5 best ramens to “instantly” calm those hangry pangs

You know those long, hard work days when you get home enormously famished and equally annoyed, hungry to the bone and hoping for a yummy meal but lacking the energy to think of something scrumptious to order online and too lazy to quick up a treat?

Well, we have a lot of those and there is the only thing that can do the trick—instant ramen noodles. They take five minutes to cook, they are absolutely delicious, and they are as close to soul food as any readymade packets can get. Of course, so much goodness cannot come without a caveat, and there is one as far as instant ramen is concerned—choosing the right one. Luckily for you, we have tried all there is to sample and bring you the best of the lot.  

Indomie Mi Goreng Instant Stir Fry Noodles, Original Flavor

This one definitely has to be on the top. There are plenty of flavours that the Indonesian native has to offer, but the Original is a go-to—packed with the sweet soy sauce dressing, garlicky oil, and umami flavour powder that we could lick just as it is! Unless, you are a spicey lover, in which case, try their Hot & Spicy variant instead. Add a runny fried egg and this one is definitely worth a chef’s kiss. 

Mama Instant Noodle Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum

A chef-favourite, many recommend you just crumble the noodles add the mix and eat it as is, although that may be for the connoisseurs. Many even use this tangy mix as a salad topping. But we recommend you make this as it is, and if you have the intent, make a quick chilli oil—finely chop ginger and garlic, and mix it with some sesame seeds and chilli flakes, and top it with hot neutral oil—to top it off. 

Nissin Instant Ramen Noodles with Soup Base, Black-Garlic Oil, Tonkotsu Pork

 

Black-garlic oil does the trick with this one. Who wouldn’t want the extra burst of umami? And we would recommend you don’t skip adding a soft egg to this one. If you really want to go the extra mile, add some spinach to the mix, and finish it all off with a sprinkle of white sesame. 

Nongshim Shin Noodle Ramyun

We must warn you of this spicy treat that is worth every bit of a runny nose it leaves you with. The noodles and thick and slurp-worthy, and the bed of carrots, mushrooms, green onions, and chilli flakes comes alive with the deep flavorful soup mix. Of course, you can add the staple egg, sesame, and even spring onions, but a little more controversial—cheese slice—is quite the crowd-pleaser. 

Samyang 2X Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen

 

It doesn’t get hotter than this. You’re going to find this one on the menu of the many restaurants that are now serving pimped-up instant noodles with a choice of condiments and sauces. But when making it at home, you need nothing more than a bowl of these noodles as is, though we would not say no to a nice black bean sauce to go with it.