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The Top Ten Instant Noodles of All Time

April 18, 2018 by Hans Lienesch 4 Comments

Our friend, Hans Lienesch, aka, The Ramen Rater is back with the Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time – 2018 Edition! Enjoy.

10. Gookmul Knight Of Ribs – South Korea

Gookmul really made their mark with their special lobster variety last year. But I think this eclipses the taste of those by a lot. The noodles are perfectly chewy and of high quality with a great mouthfeel. What’s amazing about this one is the noodles get ensconced in a luxuriant sauce with lots of real pork – it’s kind of like having barbecue pulled pork noodles and it’s simply delectable and memorable. Original review

9. Nissin Demae Ramen Straight Noodle Spicy Tonkotsu Flavour – Hong Kong

Last year, Nissin Hong Kong’s Black Garlic Oil version was on the list. It was extremely good, but this one really impressed me. The noodles are thin and straight with a very nice chew. The broth is a melange of spicy and milky tonkotsu that had a deep and rich flavor. The heat isn’t so strong you’ll be running for the hills, but it’s respectable insofar as it is spicy but doesn’t overwhelm the underlying tonkotsu flavor. Original review

8. TTL White Wine Carbonara Noodle – Taiwan

Much to my chagrin, TTL keeps coming out with interesting varieties. TTL stands for Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor – and they always have some kind of alcohol with their products. This one comes with a retort pouch will of creamy sauce and pork which is augmented by a sachet of white wine. A sipping soup is made with a separate sachet. The combination is apt and Very delicious. Original review

7. Mom’s Dry Noodle Dan Dan Noodle – Taiwan

I’ve long said that the Taiwanese are masters of simplicity when it comes to food and this one is no exception. We start with a thin noodle, one that is not fried but dried in the hot sun – no sun, no noodles. The flavor is a combination of chilli oil, sesame paste, soy sauce and a dry combo of Sichuan peppercorn hulls and garlic. Finally, the end result is a multi-layered balance of flavors that harmonize perfectly. Original review

6. Red Chef Green Tom Yum Soup Noodles – Malaysia

Innovation is something I hold in high regard – I’ve tried almost 3,000 kinds of instant noodles from around the world – new flavors are definitely ones that catch my eye and taste buds. This one has noodles that plump up nicely. The broth is strong and kind of reminds me of a cross between a Malaysian tom yum crossed with green curry spiciness. It works very well and is very tasty. Original review

5. Prima Taste Singapore Curry Wholegrain La Mian – Singapore

This one has been on the list for three years now and for good reason. The noodles are thick and chewy – and while they are wholegrain they aren’t coarse on the chew – they’re hearty and rustic. The broth comes from two large sachets – one full of curry paste and one of coconut powder. The richness and depth of flavor here is sensational and delights the palate with flavors that are balanced and superb. Original review

4. CarJEN Nyonya Curry Laksa – Malaysia

Hailing from Melaka, this Malaysian variety catches the eye and delights the senses. A noodle with a great gauge and chew sets the scene. Finally, a broth with a nice rich and creamy flavor augmented by coconut milk powder and a special ‘dipping sauce’ that has a sweet and spicy shrimp hit just makes everything so good. A truly delightful and enticing scent brings one to the bowl with anticipation and hunger. Original review

#3: MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle (2018 Recipe) – Malaysia

Over the years, this variety went from #1 to being off of the list last year. This was due to numerous recipe changes I just didn’t like. Well, this year they’ve done it. The recipe has uniquely changed once again and it’s definitely returned to it’s roots with a flavor I love. The noodle plumps up very well as with all MyKuali varieties – and then the broth. A big sachet of curry paste sets the stage along with creamer and seasoning. The end result is a incredibly strong and spicy curry that is all in all unique and mesmerizing. Original review

2. Red Chef Sakura Prawn Soup Noodles – Malaysia

Once again, this newcomer to the list for 2018 brings their game to the table. The great gauge and gauge to the noodle, and then the broth just takes over. A sweet and extremely strong prawn flavor. A good level of spiciness is here as well and works with the broth rather than overwhelms it. The broth is thick and oiliness is on point. Rounding things out is a sachet of fried onions – good sized ones that add a very agreeable crunch on top. Authentic and wonderful. Original review

1. Prima Taste Singapore Wholegrain Laksa La Mian — Singapore

Prima Taste’s Laksa sits atop the list for the third year in a row. Its chewy wholegrain noodles are hearty and artisanal – never gritty and just a pleasure to chew with a cosmic mouthfeel. Moreover, the broth is a combination of a laksa paste sachet which is large and full of premium ingredients. The broth is made fuller and creamy with the second sachet, a large one filled with coconut milk powder. All in all, if I had only one noodle to eat on a deserted island, this would be the one. All in all, it’s just exquisite in taste and to the eye. Original review

Ramen Nachos, The Ramen Rater’s 1000th Review

March 22, 2013 by Chris Durso Leave a Comment

Instant noodle enthusiast and friend of Foodiggity, The Ramen Rater, recently completed his 1000th review of instant ramen. The package that Hans chose to do the honors — Yakisoba Beef Taco Flavor.

And, since this is a special review, and Hans likes to get creative with his noodles — he used the “taco flavor” as inspiration to make Ramen Nachos. Congrats, Hans. See the full review here.

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The Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time

September 12, 2012 by Hans Lienesch Leave a Comment

Some like it hot. Some also enjoy instant noodles. Lucky for us, ‘The Ramen Rater’ Hans Lienesch knows a bit about both, and is back to share his list of the hottest instant noodles of all time. Go, Hans!

10. Koka Instant Non-Fried Noodles Spicy Black Pepper Flavour — Singapore

If you like black pepper, you’ll want to try this. It has a nice peppery sauce that has a rich and deep black pepper flavor that doesn’t quit. The garnish of dried veggies are an added bonus. Original review

9. Wei Lih Good Good Eat Super Ramen Hot Chili Flavor — Taiwan

Has decent noodles and a deep red broth that exclaims ‘beware of fire!’ The broth also has an oily texture and sweet notes that make it quite unique in its fire. Original review

8. Paldo (Korea Yakult) Kko Kko Myun – South Korea

The result of a comedian on a competition TV show in South Korea, Kko Kko Myun has been a huge craze. The flavor is a jalapeno chicken – and the jalapeno is nice and strong. Has a real good bite to it. Original review

7. FoodMon DJ-DOC Jjolmyeon – South Korea

DJ-Doc is a hip-hop group in South Korea and they must be pretty happy to have their faces on this stuff. In this bowl, you have noodles, large pieces which are rice cake and a red sauce which has a wonderful heat and flavor. It all ties together to be like a hot and spicy lasagna ala South Korea. Wonderful stuff! Original review

6. JML Instant Noodle Artificial Spicy Hot Beef Flavour – China

A very spicy Chinese noodle soup. Notice it’s not spicy beef, it’s spicy hot beef! Has decent veggies and a serious punch! Original review

5. Nongshim Shin Ramyun Noodle Soup – USA

Yep – they make this is the USA now. A standard of the spicy noodle world! Hot and tasty with lots of thick noodles. Original review

4. Namchow Mee Jang Noodle Soup Sour Spicy Chicken (Tom Yum) – Thailand

The packaging looks pretty tame but this stuff is anything but. The broth is enough to blow your head off – wow! Original review

3. Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja (Really Really) Ramyun – South Korea

This is hot and unique. Based on pork broth and has some niceties like black sesame seeds and peanut powder. Has a strong heat but it’s got some really great taste to it – this is awesome stuff! Original review

2. Indomie Curly Noodle With Chicken & Chilli Paddi – Indonesia

Sweet mother – this is intense! That little pepper was enough to burn my lips, mouth and gut for a good long time! Heavy duty! I should also mention there’s a place that sells spicy noodles in Jakarta that has 75 to 100 of these peppers mixed in – Imagination fails me as to the scorching pain! Original review

1. Paldo Teumsae Instant Noodles With Soup – South Korea

Hands down, bar none, this is the hottest stuff I’ve had. In over 800 varieties I’ve tried, this is the very hottest. From the first slurp to the end of the bowl, my mouth was on fire. If you are a big fan of all that is spicy, this is what you are looking for. Original review

Be sure to check out Hans’ list of all-time great instant noodles.

And, for more from The Ramen Rater, stop by www.theramenrater.com. Facebook… www.facebook.com/theramenrater and Twitter… www.twitter.com/theramenrater.

The Top Ten Instant Noodle Bowls In The World

April 23, 2012 by Hans Lienesch Leave a Comment

Here at Foodiggity, we don’t often get the opportunity to do sequels. But after the success of The Top Ten Instant Noodles In The World — The Ramen Rater, Hans Lienesch, is back with a follow-up. And this time, it’s all about the bowls. Go, Hans.

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Instant Gratification: The Top Ten Instant Noodles In The World

February 9, 2012 by Hans Lienesch 32 Comments

Here at Foodiggity, we’re pretty psyched to welcome a guest post from Hans Lienesch, aka ‘The Ramen Rater.’ If you couldn’t already tell by the moniker, Hans likes his instant noodles. So much so, that he’s dedicated a site to nothing but them, and has since sampled hundreds of unique varieties from all over the world. And now we get his top ten of all time. Hans, go…

Since I was a small child, I have enjoyed instant noodles. It started out with what every other kid in the USA had — Top Ramen. Then came Roasted Ramen, noodles that already had the seasoning within them — no packet! Until these were off the market, and everything changed in my instant noodle world.

My parents took me south to Seattle. And what I discovered at about 12-yrs-old, was that there were now a ton of varieties of instant noodles. With different colored packaging and strange foreign writing I couldn’t begin to understand — making them almost impossible to cook.

Over 30 years later and having officially sampled over 650 different unique varieties, I’ve come up with a list of my favorites. It changes from time to time as I find new varieties to enjoy, but here it is as it stands currently.

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