The best instant ramen you've tried

aelf

aelf

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Because of where I came from, I grew up eating Indomie (the brand was pretty much synonymous with instant ramen, a term I didn't learn till adulthood). I always loved it, especially the dry "goreng" version. But when I moved to a different place, I discovered that a lot of people were not acquainted with it and preferred other brands of instant ramen that were simply not up to scratch.

For almost 20 years, I've been insisting that this is the best instant ramen in the world, as far as I know. In recent years, it seems to have finally been discovered by the world. Check out the reviews on Amazon. And there's also this article about its dominance in the Nigerian market. People also like Korean and Thai brands, but I don't think they hold a candle to Indomie.

What's the best instant ramen, in your opinion? If you don't say Indomie, I think you're wrong, but everyone is entitled to an opinion.
 
Indomie do some good ones but I'm personally most partial to a couple of Trident's offerings. One of them is called "laksa" but is almost completely unlike actual laksa. Ends up a gingery salty watery broth and is an amazing hangover remedy.

Trident is an Australian/NZ subsidiary of a grocery importer called Manassen so I assume what they sell is rebranded stuff from elsewhere.
 
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(Well, actually it tastes bloody awful, and has rather ruined the idea of instant noodles for me.)
 
Laksa La Mian
Mama Shrimp Tom Yum
Shin ramen
 
warpus said:
Ramen is all about the toppings, right? How do you do toppings for instant ramen noodles? Do you prepare your own or just not do them at all? Do any come with these instant packet things?
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Yeah, when I make it at home I'll put stuff on it, but if I'm at work it's just the noodles and whatever's in the "flavor packet." Some of the better ones provide the powder, little dried bits that are hard to identify, and a separate packet of oil, but the cheap ones just give you the powder.
 
Ah so it's like the instant Korean kimchi noodle bowls I eat sometime. They come with the noodles, a packet of spicy flavour powder, and random dried up bits of kimchi. Sounds exactly like these instant ramen things except the taste is probably a bit different.
 
warpus said:
Ah so it's like the instant Korean kimchi noodle bowls I eat sometime. They come with the noodles, a packet of spicy flavour powder, and random dried up bits of kimchi. Sounds exactly like these instant ramen things except the taste is probably a bit different.
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I have a couple of those in my pantry right now. They're handy on chilly nights or when I have a cold and want to eat something I can actually taste (I like the extra-spicy flavors).
 
Yeah I bought a big package of 20 of those things at Costco for very cheap and enjoyed eating them for dinner when I didn't feel like cooking. Plus the spiciness clears up my sinuses a bit. Wish it had some toppings in there though, when I'm in an instant noodle eating mood that usually means I'm too tired or lazy to work in extra toppings.
 
If you can get some actual kimchi, that's one of my favorite toppings for ramen at home. I have to go to one of the Asian markets for it, though. The stuff they sell in the regular (American) supermarkets is terrible and over-priced, if they have it at all.
 
warpus said:
Yeah I bought a big package of 20 of those things at Costco for very cheap and enjoyed eating them for dinner when I didn't feel like cooking. Plus the spiciness clears up my sinuses a bit. Wish it had some toppings in there though, when I'm in an instant noodle eating mood that usually means I'm too tired or lazy to work in extra toppings.
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I think you can actually buy such packets separately. Is powdered Bovril still sold? That would work fine, and it comes in beef and chicken (not sure about pork flavor, although I know bacon bits are sold separately). Or just raid the cupboard or fridge for stuff to toss in. One of the most convenient things about ramen is that almost anything can be mixed with it.

Kinda like the modern equivalent of macaroni-based casseroles. My family would combine macaroni, salmon, and vegetables - very tasty.
 
warpus said:
Ramen is all about the toppings, right? How do you do toppings for instant ramen noodles? Do you prepare your own or just not do them at all? Do any come with these instant packet things?
Click to expand...

The ones that come in the styro cups usually have some sort of dried veggies in there, and the flavor powder already in it as well. Just add hot water, oh boy!!! The ones in packets that require a bowl usually require you to add your own or do without.

Since I am an "add your own" guy I buy the packets and I can't say that there is really any difference in any ramen I've had. One pad of dry ramen is pretty hard to distinguish from the next.
 
The part of town where I live has been seeing a ton of east Asian immigrants over the last couple years, we're sort of Sushi central as a result, but also have a large Asian grocery store that's about a half an hour walk from here, maybe a bit less. Last time I was there I bought some ingredients to make authentic pad thai and thai deep fried banana. Lots of weird stuff there, I bet they also carry authentic Kimchi
 
This isn't quite instant, but I put ramen in a bowl in the microwave and two strips of bacon in a pan on the stove at the same time. By the time the bacon is cooked the ramen is done. Pull out the bacon and pour off grease without wiping it out. Throw frozen mixed vegetables (the small diced kind) in on top of the ramen and blast for another minute in microwave, then mostly drain and toss into pan over low heat. Stir it around some then cover while crumbling up bacon, then throw that in too. By the time you get back from the fridge with grated cheese everything should be hot. Throw on handful of grated cheese. By the time the cheese is put away that should be melty enough, so dump pan into bowl. Takes well under ten minutes...closer to five with practice, and is the best way to live on ramen if you have to live on ramen.
 
Ramen toppings

Shin Ramen - Egg and Cheese
Lasksa - Prawns
Tom Yum - Nori
 
"Ramen" would refer to the soupy kind of instant noodles, right? I preferred saucy instant noodles in my childhood, as snacks and not as full meals.
 
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