By popular demand, it’s time to take a look at an American instant ramen: Mike’s Mighty Good Fried Garlic Chicken. This one has its defenders and its critics, and after trying it again for this review, I still find myself torn.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 3: Mike’s Mighty Good Fried Garlic Chicken RamenTo Mike’s credit, their noodles are steamed, organic, and their branding leans heavily into sustainability. They’re also one of the few instant ramen brands in the US that highlight their sodium content as a positive; this pack clocks in at 1100mg, which is less than the content of most big-name Korean instant noodles. That might appeal to the health-conscious crowd, assuming you can live with what that trade-off means in other areas.
Inside the “pillow pack” you’ll find a powdered soup base, a packet of oil (which is where the “insanely rich broth” claim comes from), and a noodle brick that looks more like a weapon than a meal. The noodles are dense and sharp-edged. They’re steamed rather than fried, but trying to break them apart without injury should come with a liability waiver. The portion size is also noticeably small. At a price point of $2.50 to $3.00 per pack, that stinginess is hard to overlook. You can get two to three times the volume from many other brands for the same price or less.
Noodles:
These are not your standard instant noodles, and I don’t necessarily mean that as a compliment. The texture lands somewhere between undercooked spaghetti and clumpy rice noodles, depending on how carefully you cook them. They tend to clump together unless you really take the time to fight them apart. while cooking While some folks genuinely like the chew, I can’t get past the inconsistency. It’s technically edible and not outright bad, but it’s not something I enjoy.
• 4/10
Spiciness:
This is not a spicy noodle. Unless garlic is something you consider spicy (I have family that would say it is), there’s nothing here that’s going to make you sweat. If you like bold heat, this isn’t going to do it.
• 1/10
Overall:
This is one of the most frustrating noodles to review. The flavor leans heavily into garlic, with some onion and basic chicken broth undertones. There’s also a little soy, a bit of sesame, and trace amounts of mushroom and green onion, though they barely register. It is honestly not bad; the fried garlic aroma comes through strong and pleasant, and the broth has a clean, savory quality to it that doesn’t rely on overpowering salt. But the downsides are impossible to ignore. The noodle texture is weird, the serving size is laughable, and the price point is out of step with what you’re getting. If these were $1.25? Maybe. they’re a soft recommendation But at $2.99 (or whatever they cost nowadays)? Get outta here. I could be compelled to grab one on sale if I need a light snack, but I’m not going out of my way for this. Mike and I have a complicated relationship like that.
• 4/10
If you’re someone with a smaller appetite, or you’re watching your sodium, or you really like doctoring up your noodles into something more elaborate, this might be worth keeping in your pantry. But for anyone else, I think there are just too many better options out there that don’t require you to justify the cost or make excuses for the portion size.
Notes since filming: I’ve eaten this once since filming this review (I was desperate), and my opinion remains unchanged. I’ve had so much better since this review that I feel like the overall 4 may have been too generous.
