Here’s a Japanese variety I got out of the very final ZenPop ramen subscription box that I haven’t tried yet. The official product name according to ZenPop is “Nomihosu Ippai Gotouchi-hen Sapporo Noukou Miso Ramen,” although you can find this online under the name “Sapporo Rich Miso Ramen.”
Read more: Review: Acecook Sapporo Rich Miso RamenI really hate that ZenPop stopped their ramen subscription box, because at the time, I was just beginning to explore the possibilities of subscription ramen services. On the bright side, that one and only box I got from them had some interesting goodies, including this miso variety. And after the appalling quality of the Kusari Miso Ramen I reviewed last week, I was craving an actual authentic Japanese miso ramen experience. And so hopefully this cup delivers.
If you want to buy this, check out sites that sell Japanese noodles like Yamibuy or Japanese Snacks Republic. If you live outside of Japan and you’re willing to pay to get this shipped, it’s not hard to find.
The salt equivalent up above is 3.7g, which is about 1457mg of sodium. While that might seem high, it’s actually pretty low compared to a lot of Japanese imports.
Attached to the lid is a liquid seasoning packet that warms up as this steeps.
Inside the cup, you’ll see the standard block of noodles, seasoning powder, and dried toppings. This is a Sapporo-style miso broth, so Acecook’s website says this contains typical ingredients like miso powder, pork & chicken extract, lard, ginger, garlic, and sesame paste. The dried toppings are corn, green onion, and chili peppers. And yes, I do usually complain about corn in ramen, but corn in Sapporo miso ramen is a specific thing in Japan and I normally do enjoy the pairing.
Above, you can see the liquid contents added to the broth after steeping. The liquid is a strong red miso paste with a little bit of oil (possibly sesame, but the miso aroma was the main one I noticed). Here’s what it looks like all stirred up:
Noodles:
Wow! I am genuinely impressed that noodles this good came from a cup product. Nissin should be ashamed at how mediocre their Cup Noodles are compared to what Acecook has made here. These are chewy, plump, a little thicker than expected, just an all-around pleasure to eat. I don’t know how these more medium-gauged noodles cooked through in only 3 minutes, but I’m happy with the end result.
- 8/10
Spiciness:
This is about as spicy as other “spicy” miso products I’ve had in the past, like Maruchan Gold’s Spicy Miso. And that is to say – it’s really not spicy at all. Yes, there’s little bits of chili pepper in the broth, but if you handed this to me without telling me it was spicy, I don’t think I’d notice any heat. Super mild, and only the most spice-intolerant of you will find this hot.
- 1.5/10
Overall:
This is a total umami bomb. I personally love the flavor of red miso – bold, earthy, and strongly fermented – and that flavor comes through here in ample quantities. It’s got a pleasant balance of salty and savory, with just a touch of sweetness coming from the corn. Speaking of the corn, there’s a good amount of it in here along with the pepper and green onion bits. The consistency of the broth is a little thick and oily, making this a super hearty noodle cup indeed. I do wish that there was one more textural element in here somewhere between noodles and corn, but all in all, I think this is terrific. If you’re a fan of the strong fermented vibe that red miso provides, you’ll enjoy this thoroughly.
- 9.5/10
