Recently launched “Top 10 Asian Instant Noodles”, Taiwan has 3 entries on the list, with the perennial favorite “Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup” taking second place after 30 years of continuous sales, while no mainland Chinese instant noodles made it to the ranking.
According to a report by the “Nikkei Economic News” on November 9, the newspaper invited 7 experts including cultural promotion ambassadors, instant noodle specialists, cooking researchers, journalists, food culture researchers, and instant noodle enthusiasts to evaluate instant noodles from various Asian countries. The evaluation criteria not only included the flavor of the noodles themselves but also considered factors such as ease of cooking and whether they were suitable for the Japanese habit of eating noodles with rice, in order to select the 10 most unique instant noodles in Asia.
The results of the evaluation showed that the top three were Singapore’s “Prima Taste Laksa La Mian”, Taiwan’s “Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup”, and South Korea’s “Nongshim Squid Jjapaguri”.
Singapore’s Laksa instant noodles from Prima Taste have an orange-red broth made from coconut powder and are garnished with shrimp meat. The judges commented that this instant noodle represents a typical Southeast Asian flavor profile, leaning towards sweetness and is very easy to enjoy.
Taiwan’s “Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup” from the brand “Man-Han Feast” earned a high score of 460 points. The judges pointed out that although it is an instant noodle, the meat is tender, perfect to match with plenty of spring onions, and the spiciness of the soup is just right, reminding people of Taiwan’s night markets.
South Korea’s “Nongshim Squid Jjapaguri” uses the most popular Korean squid to enhance the seafood flavor. The judges mentioned that the noodles are thick and chewy, and the textures of cabbage and carrots inside are very pleasant.
Other Taiwanese instant noodles that made the list include the “Zeng Mixed Noodle with Spring Onion and Pepper” with a comprehensive score of 250 points ranking 8th. It has a texture reminiscent of knife-sliced noodles with a strong soy sauce aroma, perfect for simple stir-fries. The “KiKi Scallion Oil Mixed Noodles” ranked 10th, with noodles that are chewy, and the scallion flavor adds depth, giving a very healthy impression.
Here is the ranking of the top 10 Asian instant noodles:
1. Singapore – Prima Taste Laksa La Mian
2. Taiwan – Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup from Man-Han Feast
3. South Korea – Nongshim Squid Jjapaguri
4. Thailand – YumYum Sour and Spicy Shrimp Flavor Noodle Soup
5. Malaysia – MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodles
6. South Korea – Paldo Zha Jiang Noodles
7. South Korea – Nongshim Racoon Noodles
8. Taiwan – Zeng Mixed Noodle with Spring Onion and Pepper
9. Thailand – iMee Green Curry Chicken Flavor Noodles
10. Taiwan – KiKi Scallion Oil Mixed Noodles