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Noodle Journey: Top 10 Instant Noodles (2024)

Notes since filming:

I never deal in absolutes, which is why I won’t commit to saying any one noodle product is my number one of all time. I enjoy all of these for different reasons, and what awesome product I crave one day may not be what awesome product I crave another day. That’s why I filmed this list this way, and I will continue to do so with any future top lists.

Original video description:

Time for the channel’s first top 10 list! I’ve reviewed a lot of great products since the channel began. This list, in no particular order, highlights my 10 current favorites among the major noodle varieties, along with some honorable mentions for those of you with dietary preferences.

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Noodle Journey Episode 125: Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor Ramen

This one is pretty interesting and is a flavor profile I’ve never tried before: Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor Ramen. XO sauce is a Cantonese condiment made from dried seafood cooked with chilies, onions, and garlic (and sometimes ham). The “XO” name comes from XO Cognac, which has been colloquially adopted in China as shorthand for luxury, despite there being no cognac in the sauce. Based on that, I’m expecting a funky, salty-sweet, very seafood-forward broth with a little heat and some oil for richness.

Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 125: Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor Ramen
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Noodle Journey Episode 102: Nissin Cup Noodles Black Pepper Crab

For this episode, I’m trying one of the more intriguing flavors from Nissin’s Hong Kong Cup Noodles lineup: Black Pepper Crab. This variety caught my attention after a Reddit post claimed it was disappearing from store shelves, which made me even more curious to find and review it. Black pepper crab is a Singaporean classic, made by frying whole crabs in black pepper and aromatics, and this cup promises to deliver a version of that rich, peppery seafood experience. Like most cup noodle offerings, I know the noodles themselves won’t be the star, but the flavor could be.

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Noodle Journey Episode 89: Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast

In this review I’m taking a look at Nissin’s Cup Noodles Breakfast variety, a limited‐edition gimmick that pairs ramen with maple syrup, pancakes, sausage and egg flavors. Nissin announced it in March 2023 and many people assumed it was an April Fool’s joke, but it’s real and I was able to buy it from Walmart for about $1.18 at the time of review. It’s a Walmart exclusive and scalpers were reselling it online, which is disappointing because creating artificial scarcity for food is a particularly lousy thing to do.

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Noodle Journey Episode 47: Nissin Cup Noodle Original

I’m wrapping up the current lineup of Nissin’s Global Favorites with the Cup Noodle Original flavor, the third and final variety in this US-made series. While the name suggests this is the same recipe that launched Cup Noodle in Japan in 1971, it’s actually more of an homage. This version features an American-made version of that recipe, which contains salty soy broth with dehydrated shrimp, egg, and what Nissin affectionately calls “mystery meat.” Some fans online have claimed it doesn’t taste like the original they remember, which might be due to the glaring “No Added MSG” label. That decision seems geared toward appeasing American shoppers who still think it’s 1987 and MSG is something to fear.

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Noodle Journey Episode 46: Nissin Cup Noodle Curry

I’m revisiting Nissin’s Global Favorites line with the Cup Noodle Curry flavor, manufactured in the US despite being based on a classic Japanese variety. Japanese curry is one of my favorite comfort foods. It’s thick, mildly sweet, and richly spiced. I regularly buy Vermont Curry roux cubes to make it at home, and while the name “Vermont” would suggest otherwise, it’s very much a Japanese product. Japanese curry tends to use honey or fruit for sweetness and has a silky texture with very little heat, even when labeled “hot.”

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Noodle Journey Episode 43: Nissin Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice Flavor

I’m diving into what might be the strangest product I’ve ever reviewed: Nissin Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice flavor. Yes, it’s real. This seasonal item first launched in fall 2021 and returned in 2022, showing up in stores across the US between September and November. I didn’t expect to find one this late in the season, but there it was on clearance at a local supermarket, because of course it was.

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Noodle Journey Episode 39: Nissin Raoh Soy Sauce Ramen (US Version)

I’m trying the third Nissin Raoh variety in my lineup: Soy Sauce flavor. After loving the Miso and re-evaluating the noodles in the Tonkotsu version, I’m optimistic about this one. It’s a chilly autumn day, which makes this a perfect time to dig into a shoyu broth. Maruchan Gold Soy Sauce is still my reigning favorite in this category, with Sapporo Ichiban’s original flavor as a longtime staple, so this has stiff competition.

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Noodle Journey Episode 38: Nissin Raoh Miso Ramen (US Version)

I’m revisiting the Nissin Raoh product line with their Miso flavor, hoping for redemption after being underwhelmed by their American Tonkotsu version. That one had great noodles but an off-putting yeast-heavy broth. This time around, I’m looking for something more balanced. My current favorite miso is Maruchan Gold Spicy Miso, so this also serves as a natural comparison point.

Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 38: Nissin Raoh Miso Ramen (US Version)