Over 5,000 Instant Ramen Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Yet another from last year’s Malaysia trip I gotta wolf down before it goes bad! Asam Laksa is a flavor probably most people in the USA haven’t heard of or know how to pronounce when read or spell for that matter. Well, it’s a sour spicy soup with fish. At least that’s the layman’s way or explaining it. It’s really good – had it while in Penang – man I wish I could go have some more… Anyways, let’s check this one out!
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 another one – let’s see what’s inside!
Another one got in Penang on my Malaysia trip last year I want to get reviewed before expiry. So from looking around, this sounds to be bah kut teh flavor. What’s that? Wikipedia, if you please…
I remember hearing about ‘the original’ sriracha sauce a while back. It really seemed illogical that the ‘original’ would be made in Southern California, especially since I was in a city called Sriracha in Thailand this May. I found a Bon Appetit article mentioning the true original and some comment by Eastland Foods. I emailed my contact Michael over there to see if he could help me out with a sample – and he really came through (the original sriracha came in the other box) – thanks! Let’s see what’s in these boxes!
I remember hearing about ‘the original’ sriracha sauce a while back. It really seemed illogical that the ‘original’ would be made in Southern California, especially since I was in a city called Sriracha in Thailand this May. I found a Bon Appetit article mentioning the true original and some comment by Eastland Foods. I emailed my contact Michael over there to see if he could help me out with a sample – and he really came through – thanks! Let’s see what’s in these boxes!
This is yet another I picked up during my trip last year to Malaysia! Tom yam is a great flavor – whether you spell it tom yam or tom yum. Actually, they’re the same thing. Sounds good to me! Let’s check it out!
Here’s another cup I got during last year’s trip to Penang. As I’ve been mentioning, I’m trying to get everything reviewed before they expire! Not often do I get to go abroad and bring home noodles, so it’d be a horrible waste to lose any. Anyways, this is an interesting one – a kimchi flavor cup noodle from Malaysia. I don’t think I’ve seen many of those. Let’s check it out!
The onslaught of Malaysian varieties continues! This is yet another I got on last year’s trip to Penang, Malaysia. If you’re wondering what Ayam Cendawan means, basically it’s chicken mushroom. My wife Kit really likes mushrooms, so I thought I’d make this one for her today. Let’s check it out!
Another one from last year’s Malaysia trip. Turns out I still have a few more I haven’t gotten to so it’s time to run through them before they expire. Curry. Malaysia. Super. Let’s check it out.
Another I picked up in Butterworth, Penang during my Malaysia trip last year. That Econsave was really great – so many varieties! Trying to run through them before they expire! Not this one’s a little interesting – you might say the logo kind of looks familiar… Well, it’s made in Thailand for the Malaysian market by President Rice Products. They make all of the MAMA branded rice vermicelli – and in Malaysia their products go under the name PAMA. Simple really. Anyways, let’s check this one out!
Today, I have a half of a documentary – unfortunately, if you want the other half you have to pay for it… But the first half is a real eye opener for people who have frequented the Seattle International District. Definitely spend 15 minutes of your day to watch this.
A nice package came in the mail today from Thailand! I saw some pictures one of the people I met in Thailand posted on facebook that showed some neat yellow-packaged varieties I’d not tried and so I asked what they were.
I got a little box in the mail from my friend Dwayne in Tennessee. He asked me a while back about instant noodle from Malaysia and every once in a while, I’ll just send someone who asks about noodles a nice box of them. Since then we’d been conversing and he mentioned he grows peppers. I was given some peppers at the very end of my trip to Malaysia by Annie at MyKuali – cili padi peppers – little hot ones! When I got back here, I thought why not crack some of them open and pull out seeds. I sent some to a coupl eof people and Dwayne was one of them. This was over a year ago and now, the seeds have grown!
Here’s a new one from Nissin Foods USA – Sriracha flavor Chow Mein! Sriracha is kind of interesting. First, the way to pronounce is ‘sir-racha’ drove me nuts for the longest time, but I finally have conformed (under protest). Also, Sriracha is a place in Thailand (went there in May), however the Sriracha sauce me know here in the states isn’t a popular condiment there. It’s a bit of a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Wikipedia had this to say:
One of the last ones I got during my trip to Penang, Malaysia last year to visit the folks at MyKuali. This is from a store called Econsave. I had seen this Super brand before but was always curious if I’d end up with any of them; very elusive. Let’s check out the pepper crab mi goreng!
This one came from Shinichi over at Ramen Mania, a new monthly subscription box you can check out! They have special regional Japanese ramen varieties – good stuff so far! Thanks! So today it’s Hakata tonkotsu. So, what’s tonkotsu? Wikipedia, if you please:
A new year brings the The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Taiwanese Instant Noodles Of all Time 2015 Edition. After reviewing over 1,750 different varieties, these are my favorites hailing from Taiwan. Taiwan’s instant noodles are different from those of any other country; so curious about what direction their flavors go next. With that, let’s dig in to the new list for 2015!
Here’s another one that was sent to me by James B. from The Netherlands – thanks! So this one is made in Thailand but definitely for the Dutch market. Tom yum is a classic Thai soup flavor, but what makes creamy tom yum creamy? Traditionally, when a creamy tom yum is made, the ‘cream’ doesn’t come from a dairy product, but from boiling the shrimp heads. It has a creamy look to the broth.
Thanks to my sister Sue for bringing me these back from a recent trip to Victoria, BC! I’ve never been a big fan of Canadian instant noodles, but I always hold out hope for a brand to have a variety that’s really good. Let’s see what this store brand hasd inside.
Recently, I got a box from MyKuali with a lot of products I’d reviewed before with new packaging as well as a couple of completely brand new products. This is one of the totally new ones, MyKuali’s first bowl offering. It’s also their first rice vermicelli (also known as bihun) variety. Let’s pop open a bowl and look inside!
It’s been almost 400 reviews since the last Pulmuone product I’ve reviewed. Found this one at a local South Korean grocery store and thought today would be a good day to try it. Seems like I’m finding less South Korean varieties to review as of late which really bums me out – Always been a big fan of South Korean instant ramyun. Well, this one is from Pulmuone, a company which shoots for the healthier mark with their products. The noodle aren’t fried, so I’m guessing they’re baked or air-dried. Let’s have a look at this one – with squid!
I’ve tried quite a few tomato flavored instant noodles over the years. What’s kind of interesting s that many of them hail from Taiwan – including this one I’ll be trying today, I can count three in all, and that could be missing one or more. I like tomatoes – they’re pretty tasty and have a seemingly endless global appeal. Let’s have a look at this Taiwanese variety with a tomato taste.
Today, we come to the end of this Meet The Manufacturer. On a side note, I reviewed one that has the exact same packaging that I received from a reader in Scandinavia a while back. I asked if it was the same as this and was told it is a little different. sometimes companies will change levels of different ingredients depending on where they’re sold. Anyways… Lots of interesting new things in this one – lots of great flavors as well! I want to thank Alvin Leung for all his help with making this happen! Let’s have a look at the package version of JML’s Spicy King Spicy Chicken!
As we come close to the end of this Meet The Manufacturer, we have the third bowl that includes an egg: the spicy flavor bowl. Let’s check it out!
I received a package version of this one a while back from a reader in Sweden. Well, this is the bowl version. I was also told that the version that can be found in Europe (which has exactly the same packaging) is different than the version sold in Hong Kong. Interesting! I’m curious about the spiciness in this one – the one I got in the mail was on this year’s Top Ten spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2015 Edition list! Let’s have a look!
Look what came in the mail today! An express envelope!
An autographed poster of Dee Hsu, the woman on the JML Spicy King Spicy Beef bowls and packs! Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about her:
The other day I reviewed the pack version of this one, and today it’s the bowl! I wasn’t sure who the lady on the bowl was but found out – her name is Dee Hsu – here’s a little on her from Wikipedia –
We started this Meet The Manufacturer with the bowl version of this variety. Today, it’s time for the pack version! Let’s see if there’s any difference with this one.
Here’s one that’s truly unique – not only does it have a stewed egg but something called sour beans. I’m wondering if they’re akin to something I tried in Penang at a Nyonya restaurant. Hmmm. Well, I just looked them up and from what I gather, what is in this may be pickled Chinese long bean whereas the smelly beans I had in Penang are somewhat akin to looking like a lima bean but bigger. Anyways, let’s have a look at this one!
This is a very red package! The woman is jubilant with her golden ladle! Her name is Dee Hsu – a popular entertainer from Taiwan. Spicy sounds good – let’s check it out!
This is a real treat – you might be wondering what’s so special. Well, look at the picture – egg! Yep – this one comes with a n egg. Not dehydrated or in an egg block and scrambled, but a stewed egg! Let’s dig in!
So to start things off, I thought this looked like an interesting cup. I had one that had a smiliar design quite a while back – and it ended up on the Top Ten Spicy list for 2015! So, I’m wondering how this one’s going to be – spicy? I’m going to bet it’s spicy. Let’s open the lid and look within!
Was extremely happy to get a knock at the door and a nice big box today!
Ooh! New things to try from China! What’s within I wonder?
Interview With JML * Product Samples From JML * Poster From JML * JML Spicy King Bowl Noodle Spicy Pork * JML Supreme Bowl Noodles With Stewed Egg Braised Beef Flavour * JML Spicy King Spicy Beef * JML Supreme Bowl Noodles With Stewed Egg Sour Beans With Pork Flavour * JML Spicy King Spicy Pork Noodle * JML Spicy King Bowl Noodle Spicy Beef Noodle * JML Spicy King Bowl Noodle Spicy Chicken Noodle * JML Supreme Bowl Noodles With Stewed Egg Spicy Flavour * JML Spicy King Spicy Chicken Noodle
Close to 50 reviews ago I checked out Mamee Chef’s Longtong Flavour cup version and today I thought it was a good time to try their pack version. I would say that generally, I like packs better than cups. To me, a noodle that’s boiled for a little while tastes better than steeped. Of course there are exception out there, but it generally seems that way.Today is the first review since my wife and I got back from the hospital when my son was born. I uusally am quite a few reviews ahead of the game.
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! From what I’m reading, it sounds like this one has a lot of garlic, green onion and leek influence on it. Sounds really good – let’s check it out!
Here’s one that should be familiar to instant noodle fans from almost everywhere, and especially those from Cambodia! This one is made specifically for the Cambodian marketplace. I got this sent to me after seeing it at the 2015 TF Eurpean Agent meeting I was invited to check out earlier this year in Bangkok, Thailand! Curious to see if it’s different than the one sold here in the US. Let’s find out!
I recently did the Top Ten Spiciest list and the not-so-distant cousin of this one (basically the pack version) was in the second place position. I think this one was definitely violently hot and a good choice for the Fire Noodle Challenge that lots of people do on YouTube. Anyways, let’s see what we have in the bowl and maybe I’ll have to give this Fire Noodle Challenge a shot.
Hey check it out – Nissin Cup Noodles got a big facelift.
Here’s how they used to look – cardboard outer packaging is now gone. Less packaging and different materials have been used to make them more environmentally friendly. Also, they’re ot microwavable! Yes, I’m sure maky of you microwaved them before, but you weren’t supposed to. The new cups also have a little extra room so you can add veggies and meats or whatever you want to oomph up your noodles! Let’s check this new cup out!
This one’s made by Thai President Foods’ Hungarian factory for a supermarket chain in Finland. As many know, tom yum is a spicy Thai soup with lemongrass. Katkarapu translates to shrimp in Finnish, so this is a shrimp tom yum variant. Let’s have a look inside!
