Classification of Instant Noodles and Ramen Noodles

The global instant noodles market has been segmented on the basis of product type, source and packaging type. On the basis of product type, the market can be further split into sea food, chicken, beef, pork and vegetables. On the basis of source, the market is bifurcated into wheat, rice and oats. The market has been divided into packets and cups on the basis of type of packaging.

10 most noodle eating countries in the world

Check out our list below of the 10-most noodle eating counties in the world according to the World Instant Noodle Association:

10. Brazil

Servings: 2,850 million

9.Thailand

Servings: 3,630 million

8. South Korea

Servings: 3,790 million

7. Philippines

Servings: 4,440 million

6. United States

Servings: 4,980 servings

5. Japan

Servings: 5,850 servings 

4. India

Servings: 7,560 million

3. Vietnam

Servings: 8,560 million

2. Indonesia

Servings: 13,270 million

1. China/Hong Kong

Servings: 43,990 million

The latest data on world instant noodle consumption shows that in 2021, Vietnam surpassed South Korea in mì gói consumption per capita to claim the world’s No. 1 ranking.

The news source cites statistics from the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA), which shows that the average Vietnamese slurped up about 87 servings of noodles a year in 2021, while their South Korean counterpart only enjoys 73 servings. Nepal ranks No. 3 with 55 servings annually per person.

For nearly a decade prior, South Korea has dominated the ranking, claiming the top spot from 2013 to 2020. Vietnam has slowly risen in the tally with a sharp increase from 55 servings to 72 servings in 2020, and eventually to 87 servings last year.

While WINA did not cite any reasons for this increased consumption, one could surmise a correlation between extensive pandemic restrictions and local instant noodle purchases.

Being confined at home without the means to order prepared food, many Vietnamese turned to the convenience of mì gói. Moreover, with greatly diminished income due to lockdowns and inflation, cheap noodle packets have been the most affordable meals for a growing demographic of locals.

While Vietnam leads the world in mì gói consumption per capita, China is still the world’s largest instant noodle consumer in total volume. Data from WINA estimates that in 2021, China’s national noodle demand amounted to nearly 44 billion servings, followed by Indonesia at 13.3 billion servings. Vietnam comes in third with 8.6 billion servings.

According to WINA, tôm chua cay (spicy and sour shrimp broth) is the most popular instant noodle flavor in Vietnam, and Vietnamese also like elastic noodles. Instant phở is also a standout performer in the country.

Top Countries for Import and Export of Instant Ramen

Global demand for instant noodles is dominated by seven of the G20 countries: China (1), Indonesia (2), India (4), Japan (5), USA (6), South Korea (8), and Brazil (10). Five of the G20 members are the world’s top instant noodle exporting countries: South Korea (1), Indonesia (3), China (4), India (6) and Japan (7). Meanwhile, the biggest instant noodle importers among the G20 countries are USA (1), India (4), Australia (9), and Canada (13). These four countries are also wheat exporters.

Where do the best instant ramen noodles come from?

Every country has its own traditional flavors and brands of instant noodles, but the three most popular instant noodles on the market tend to come from Japan, Korea and Thailand.

• Japanese ramen: Predominantly savory and may come with a thick broth

The taste of Japanese instant noodles is often subtle but full of umami. Some common brands are Nissin, Maruchan, and Sapporo Ichiban.

Besides the normal noodle soup, they also have non-soup options like chow mein. Yakisoba is a Japanese fried noodle dish usually seasoned with soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and fruit puree, and has a savory, sweet taste.

If you like a light soup base, we recommend flavors such as soy sauce and salt (salt).

For those who prefer thicker broths, consider miso, tonkotsu, or curry soups. Soybean-based miso soup was first invented in Sapporo, Hokkaido. It's made with dashi, miso, and may contain butter for a rich, nutty, zesty taste that provides comfort on cold days.

The tonkotsu is made from pork bones and is rich and heavy in flavor as it is cooked from pork bones. There is also curry soup, which is rich and fragrant due to the addition of different spices.

• korean ramen: Mainly spicy, maybe a little sweet

Korean brands in particular are known for their often red color, fiery taste, and sweet-spicy mix. If you want some spice for your face, consider Korean brands like Nongshim, Paldo, and Samyang.

But Korean spicy noodles have a different level of heat.

For example, Samyang's Buldak Bokkeummyun Light (Buldak Fried Noodles Light) has a Scoville score of 1,762 and is suitable for those with a low tolerance to spices. Meanwhile, their Buldak Bbibbimyeon is rated a whopping 12,000, a great challenge for spiciness lovers.

Of course, not all Korean brands of instant noodles are spicy, but they do have a stronger flavor compared to Japanese instant noodles. We recommend flavors like kimchi, jajangmyeon, and bibimbap.

Jjajangmyeon noodles are made with black bean paste, which is slightly bitter and earthy. At the same time, the bibimbap noodles use traditional Korean chili sauce, which is slightly sweet and slightly spicy.

• Thai, Chinese, and Taiwanese Noodles for Complex Flavors

Many Thai and Southeast Asian instant noodle varieties can be heavy on spice, but still very tasty.

Thai noodles usually have a mix of sweet, salty and sour flavors with a sour taste. They vary in level of spiciness, from mild flavors like salted egg to spicy like green curry. Some popular Thai noodle brands are Mama, Waiwai, and Yum Yum. We recommend the Tom Yum Kung, Pad Thai, Green Curry and Salted Egg flavours.

Chinese instant noodles are usually made with many spices, such as pepper, onion, garlic. Some common flavors include spicy beef, tomato and egg, and spicy chicken.

Similar to Chinese noodles, Taiwanese noodles are also known for their strong flavor. For example, TTL's Beef Noodles with Pickled Cabbage is loved by many Taiwanese for its rich beef broth. Taiwanese dried vermicelli is also delicious, and the famous flavors include ginger, sesame and peppercorns.

What are the top instant ramen brands in the world in 2023?

That’s our list of the top 12 instant ramen noodles in the market. These noodles are non-perishable and available in both online and offline markets. 

1. Nissin

2. Nongshim

3. Samyang Foods

4. Paldo

5. Sapporo Ichiban

6. A-Sha 

7. MAMA

8. Maruchan

9. Prima Taste

10. MyKuali

11. Indomie

The above is the list of the best-selling and best-tasting instant noodle brands in the world!

20 best and most popular instant noodles, from mild to spicy

Best Japanese Ramen Brands

Ramen began as an inexpensive food for the common people but has now evolved into one of the most well-known dishes in Japan. Despite its popularity, ramen is essentially a straightforward dish made up of noodles, broth, and a variety of toppings. However, because of how straightforward it is, cooks can be as imaginative as they like. In fact, each region of Japan has its own unique kind of ramen.

Moreover, you can taste these regional varieties in the comfort of your home with many instant ramen noodles available. Most instant ramen is pre-cooked and comes with toppings and a sachet of flavoring. Everyone can eat it whenever they want because it's among the instant snacks available. Just put everything in the pan with the necessary amount of water, cook it for a few minutes, and voila! But what are the best Japanese instant ramen noodles?

Nissin Cup Noodles Ramen Noodle Soup

The world's first and oldest cup-shaped instant noodles are the legendary "Cup Noodles" from Nissin Foods, which first appeared in 1971. By the way, Momofuku Ando, the creator of Nissin Foods, is the same person who initially created instant noodles!

Nissin's Cup Noodles first arrived in the United States in 1973 and then quickly spread to nations including Brazil, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Germany, and Thailand. It is safe to say that Cup Noodles are the best japanese instant noodles that conquered the world, with a market now exceeding 50 billion sold cups!

After more than 50 years in the business, countless flavors have been added to its impressive line-up. Standing above the rest however, Cup Noodle Classic, Seafood, and Curry are generally considered to be the big three, and a great starting point for anyone new to the world of instant noodles.

Prepared in the same way as any cup ramen (boiling water and 3 minutes of waiting) the first surprise of Original Cup Noodle is that it looks just like the picture on the label once it is ready. The next surprise are the whole shrimp and liberal chunks of egg, pork, carrot, and green onion dispersed throughout the cup. The broth was a somewhat basic non-spicy chicken and pork flavored one. 

On top of that, the noodles themselves are fairly long and decently firm, but still soft enough to absorb some of the soy-sauce based broth during the cooking process. 

All in all, Original Cup Noodle is a delightful instant ramen, perfect for a quick meal on the go or in the office. The excellent chewiness of the noodles is so beloved by many that they also use them to prepare other delectable meals.

Nissin Cup Noodle, Curry Flavor 

It is no secret that a curry is another super popular dish in Japan; so popular that there're several ramen restaurants which offer curry ramen. Likewise, there are various curry flavored instant noodles, and this one is the most famous instant curry ramen.

The noodles of Nissin brand are very popular in Japan, as much as their crazy commercial ads! 

Cup Noodle Curry by Nissin is a medium hot ramen based on fried noodles, pork and chicken extracts. 

Unlike most ramens, this product has thickened soup made from vege-broth. This makes the soup sweet and mild, yet rich and spicy curry flavor becomes tastier. 

The cup noodle curry has a stretchy texture, the soup is flavourful with an incredible Japanese curry taste. In addition, there is a sweetness of vegetables and added dice mince, potato, leek and carrot. 

Best choice for those who wish to enjoy two major Japanese dishes, ramen and curry simultaneously! If you're searching for something flavorful and delectable, it's unquestionably a classic that you must try. 

Nissin Raoh Ramen, Umami Tonkotsu Flavor

The name "Raoh" is short for  "Ramen Oh," which means "Ramen King" in Japanese. As the name suggests, Nissin's Raoh line is a "fancier" instant ramen. 

What’s so great about this instant ramen is that it is made with fresh, chewy, and triple-layered, air-dried noodles. Not only that but the instant noodles are not fried, but rather steam cooked. When you get this ramen, you will feel like you’re in a Japanese restaurant.

There are three flavors to choose from: soy sauce, miso, and tonkotsu. If you want to stay away from white cups. You will be pleasantly surprised that Nissin has taken instant tonkotsu pork flavor ramen to another level. The soup tastes tangy, salty and slightly porky.

The thick, slippery noodles are about as wide as bucatini, and are chewier than most other noodles. It also comes closer to fresh ramen noodles. 

The Raoh line is slightly more expensive than other Nissin noodle products but is well worth the try.

Nissin Chicken Ramen Noodles

This is an updated version of the world's very first instant noodles created by Momofuku Ando the father of instant ramen. The taste is now regarded as old-fashioned, still it definitely stays in the permanent place of "standard" instant ramen. 

Chicken Ramen Noodles were first released in 1958 and consist of Japanese instant noodles paired with a rich broth made of chicken and vegetables. Nissin Chicken Ramen is a long-selling Japanese instant ramen loved by many generations and considered the world's first instant noodles.

Optionally you can eat this instant ramen with egg. For that, Nissin Foods has made a hole on the noodles where you can put a raw egg. The yolk and the white will cook perfectly on the hole and will make the ramen bowl richer in flavor and nutrition.

Nissin Chicken Ramen is suitable for those who prefer lighter ramen or those who wish to have a light meal.

Nissin Demae Iccho Ramen Instant Noodles

Demae Ramen (Demae Iccho) is one of the instant noodles flavored with soy sauce and specially blended sesame oil. 

Demae Iccho is instant ramen which Nissin Foods started selling in 1968. In 1960s, the competition in instant noodles heated up in Japan because consumers wanted higher quality instant noodles. Especially, instant noodles with soup bags were becoming popular. Nissin Co. was well known for Chicken ramen (Top Ramen) and Cup Noodles, but it did not sell instant noodles with soup bags. That was the reason it began to develop Demae Ramen.

New instant noodles were named Demae Iccho (Demae Ramen in U.S). Iccho means "one" or "one order" in Japanese. The package of it was derived from taxi which had red and yellow color. The two colors are conspicuous at a distance.

Demae Ramen is sold not only in Japan but also in other 40 countries, Singapore, UK, Germany and more. Especially in Hong Kong, Demae ramen began to be sold since 1969. It is also very popular there, the same as Japan. This product is also Hong Kong’s number one selling noodle soup. 

In 1985, Nissin began producing Demae Itcho in Hong Kong, and those noodles were transformed to appeal to local taste buds. Although Demae Itcho is usually sold with soy sauce and sesame seed oil flavorings in Japan, one can have a pick of 15 flavors in Hong Kong, including seafood and black garlic oil pork.

Demae Itcho is said to have so many fans because the flavors mesh well with the tastes of Hong Kongers -- as opposed to pouch ramens made by Chinese manufacturers, which tend to be too spicy. 

If the roasted, nutty flavour of sesame always leaves you salivating, Nissin's Demae Iccho sesame flavoured instant ramen is a must-try. Containing instant noodles, soy sauce seasoned soup stock, and a separate sachet of sesame seasoning oil, it is great to prepare for your breakfast, lunch, tea or late-night snack, the most classic way of enjoying it, of course, to pair with sausage, pan-fried egg or luncheon meat!

The accompanying sesame oil also contains plenty of sesamin, which is said to help lower cholesterol.

Nissin - UFO: Yakisoba

If you're not in the mood for soup but still want that instant gratification, Nissin has you covered. Their U.F.O. brand features the classic Japanese festival treat, yakisoba. 

Are you a fan of yakisoba? U.F.O. yakisoba is one of the most popular instant yakisoba brands in Japan! You need to experience the flavorful, savory sauce that makes U.F.O. a classic! 

The name was supposedly devised by Nissin founder Momofuku Ando, and is actually an acronym which stands for "Umai" (delicious) sauce, "Futoi" (fat) noodles, and "Okii" (big) cabbage. That's exactly what you'll find inside this round UFO-shaped bowl; chewy noodles and cabbage stir-fried in a sweet and salty sauce that makes for the perfect quick and easy meal. 

Savor the famous Japanese yakisoba even without leaving home! This instant noodle bowl is so easy to prepare and you can savor the delicious cabbage and pork stir-fried dish flavored with green seaweed and red ginger powder in minutes! 

Sapporo Ichiban

Sapporo Ichiban, a brand name for instant ramen noodles produced by Sanyo Foods.

Sanyo Foods initially started as a noodle factory, called “Fuji Seimen Inc.” The very first instant ramen they sold was a chicken ramen called Piyopiyo Ramen, which was advertised on TV commercials all over Japan in 1953. 

In search of the perfect flavor, Takeshi Ida, the founder of Sapporo Ichiban traveled all over Japan tasting ramen. On one momentous day, he discovered the finest ramen in Sapporo's Ramen Alley which became the basis for Sapporo Ichiban's "Original Flavor".

He changed the noodles' brand name to Sapporo Ichiban in 1961 after being pleased by the flavor of Sapporo ramen while visiting Hokkaido. 

After falling in love with the local flavor, he spent three years perfecting the recipe by blending seven different types of miso together to perfectly recreate the taste. It has been said that miso ramen's popularity throughout Japan is due largely to Sapporo Ichiban's instant noodle version.

In 1966, Sanyo Foods started selling the original Sapporo Ichiban flavor. Shortly afterwards, other flavors of the Sapporo Ichiban line came into existence, including the Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen and Sapporo Ichiban Shio Ramen. 

Today, Sapporo ramen is a nostalgic favorite — a Japanese instant ramen classic that is cheap, filling, and reliable. 

Sapporo Ichiban Shio Salt Ramen

I would recommend this Sapporo Ichiban shio flavor to anyone who likes the taste of authentic, rich shio ramen flavor.

What makes this instant ramen original is the noodles are made of selected wheat and surprisingly, a yam. As a result, the noodle texture is so fresh and pleasantly sticky that it's pretty different from other ramens. 

As for the soup, it's a perfect harmony of meat broth (pork and chicken), vegetable umami (mainly onion and garlic), and spices. It has a more natural chicken taste than other typical grocery store ramen. Sesame seeds from the supplied seasoning packet give the delicious dish a nutty, rich flavor.

If you are sensitive to salt, add 2/3 of the seasoning. "Shio" means "salt" in Japanese, and is a fairly popular ramen flavor which typically complements a lighter, clear broth. 

Sapporo's Shio Ramen rivals the miso flavor in popularity and some people even use it to make other dishes such as carbonara.

Sapporo Ichiban Tokyo Chicken Momosan Ramen

Created by Michelin Star Celebrity Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Tokyo Chicken flavor allows you to experience the flavor of Tokyo in your own home.

Sapporo noodles contain a bit of potato starch and guar gum, giving their noodle a slightly chewier, “fresher” texture. 

But the real reason Sapporo is the winner comes down to broth. It simply tastes more chicken-y, with a balanced onion and white pepper taste like real soup!

The savory, salinity-forward broth is comforting, which reminds me of oden dashi but less complex.

This popular instant ramen is perfect for dinner. If you’re looking for a quick meal that’s affordable, try Sapporo Ichiban Momosan instant ramen.

Acecook

Acecook is an Osaka-based company that is steadily expanding to other parts of the world. Though not as well known in the west as Nissin or Maruchan, they have become a huge hit in Vietnam, where they currently account for 50% of the entire instant noodle market. 

Acecook is one of the best instant noodles manufacturer known for its Super Cup ramen series and products created in partnership with companies like Coco Ichibanya and Sanrio's Hello Kitty. They also develop some fairly intriguing goods, such as a "noodle-less ramen" that omits the noodles in favor of wakame (seaweed).

The company always seems to be coming up with something new and fun, so it is definitely worth seeking out if you're in the Kansai region. 

Acecook Yakisoba Mochichi

Acecook makes a “mochichi” type of Ramen and Yakisoba, which focuses on the texture of the instant noodles. It is usually difficult to find instant noodles that adhere to the same standards that fresh noodles do. Luckily for us, and especially for those who love chewy, springy noodles, Acecook has you covered with their Mochichi line. 

Yakisoba Mochichi from Acecook is a combination of soba noodles and vegetables. The Mochichi series became famous for its proprietary noodle manufacturing technology, delivering a unique texture - light, fluffy. 

Yakisoba, a Japanese dish based on pork and vegetables with a savoury sauce which takes you back to a long history of traditional dishes.

Maruchan

Maruchan Inc. was established in 1953 by Japanese visionary, Kazuo Mori, who sought to create a convenient, high quality and affordable noodle product for all the people of the world. 

Through its Maruchan brand, Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd. is a Japanese firm specializing in ramen noodles, seafood, frozen foods, and refrigerated foods, becoming one of the largest global seafood corporations.

In 1977, after gaining popularity in Japan, Maruchan started manufacturing ramen and smiles from Irvine, CA. Today, Maruchan is a half a billion dollar brand in the U.S. with manufacturing facilities across the country, bringing consumers all the classic Maruchan favorites as well as exciting new products and flavors each year. 

In the U.S., Maruchan Inc. develops and markets a variety of products including Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup™, Maruchan Bowl™, Maruchan Taste of Asia Bowl™, Maruchan Yakisoba™, Maruchan Instant Lunch™, and Maruchan GOLD™.

Maruchan Seimen Shoyu Soy Sauce Ramen

Can’t expect too much from instant noodles? Maruchan Seimen series is very close to ‘real’ ramen that you might have enjoyed at ramen restaurants in Japan. 

First, the noodles are produced by special Patented technology, which is designed to approximate to the fresh noodles. Its smooth and chewy textures give you a sense that you're eating the real ramen noodles. Second, the soup is truly standard: it's neither too light nor too heavy, so it's universally designed for everyone. Third, the soup is home-cooked by professionals attached to the company, so it taste gets closer to that of the restaurant's ramen.

Choose your favorite flavor! Maruchan Seimen Ramen comes in 4 different flavors; Soy Sauce, Shio, Miso, and Tonkotsu.

The noodles thickness is different for each flavor. Thick noodles for Miso, thin noodles for Tonkotsu, medium thickness for Salt and Soy Sauce flavors.

The length of noodles is also carefully designed, which is 25 to 30cm. The noodles are not fried and you can enjoy the taste of soup itself. If you want to make innocuous choice but also wish to have quality instant ramen, the Maruchan Seimen series will meet your expectation.

Maruchan Tonkotsu Shoyu (Soy sauce) Ramen

These ramen noodles are flavored with rich soy sauce broth and exquisite garlic and ginger flavors, while the soup is created with chicken and pork broth utilizing the unique drying method of Maruchan. These noodles are just as wonderful and satisfying as fresh noodles, but they are far more portable and easier to store for quick and delightful dinners. You are welcome to customize the soup by adding your own ingredients, such as vegetable stocks, sprouts, chili spice, sliced scallions, green onion, a hardboiled egg, deep-fried tofu, crispy tempura, and some sliced pork.

Best Korean Ramen Brands

#1.                           Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun

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Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun products (Nongshim)

To begin this list we are going to start with perhaps the most famous Korean ramyun on the market – Shin Ramyun. Due to its fame, it’s also very easy to pick up almost anywhere in the world.

Nongshim occupies a significant share of the Korean instant noodle industry, and its brand leader, SHIN Ramyun, has sold over 1 billion packets globally since its launch! Isn’t it surprising?

Nongshim's former chairman, Shin Choon-ho, founded Nongshim in 1965 and made it the country's top instant noodle and snack maker. 

Under his leadership, Nongshim has rolled out a number of signature items that have been popular both at home and abroad.

Since the first overseas shipment to Los Angeles in 1971, the flagship product of Nongshim has expanded its global reach gradually.

The company has built three factories in China and one in LA to support overseas sales from the late 90s to early 2000s. It also opened two sales subsidiaries -- one in Japan and another in Australia -- to further push international sales of the product.
Shin Ramyun was one of the first Korean food products sold in the American discount retail chain Walmart. It is currently sold in more than 100 countries across the globe.

Its flagship products include Shin Ramyun, a spicy brand; Chapaghetti, instant black bean noodles; and Neoguri, spicy udon-like noodles. Chapaguri, which is a signature noodle dish from the Oscar-winning film "Parasite," is a mixture of Chapaghetti and Neoguri.

Let’s start with the signature Shin Ramyun, probably because its beef broth base is uncommon in ramen.

Shin ramyun has a bit of spice, but it is far from one of the spiciest ramyuns on this list. However, if you are very sensitive to spice or are not used to Korean ramyun, this can feel quite spicy. 

It comes in instantly recognizable red shiny packaging and claims it "can make a grown man cry".

Interestingly, the spiciness will clear your sinuses and any bad mood from a hard day at work, while the chewy noodles will perk you up.

The chewiness of the noodles and the richness of the spicy broth – packed with beef, mushrooms, carrots, and peppers – will make you crave another bowl instantly. Shin Ramen has 3 different versions; Shin Meal Noodle, Shin Cup Noodle, and Shin Ramen Bowl.

#2.                           Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black

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There are actually two options for Shin ramyun; the well-known red and the "premium" black.

If you're looking for a better flavor, check out Shin Ramyun Black. The Shin Black noodles are a premium version of NongShim’s popular Shin Ramyun noodles, and they contain an additional “sul-long-tang” (ox bone) seasoning packet. The milky bone broth facsimile makes Shin Black’s soup creamier and less spicy than the original Shin Ramyun.

It’s also significantly more expensive, costing 50% more in Korea.

If you're trying it for the first time, go for the Red Classic, but there's no doubt that the best Korean ramen is the Shin Black Premium, as they're more satisfying, tastier, and more fun than regular ramen.

It has a winning combination of a complex, spicy broth, substantial dehydrated vegetables, and toothsome noodles.

Shin Black Ramen comes in three different versions; Shin Black Meal Noodle, Shin Black Cup Noodle, and Shin Black Ramen Bowl.

#3.                           Korean Buldak Stir-Fried Ramen

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Samyang Foods was South Korea’s first instant ramen noodle maker.

Samyang's delicious Buldak Stir-Fried Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen is considered one of the spiciest instant noodles in Korea. If you're a fan of spicy food, it's definitely a must-try. 

Korean food maker Samyang Foods Co., which was first to introduce Korean style instant noodle ramyeon in 1963, is enjoying a new heyday with Buldak, spicy chicken favor recipe creating an addictive phenomenon in Korea and beyond.

Samyang Foods' Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen, or Buldak-bokeum-myeon, has passed the cumulative sales milestone of 4 billion. One in two people around the world ate the spicy instant noodle once.

Buldak Spicy Chicken Ramen products are currently sold globally including in the US, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. Some notable Samyang ramen products include its kimchi ramen, potato ramen and its spicy Buldak ramen range.Samyang launched the spicy instant noodle product in April 2012.
Including the original flavor inspired by a Korean spicy stir-fried chicken dish, there are nine different flavors in the lineup, including creamy Carbo Hot Chicken and Chinese food-inspired varieties. 

The hot stir-fried instant noodle was launched in 2012 and became famous through the Fire Noodle Challenge. The company introduced various versions, including Carbo Buldak Noodles and Jajang Buldak Noodles. The product reached 100 million cumulative sales in 2014, 1 billion in 2017, 2 billion in 2019, and 3 billion in 2021. It reached four billion in one year after achieving three billion.

Buldak-bokkeum-myeon is not a soup-based ramyun, and rather should be eaten with no water. They are spicy noodles that only a few people eat out of enjoyment – most people eat them only as a dare or challenge.

Definitely not for the faint-hearted, South Korea’s Samyang Buldak Spicy Noodle products take you on a tongue-numbing and sweat-inducing experience that’s definitely worth the try, especially in the company of friends who want to literally spice up their usual instant meals. 

This stir-fried ramen is extremely spicy, even by Korean ramen standards, but also has a delicious and addictive flavor with chewy and firm noodles. The sauce is flavorful, creating the perfect balance between spiciness and a strong chicken flavor.

You’ll love it if you like that taste of a volcano in your  mouth.

Samyang Buldak has two options; you can get the standard spicy option or the Samyang 2X Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor.  

With the product well-received abroad, Samyang Foods plans to continue to focus on global customers.
 
It plans to develop more Buldak Ramen flavors for foreign markets. They will only be available in certain countries. 

Buldak Ramen flavors sold by Samyang Foods. [SAMYANG FOODS]

Buldak ramen has 11 flavors: Hot Chicken, Original, Carbo, Kimchi, Light, Spaghetti, Jjajang, Stew, Curry, 2X(HEAK), Cheese, and Corn. It also comes in 3 cup noodle flavors, Orignal, Carbo, and Cheese.

#4.                           Samyang 2X Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen

Some of you may not know that Samyang 2x Haek Buldak Spicy Chicken Ramen is just a limited edition to celebrate the year of the Fire Rooster in January 2017.

The name “haek” roughly translates to “nuclear” or “very extreme”, while "buldak" means "fire chicken". Despite selling 8 million packets in Korean market, it was discontinued after 4 months.

But the hot noodle brand quickly returned to the Asian grocery market online and in brick-and-mortar stores due to high demand.

The renewed Haek Buldak Spicy Chicken Ramen, also known as 2X Fire Noodle to non-Korean speakers, will have an increased Scoville Heat Units of 10,000. The renewal added approximately 2,000 Scoville Units to the original 8,706, making the 2X Fire Noodle the spiciest ramen in Korea and possibly in the world.

This may not be for the faint of heart, it is definitely a challenge to complete. However, the burn is well worth the experience, the sweat, and the memories with friends!

Here's a Samyang Spicy Buldak Ramen compares vs other Samyang flavors comparison based on heat level:

1. Samyang 2x Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen- 8,808 SHU (original) / 10,000 SHU (2018 re-release)

2. Samyang Original Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen- 4,404 SHU

3. Samyang Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen Curry - 3,810 SHU

4. Samyang Hot Chicken Carbo Flavor Ramen- 2,400 SHU

5. Samyang Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen Cheese - 2,323 SHU

6. Samyang Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen Jjajang– 1920 SHU

#5.                           Samyang Buldak Carbo Korean Spicy Hot Chicken Stir-Fried Noodles

The pink packaging of Samyang Buldak Carbo-Flavored Stir-Fried Ramen is enough to catch your eye, but when you read carefully what the “carbo” flavor means, you will be surprised to find that it actually stands for carbonara!

An instant fusion of carbonara and Korean ramen? Samyang Fire Hot Carbon Chicken Ramen makes it all possible!

What's even more surprising is that there is even a spicy taste! Their “carbo” sauce packet consists of a creamy rich mix of milk, cheese, and butter powders, along with seasonings that usually make up your traditional carbonara sauce. 

The secret? Whipped cream.

Sweet but not candy-sweet cream is in the cheese powder for this, giving the noodles a mellow creaminess that the original cheese flavor was begging for. That sugary hit melds well with the traditional buldak sauce. These are slightly less spicy because of it.

It’s a surprisingly great complement to the fiery hotness of your favorite Samyang Hot Ramen recipe, so you can delight on a full serving without breaking too much of a sweat!

#6.                           Ottogi Jin Ramen (오뚜기 진라면)

Jin Ramen is one of the oldest instant noodle brands in South Korea. The classic ramen taste launched in 1988 and has a deep and thick broth that has captivated Korean palates with two flavors: “mild” and “spicy.”

However, despite being very popular within the country, it hasn’t yet achieved the very large levels of fame that Shin Ramyun has.

Jin Ramyun tastes quite similar to Shin Ramyun as it is also beef-based (although, it has a less strong beef flavour). On top of this, Jin Ramyun has a stronger kimchi/pepper taste as opposed to Shin Ramyun which relies more on the beef taste.

It has a mild level of spice and it is great for lunch, dinner or just a quick snack! In general, most people agree that Jin Ramen is relatively more mild than other ramyeon brands so it’s a good option for those that aren’t used to the spice and want an introduction.

Also worth mentioning is that the ramyun noodles themselves are firm and stay at the perfect consistency long enough to finish eating.

The noodles are also firm and smooth and don’t become mushy quickly.

Want to buy Jin Ramen online? The Korean-style instant noodles are now available to buy online on Amazon, in a blue-packaged mild version and a red-packaged spicy version. Both versions include the noodles, vegetable packets and ramen broth packets.

Jin Ramen Mild is very popular with those who don’t appreciate the spiciness of Shin Ramen, making it the number one ramen for Korean children. 

Those who enjoy more lasting heat can go for the spicy variant but Jin is still less spicy compared to other ramyeons like Shin and another Ottogi product, Yeul Ramen.

#7.                           Ottogi Cheese Ramen

Different from most spicy Korean ramen, this ramen is for people who love the creamy taste. The cheese flavor is also not overwhelming. Cheese Ramen has hints of spice to it, and even people who don’t enjoy spicy foods can handle this. 

Launched in 2010, ‘Soft Cheese Ramen’ with plenty of cheese is ramen that you can enjoy soft and savory by sprinkling savory cheese in a spicy soup. Because cheese is a powder soup, not a slice, you can enjoy it according to your taste. 

A pack of Ottogi’s Cheese Ramen includes springy, chewy noodles. The soup mix contains no meat and Ottogi claims that this ramyeon is vegetarian-friendly. But it does contain gluten and soy.

Powdered cheese, sweet corn, ham, spinach, cabbage, carrots, and other rich ingredients are added to give you the unique taste of cheese ramen. It is being sold overseas, not domestically.

Young children or people who can't tolerate spicy food can enjoy this savory Cheese Ramen. If you want a little more special flavor, add just a little curry powder to your meal.

#8.                           Paldo Kokomen Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen

KoKoMen (KoKo meaning ''cock-a-doodle-do,'' the sound a rooster makes, in Korean) is a chicken soup based Korean instant noodle. 

Paldo’s Kokomen is probably the closest thing to a chicken noodle soup. The flavoring packet even includes small pieces of shredded chicken, green onion, seaweed, and chili.

This ramyun is a little bit spicy (the packaging says ‘clear and spicy), however, I found it to still be less spicy than Shin and Jin Red Ramyun.

Paldo Kokomen is distinctly different from the other ramyuns on this list in that it has a ‘light’ chicken taste. If you are looking for a ramyun with a lighter, less spicy, or chicken taste, then Kokomen is a great choice.

Even though it is an instant noodle, it still has the chewy noodles with authentic broth, which makes this instant bowl ramen spicy chicken flavor extra popular. The noodles are perfectly soft and chewy, too but not mushy.

#9.                           Nongshim Chapagetti Chajang Noodle

Not just Shin Ramyun, but Korean ramen products as a whole are enjoying popularity overseas, helped by the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of Oscar-winning film “Parasite” which featured a combination of two ramen brands, called “jjapaguri.”

If you watched the Korean movie ‘Parasite’, then you probably recognize this one as it is one half of the Chapaguri/Jjapaguri recipe from the movie.

Chapagetti is from the words Chajang (Jajang) and Spaghetti. You can tell from the name that it is a blend of Chinese (fried black soybean sauce) and Italian(spaghetti noodles)  flavors. The vegetable flakes have chunks of dried potato, onion, and carrots to go with its delicious jajang sauce powder and olive oil.

It is also a ‘dry’ ramyeon or no-broth ramyeon. Chapagetti comes in 2 versions; Chapagetti, and Chapagetti Big Bowl.

#10.                           Nongshim Neoguri Spicy Seafood with Udon-Style Noodle

This is the other half of that recipe from the movie ‘Parasite’, Chapaguri/Jjapaguri. Debuted in 1982, Neoguri became popular specifically because of the thick udon-style noodles and a distinctive spicy seafood flavor. 

If you’re looking for a thicker noodle option, this is the one you need to try. Neoguri has got famous thanks to the Oscar-winning movie, “Parasite.” In the movie, it was called “Ramdon,” which means a mixture of ramyeon and udon.

This one also comes in two options – a spicy seafood and a mild seafood.

It has a fragrant broth that’s full of seafood and seaweed flavours. The Nongshim Neoguri’s rich soup broth is further enhanced by the dried seaweed and thick piece of kombu. We especially love how there are pieces of fishcake in the Nongshim Neoguri. 

It’s no wonder that this is one of the best Korean instant noodles of 2023! This was an instant hit in Korea and became Korea’s favorite instant seafood noodle soup. 

This has 2 versions; Neoguri, and Neoguri Cup Noodle.

#11.                           Nongshim’s New SHIN Stir Fry Ramyun

Nongshim recently launched Stir-fried Shin Ramyun to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the launch of Shin Ramyun. Shin Ramyun, which was launched back in 1986, is undoubtedly one of the most popular Korean ramyun brands worldwide.

The newest Stir-fried Shin Ramyun is the first soupless product from the line of Shin Ramyun products. It comes in two different forms, a big-sized cup noodle as well as individually packaged noodles for cooking.

It is notable to mention that Nongshim’s stir-fry noodles have thick, smooth, and springy noodles.This soupless noodles are showcasing Nongshim's signature smooth noodles, firm and chewy, tossed in a special seasoning oil with a sweet and spicy taste that hits the spot!

Complete with shiitake mushrooms and cute little coin-shaped fish cakes stamped with the “辛” (meaning: spicy, hot) icon of Shin Ramyun, the halal Shin Stir Fry might be everyone's next favourite fried noodles!

It seeks to produce an explosion in the mouth with its spicy and unique blend of chilies, scallions, and special seasoning oil. The noodles are relatively spicy, maybe even more than the usual soup version.

The cooking time is also significantly reduced, with the cup noodles only requiring 2 minutes, while the packet noodles requiring only 3 minutes. The usual Shin Ramyun takes around 4 to 5 mins in comparison.

To add, it is halal-certified and available in a pack of five with dark red packaging and the Made in Korea logo.

This convenience and spicy treat are ideal for any time of the day to accompany every tiny moment, especially when those late-night cravings strike.

#12.                           Samyang Ramen Korean Noodle Soup

Released in 1963, this was the first original mild soup with chewy ramyeon. Even decades after its first appearance, it is still among the most sought after ramyun in Korea and is the most iconic ramyun in Korea that keeps the originality of the Korean soul food.

Though not the spiciest, it is nostalgic for many people. If you want to start with the original, start here and then try the rest. The broth of this one has a nice beef taste if you like that base.

With ham flakes added, the soup has a deep flavor and rich taste which makes it easy to enjoy for everyone regardless of age or gender. It is perfect for the whole family to relish together.

Adding potato starch enhances the chewy textures of noodles and allows for a richer meal.

Samyang Ramyun comes in 2 flavors, original and spicy.

#13.                           Nongshim Kimchi Spicy Red Chili Ramyun

These noodles contain kimchi, a globally popular fermented dish that’s nutritious and makes a great addition to many foods. With this added kimchi taste, and a mild spiciness, this ramen bowl is well-balanced and flavorful – perfect for those who are newbies to kimchi.

These are the best Korean instant noodles of 2023 thanks to the accompanying dehydrated kimchi flakes. The kimchi flakes are still sour, so you’ll get a truly authentic kimchi flavour with these Nongshim Korean Kimchi Noodles! 

#14.                           Paldo Bibimmen

If you liked Korea’s world-renowned “bibimbap,” how about trying Paldo’s “bibim noodle”?

It is a product that has the highest share in the Korean bibim ramen market. This Korean ramen was inspired by Korean cold spicy noodles. The perfect balance between spicy, sweet, and sour flavors makes Bibimmen so unique.

Paldo has been dominating the market for the past 38 years, since the launch of its best-selling "Paldo Bibimmeyon" in 1984. It once enjoyed a market share of over 60 percent, but the latecomers have introduced similar instant noodles with a sweet and spicy sauce that brought the figure down to the 50-percent range.

The all-time leader in the category is Paldo’s Bibim Men, inspired by the spicy noodle dish bibim-guksu made with thin plain noodles. 

Ottogi’s “Jinjja Jjolmyeon,” released in 2018, is a strong competitor. Jinjja means “real” in Korean, while jjolmyeon is a dish of thick, chewy wheat noodles with spicy sauce and vegetables.

Whereas Bibim Men’s noodles are slimmer than conventional ramyeon, Jinjja Jjolmyeon’s potato starch-based noodles are thicker and chewier, similar to the original dish it is based on.

Pulmuone has also joined the battle with a jjolmyeon product: “TaengTaeng Bibim Jjolmyeon.” Also released in 2018, the product boasts that it uses noodles that are not fried and therefore have lower calories and fat.

Samyang Foods added a Chinese twist to bibim-guksu. Its “Joonghwa Bibimmyeon,” for which joonghwa stands for Chinese-style in Korean, contain onions, oyster sauce and chili oil - all frequent ingredients in Chinese dishes.

Another Korean dish that has taken a slice of the cold ramyeon market is makguksu. The dish is made up of dark-colored buckwheat noodles with a spicy sauce.

Both Ottogi and Paldo have released ramyeon versions 2018. This is the first time that Paldo has rolled out a new summer instant noodle product since it released Bibim Men in 1984.

사진 크게보기

From top: Paldo’s Bibim Men and Paldo Makguksu Ramyeon, Ottogi’s Jinjja Jjolmyeon and Chuncheon Makguksu, Samyang Foods’ Joonghwa Bibimmyeon. [EACH COMPANY]

For decades, cold ramyeon has been overshadowed by its hot soupy brother. Indeed, for many consumers, ramyeon exclusively refers to the hot soup-based dish epitomized by Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun. 

At 2,769 Scovilles, Paldo’s Bibim-men is one of the spiciest Korean instant noodles. But the spice is tolerable, especially since it’s also deliciously sweet. Paldo added apple concentrate to sweeten the sauce. Definitely an interesting ramyeon and does a great job at replicating the traditional bibim myeon.

Since its launch, it has maintained its unique blue wrapping paper. It has solidified its popularity due to the effect of boosting the appetite lost in the summer.

Bibim myeon does not need ice or refrigeration though. Like other instant Korean ramen brands, it still needs hot water. After boiling, you wash the noodles in cold water, drain them, then mix them with the sauce. The rinsing is not just a method to make the noodles cold but also a way to make them chewier and not clumpy or mushy.

Paldo Bibim Men is a delicious cold, brothless ramen noodle dish with sweet and spicy seasoning sauce to mix with the noodles. The sauce is sweet and spicy with a hint of apple. 

#15.                           OTTOGI Yeul Ramen Noodles

Enjoy Ottogi Yeul Ramen if you love the spicy flavor of ramen noodles. Yeul Ramen resembles a warm hug—welcoming, comfortable, and just enough heat to keep you engaged. 

This one’s my favorite among all the Korean instant noodles I’ve had and it’s such a shame that it’s not as famous as Shin, Buldak Bokkeummyeon, or Jin Ramyun. 

Yeul means “fever” in the literal sense and at 5,013 Scovilles, and there isn’t a more appropriate way to describe excellent ramen than that of a fever. Similar to a fever, it gradually overtakes you until it’s too late, and you’re either dripping in sweat or fumbling to soothe the slow fire in the mouth. 

Despite the soup having a small habanero flavor, the original amount of spice wasn’t too severe. It  also doesn’t burn my mouth as Buldak Bokkeummyeon does, but it does leave a lasting heat.

It is a chicken that is paired with a very spicy sauce. Korean instant ramen that is extreme in taste perfect for Mukbang uses for "spicy challenge".

PREMIUM CHEWY NOODLES, lots of thick, chewy, soft noodles cooked in a rich red pepper broth, load with vegetable, red pepper , green onions, shiitake mushrooms, carrots and cabbage. The spicy and rich soup, and various vegetables enriches your meal.

Best Thai Ramen Brands

MAMA

MAMA is made by Thai President Foods, heralded as the largest instant-noodle manufacturer in Thailand in 2015. 

As a Thai brand, MAMA offers a lot of spicy noodles with classic Thai flavors like basil, tom yum, and green curry, as well as more unique offerings like "Hot Korean Flavor," "Chili Crab Flavor," and "Spicy Cheese Flavor." A variety pack of 30 instant ramen noodles is $38 on Amazon, so price-wise, one bowl of MAMA ramen comes to about $1.25. The duck and tom yum flavors pack more of a punch than the chicken, but across the board, MAMA gets points for constant innovation in its flavor offerings. 

Mama Instant Noodles Shrimp Flavor Tom Yum

Wondering what makes MAMA ramen stand apart from the pack? With this brand of instant ramen, it all comes down to the broth. Seriously, the broth you'll get from this brand is out of this world.

The soup body of the Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum is quite authentic – with hints of Thai basil, coconut and citrus. 

This complex flavor profile isn't usual in many brands of ramen, which is why we're so grateful for it here. If you love Thai food, there's a good chance that you'll go absolutely wild for this stuff.

Mama tom yum shrimp flavor is spicy and sour containing aromatic lemongrass and kaffir lime leave and galangal. These are legitimately perfect. The taste can be described as the perfect balance of salty, sour, and spicy. 

Current Commerce also rated the Tom Yum Shrimp, and they confirmed that the chili packs a punch. As long as you like the spice, you'll be sure to slurp this stuff up.

Mama instant ramen noodle shrimp tom yum flavor is an essential noodle snacks that you should own and welcome it to your home. 

Mama Ramen Instant Noodles Green Curry Flavor

Mama brand noodles have been around for over 50 years, producing delicious instant noodles known for their variety of flavors, high quality, and delicious taste.

Curry ramen is a crowd favorite worldwide, and MAMA’s thai green curry soars to the top of the list.

Thai instant noodles explore the unique flavors of their homeland curries in the popularized and easy to prepare instant noodles. In this case, the flavors of green curry Ð cilantro, kaffir, lime, and basil are the highlights of this instant noodle. These mama noodles combine tradition and present day demands to bring together instant noodles with the taste of green curry right to your home, and ready in less than a minute!

The noodles are thin and plentiful with a good texture and chewiness. The flavor is excellent! Curry is the real winner here.

Best Ramen Brands in Singapore

Prima Taste

Launched in 1998, Prima Taste is a Singaporean food and beverage brand that takes local favourites and turns them global. In 2011, Prima Taste launched its Singapore Laksa LaMian, a premium instant noodle product, that has been a grand-slan success since then.

Today, Prima Taste’s line of products include (but not limited to) Laksa Noodles, Curry Noodles, Chili Crab Noodles, Cooking Sauces, Juzz Mee, Premium Noodles and La Mian. The brand is available internationally in over 40 countries.

Prima Taste Laksa La Mian

Prima Taste’s Singapore Laksa Wholegrain LaMian remains in the no. 1 spot in The Ramen Rater’s “Top 10 Instant Noodles of All Time 2022 Edition”. For seven consecutive years since its debut in 2015, Prima Taste’s Laksa Wholegrain LaMian has managed to defend its title of The Ramen Rater’s Top Instant Noodles Of All Time.

Prima Taste’s Singapore Laksa Wholegrain LaMian has proven to be an all-time favourite for the instant noodle connoisseur, Hans Lienesch. Prima Taste’s Singapore Laksa Wholegrain LaMian is best known for its rich Laksa broth and a multicultural blend of aromatics and spices brought together by smooth coconut milk.

Hans recalls falling in love with the product from the first time he tried it, admiring its thick and rustic noodles with, he says, “a strong tooth, and then the broth. It’s very rich with a beautiful look to it; red oil bubbles dance around like rubies.” It is why it has been at the top of his favourites list for years.

Prima Taste Chili Crab Lamian

Prima Taste laksa la mian is quite a demanded product of the LaMian series. It is a packet of super tasty noodles packed in with the flavour of coconut soup. It is a perfect blend of herbs and spices sealed together to offer the most exciting mouth-watering feel. The LaMian series is available in six other zests. It is noted worldwide for its unique zest and authenticity. Each product tastes as good as traditional handmade noodles. These come in a soft texture and also have a mild aroma to fill the room with their rich flavourful scent.

Prima Taste laksa products are made without using any additional preservatives or MSG. Also, they are free from any sort of artificial flavourings or colourings. These are the ideal instant noodles that you have been looking for. They are easy to prepare and take just 7 minutes to be ready to serve. In addition to these products, the series also has several other items in its collection including curry, chilli crab, fish soup, prawn soup, and much more. They also have a wide range of ready meals that require the least of your time and effort while offering the best of tastes.

The chili crab poised to achieve its namesake sweet/spicy/salty balance, and tasted more like real seafood than any other instant noodles I've tried.

Best Malaysian Ramen Brands

MyKuali

Described as being "one of the best curry instant noodles", MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle is fast making its way into high demands.

MyKuali Penang White Curry Noddles was then introduced in May 2013.

It all began with Thomas Tang constantly craving his mum’s Penang style home-cooked curry noodles when studying abroad. Bored by a lack of authentic Malaysian flavours, Thomas strived to find a way to bring over his favourite curry noodles in a convenient, easy-to-cook manner.

In 2011, Sky Thomas Food Industries was established under the Sky Resources Group of Companies with an initial investment of RM1 million as a manufacturer of MyKuali instant pastes for a variety of dishes from Hainan chicken rice to satay chicken paste.

MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodles, being the FIRST White Curry instant noodles ever, took the world by storm. Thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations that grew virally, demand for the high-quality, full-flavours of MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle multiplied by almost tenfold in less than 6 months.

What began as an attempt to capture the flavours of home has now expanded into a mission to spread the hearty tastiness of traditional Malaysian flavours. However, SkyThomas Food Industries has always retained its core values of authenticity and quality. The ingredients used in MyKuali pastes and noodles are traditional and natural while combined under the strictest conditions.

MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle 

I like the white Penang curry MyKuali, which contains green chiles that give the white curry a satisfying heat (“white” here means it’s made with green chiles, not red).

The chilli paste is made from fish stock, shrimp paste, spices and chillies and is very similar to the “sambal” used by hawkers. Satisfying your authentic Penang Hawker food cravings has never been easier.

Each packet of the MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle comes with a sachet of non-dairy creamer along with a packet of chilli paste and soup powder. 

Improved noodle texture and soup base with garlic garnishing for even more authentic Penang hawker experience. Tantalize your taste buds further with exceptionally springy noodles and real garlic bits in every bite.

Ibumie Penang White Curry Mee

MyKuali does have the head start since it is the first to introduce the Penang white curry noodle concept and selling it as a premium product. MyKuali also hogs the spotlight as the number one instant noodle in the world as rated by Ramen Rater for 2014. Therefore, MyKuali is the taste that all aspiring Penang white curry noodles aim to match or even surpass.

MyKuali has a following, which means they’re often in low stock or sold out. These, by Ibumie, have a similar flavor and are easier to find in stock. The only downside is that they’re more expensive.

Ibumie Penang white curry mee claims to offer the authentic Penang white curry mee taste.

Best Taiwanese Ramen Brands

A-Sha

Although many associate ramen with Japanese food, ramen actually has roots in China, stemming from hand-pulled Chinese noodles, called "la-mian". 

The A-Sha brand started in 1977 and specializes in air dried, rather than fried, instant noodles. “The concept was to create air dried noodles in a block-shaped format to look like instant noodles, but have all the better-for-you things.” The result is a wheat flour noodle that has the springy texture of fresh noodles with the ease of preparation as instant noodles.

The best flavor is the Spicy Mala Ramen, which is a hearty enough serving to fill you up, and since the noodles are air-dried, the quality is better than other instant ramen types.

A-Sha USA was founded in 2015 by Young Chang, an American with Taiwanese roots. The brand launched distinctively shaped "meteor noodles," made with a 100-year-old Taiwanese recipe but with cutting-edge patented two-blade technology, "paired with a new sauce made with fermented soybean paste."

A-Sha Is hoping the Meteor Noodle really takes off.

Paired with a new sauce made with fermented soybean paste, the Meteor is a way for A-Sha to distinguish itself from its competition in an instant-ramen marketplace that has become increasingly crowded since Chang’s company launched operations in the U.S. in 2015.

The Meteor is a thicker noodle with a slightly more chewy bite.

Inspired by the Italian word for waterfall, the new pasta shape was designed to hold more sauce than other noodles — precisely what a new offering from cult-favorite ramen manufacturer A-Sha was also crafted to do.

Created by the AAPI-owned brand using a patented dual blade that cuts textured ridges which allow sauce to coat the entirety of the noodle’s surface, the Meteor Noodle has more than double the surface area of A-Sha’s signature noodles. A thicker noodle with a slightly chewier bite, the three-dimensional Meteor is made from just wheat, salt and water and then air-dried for 18 hours.

Best Indonesian Ramen Brands

Indomie 

One of Indonesia’s best-loved foodstuffs, Indomie bills itself as “the pioneer of instant noodles in Indonesia” and produces some 19 billion packs annually for sale in more than 100 countries. Indomie is produced by Indofood, the largest instant noodles manufacturer in Indonesia.  

Indomie’s iconic noodles, known for their colourful packaging and punchy flavour that comes from powder and oil that can be added to taste, are enjoyed across Indonesia by people ranging from students on a budget to those wanting a quick snack.

Indomie comes in many different varieties, the most popular is Mi Goreng. 

Mi Goreng is Indonesian for "fried noodle". Indomie Mi Goreng is simply abbreviated as Indomie goreng by most Indonesians. Indomie Goreng is a type of instant noodle served without soup and is stirred well with soysauce, oil, and seasoning. This instant noodle derived its inspiration from traditional Indonesian dish called mi goreng, a variant of fried noodle common in Indonesia. 

This product has gained a cult following in Indonesia and in various other countries, such as Nigeria and Australia.

Indomie has since launched a variety of Mi Goreng range including Barbeque Chicken, Satay, Hot & Spicy and Spicy Beef Ribs. Indomie also has classic flavours such as, Special Chicken and Chicken Curry, which are best eaten with broth.

Indomie Instant Noodles Mi Goreng Fried Noodles 

One of the best instant ramen noodles in the world, Indomie Mi Goreng has long been popular with Indonesians and other noodle lovers around the world, known for its savory-sweet flavor with a good dose of heat.

In fact, what makes this instant noodle brand so good is that its flavor doesn't just rely on saltiness — it has a savory flavor that seriously takes them to the next level. Plus, each packet comes with some extras that will give your meal more texture and flavor at once: a packet of fried onions and a pouch of spicy chili oil. You'd be amazed at how much more flavor you'll get from just those two add-ins.

Indomie Mi Goreng Barbeque Chicken Flavor

Looking for something better than the standard stuff? These BBQ Chicken Flavored Dry Instant Noodles from Indomie are another favorite of ours.

When it comes to flavor, a pack of Indomie packs more punch than what you're used to. These noodles come with small packets of chicken-flavored seasoning, fried onions, seasoned oil, chilli oil, and a thick, sweet soy sauce.

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