Over 5,000 Instant Ramen Noodle Reviews Since 2002
I was recently in touch with a company called Nishiyama Seimen of Sapporo, Japan. They make a wide variety of fresh ramen and since I don’t get a lot of samples from Japan directly from companies, I thought I’d see if they wanted to do a Meet The Manufacturer review series – and they did! Check out what they sent and learn a little about the company!
For almost 20 years, The Ramen Rater (www.theramenrater.com) has been reviewing instant noodles from around the globe. Unfortunately, that has come to an abrupt standstill. I’ve run out of instant noodles to review. Local stores have nothing new for me. So today, I’m asking if some of you would be kind enough to send me some varieties you may have locally that I’ve not reviewed. I will add your name to reviews (I can leave it anonymous, should you choose).
Here’s one the guys at Exotic Noods sent over – thanks! Looks like you can make it in the traditional style or as tsukemen (pronounced ‘skeh-men’). Tsukemen involved noodle dipping kind of like zaru soba so I’ll make it the regular way as I’m kind of a messy eater to begin with. Let’s give it a try!
This is the third and final variety of Rap Snacks Icon Ramen Noodles I received from The Fat Hipster – thanks again,man! This one features Master P on the lid and some quotes from him. Let’s check it out!
Here’s what I think is the last of the Gurimi varieties I found up in Canada at FoodyWorld… I really miss Canada. Hope I can go back soon. The bonus will be that there should be a ton of neat new stuff to try at least…
Well, I thought I had one more of the other brand to do a mukbang of but it turns out I don’t. Hmm.. Well, I do have this one – thanks to The Fat Hipster (check him out n YouTube) – thanks, man!
A little while back, Samyang Foods produced a variety called Buldak Mini. It was a smaller noodle block, however it clocked in at 12,000 SHU. Since people like to go big or go home, they came out with this – Challenge Buldak. This time it’s a full size noodle block, and it is served cold. Again, this one comes in at 12,000 SHU. They even have a hashtag mentioning this challenge attribute. I decided to give it a go and in the video below, you’ll see I conquered in in just over 3 minutes. Let’s give this one a look!
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.
Today, it’s the last of the varieties by Philosophy Of Tongue Taste and their Noodles Accompanied by Happiness range. Pepper sesame! Let’s give it a try.
Okay so here’s another one with really colorful graphics. Silhouetted celebratory humands, against a scenic backdrop with the night sky. This one has ‘red oil’ – which I’m guessing is going to be a spicy one – but I could be wrong. Let’s find out!
I really have to give it to Noodles Accompanied With Happiness – their packaging is really nice. The photo doesn’t fully get the vibrancy in color of the packaging – really nice. This variety is a wider gauged Taiwanese dry noodle – let’s give it a try!
The first of these four varieties in the series depicts excited people on the beach with hot air balloons going over. Sounds like fun! This one has a sesame flavored variety. Sesame paste is kind of like peanut butter with a twist on it. Check it out!
Alright so here we have a prototype. I love prototypes; I feel so honored and humbled that companies would let me try a product before it goes on the market. This one’s a little different – here’s why. It’s 20 calories. For the pack. That’s it. Konjac noodles – these things are like eating food on the holodeck on Star Trek (note – for the ultra nerdy out there who do know that holodeck food is actually replicator food – yeah I know that too – but if the food was holographic – that’s what I’m getting at). At this point they have shared with me their pending Kickstarter campaign but it will be live soon and I’m guessing by the time this posts. Anyways, let’s see how good 20 calorie ramen can be!
We come to the end of this series with some chicken flavor. I should note again that all three varieties are vegetarian friendly. Let’s see how this one tastes as we bid a fond farewell to this range.
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Hot and spicy – I tried this one in a mukbang soon as these arrived (see below). So… Is it packing heat? It’s definitely the right color! Let’s find out.
Here’s the first of this three review series on Ramen Express’ range. They’re all pretty low cal and Vegetarian to mention a couple features. This one’s beef flavor. Let’s give it a try!
Today we’ve got another variety from Hong Kong’s Sau Tao. This one pairs the super tasty Tom Yum Kung with their Instant Noodle King noodles – which are really good. Let’s take a look.
Here’s another one from the folks at Exotic Noods. They ship great subscription boxes full of noodles every month – use coupon code RAMENRATER15 for a discount!
Thanks again go out to The Fat Hipster on YouTube for sending these along. This one feature a rapper that I’ve never heard of. Boosie is on the lid so you’ll see him below. Anyways, I’m hoping this is really a spicy one. Let’s find out!
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.
Here we have one from Japan sent by Zenpop. Zenpop does a few different kinds of subscription boxes you can get and they’re pretty neat! Use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount at checkout!
I really like tteokbokki – fat finger tubes of chewy rice flour. Well, rabokki is what you get when you take the sauce for tteokbokki and mix it with noodles. Let’s check it out!
The second of two boxed varieties I found locally imported from China. The last one was quite good – let’s see how this one goes.
I went to 99 Ranch Market looking for mung bean sprouts and found seven different varieties of these big cups! I love these things. I like to call them flower pots. Very curious about these – last time I found some was up in Canada. I miss Canada… But these have a ton of sachets – so if you’re a fan of lots of sachets, take a look at these style cups. Let’s check it out!
Well, here’s the first of a whole slew of new Buldak varieties. If you’ve never seen or heard about this range (you’ve probably been under a rock), just know these are probably the most popular spicy range of products around when it comes to noodles. They came out with a Christmas themes variety – meat spaghetti. I’m wondering if this one will be similar? Let’s find out.
Here’s one that came from a Zenpop.jp subscription box. Use the coupon code RAMENRATER at checkout for a discount!
Here’s something a little different than I usually review! This is a pasta cup from Singapore. I am really curious – how will it taste? How will its flavor be focused for local people in Singapore? Well, let’s find out!
Made in Japan for the US market, this one comes by way of a recent www.exoticnoods.com box – thank you! Use coupon code RAMENRATER15 for 15% discount over there! Curious about this one – let’s do it up!
In 1971, Nissin Japan released the first Cup Noodle product. Cup Noodle in Japan has always been a lot different from the one here; lots of garnish. I mean a lot. This one is a version of the original cup you’ll find in Japan today with I’m guessing some slight tweaking. They recently released their Curry and Seafood Cup Noodle version here as well. Let’s check it out!
Here’s one sent by Daniel over at www.exoticnoods.com – thanks! If you want to get one of their subscription boxes, use coupon code RAMENRATER15 for 15% off your order!
One of the remaining few from James of California – thanks again! Here we have a chicken pho variety from Vietnam. Let’s check it out!
This one came by way of a buddy at www.exoticnoods.com – thanks,man! Use coupon code RAMENRATER15 for a nice discount on one of their subscription boxes.
Pork bone soup is a particular favorite of mine – whether it be creamy tonkotsu or something more like this, I’m usually quite partial to these styled varieties. Let’s see what this one from China holds in store.
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.
I’m really not a mushroom fan, so I thought I’d see how much I disliked the variety. It’s pretty rare there’s a mushroom instant that I actually like, but it has happened… Let’s check this one out!
Found this neat little box of noodles recently at 99 Ranch Market and thought oh yeah I’m trying this. The name is kind of hard for me to say – pretty long too. I don’t always like to share which has been a failing of mine I’ll admit. Maybe my daughter will try it. Then I can say I shared, but I won’t say I love to share.
Well, well, well. Here we are yet again. Just not hot enough for you, eh? Well, maybe this will do it for you. I mean look – Hochi (the Buldak mascot) is right there, tears streaming, breathing fire… 3x Spicy – so what it 1x spicy? Well, 4,400 SHU (scoville heat units). 3x would be 13,200 SHU – I guess we’ll have to see if that’s spicy. I know it will be. Time to burn!
Last year, I decided I’d bow to some readers who thought maybe like cars, lists should have the following year in the title. This caused some confusion; but I really can’t just undo this. So, going forward, lists that come out in the latter half of the year, August and beyond, will have the next year’s name in the title. We’ll see how that goes. These are my favorite cup varieties of all reviews up to number 3,545. Now, let’s look at The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Cup Noodles Of All Time, 2021 Edition.
This one comes from Zenpop.jp – a subscription box service. If you want to check out their boxes and get one, use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount.
Today, we come to the fourth and final review of the Myojo USA Meet The Manufacturer on their Ramen range. Just got back from the store – got some vegetables to dress this one up a little – let’s check it out!
