Detailed instant noodle reviews and ratings – watch, read, and discover your next favorite.
Here's the other currently-new product from Momofuku, their Momofuku Spicy Chili Noodles. Coming right after Sweet & Spicy, the obvious question is whether this feels distinct from that one or Tingly Chili or is more or less a spicier version of either. The packaging is certainly similar to Sweet & Spicy, but the ingredients list is certainly different, so I’m curious how it actually eats vs. the rest of the product line.
After an insanely long wait for new flavors, today's review is one of the two new flavors (as of August 2023) from Momofuku’s instant noodle lineup: Momofuku Sweet & Spicy Noodles. Unlike their earlier offerings, which mostly leaned on soy and sesame profiles, this one brings a gochujang-style sauce that promises a balanced kick with some sweetness. The noodles are still made by A-Sha, so I’m already expecting top-notch texture, but we're finally at a point where Momofuku is making their own sauce instead of repackaging an existing recipe from A-Sha. This feels like a smart pivot for Momofuku, moving into something with a different flavor profile and a fuller sauce compared to their original three flavors.
Today I’m reviewing another noodle supplement from Ramen Bae - this time, their completely vegan and gluten-free Ramen Bae Veggie Mix. I’ve covered Ramen Bae before in my review of their Classic Seafood and Vegetables Mix, which launched to a great reception after they sought feedback on Reddit. Many people immediately requested a vegetarian alternative without seafood, and this variety, released in June 2023, is the result. As with the previous version, this mix is designed to stir into any cup or bagged noodles for an extra boost of toppings.
I’m reviewing one of the most popular vegan instant noodle options out there: Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup. Since I tend to cover a lot of spicy, meat-based varieties, this feels like a good opportunity to check out something milder, vegan-friendly, and easy to find in the US. Vegans deserve solid noodle options too, and this one has been hyped online for years. It’s long overdue for a spot on my review list. As with most Nongshim products, my expectations are high, so I’m curious to see if it lives up to the praise.
I’m back with the second half of the Doong Ji Naengmyeon line with Nongshim Doong Ji Naengmyeon with Gochujang Sauce, this time swapping out the chilled beef broth for a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. Fans of the channel might recognize this pairing from my review of Nongshim’s Guksu Soba in Episode 85, where I loved the sauce, and from the previous review's naengmyeon noodles, which I mostly liked. Given that history, I’m expecting a solid showing here. Naengmyeon is a cold noodle dish made with ultra-thin brown noodles, while this gochujang sauce is a sweet and spicy blend built on red pepper paste and other savory elements.
It’s another hot summer day, so I’m breaking into something cold for this review: Nongshim Doong Ji Naengmyeon with Chilled Beef Broth. I first saw this style of noodle in a video from Esther Choi, where she prepared naengmyeon for Sean Evans, and it piqued my interest. I’ve tried other cold noodles before, like Nongshim’s Guksu Soba and Paldo’s Bibimmen, but naengmyeon is new territory for me. These thin, chewy noodles are typically made with wheat, buckwheat, and potato starch, and they’re traditionally served in a tangy, chilled broth, often as a refreshing follow-up to Korean BBQ. This one swaps in a beef-based broth, which should make for a very interesting experience.
For today’s review, I’m diving into my very first Indian instant noodles and my first experience with the Maggi brand, with Maggi 2-Minute Masala Noodles. I actually had something completely different planned for this review, but prior to filming, I met up with a friend from a neighboring state who handed me a couple of packs. These are likely the most popular Indian instant noodles in the world, yet I can’t find a single store near me that sells them, despite Nestle distributing them in the US. I’ve been searching for any Maggi product for ages, so finally getting my hands on these feels like a small victory.
Rap Snacks is a line of products that feature prominent hip-hop/rap artists putting their name, likeness, and endorsements on various things like chips, snacks, and these instant noodles. These Rap Snacks Icon Ramen Noodles, which are dollar store staples, have sparked some divisive opinions online, but they have a few unusual ingredients and flavor concepts that made me curious enough to grab the whole set. For this episode, I’m reviewing all three of the Rap Snacks Icon Ramen Noodle cups that are available at the time of review: Creamy Chicken Gumbo by Master P, Beef Prime Rib by E-40, and Louisiana Hot & Spicy Chicken by Boosie. Each cup is branded with the artist’s face, and while the presentation leans into novelty, the ingredient lists makes me hope they might be more interesting than expected.
For this supplemental review, I’m looking at Ramen Bae Classic Seafood and Vegetables Mix, a product designed to give your instant noodles a serious upgrade in toppings without a trip to the store. Ramen Bae is a small business that first popped up on Reddit earlier in 2023, went viral on TikTok, and quickly sold out of their first batch, followed by some distribution issues that commonly plague new businesses. They’ve since resolved their supply chain hiccups, and at the time of this review, their site is restocked.
Today I’m diving into my second-ever yakisoba review with Myojo Ippei-chan Yakisoba with Mustard Mayonnaise. Myojo has a strong reputation for quality, and this one comes with something special: a mustard mayonnaise packet for garnish. It’s also my second time reviewing a Myojo product after their excellent refrigerated Shio Tonkotsu. This variety has a lot to live up to, especially given that there’s also a refrigerated fresh noodle version out there, which I can only imagine is even better.