Noodle Journey Episode 76: Prima Taste Chili Crab LaMian

I’m wrapping up my reviews of Prima Taste’s lineup for now, or at least the ones currently available in my area. This time, I’m diving into their Chili Crab LaMian, which along with the Singapore Curry and Laksa flavors I’ve previously scored at a perfect 10, seems to be the only other flavor that gets exported to the USA. But unlike those soup-based varieties, this one is a dry noodle, served with a sauce and oil packet instead of broth. It’s a different style altogether.

The price is in the ballpark of $10–$15 for a 4-pack, though some sellers will push it up to $20, so shop around. This is a single-serving pack, not one of those fake “two servings” packages. You’ll find it at most Asian grocery stores or online.

The noodles are the same thick, hearty la mian style that Prima Taste always delivers. Inside the pack is an oil packet made with palm oil, shrimp, and shallot, and a sauce packet containing shrimp, tomato, chili, and spices. It’s important to note there’s no actual crab in here; the “crab” is mimicked with shrimp and artificial flavoring. This is typical of crab-flavored instant noodles, especially those available in the US. There’s a notable amount of added sugar in the sauce, presumably to approximate the natural sweetness of crabmeat, and the sodium clocks in at 1600mg. Cooking requires two boiling vessels: one for the noodles (6 minutes) and another to warm the unopened sauce and oil packets (3 minutes), since the oil is congealed at room temperature.

Noodles:
These noodles continue to be Prima Taste’s biggest strength. Thick, chewy, and deeply satisfying, they hold up great even in a sauced preparation. They’ve consistently garnered a perfect 10 in my past reviews and this one’s no different.
• 10/10

Spiciness:
This carries a medium level of heat, about on par with sriracha or sambal oelek you’d find in an Asian market. It’s chili paste-forward, but not overbearing. A well-balanced burn that doesn’t overshadow the flavor.
• 4/10

Overall:
The sauce offers a complex blend of tomato, chili, and shrimp with additional brightness from lemongrass and subtle hints of ginger. There’s also garlic and onion in there, though I found they take a backseat. The sweetness is dialed a bit high, and the crab approximation doesn’t quite work for me – it tastes more like shrimp with sugar than anything crab-like. Still, if you approach this as a sweet and spicy shrimp noodle rather than expecting genuine crab flavor, it’s enjoyable. Garnishing with something crispy and savory like fried shallots might help round things out. While I’m giving this an 8, it’s the Prima Taste variety I’m least likely to repurchase, and that’s not because it’s bad, but because the other two are just that good.
• 8/10