysia isn’t the first place you think of when you think of macaroni and cheese, is it? I really liked the Creamy variety so guessing this is going to be good too. Let’s find out!
Here’s another one of the ‘flower pot’ form factor large cups from China. These are generally really quite good so I’ve got high hopes for this one. Plus, it’s dry. I know it has to be. I think. I should say I screwed one of these up recently but I did redo it. Dry varieties when broth is introduced isn’t so wonderful. Let’s give this one a try.
Here’s the other spicy variety from the Cheetos Mac’N Cheese series. I should note that we tried the non-spicy regular cheese flavor today. Wasn’t bad; wasn’t amazing. Anyways, I also want to point out something – this isn’t macaroni; it’s rotini. Macaroni is pasta shapen in tubes. Rotini isn’t. Just saying. Alright – let’s give this spicy one a try.
This. This created quite a stir (no pun intended) in the Instant Noodles – The Ramen Rater Facebook group. The spicy crowd was fascinated, and the ramen crowd espoused disdain. Cries of ‘that’s not ramen’ rose up in protest. Obviously not; it is pasta – rotini to be exact.
This one came once again by way of Daniel over at Exotic Noods – use coupon code RAMENRATER15 for a discount – thanks!
The Tapartio guy is flanked by flames this time! But wait – who is he? How did they end up with this guy on this ramen and of course the zillion bottles of hot sauce bearing the name Tapatio?
I went to Uwajimaya in Bellevue today and looked at all the noodles they had and honestly, this was the only one that piqued my curiosity. I’ve reviewed Dream Kitchen stuff before, but it certainly looked like private label KOKA product – but this one doesn’t seem to be that way. It says it’s a product of the USA, so I’m a little perplexed as to who is actually making these. But either way, it’s curry udon and of that I’m not perplexed and I know I’m partial to curry, so let’s see how it is.
Pedas not enough for you? How bout a little XTRA? Pedas means spicy over in Malaysia and this one means it! I did a mukbang of the cup version of this one a while back and thought I’d better do the pack too since Felix over there was kind enough to ship some over! Let’s give it a go!
