Noodle Journey Episode 24: Indomie Mi Goreng

This review features one of the most beloved instant noodles on the planet: Indomie Mi Goreng. This particular variety is basically synonymous with Indonesian instant noodles; other brands make mi goreng, sure, but when people mention it, they almost always mean this one. It’s something I’ve had many times prior to this review, but I wanted to showcase it here because it’s got a lot of great things going for it: it’s dirt cheap, packed with flavor, and extremely easy to find worldwide.

I paid $2.99 for a 5-pack at my local Asian grocery store at the time of this review, and it’s readily available on Amazon and other online retailers. The serving size is on the small side, definitely more of a snack than a meal, and the sodium clocks in at 820 mg per pack. There don’t appear to be any animal products in the ingredients, though if you’re vegan, you should double check. Inside the pack, you’ll find five labeled packets: dry powder (MSG, salt, sugar, garlic, onion, soybean), seasoning oil (palm oil and shallot), sweet soy sauce, chili sauce, and a final packet of fried shallots for garnish. You can mix and match them to your liking, but I always use all of them.

Noodles:
For something this inexpensive, the noodle quality is impressive. They’re soft without being mushy and hold up well to the rich sauce mixture. They’re not as refined as a premium noodle, and they do stick together a bit, but they still blow Top Ramen or Cup Noodles out of the water.

• 7/10

Spiciness:
With the full chili packet added, the heat is noticeable but completely manageable. It’s no spicier than something like Tabasco, though it does linger longer in your mouth. You can leave out the chili packet entirely if you prefer zero heat.

• 3/10

Overall:
This little packet of noodles delivers a wild mix of flavors: sweetness from the soy sauce, umami from the powder and oil, peppery fruitiness and heat from the chili, and a strong shallot/onion presence that ties it all together. The fried shallots add crunch and more onion flavor, and the stickiness of the sauce helps everything cling to the noodles perfectly. This is one of those flavors that just works. I always have it in the pantry, and it’s my wife’s favorite go-to noodle as well. The only reason I wouldn’t recommend this is if you dislike onion or don’t want any hint of sweetness in your savory food. Otherwise, it’s an easy recommendation.

• 9/10

Notes since filming: Indomie Mi Goreng is still one of the first things I recommend when someone asks for instant noodle suggestions. These show up in Walmart and other grocery stores now and are still dirt cheap with amazing flavor. There’s no excuse not to try them unless you just don’t like stir-fried noodles at all.