The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Well, here we are folks. A few years ago, I tried Culley’s World’s Hottest Ramen Noodles 1.0. It’s funny; things that say ‘best ever’ and ‘greatest’ or ‘world’s’ often end up with a bit of disappointment. This delivers, and is an apt title. The 1.0 certainly was as such. This one as well. This transcends spiciness; it’s got Carolina Reaper and Ghost pepper mash in the wet sachet. I believe there’s reaper in the togarashi sachet as well. Indeed, some foreboding stuff going on here.
Ahhhh jjamppong! Awesome – I freaking really love jjamppong. Seafood and spicy and sometimes smoky – kind of imparts a grilled seafood flavor – those are the best. Let’s waste no time and give it a try!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
So my sister is really into German stuff and when I review these, I save the plastic cups for her knick knack shelf. Just noticed this appears to have a Vegan logo on the lower right there. This morning, my wife is flying to the memorial service for her grandfather in California, so I’ve got a few days solo with the kids which will be nice but we’re already missing her. Her grandfather was quite a guy – I did a slideshow for them with music if you want to check it out. He was a 3 time purple heart recipient and was in WWII. He was a neat guy and will really be missed. Anyways, let’s cook up some yakisoba!
This one looks really interesting as you’ll see below with the noodles. Found this at 99 Ranch Market – they’ve had quite a few of this brand and I think I have one more. Time to review…
Here’s the second variety of these Trader Joe’s Thai noodles. The last one I tried was the red curry, and it wasn’t bad. Let’s see how they approximate peanut satay.
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Usually I try to track down the manufacturer and this one if rather difficult. It seems that Seoul Trading is distributing it, but not the manufacturer. It’s made in South Korea, however. There are three varieties of these – this carbonara, a spicy, and a fire spicy. This one gets a South Korea label since it’s an export version for many countries. Let’s see how spicy this stuff is.
So you might think ‘with a claim like that, I bet it’s not hot at all.’ Well, you’d be wrong. Mr. Culley has let me know that this is hotter than the original version, which was quite hjonestly the hottest variety I’ve had to date and it blew my head off and had me writhing on the floor for hours. Not joking. Here’s the unboxing, and below that is the video where I ate the original 1.0 version and as you can see and hear, it cleaned my clock. You might be wondering when you will get to see me go through the baptism of fire yet again – and all I can say is that it will be quite soon. It’ll be getting fast tracked too, so I’m guessing in the first week of 2024. Plan is to do it on a day the kids have a full day of school so I can do it right away and have time to recover and get a full kitchen cleaning done as getting this in their eyes or mouth would be really more painful that I can imagine. So check it out – amazing looking stuff!
Here’s the second of the new varieties of MyKuali’s new stuff, the other being their Black Curry. If you’ve never tried any of MyKuali’s offerings, you really owe it to yourself to do so. The flavors of Malaysia are simply more than you’ve probably ever experienced in the United States; bright, strong and truly wonderful. Surely, you’ve heard of mi goreng, but here’s a little on the term mamak from Wikiedia –
It’s time to unbox a Zenpop.jp box – you get seven varieties of instant noodles to try! I would say that almost every time I’ve gotten one of these, I’ve never tried any of them before which is really awesome. Great as a gift or to hoard for yourself! Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount! Let’s check it out!
The third and final iteration of the Marutai varieties found at the Bellevue, WA Uwajimaya supermarket. My daughter Mimi picked a couple varieties at 99 Ranch Market that day and one was a tonkotsu. She tried the Kumamoto Marutai and liked it, so she’s going to get to try this one too.
It’s time to unbox a Zenpop.jp box – you get seven varieties of instant noodles to try! I would say that almost every time I’ve gotten one of these, I’ve never tried any of them before which is really awesome. Great as a gift or to hoard for yourself! Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount! Let’s check it out!
For those who crave spicy things, here’s Paldo’s Teum-sae. It didn’t used to be hyphenated, but it is now. There’s the soup version, and then this, the dry noodle version. Let’s do this.
Another one from Pher Engi of Australia – Thank you!! This looks to be a play on Buldak perhaps which usually is nott a good idea. However, you never know. Let’s see how spicy this is.
This looks interesting – haven’t seen this range before, so assuming it’s new! This is from Nissin’s German arm and is a collab between them and different ramen restaurants in Japan – pretty cool. Let’s give it a try!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
This is the second of two pack versions of Nissin Fire Wok, this time a beef variant. This one’s supposed be hotter than the chicken one I reviewed prior – I guess we will see.
I was contacted by Nissin USA a few weeks ago and learned about this one and it sounded interesting. Indeed, their Fire Wok bowls are quite good – especially the Sizzlin’ Rich Pork. Pack versions? Interested! So I hit them up and they provided. There’s this one and another. Let’s give it a try!
When Nissin USA contacted me about pack versions, I was very interested – and they were kind enough to send some! Today we’ll unbox – and following this one I’ll share a review of the chicken variety as well as a mukbang, so stay tuned!
It’s time for some of the old ‘Fun&Yum’ (Paldo’s motto) with a bowl of Teum-sae ramen. It used to be just Teumsae I swear but now it’s hyphenated. These newly packaged varieties feature this woman on the package and it appears she has trouble getting her jacket over her angular shoulders or something. Well, let’s give it a try!
So I did this review the morning that my daughter Miriam was born seven years ago today. Happy Birthday, Miriam! I’ve been reposting it every year with a little update. So, here it is!
Another great one sent by Pher Engi – thanks again! I used to see these very commonly – never this variety though. They’d have ton of them at 99 Ranch Market and now I don’t see them at all. Very strange. Well, this one looks really good so without further ado let’s cook ’em up!
Big thanks to Pher Engi of Australia for sending these over!! It always cracks me up – almost all Thai brands have the same sound twice as their brand name. Yum Yum works here – and pad Thai sounds really good. Curious how it will be – a dry noodle? Let’s find out.
Here’s another one we found at Uwajimaya a couple weeks ago. Marutai stuff is quite wonderful – especially their Kumamaoto variants. Without further ado!
Huge thanks to James from Lakeside, California for including this and two others from this range in his last box he sent. Yeah – Turkish ramen! Indomie has factories all over the place! Let’s cook it up!
Big thanks to the folks at Nissin Foods Germany for sending this and quite a few others my way! These are really neat cups and now they’re even bigger! That means a lot of yakisoba. Let’s make it!
I’ve been reviewing instant noodles since 2002, doing episodes of Instant Noodle Recipe Time, The Chocolate Break with my wife, Professional Mukbang, Unboxing Time With The Ramen Rater and more. Right now, we’re in a pretty crummy financial situation and hoping that some of the fans will be able to help out. I really loathe asking like this. I’ve set up a GoFundMe. It really is strange – you hear about statistics like ‘this percentage are one paycheck away from financial ruin.’ I love going to the thrift store and finding some trinket on the cheap. Right now, that’s a luxury I can’t even fathom, really. What’s crummy too is the time of the year that this is happening. Holidays plus my daughter’s birthday is a week before Christmas. Ugh. Here’s the link if you can help out.
Here’s another one I found at 99 Ranch Market recently. Again, Vietnamese flavor, new Chinese authentic style, and packaged for sale in the United States. It’s almost as if it’s got some kind of flavorful identity crisis! But it sounds interesting so let’s get to it.
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Another great one sent by Pher Engi – thanks! This should be pretty good – tom yum is an excellent flavor. Let’s give it a try!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Kimchi is awesome stuff and I picked some up today as I’ve got quite a few Korean varieties I’ll be reviewing this week. Last week was crazy – last day of school for the kids, did 21 reviews, our dog Pepper got adopted by a nice couple from west Seattle… It’s cool but a lot. You’ll see this a long time from last week. It’s June 25th today and you’re probably seeiing this is October I’m guessing. Anyways, kimchi ramyun is good stuff – let’s check it out.
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Here’s one that came in a Zenpop.jp box – use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a groovy discount!
Time for some more fare from Trader Joe’s. I’m really curious about this but honestly don’t know on this one. Why? Well, the other day I did a review of a variety which looks identical and was just horrible. I really hope that this does indeed taste like red curry – that would be great. However, I’v got my doubts. Let’s find out.
Rapokki is a combination of ramyun (Korean instant noodle) and tteokbokki (rice cake tubes). This one has a black bean sauce. I have a feeling this will be wonderous. Let’s find out. Oh, and this is made in South Korea, however packaged for US sale.
Had something thr other day by this brand for the first time and here’s another one. Found it at 99 Ranch Market. Let’s give it a try.
