#3275: Haogemen Chongqing Noodles Hot & Spicy – China
Another one found at FoodyWorld up in Richmond, BC. That place never ceases to amaze me where really out of the way varieties are concerned. This one should definitely be hot and spicy – curious in which way it will swing – savory or deluge of pain. Let’s find out!
Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, cook noodles for 3 minutes. Drain. Add 260ml boiling water and sachet contents. Finally, stir and enjoy!
A sachet of narrow noodles.
A dry solid ingredients sachet. Watch the Instant Noodle Recipe Time espiode below to see contents of sachets.
A wet sachet (soy sauce).
A wet sachet (clili sauce).
A final wet sachet (pickled mustard).
Finished (click to enlarge). Added barbecued pork, coriander, sesame seeds, and pepper flake. Noodles are thin with a round shape. Chew is very nice here. Broth has a strong peppery taste to it and was really quite good. 4.25 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 6971070670476.
Here’s one that came by way of World Ramens, a new business specializing in international instant noodle subscription boes. Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for a discount!
So I’ve reviewed some of these Soup Daren bowls but not seen the packs before. I’m pretty excited to try this one as the bowls were extremely good. Let’s check it out!
Soup Daren Pork Bone Noodle – China
Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Unsure whether this contains meat – check for yourself. To prepare, add noodles and sachet contents to 500ml boiling water and cook 3 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!
The noodle block.
A wet sachet.
A garnish sachet (dry).
Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, spring onion, sesame seeds, soft egg, pork for hot pot , and habanero togarashi.It’s pretty amazing what flavors you can achieve without the use of what they’re named after. The noodles first off are soft and plentiful and suck up the flavor of the broth very well. The broth has a nice rich pork bone flavor – good oiliness and extremely tasty. Included garnish features vegetable bits and sesame seeds. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 6925303710880.
This is an interesting one. Made in China for the US market. I found this one at a Fred Meyer supermarket here in Lynnwood – the last place I’d expect to see something like this. It’s nice to see stores expanding these kinds of things. Let’s give it a try!
Jinmailang Cup Noodles Chicken & Mushroom Flavor – United States
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add in sachet contents and boiling water to line. Cover for 3 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!
An included fork!
The noodle block.
A dry soup base sachet.
A wet seasoned oil sachet.
A vegetables dry sachet.
Finished (click to enlarge). Added soft egg, baked chicken, sansyo, Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, and spring onion. The noodles were on the spongy side which was unfortunate. The broth had a slight chiekn flavor that was overridden by funky mushroom. Not among my favorites. 1.0 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 6921555527252.
This is an interesting one. Made in China for the US market. I found this one at a Fred Meyer supermarket here in Lynnwood – the last place I’d expect to see something like this. Not a complaint by any means – nice to see more diversity at domestic grocery stores. Curious what vegetable this one will taste like – broccoli? Peas? Bell peppers? Let’s find out!
Jinmailang Cup Noodles Vegetable Flavor – United States
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add in sachet contents and boiling water to line. Cover for 3 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, tofu puff, scallion, and coriander. Noodles had a nice little fluff to them. Broth was rich and had a good kind of mixed vegetable taste to it. Warm and comforty for a vegetable variety. The inclusion of lots of vegetables like cabbage really bumped this one out. 4.0 out o 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 6921555527276.
Another one from my trips to Chin World up in Richmond, BC. Remember kids, if you’re coming from the states, bring your Canadian cash because they’re not going to take your cards or exchange your greenbacks for ya! Really interested in how this one’s going to be – last one I tried wasn’t too shabby from this brand so let’s take a look!
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add sachet contents and boiling water to line. Cover for 5 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, beef, and spring onion. Sweet potato vermicelli hydrated nicely. Broth had a very tasty beef flavor as well as a light spiciness – kind of caught me off guard as I expected it to be spicier. More savory this one. 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 6924524200484.
Alright so here’s one we found up in Canada at China Worlsd in Richmond, BC. That’s a really fascinating store with lots of products I’ve never seen before. But hey if you go there – bring cash if you’re coming from the US – and make sure it’s Canadian cash! Let’s get started.
Sichuan Baijia Burning Dry Noodles Chili Oil Flavor – China
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add boiling water to fill line and cover for 5 minutes. Drain. Add in sachet contents. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, sesame seeds, barbecue pork, spring onion, and shichimi togarashi. Noodles are definitely different; almost have a sticky chew to them and a wide but not really thick gauge. The taste is very spicy and salty – works well. 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 6926410331265.
Found this one up in Canada at Foodyworld and it looks really neat! The kids are really interested in this one but I’m sure it’s definitely off the charts spicy for them. I’m always curious when I see a cartoon or comic character on a product. Definitely looks interesting, that’s for sure! Let’s crack it open!
Sichuan Baijia Big Boss Hot & Sour Sweet Potato Vermicelli – China
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add in all sachets and boiling water to fill line. cover for 6~7 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Finished (click to enlarge). No garnish. The vermicelli hydrated well. Made a few crosscuts with a pair of kitchen scissors. The flavor was strong on the Sichuan pepper side and super strong otherwise. Super oily too. Lots of included garnish was neat but it had a very odd flavor – to me at least. 1.5 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 6926410338165.
Okay so this one is interesting to me. First, I thought the name Cup Noodles was a Nissin thing? But then I thought Jinmailang was owned by Nissin, but then not anymore? I should note Jinmailang is most definitely a Chinese company, but it’s pretty obvious from the labeling that this is specifically for the United States. Interesting. Also, the nutrition facts seem a little interesting to me. It’s a pretty big cup – is everything actually doubled in reality? Unsure. Either way, I found this at Fred Meyer, a chain of grocery stores in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho. Was surprised to see this brand there! Anyways, I’ve found a couple varieties there recently I’ve not seen elsewhere. Curious. Let’s check this one out!
Jinmailang Cup Noodles Slow Roast Beef Flavor – United States
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add sachet contents and water to fill line. Microwave for 3 minutes and let sit for an additional minute. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad COsmo mung bean sprouts, scallions, soft egg, pepper flake and fried onion. The noodles didn’t work all that well in the microwave scenario. I think although it says high heat this might fare better at 800W rather than the standard of 1000W most microwaves in the US run at. The noodle returned very weak, and furthermore the broth was a bit on the bland side. It tasted good, just could have used more flavor. It’s a kind of braised beef taste with a little nudge of Sichuan pepper. 2.5 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 6921555527238.
This is my list of my all time favorites (compiled up to review #3132). These are the best and most memorable varieties – some you’ll be able to find easily, some you won’t. In the images you see, you’ll see garnished bowls of noodles. Note – reviewing is done BEFORE products have anything externally added by myself, and I follow directions on the package – for better or for worse. I should also note that going forward, the official last day for companies to submit varieties to be considered for the annual top ten will be January 31st. That’s enough – let’s have a look at The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2019 Edition!
The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2019 Edition
Video Presentation
A special presentation of The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2019 Edition.
The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2019 Edition
#10: Indomie Real Meat Mi Instan Goreng Rendang – Indonesia
The first Indomie variety on the list in years and it’s really amazing. Basically take their Mi Goreng Rendang and include a sachet of real rendang in a retort pouch. This comes after recently hearing that Indomie Rendang is hard to find here in the United States, something I was surprised to hear since it’s such a popular product and such a good one. Original review
#9: Sau Tao Tom Yum Kung Flavour Ramen – Hong Kong
I’ve become enamored and thrilled with the straight ramen noodle varieties in recent years – especially ones from Hong Kong which have been on the last two The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time lists. This is Sau Tao’s first appearance on the list. A Thai flavor is delivered masterfully – broth has a great richness and crispness of tom yum kung – spicy and lemongrass and shrimp notes play together very well. Original review
#8: Mom’s Dry Noodle Dan Dan Noodle – Taiwan
It’s second year on The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time, Mom’s Dry Noodles’ Dan Dan Noodle is just wonderful stuff. A broth-free offering with gourmet Taiwanese dry noodles, and myriad sauces that harmonize, salty, spicy, sweet and other flavors masterfully. Flavorful and deep. Original review
#7: Red Chef Green Tom Yum Soup Noodles – Malaysia
Another one returning to The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time list, Red Chef’s Green Tom Yum Soup Noodles feature a fried noodle with a great mouthfeel and quantity. They work well with the broth which is like a mashup of tom yum and green curry. The spiciness and flavors are just great – it might seem like a strange gimmicky kind of thing but definitely not. I love the new and this is a new flavor for the instant noodle world. Original review
#6: Prima Taste Singapore Curry Wholegrain La Mian – Singapore
Since a very young age when my mother would cook curried chicken livers over rice, I’ve absolutely loved curry. This one is just mind blowing and has been on the top ten for years and years. The noodles are thick and chewy – and have a rustic kind of feel to them. Marry that to the broth which comes from a large sachet of curry paste and one full of coconut milk powder, you end up with a rich, luxuriant experience you’ll love. I should note they also have a version with non-wholegrain noodles which is also very impressive. Original review
#5: CarJEN Nyonya Curry Laksa – Malaysia
Back again with their rich curry noodle, CarJEN brings something very special to the table in their Nyonya Curry Laksa. You dip the paste seen on the spoon into the broth to flavor it and it has little bits of shrimp in there that really are a nice addition. Sweetness, spiciness, richness from coconut milk powder, and a nice plump noodle makes this so tasty and memorable. Original Review
This is the highest position a Taiwanese variety has achieved in The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time before – congratulations, Taiwan! For a long time, I’ve really enjoyed this style of noodle from Taiwan. It’s wide, with a center line which is thicker, and the sides are thinner – which gives them a very unique and wonderful mouthfeel. I’ve also always thought that these would just sing is in a broth (usually they are presented with a combination of sauces but no broth). The soup is rich with a strong beef flavor and hint of Sichuan peppercorn that do not overwhelm. The nice part is the inclusion of real beef in here. It should be noted that there is a special version of this that comes out during Lunar New Year which includes Wagyu beef – very expensive at a whopping $15USD per serving!, but very tasty as well. Original review
#3: Liangchengmei Biang Biang Men – China
My wife Kit saw this while we were up in Canada and it piqued my curiosity so thought hey let’s give it a try. Noodles are very broad – over an inch. The flavoring is just superb – to use a word I normally don’t, this is yummy. What’s interesting too is that they included meat – at least I thought it was meat – it’s made from soy protein! Unique, delicious, and the highest a Chinese variety has achieved on The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time to date. Congratulations! Original review
#2: Red Chef Spicy Sakura Prawn Soup Noodles – Malaysia
Let the prawn-slaught begin! Returning to the #2 spot this year, we have a Red Chef variety that just gives and gives when it comes to sweet and savory prawn flavor. This umami bomb has a nice chewy noodle that is complimented by just the sweetest, strongest prawn broth with an excellent thickness and just the right amount of spiciness. What’s more they include a sachet of crispy onions to put on top that round things out so well. If you want to have a prawn freak out, this is an indispensable tool. Original review
#1: Prima Taste Singapore Wholegrain Laksa La Mian — Singapore
For the fourth year in a row, Prima Taste wins with it’s excellent Wholegrain Laksa. If abandoned on an island with only a life supply of instant noodles, I’d want them to be these, period. Hearty artisan noodles which are thick and of good quantity are combined with a broth which has a strong flavor and richness from coconut milk powder. A flavorful and striking noodle dish. Original review
What’s New
Instant Noodle Recipe Time
In the last year, I’ve decided to start doing videos for each on of my reviews and as of April 3rd, I’ve done 295 episodes. You can watch me cook and garnish everything as I sit at my stove. People have commented ‘why do you sit?’ Well, it’s a lot easier to record the show that way. Why do you wear sunglasses all the time? I’m legally blind and light sensitive. I answer a lot of questions about what I do from reader questions as well as talk about what I’m up to and give opinions and chatter about anything that crosses my mind. The show comes out every single day at 2pm Seattle time. Check out the show here.
The Chocolate Break
What began as something to try once has become a project my wife Kit and I do regularly. The Chocolate Break is where we try chocolate from around the world – and give our opinions on them. I’m proud to announce that www.thechocolatebreak.com is up and has rundowns of every single episode! Check it out and let us know what you think!
Big Changes For Me
Some of you have been noticing I’ve been losing weight – thank you! In fact I’ve been working hard on that. Reviews I do are usually involving me eating maybe 5% of a bowl of noodles, if that. Everything else goes down the drain.
I keep my regime to around 1200~1500 calories a day. I’ve also been doing a lot of walking with my daughter Miriam. With her stroller decked out with lots of lights and a really loud speaker (I usually play a lot of Primus, Herbie Hancock, Sepultura, Deodato, and Tobacco), we walk all over town. My feet hurt, too! If you put together our walking from April 1st and April 2nd, it comes to 21.12 miles (33.989km)! No, that is NOT a typo. My doctor told me I had high cholesterol back in October and I decided to make some changes. I’ll find out how I’ve done later this month and let you guys know how I’ve done so far.
Here’s another Lianchengmei product that my wife found while we were perusing the aisles at Foodyworld up in Richmond, BC. She found one a while back – 30″ Hot Bird, a fire noodle clone. What’s Biang Biang? Here’s what Wikipedia had to say –
Biangbiang noodles, alternatively known as youpo chemian in Chinese, are a type of noodles popular in the cuisine of China‘s Shaanxi Province. The noodles, touted as one of the “eight strange wonders of Shaanxi” (陕西八大怪), are described as being like a belt, owing to their thickness and length.
The noodle is broad and hand-made. It was originally part of a poor man’s meal in the countryside, but has recently become renowned due to the unique character used in its name. Dishes with this noodle are often topped with lots of red hot peppers for the cold winter in Shaanxi.
The character is composed of 言 (speak; 7 strokes) in the middle flanked by 幺 (tiny; 2×3 strokes) on both sides. Below it, 馬 (horse; 10 strokes) is similarly flanked by 長 (grow; 2×8 strokes). This central block itself is surrounded by 月 (moon; 4 strokes) to the left, 心 (heart; 4 strokes) below, and刂 (knife; 2 strokes) to the right. These in turn are surrounded by a second layer of characters, namely 穴 (cave; 5 strokes) on the top and 辶 (walk; 4 strokes[Note 1]) curving around the left and bottom.
Let’s give this one a try. I should mention – the man on the front has perforation around him, so you can pop him out for whatever use you so desire. By the way big thanks to Kyle K. for help in translation!
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, cook noodles for 5~10 minutes. Drain. Add in sachet contents. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Very wide noodle – like a belt or lasagna!
Two large sachets.
A sachet with chunky stuff.
Finished (click to enlarge). Added barbecued pork, spring onion, and Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts. Wow. Okay so the noodles are very broad and chewy – very enjoyable. The flavor that coats them is just as savory as can be, with a very nice bit of spiciness which isn’t overwhelming; marrying flavor and heat expertly. Included chunks of TVP that is so believable it’s scary; a pure delight. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 6928988700528.
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains shrimp. To prepare, add sachet contants and boiling water to fill line. Cover for 3 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Finished (click to enlarge). Added shrimp, soft egg, Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, barbecue pork, and spring onion. The noodles are great – flat and plentiful. The broth is rather interesting with a nice shrimp taste, a hint of spiciness and a rich taste. I found it quite fascinating – and then the garnish was good too with little shrimp balls and vegetables. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 6900873093335.
Here’s the second of the two Luosiking varieties Jack sent – thanks again! Two reviews ago, I tried the soup version. Let’s see what happens when you take the broth out!
Luosiking Spicy River Snail Noodle – China
Detail of the lid (click to enlarge). Contains snail. To prepare, add boiling water to line and cover 3 minutes. Drain. Add in sachet cotents. Finally, stir and enjoy!
An included fork!
The noodle block.
The first of two wet sachets.
Undoubtedly the spicy element.
The second wet sachet.
The snail element.
Finished (click to enlarge). Added squid, spring onion, and fried garlic. Noodles hydrated well and had a decent chewiness. Flavor was strong – a little salty and a nice spiciness to it. Still, river snail has this fascinating pungency to it – I don’t know whether I like it or not. However, It is interesting and kept me wanting to try more. 3.75 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 697068280122.
Watch me snail it up on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!
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