Hey last mintue Christmas gift getter-ers! You can get a subscription for your favorite ramen fan! You can get ’em one box or a bunch of boxes! Just head over to www.japancrate.com and use the coupon code THERAMENRATER to get a nice little discount on these Umai Crates! They’ve got a lot of neat things in them every month! Check out the video below to see what’s in the December box!
On October 18th, 2018, my doctor told me I had high cholesterol and was worried about it. I’ve been battling (and losing in the wrong way) my weight for years – as long as I can remember really. It was kind of a battle of will really. I’d get started losing weight and then a holiday or some kind of thing would derail me and I’d fall off the wagon.
I was contemplating doing something about my weight again but that talk with my doctor was the push I needed in the right direction.
A couple notes real quick: first, I don’t eat multiple bowls of noodles every day. I sample and review – so at most, I have 10% of a bowl. I wear shades because I’m legally blind and light sensitive, not because I’m trying to look cool. Being legally blind means you can see, but it’s really quite crummy vision.
After six months and a lot of walking and big changes, I returned to my doctor was was elated with my progress. People were noticing and commenting about it too, so I decided to make the first episode of The Ramen Rater Diet.
A full year later to the day, I visited my doctor. This time, I walked to the appointment. In the second episode, I outline what I’ve been doing, diet changes and all sorts of things I’ve run up against and found during this process.
As with last time, I did another video showing how I use the Hakubaku Mochi Barley as a part of my diet. I really think this was pivotal in losing weight and especially lowering my cholesterol levels along with exercise and fish oil.
Well, I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing. I seem to just keep losing about 11 pounds a month, and my goal is 164 pounds. That’ll be 201 pounds. Then it will be all about maintaining that weight. So I suppose there will be an episode 3 of The Ramen Rater Diet coming your way soon!
Fitbit Inspire – Link
Hakubaku Mochi Barley – Link
Anker SoundCore (Bluetooth Speaker) – Link
UKGear Shoes – Link
Progresso Light Soups – Link
Light & Motion Lights – Link
Core Power Elite Protein Drinks – Link
Tevs Minam Sandals – Link
Bang Energy Drink – Link
N.O. Xplode – Link
Today we have a Zenpop.JP variety – so what’s Zenpop? They’re a subscription service for all things Japanese! Definitely, check them out. By the way, use coupon code RAMENRATER to get $2 off! Here’s what they had to say about this one -“Pakuchi is what we call cilantro/coriander in Japan. This ramen features pakuchi and lemon together. Wonder how it tastes? Chances are you will be addicted to this! Pakuchi is widely used in the world, but it was not so popular in Japan until around 2015. It became popular since then and has spread to the young and old, especially among women. Big pakuchi fans are called Pakuchisto in Japan. The pakuchi mixed with the lemon peel’s bitterness creates this unique and delicious taste.”
I like coriander… When I took the Ancestry DNA test it said a trait of mine was that I thought it smelled like soap. I never thought so until it said that and now I smell and taste soap often when I used it in dishes. I’m a little annoyed by that. But I still like it.
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains meat. To prepare, add dry sachet and 500ml boiling water to the bowl. Cover for 3 minutes. Add in liquid sachet. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Detail of the lid (click to enlarge).
The noodle block.
A wet sachet of soup base.
A dry sachet of dehydrated coriander.
Finished (click to enlarge). Added baked chicken, coriander, lemon slices, chili oil, and sesame seeds. Noodles are thin with a slight rigidity and crumble which was almost reminiscent of Thai varieties – almost. The broth was neat – oiliness and a strong lemon flavor abound. Coriander flavor was a little muted by the lemon, but easily detectable. 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. JAN bar code 4902885005384.
Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!
Alright so this one is made in Singapore, but it’s made for the Hong Kong market. It’s funny how products are made elsewhere for other countries, right? Well, you honestly should be used to it by now – Take the myriad of products in your home. If you have a Big Mouth Billy Bass on the wall, it’s made in China. Singing bass don’t seem like something very popular in China – could be wrong but who knows. Anyways, let’s crack this open and see what we have.
Detail of the packaging (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, boil noodles in 450ml water for 3 minutes. Add in sachet contents. Finally, stir and enjoy!
The noodle block – non fried.
A dual sachet – dry base on the left, wet oil sachet on the right.
Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, spring onion, narutomaki, egg, chashu, sesame seeds, and nanami togarashi. The noodles are plump with a nice light chew. The broth has a great salty sesame oil taste to them. Full on umami bomb. 3.75 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 4895058312788.
Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!
This one came in a special ‘First Taste Club’ box from Nissin Foods USA – pretty snazzy. So, what’s the big deal? Well, it’s Top Ramen, in a bowl. It also comes with vegetables. It also comes with… teriyaki sauce? I’m very curious about this one – let’s cook it up and ruminate on this…
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains chicken. To prepare, add powder and vegetable sachets into the bowl along with room temperature water to the fill line. Microwave uncovered for 3 minutes at 1000W. Let sit in the microwave an additional minute. Add in wet sachet contents. Finally, stir and enjoy!
Detail of the lid (click to enlarge).
The noodle block.
A dry soup base sachet.
A dry sachet of vegetables.
A wet sachet of teriyaki sauce.
Finished (click to enlarge). Added baked chicken, Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, spring onion, carrot, sesame seeds, and shichimi togarashi. Noodles worked well and had a nice character to them. The broth smelled very much like homemade chicken broth – until the teriyaky liquid went in. It eradicated all taste of chicken in there. Vegetables were prevalent. I’m not saying it’s bad – in fact it was quite good – just when I see chicken I expect a chicken flavor. 3.5 out of 6.0 stars. UPC bar code 070662026038.
Nissin Cup Ramen Noodle Soup, Curry, 2.82 Ounce (Pack of 6)
Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!
Hey look – another Unboxing Time With The Ramen Rater! This one came today and we brought it inside set up the lights, shot the video, edited it and boom here it is! Lots of neat stuff in this box! Check it out! Get yours here: http://bit.ly/umaicrate
Use coupon code THERAMENRATER for extra discount!
People have been asking me for a list of healthy varieties for a long time. I decided to give it a try, and had mixed results. I’ve found things ramen/instant noodles, and things that aren’t and listed them here. There aren’t ten things, but over the next year I’m guessing more will present themselves. It appears this is an ever-evolving market as a couple that were going to be included went off the market while I was editing this list! Not everything presented is for everyone, but I’m really hoping there’s something that will work and interest everyone. If you have any ideas for things that should be on next year’s list, please email me. With that, here (in no particular order) is The Ramen Rater’s Healthy Options 2020 Edition.
A special video presentation of The Ramen Rater’s Healthy Options 2020 Edition.
This year, it appears as soon as I created this list, it was obsolete! This product is no longer being produced, but I was told something similar with different preparation will replace it soon. This one however contains konjac/konyaku – it’s an almost zero calorie noodle that when made with the right gauge is pretty decent. Paired with a miso broth, I was really impressed – and only 136 calories, guessing from the soup base sachet mostly. Original review
I first found out about NuTek a few years ago. They reached out to me and asked if I’d fly out and visit their operation in Omaha and try out their product first hand in a blind taste test (being partially sighted, every taste test I do is kind of blind har har). I was immediately sold on this stuff. I should mention I did some consulting with them for a little while but no longer do. I get a lot of people asking me about lower sodium noodles and this and their other products bring the promise of this without replacing saltiness with a funky taste. In fact, the way it works gives a slight delay in how the tongue senses saltiness – a fraction of a second – which makes the food itself more flavorful. Definitely a neat thing. Original review
This one was a no-brainer for this list. Take one brother who loves instant noodles and one that follows the healthy life and get their heads together on combining the two and you’ve got Vite Ramen. Tim & Tom Zheng introduced their idea on Kickstarter and were greeted with a huge response to get their business off the ground. So, what is Vite Ramen? It’s low sodium, high protein, high fiber, and had more vitamins and minerals than you can shake a menagerie of sticks at. If you’re looking for an ultra healthy ramen, this is the best I’ve seen yet. Original review
If you’re looking for a healthy Cup Noodle, Light+ and Cup Noodle Nice are the ticket. First off, they’re low cal and feature a different noodle style – one that’s really quite good. They’re from Japan so you’ll have to dig on eBay and eBay Canada most likely to track them down. But it’s worthwhile as they’re incredibly good. Original review
I was contacted by a distributor here in the United States about this one and got to give it a try. They’re got two varieties, one around 150 calories and the one above at around – get this – 50 calories. This is another variety made with konjac noodles – and it’s really good! one with a spicy Korean noodle flavor and the other flavor is Indonesian Soto – a kind of spicy and lime and coconut and chicken hit to it. I’ve seen these on Amazon at they’re rather pricey, but I’m guessing they’ll be more widespread and cheaper soon – they’re absolutely excellent and ultra tasty! Original review
In the past year, I’ve gone on a diet and exercise tear and lost a lot of weight (I’ll be doing the second installment of my The Ramen Rater Diet series very soon). I knew I needed to do this for a long time, but my doctor talked to me about it the right way at the right time and off I went. He was concerned about my cholesterol levels and told me unless they went down I’d need to go on a statin drug. I don’t know anything about those really, but I’ve never heard anything about them that include hearts and smiley faces connected to them. During the last year, I started working with Hakubaku a little bit and trying their products. They make really great ramen varieties which I’ve reviewed. They also make barley tea – my first try at making sun tea went pretty well. But most notably for me was trying their mochi barley. It’s ultra high in soluble fiber, and I consider it to be a big part in my arriving after six months at a clean bill of health for cholesterol as a result of my diet and exercise regime. Original review
Looking for a noodle low in fat and not fried? KOKA makes Delight. It’s interesting – first off, this is the kind of noodle block that’s not hard as a rock like your standard non-fried noodle – you could take a bite out of the block if you wanted to. Not only that, these are really quite good – with flavors like tomato, curry, a spicy sesame and more. Original review
If you’re looking for a range of noodles with less ingredients and wonderful flavors, you should check out Taiwanese dry noodles. The noodles themselves are dried by the sun or with big industrial fans – not fried. Plus they’re made with very few ingredients in a way that’s been done for generations. The seasonings that come with them often are few ingredients as well. I’ve often referred to the Taiwanese instant noodle makers as ‘masters of simplicity’; they can produce such tasty varieties with few ingredients. Original review
If you’re looking for Vegan varieties, I highly recommend these two. The Soon Veggie Noodles (kind of like a smoother version of Shin Ramen) and the Kimchi (tangy and tasty) are marked with a seal of approval from a Vegan foods authority. Really great flavor and quality that you can add more vegetables to and end up with a sumptuous feast. Original review
…a couple more that weren’t in the video
If you’re looking for wholegrain varieties, this is the best out there in my opinion. It’s been holding the #1 spot on my top ten list for 4 years! That’s my favorite out of over 3,000 instant noodles I’ve reviewed. The noodles have this rustic and hearty chew and taste without being gritty or funky. It makes a lot of food in each pack and so share with a friend – or an enemy as if you make this, they won’t be your enemy for long. Original review
There are a few varieties in this range, but by far my favorite was this one, the spicy soy milk noodle. With a badge from a Vegan authority, you’re definitely going to enjoy these as part of your Vegan lifestyle. Original review
So there you are – the first healthy list. If you want to make some recommendations of things that aren’t on here or are a company who produces products you think should be here, drop me a line and we can talk. Thanks for check the list out!
Been interested in fire noodles, but one with less calories, less fire? Check out this unboxing – with the famous Mimi!
I thought in honor of the spooky holiday Halloween, I’d do a little roundup of images and videos from past and present involving things that seemed fitting. Eat, drink and be scary!
I thought to continue this series of Prison Ramen Burrito Recipes that you couldn’t get in prison since you can’t get these varieties, the next logical step would involve Shin Ramen/Ramyun. I ended up with the standard Shin Ramen as well as Shin Black in this one. It ended up being an enormous monstrosity!
By the way – if you’re not familiar with my show, it’s on YouTube and for over a year, a new episode has come out every single day (well there was that one time where I pushed the wrong button but we won’t get into that). Join the regular commenters and say hi! I’m always happy to answer questions! Also, check out www.thechocolatebreak.com – my wife and I review chocolate as well.
Finished (click to enlarge). Okay so a lot going on here. Korean Chee-tos, Korean Spicy Sun Chips, Shin Ramyun, Shin Black, raw egg, gochujang, sesame seeds, spring onion – it’s pretty hardcore. You can do this! It’s really easy – just watch the video! Enjoy!
Sometimes it can be tough to get my little girl to cooperate with an unboxing but this time it went pretty well!
Dig on ramen? Check out one of these neat Zenpop boxes! Use the coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount!
© Hans Lienesch and The Ramen Rater, 2002-2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used non-commercially, provided that full and clear credit is given to Hans Lienesch and The Ramen Rater with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Products reviewed are copyrighted by their respective owners.
