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

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.

Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 152: Nissin Cup Noodles Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese

Before even opening this cup, I already had a few opinions. I’ve always liked everything bagels but have zero tolerance for caraway seeds; they hijack the flavor and make anything taste like rye bread. Cream cheese, on the other hand, is a staple for me; I’m a Philadelphia loyalist through and through. When a product claims “cream cheese flavor,” I expect it to actually remind me of cream cheese. I also grew up near real bagel shops, so I know the difference between a proper bagel profile and a cheap regional imitation. With that context, this cup has a lot to live up to. I found it at Walmart for $1.18 at the time of review, and it’s part of Nissin’s current U.S. Cup Noodles lineup, also available online and in select grocery chains.

Each cup contains 1150 mg of sodium and cooks only in the microwave, no boiling water option here. Inside are thin noodles, a powdered sauce base, and visible bits of everything bagel seasoning, including sesame, poppy, garlic, onion, and yes, caraway seeds, which is why I brought it up earlier. The mix also contains milk, tapioca starch, garlic powder, and flavor enhancers.

When cooked, the aroma is unmistakable: toasted garlic and onion with a tangy cream note that genuinely smells like an everything bagel fresh from the toaster.

Noodles:
Standard Cup Noodles texture: thin, soft, and quick to absorb the sauce. They’re functional but unremarkable, serving mainly as a delivery system for the flavor.
• 5/10

Spiciness:
None at all. The garlic and onion add punch, but there’s no heat here.
• 0/10

Overall:
It’s bizarre, but it kinda works. The seasoning gives a savory, well-rounded flavor that genuinely channels the essence of an everything bagel. The sesame and poppy seeds add light crunch, while the garlic and onion balance the cream base well. Unfortunately, the caraway seeds ruin the illusion for me; every few bites, their bitter, overpowering flavor cuts through everything else. Without them, this could have been a convincing novelty. The cream cheese element also misses the mark. It’s tangy and thick like sour cream rather than smooth and slightly sweet like a good cream cheese. That substitution shifts the flavor balance, making it sharp and salty instead of rich and mellow. Still, it’s cohesive enough to be interesting. The smell oversells it, but it’s edible, if not really weird. The flavor is fun to try once, and it makes for a great conversation piece, but there’s no reason to keep this in your pantry. For novelty value, I’ll give Nissin credit: it’s gutsy to make something this strange and have it actually taste okay, but I’d have been a lot happier without the caraway seeds.
• 5.5/10

Notes since filming:

A lot of people have mentioned how much they hate the “sauce” in this since I filmed the review. I didn’t find the sauce to be the weak point here, but maybe that’s just me. Honestly, if Nissin just retooled this variety a little bit, it would be pretty good.