Over 5,000 Instant Ramen Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Merry Christmas Eve Eve to you as the kids say! It’s also Festivus – certainly a red-letter day of miracles, feats of strength, and the airing of grievances. The great material contonuum has been truly kind these past few days. Let us begin our next to last item from the amazing and wonderful ramen advent calendar!
We’re back at it with another massive Korean mukbang fest. I found this at a store called GMart in Lynnwood, Washington for $20. By the way, no, I’m not eating this whole thing, that’s for sure – it requires 2,2L of boiling water. That’s insane. I don’t advise sucking down this whole thing – 3440kCal, 14,960mg of sodium. I watched a guy eat the whole thing on YouTube along with a Korean beer and some crunchy squid. If you get one, share it with friends is my advice. Regardless, this should be fun – I mean, it’s a lot of noodles.
Today is a very special day at our house. 16 years ago today, my wife and I spoke for the first time. We met on an online dating service website. She was home sick from work living with her folks and I was working for a fish company living in my friends garage. Well, it was a remodeled garage at least. We talked on the phone for about 4 or 5 hours. It was great – although I really didn’t expect anything to come of it – she lived all the way down in the Bay Area and that was a bit far from Anacortes up here in Washington state. We talked again the next day, and on Christmas Eve, we talked all day long – like 14 hours all day long. Christmas morning she asked if I’d come down for New Years, and I accepted – best decision I ever made. Let’s have some shrimp Cup Noodles!
Found this at HMart during my big early summer noodle drought of 2025… I don’t see a lot of boxed varieties, let along ones for the US. This used to be in a bowl – although maybe it still is. Anyways, sounds like a good one to try out – let’s give it a whirl!
Well, I overslept… So, it’s time to get stuff done. We were up really late – the plan was to watch Stand By Me, but couldn’t find it so we ended up watching the new version of Running Man – at least part of it. Surprisingly it wasn’t bad. Anyways, enough of our exceedingly late night viewing antics – let’s try this pack version of their Chili flavor – the cup version was really great so we shall see.
Big thanks to The Fat Hipster for sending this along. This is an instant noodle for hikers and campers. So if you’re neither, think of carrying tons of stuff for a multi day outdoor trip. You will need food. Do you want to carry something heavy or light? When you’re done, do you want big trash to lug around? Well, this is a solution. These packs aren’t huge, they’re light, and unlike a foam bowl, this is also the cooking vessel and folds up for disposal away from the trail. The expiration date said 2029 as well, so if the universe hasn’t blown up yet, you’ll have noodles, and if it has blown up, it’ll be right there for you in your secret noodle bunker! Plus, it’s curry. Sold! Let’s give it a shot.
Well we’re almost there. It’s been a lot of fun thus far. It’s Saturday – kids are now on winter break, aka Xmas break. It’s cold out. I’m hoping tomorrow I’ll be trying out a new camera if the battery charger shows up. Guess we’d better start getting on wrapping gifts – definitely not my strong suit. However, my wife Kit is really good at it – she’s got it down cold and makes them look professional. Well, let’s get to cooking – I really liked the pack version of this so now it’s the cup.
Found this at HMart during the great noodle drought around here… This is a newer logo for their Tangle range… I liked the old white and orange logo a lot… Well, let’s try what comes in the bowl.
It’s been cold, wet, and breezy – now it looks like it’ll be just plain cold today… I guess we shall see. Let’s continue the calendar with some chicken!
Well, this is about it as far as noodles I have on hand. What a revoltin’ development! Found this one at S*Mart in Bellevue, Washington. The rest of these have been excellent – let’s check it out!
Wow, that stripe at the top of these posts is getting longer and longer to do every day! I have to edit it in every single post! I’m sure there’s some kind of way to automate it, but I am just doing copy paste on each one at the end of the day – easier. Anyways, this is a spicy yakisoba we have here – let’s give it a try!
This one was kindly sent by Mark K. – thanks! I’d never seen this before and thought wow that’s rad – so he sent some! Coconut soup with herbs… Sounds really nice – let’s cook!
Only about a week to go until Christmas Eve – crazy. Hope you’ve got all you gifts got and ready to go! It’s getting late in the game… But today is my daughter’s birthday! She’s exceedingly stoked! Let’s try this Thai take on chicken from Nissin’s newest range – made in Vietnam for the EU market.
Well, here you go! We found this while looking for Slurpees for the kids at 7 Eleven a month or two ago. There’s a Mexican rice flavor one as well I’ve reviewed in the past. I know – not ramen. However, it’s with the ramen so there, and made by a ramen forward company. Let us microwave!
Had a feeling this one would make an appearance sooner or later! We slept in a skosh so glad it’s one I’ve already tried – makes things a lot quicker on readying the post. Let’s cook it up!
This one came by way of James from Lakeside, California – thanks again! Yes, as usually said ‘I know this isn’t ramen.’ However, you might finbd it near the ramen and likely on the same instant noodle aisle. This one’s particularly interesting as its salted egg flavor. Sounds good to me – let’s give it a go.
I started doing this big advent calendar 2 weeks ago today – pretty crazy! It’s going very well thus far it seems! Thought I’d mention – if you like following, that’s great – I have my posts going out on quite a few platforms, but a couple have barely anyone following. I’m on Substack and Bluesky – it seems people started noticing that and then poof. So, I thought I’d remind folks that if they like those, I’m there. Tumblr too for what it’s worth. Now, on with the review!
I’m currently broke and my options are limited, so I thought I would walk over to the discount grocery stores nearby. I found one option – this. 99 cents! It says its made in South Korea, but my whom is anyone’s guess. I’m curious – let’s cook.
I’ve been happily going through a big box sent to me by the kind folks over in Germany at Nissin Foods. It’s a huge advent calendar filled with instant noodles. Each day I have been starting my doings by shooting video of myself opening the correlating door and freeing a pack or cup of noodles – often before I’m really awake. Then I get the post ready to go and go on with my day until the right time when I cook it up on Instant Noodle Recipe Time and then post around 3 to 4 in the afternoon. Usually, I do reviews and I’m very far ahead, so a post I do today might not come out until close to six months from now. This is a very different way of doing things for me and it’s been a whole lot of fun! I thought maybe I ought to do a single post where I can have everything easily viewed. I’ve been updating a stripe at the top of each review – adding a link to each day. I’ll be doing that here as well, but it’ll be stuck to the top of the home page of The Ramen Rater for easier access. With that, here is the calendar series – from the initial unboxing to current day. I should also note I’ve no clue what is going to be behind each door I open – despite being tempted to open the door the night before. I should also note we have a LEGO advent calendar – I am showing those in the beginning as well – but they are of the previous day so as not to spoil anyone doing the same one. Alright – let’s go.
Had a great time for my daughter’s birthday party yesterday, did a bunch of stuff afterwards, then my wife and I stayed up watching YouTube until almost 4am. It’s noon now so I’m kinda behind my usual workflow, but it’s Sunday so no big deal. Anyways, let’s cook this up – I’m very curious how this will be! Let’s cook.
The last of the versions found at HMart recently. The first one was super salty but the rest haven’t been too bad. I think this one sounds good – let’s find out.
Well it’s Saturday and time to start the second half of the advent calendar. Today’s my daughter Mimi’s birthday party so I’ll have to get going here. This is the teriyaki Soba pack version as opposed to the cup I did prior. Let’s cook it up!
This one was hiding in my meager hamper stash – found it at S*Mart in Bellevue, Washington. First off, this is a cold noodle – good for during hot weather – which we’re getting toward as the day I’m reviewing this is the last day of spring. You can steam these or microwave them – and the latter sounds like the easier option. I am making this on the last day of school for the kids. Egad. Let’s get started.
Ah its a day for beef. I went to the grocery store to get some. I got my second shingles vax yesterday and today feel like death warmed over. Anyways, I tell the guy at the meat counter I need 1oz of their cheapest ground beef. He tried to give me 0.4lbs which is way too much, then a much smaller amount that was perfect, but when he tried to weigh it it wouldn’t register so he said it was on the house. So shout out to butcher at our local Safeway. But yeah I feel worse than crummy. Let’s see if I can cook a Cup Noodles this morning…
Well, here’s the last of these they sent – thanks again! I seem to be getting to the last of a lot of things… Running low of noodles I’m afraid. Hmmm… Well, let’s cook.
This one was included in the advent calenda box from last year – and it would have been good I figure. Alas, I lost the sachet from this one. I hunted through the trash but never found it. Fortunately, I get another chance at it! Do I give it a new numbe? Why not! Let’s cook it up!
Here’s one I found in a Project Ramen box! They’ve got quite an array of international varieties – good stuff! Use the coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount.
Time for some quacking with Peking Duck. I really think duck ought to become the nation protein – maybe just plain international protein of choice. Duck is really great so if you’ve not tried it, you’re missing out. Let’s cook this one up!
Here’s a variety that I found in one of MiauMall’s Nakama Noodles subscription boxes! These boxes are discontinued, however you can find their stuff at MiauMall – here is what they said about this one – “Here’s a tasty cup of ramen with a punch of flavor! This Kumamoto-style tonkotsu features a savory pork base with hints of garlic in the soup along with Kumamoto’s famous black garlic oil! And with roasted garlic chips and green onion toppings, this cup is full of flavor!”
Started a little late this morning but no harm – it’s one I did recently enough… Curious if today will bring more torrential downpour and gusty winds. Guess we shall see.
Found this one at S*Mart in Bellevue, Washington. It sounds pretty good – let’s cook it up and fund out.
I started doing these last Monday and now it’s a new week with day number eight. So far so good – I think it’ll get a little tricky once we get towards my daughter’s birthday but the train will go throughout I tell ya! Got some extreme weather for this area coming up this week. Time to cook!
Well, an interesting day. Last night my daughter got a hit and scored a run in her very last softball game of the season. Also, it turns out my son likes Froot Loops. It’s really a turning point for my family. Let’s give this one – made in Poland for the US market – a try!
Here’s another one I’ve not tried and it’s interesting. This one isn’t produced in Hungary like the previous ones I’ve shown but instead in Vietnam. I’ve noticed many companies producing in Vietnam – guessing that there’s a really good reason for this, probably has to do with cost and production volume? But that’s kinda outside my purview. This one’s Vegetarian friendly and touts a Korean spicy flavor. Sounds good – let’s give it a go!
The last of this range – found them at S*Mart in Bellevue, WA. I do like sesame paste – let’s give it a go!
Good morning, or good afternoon – it’s Saturday! We were up late – watched a movie called The Substance – if you like weird, it’s gonna fit the bill. Anyways, it’s a big day around here. My daughter Mimi is taking part in a special ‘Chorus Club’ performance at city hall with her school music class so that’s pretty awesome. But first thing I’m doing is editing images of noodles/taking pictures, etc. Next is to do this post and then cook, so that’s what’s going on. Let’s do this.
Here’s a variety that I found in one of MiauMall’s Nakama Noodles subscription boxes! These boxes are discontinued, however you can find their stuff at MiauMall – here is what they said about this one – “Next up is a selection inspired by night sakura events! This yakisoba is features a salt tare sauce with tasty sesame oil and garlic for plenty of flavor. Add the “rich garlic mayonnaise” on top and you have an addictive yakisoba dish to enjoy under the cherry blossoms!”
Another one of the Soba range I’ve not reviewed in this package or at all in pack form from what I see. Curry sounds good – perhaps with some chicken? Let’s give it a whirl!
This is interesting to me as it’s gone through multiple changes. This one is Shin but green in color to distinguish it from Shin Green which is another product altogether. This used to be in red with a Vegan logo on it, but I think they decided more green would be less confusing. That being said, and as logical as that might be, I’ve encountered people wondering if this is Shin Green and not Shin Ramyun Vegan. Anyways, let’s try it out.
Well, they forgot (so did I) about the LEGO calendar we’re doing concurrently, but here’s another one from the Nissin Germany box!
