I’m revisiting this A-Sha x Hot Ones Ramen Noodle Cups collaboration products, this time focusing on the ramen noodle cups rather than the bowls reviewed back in Episode 178. While the branding might suggest these are the same products in different packaging, the recipes are completely different. The lineup includes Sweet Chili, Garlic Chili, and Smoky Chili, all built around air-dried Taiwanese-style noodles and broths that are clearly derived from hot sauce bases rather than traditional ramen soup.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 189: A-Sha x Hot Ones Ramen Noodle Cups Mega-ReviewThese cups are much easier to justify on price compared to the bowls. I found them at Walmart for $1.98 each, which is a big step down from the $4.49 price tag on the bowls sold at Target, even accounting for the slightly smaller portion size. All three cups include air-dried noodles, a liquid soup base, additional seasoning or vegetable packets depending on the flavor, and a liquid bonus heat pack that can significantly raise the spice level. I microwaved all three, as steeping previously resulted in overly chewy noodles when I reviewed the bowls.
Sweet Chili Ramen Noodle Soup
The Sweet Chili cup is positioned as the mildest option in the lineup. Inside the cup are air-dried ramen-style noodles, a liquid soup base, a powdered seasoning packet, and the bonus liquid chili pack. The ingredient list includes sugar, chili, vinegar, tomato powder, fish sauce, garlic, MSG, and potato starch, which appears to be used as a thickening agent rather than part of the noodle formulation. Sodium for this cup comes in at 1180mg, or 51% of the daily value, which is actually on the lower end for instant ramen.
Once cooked, the broth is thin and lightly oily, with a Thai-style sweet chili aroma. Overall, it smells sweet, tangy, and pepper-forward without being overwhelming.
Noodles:
The noodles closely resemble those used in the Hot Ones bowls, possibly just a touch thinner. They have excellent texture, with a bouncy chew that holds up remarkably well for microwave preparation. Cooking this way produces far better results than steeping, which tends to leave the noodles overly firm.
• 8.5/10
Spiciness:
On its own, this is on the mild end of the scale as promised. The heat level is comparable to a standard Thai sweet chili sauce, offering spice without lingering burn or discomfort.
• 3/10
With the bonus heat pack fully added, the heat level increases significantly. The spice builds more toward the back end but does not overwhelm the broth or change the flavor profile in any meaningful way.
• 5.5/10
Overall:
This cup ends up being a very strong start to the lineup and sets a surprisingly high bar for the rest of the review. The sweet chili concept works because it never veers too far into sugary territory. Instead, the broth balances sweetness with vinegar, chili pepper heat, garlic, and salt, resulting in something that feels cohesive rather than novelty-driven. The thin, lightly oily broth carries flavor well and pairs nicely with the air-dried noodles. I was afraid it would be a little watered-down given its consistency, but that was not the case. The small protein-like bits add a welcome textural contrast and help the cup feel more substantial than expected. While the toppings are minimal, they contribute just enough to make this feel like a complete product rather than just noodles and broth. With the bonus heat pack added, the cup is still tolerable and flavorful. The additional heat amplifies what’s already there rather than masking it, which is not something every spicy noodle product manages to pull off. Whether eaten mild or with the heat pack fully added, this remains tasty, balanced, and highly enjoyable, making it one of the standout recipes across this entire collaboration.
• 8.5/10
Garlic Chili Ramen Noodle Soup
The Garlic Chili cup is labeled as medium heat and is the one I was most curious about going in. The bowl version of Chili Garlic was a disaster in my opinion, so my expectations here weren’t high. This cup includes the same air-dried noodles, a liquid soup base, a small vegetable packet with carrots and scallions, and a liquid bonus heat pack. Sodium is listed at 1000mg, making it the lowest-sodium option of the three.
The broth ingredients include chili, garlic, vinegar, sugar, MSG, and non-dairy creamer. Once opened, the aroma immediately delivers a familiar chili garlic sauce profile, very similar to Vietnamese-style chili garlic sauces commonly found at Asian markets. The vegetable packet is light on carrots but includes a decent amount of green onions.
Noodles:
The noodles are identical in texture and quality to those in the Sweet Chili cup. They retain their chew and structure well and continue to be a strong point of the product.
• 8.5/10
Spiciness:
Without the bonus heat pack, the spice level feels marginally lower than the “medium” label might suggest. It’s approachable and similar to everyday chili garlic sauces, with steady heat but no real burn.
• 4.5/10
After adding the bonus heat pack, the spice climbs noticeably. The added chili brings more intensity and a slightly smokier edge, pushing this closer to more familiar Shin or Buldak benchmarks without crossing into what I would call extreme territory.
• 6.5/10
Overall:
This cup ends up being a major redemption compared to the Chili Garlic bowl from the earlier Hot Ones review. The garlic chili flavor here is pronounced, leaning heavily into a vinegar-forward chili sauce profile that actually lives up to its name. The garlic actually shows up this time, supporting the chili pepper flavor instead of getting lost in the mix. The broth is bold, delivering sour notes from the vinegar, steady chili heat, and just enough sweetness to keep everything balanced. The non-dairy creamer also helps smooth everything out in both flavor and consistency. While the carrot quantity is comically low, the green onions are decent, and the overall broth quality makes up for the sparseness of the vegetables. With the bonus heat pack added, the flavor deepens in a subtle way that genuinely improves the cup. The added chili brings a slightly smokier, more flavorful pepper presence that works especially well here because the base broth is less sweet than the Sweet Chili cup. Rather than just increasing heat, the extra chili enhances the overall flavor complexity. This ended up being a thoroughly enjoyable recipe for me.
• 8/10 (without heat packet)
• 8.5/10 (with heat packet)
Smoky Chili Ramen Noodle Soup
The Smoky Chili cup is labeled “hot” and carries the highest sodium content of the three at 1450mg. This one raised some concern going in due to past experience with the Fiery Tonkotsu bowl, which escalated significantly after the bonus heat pack was added. Inside are the same air-dried noodles, a liquid broth base, a vegetable packet with carrots and scallions, and a liquid bonus heat pack.
The broth ingredients include garlic, chili, tamarind, sugar, vinegar, and MSG. The aroma before cooking strongly suggests a smoked chili hot sauce base, with aromatics reminiscent of something like chipotle, ancho, or guajillo peppers. There’s a clear Tex-Mex influence, including a cumin aroma.
Noodles:
As with the other two cups, the noodles remain consistently excellent, with a firm but bouncy texture that holds up well in the broth.
• 8.5/10
Spiciness:
Before adding the bonus heat pack, this was already the hottest of the three cups. It’s certainly above a medium heat, with a noticeable amount of heat.
• 6/10
With the bonus heat pack added, the spice level rises further and lingers a bit. The burn starts out strong but fades after a few minutes, stopping short of the more extreme Hot Ones Fiery Tonkotsu bowl.
• 7.5/10
Overall:
The Smoky Chili cup is the most polarizing of the three, largely due to its very specific flavor profile. The broth leans heavily into smoked chili, cumin, vinegar, and garlic, giving it a distinctly Tex-Mex hot sauce character rather than more traditional Asian-adjacent flavors. For anyone who enjoys smoky, chipotle-style hot sauces or likes Tapatio ramen, this will immediately feel familiar. The broth has a nice oily finish and savory notes from the garlic and MSG, with some nice acidity keeping it from feeling flat. That said, the dominant cumin and smoke notes make this less versatile than the other two cups, and cumin is just not my favorite spice. It’s flavorful, but the Tex-Mex finish is not going to win anyone over if they’re not already into this style of broth. Adding the bonus heat pack raises both the spice level and the intensity of the pepper flavor. The burn lingers but fades after a few minutes and never escalates into what I would call overwhelming territory. The extra chili reinforces the existing vinegar and pepper notes rather than clashing with them. While it ranks last for me personally, it’s still a solid option that will likely be a favorite for fans of smoky hot sauces.
• 7/10 (without heat packet)
• 7.5/10 (with heat packet)
All three A-Sha x Hot Ones ramen noodle cups take a very on-brand approach by using hot sauce bases as the foundation for their broths, and that strategy works surprisingly well. The Sweet Chili and Garlic Chili stand out as the strongest entries, offering balanced flavor. The Smoky Chili, while not my favorite of the bunch, still delivers solid flavor. The lower price point compared to the bowls makes these cups far easier to recommend, especially given the consistently high noodle quality. If you enjoy Hot Ones sauces or vinegar-forward chili flavors, these cups are well worth checking out, particularly the Sweet Chili and Garlic Chili varieties.
