Nissin Hot & Spicy Fire Wok Bowls Mega-Review | Noodle Journey Episode 159
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Nissin Hot & Spicy Fire Wok Bowls Mega-Review | Noodle Journey Episode 159

Today I’m covering the full set of Nissin Hot & Spicy Fire Wok Bowls: Sizzlin’ Rich Pork, Scorchin’ Sesame Shrimp, Molten Chili Chicken, and Volcanic Mongolian Beef. These aren’t part of the regular Hot & Spicy line, but while they use what I think is the same noodle base, they come with their own unique Fire Sauce recipes for extra heat. Each bowl aims for “restaurant-level” stir-fry flavor (Nissin's words, not mine) straight from the microwave, which sounds ambitious for a $2 cup of noodles. I’m testing them from mildest to hottest to see if any of them deserve a spot in your noodle rotation.

Nissin Chikin Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 155
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Nissin Chikin Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 155

This might be the most important noodle I’ll ever review. Nissin Chikin Ramen (spelled “Chikin” intentionally, not as a typo) is the original instant noodle, first released in Japan in 1958 by Momofuku Ando. At the time, postwar Japan was facing food shortages, and the U.S. was supplying wheat flour to help feed the country. Bread wasn’t popular, so Ando set out to turn wheat into noodles that could last without refrigeration. His breakthrough came when he saw his wife frying tempura and realized that oil could be used to dehydrate noodles instantly. That discovery led to the world’s first flash-fried, shelf-stable noodle, and the birth of instant ramen itself, in the form of this Chikin Ramen.

Nissin Cup Noodles Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese Review | Noodle Journey Episode 152
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Nissin Cup Noodles Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese Review | Noodle Journey Episode 152

It must be April again, because Nissin has released yet another offbeat Cup Noodles flavor that sounds like a prank but isn’t. This time it’s Nissin Cup Noodles Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese, part of their growing list of limited-edition experiments like Pumpkin Spice and Breakfast Cup Noodles. Both of those turned out better than expected, so this one had me curious. I love everything bagel seasoning and cream cheese, just not necessarily together with noodles.

Top 10 Instant Noodles (2024) | Noodle Journey
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Top 10 Instant Noodles (2024) | Noodle Journey

I recently hit the milestone of 1,000 subscribers, and to celebrate, I’m finally compiling the first-ever Noodle Journey Top 10 Instant Noodles list. Over the course of this channel, I’ve reviewed a massive variety of noodles, but these ten are the absolute best-in-class for their categories, in my humble opinion. These are the varieties that blew me away when I tried them and that I keep stocked regularly in my pantry for when I’m not filming reviews. This list is in no particular order. These are simply the major varieties that are easily obtainable and represent the pinnacle of my own instant noodle universe in 2024.

Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 125
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Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 125

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.

Nissin Cup Noodles Black Pepper Crab Review - Noodle Journey Episode 102
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Nissin Cup Noodles Black Pepper Crab Review | Noodle Journey Episode 102

For this episode, I’m trying one of the more intriguing flavors from the Hong Kong Cup Noodles lineup: Nissin Cup Noodles 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.

Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast Review - Noodle Journey Episode 89
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Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast Review | Noodle Journey Episode 89

In this review I'm taking a look at Nissin 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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Nissin Cup Noodle Original Review | Noodle Journey Episode 47

I’m wrapping up the current lineup of Nissin’s Global Favorites with the Nissin 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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Nissin Cup Noodle Curry Review | Noodle Journey Episode 46

I'm revisiting Nissin's Global Favorites line with the Nissin 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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Nissin Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice Flavor Review | Noodle Journey Episode 43

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.