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.

Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Ramen Bowl Review - Noodle Journey Episode 88
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Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Ramen Bowl Review | Noodle Journey Episode 88

Sapporo Ichiban has become a bit of a sleeper favorite for me, and after really enjoying that miso bowl in the previous review, I wanted to check out Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Ramen, also in bowl form. While Sapporo Ichiban's lineup in the US is limited compared to what's available in Japan, what they do offer tends to be consistent, accessible, and pleasantly flavorful, which are qualities that earn them a permanent spot on my shelves (my daughter in particular is a big fan of their chicken ramen). Today's focus is on this pork bone broth variety that has a lot of competition in the instant noodle world. Given how many excellent tonkotsu options I've already reviewed, this one's got some stiff standards to live up to.

Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen Bowl Review - Noodle Journey Episode 87
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Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen Bowl Review | Noodle Journey Episode 87

This episode covers one of the most well-known instant miso ramen products on the market: Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen, in the bowl version. Thanks to a viral TikTok hack that combined this ramen with a raw egg, Kewpie mayo, and garlic, it skyrocketed in internet popularity. But beyond the hype, there’s some legitimate history here too; this was reportedly the very first instant miso ramen, dating back to the 1960s. It took Sanyo Foods three years to develop their proprietary six-miso blend for this flavor, and the end result is a savory, umami-rich bowl that clearly struck a chord with consumers.

Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein Review - Noodle Journey Episode 67
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Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein Review | Noodle Journey Episode 67

I’m reviewing a viewer-recommended pack today: Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein, which is a misnomer since this is actually yakisoba. You’ll spot “Chow Mein” on the packaging in English, but the Japanese text phonetically spells "Yakisoba," and the ingredients back that up (if in doubt, feel free to fire up Google Lens and aim it at the front of this pack). It includes Worcestershire-style seasoning (minus the anchovies), which is a hallmark of yakisoba, not chow mein. The terms get used interchangeably in American contexts, but this is squarely a Japanese-style stir-fry noodle.

Marutai Kagoshima Kurobuta Tonkotsu Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 59
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Marutai Kagoshima Kurobuta Tonkotsu Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 59

This is the final installment in my Marutai "Local Series" marathon, and we’re wrapping things up with a bold, pork-forward broth inspired by the Kagoshima prefecture. Known for its use of kurobuta black pork (meaning the breed of pig, not the color of the meat), this variety incorporates pork extract specifically labeled as coming from Kagoshima pigs, along with the distinctive addition of charred green onion. That charred scallion note is a key part of this ramen’s identity, lending a mild caramelized depth that sets it apart from typical tonkotsu profiles. It’s seems to be a popular choice online, which makes sense considering the flavor profile.

Marutai Kumamoto Kuromayu Tonkotsu Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 58
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Marutai Kumamoto Kuromayu Tonkotsu Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 58

This one has me excited. I'm trying Marutai Kumamoto Kuromayu Tonkotsu Ramen, a variety centered on one of my all-time favorite ramen additions: black garlic oil. Known as mayu or kuromayu, this oil is made by scorching garlic in sesame or other oil until it develops a nutty, roasted flavor. Google tells me it's a staple of this Kumamoto-style tonkotsu, a regional variety that blends pork and chicken bones for a milder, less oily broth than its Hakata counterpart. The addition of garlic is a hallmark of this style, and I can't wait to see how well this instant version captures it.

Marutai Setouchi Lemon Tonkotsu Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 57
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Marutai Setouchi Lemon Tonkotsu Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 57

This review marathon gets a wild curveball thrown at it in this installment with Marutai Setouchi Lemon Tonkotsu Ramen, one of the most unusual instant noodle flavors I’ve ever come across. While citrus elements like yuzu are fairly common in shio and even shoyu broths, this is the first time I’ve seen lemon used in a tonkotsu pork broth. As the product name suggests, the lemons are sourced from the Setouchi region of Japan, and while there was an earlier lemon tonkotsu release from Marutai around 2021, this version appears to be an updated version of that to reflect the origin of the lemons. If you’ve seen light blue packaging for a Marutai lemon tonkotsu product in the last decade, this is the same concept in new packaging with a possible tweak to the recipe due to the ingredient sourcing.

Marutai Hokkaido Asahikawa Soybean Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 56
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Marutai Hokkaido Asahikawa Soybean Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 56

This installment in the Marutai Local Series line is Marutai Hokkaido Asahikawa Soybean Ramen. It’s one of two flavors in the lineup based on Hokkaido ramen styles, the other being the red miso variety reviewed earlier. Unlike that one, which leaned heavily on fermented miso flavor, this version uses soy paste and seafood extract in a shoyu-style broth. That means a cleaner, more direct soy profile without the funk of fermentation, but with a unique flavor all its own.

Marutai Kurume Tonkotsu Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 55
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Marutai Kurume Tonkotsu Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 55

Marutai Kurume Tonkotsu Ramen takes us to the city of Kurume, considered the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen. The regional style is known for its rich, greasy pork bone broth that some may find overwhelmin, but for those who enjoy an unapologetically fatty, deeply porky soup, it’s a style worth seeking out. Kurume broth typically features pork bones, soy sauce, onion, and ginger, with a finishing layer of seasoning oil for extra depth. This particular variety is easily identified by its pinkish packaging and is widely available online and in Asian grocery stores, usually retailing for $4 to $8 per pack (which contains two servings).