The Nine Instant Noodles That Our Editors Can't Stop Slurping

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Make weeknight dinners easier with these instant noodles that you'll absolutely love.

There’s something about instant noodles. Yes, they’re obviously quick to make and depending on the brand, relatively affordable. But they’re also endlessly customizable, extremely comforting, and reliably delicious. Choosing which brand to get can seem daunting though, especially with the welcome influx of AAPI-owned noodle companies that have recently entered the market. There are so many options that it ultimately comes down to your preferences and cravings. Do you prefer hand-cut noodles or chewy ramen noodles? Soupy or saucy? Spicy or savory? No matter what direction your heart (and stomach) sways you towards, it’s truly hard to go wrong. To get you started, here are some of our editor’s favorite instant noodles.

Maggi Masala 2-Minute Noodles

"Maggi, the Swiss brand, is synonymous with umami-heavy seasoning sauces and bouillon cubes in several countries across the world. In India, it means instant noodles.They come in a handful of flavors, but the most commonly available one is the Masala Magic varietal. The seasoning packets contain spices like dried garlic, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and black pepper which are building blocks of flavor in Indian cuisine. There’s also a decent hit of red chile powder, which gives the noodles a mild kick (which is especially great when you’re under the weather!) Maggi cooks up in just a few minutes and has way more flavor than most instant noodle options on the market. And when combined with a few quickly sautéed veggies like broccoli and onion, and topped with a crispy fried egg, it’s the perfect no fuss, low effort meal."  — Khushbu Shah, restaurant editor

To buy: Maggi 2 Minutes Noodles Masala (12-pack), $13 at amazon.com

Sun Noodle

"Sun Noodle is the ramen that many restaurants and savvy home cooks turn to for quality noodles. The Honolulu-based company has been open since 1981 and their noodles are fresh and frozen instead of dried. The packages include the necessary seasoning should you opt for tonkotsu or miso ramen. They even have extra noodle kits if you are the type who always orders a second helping of noodles at your ramen-ya. The crinkly noodles have a pleasant mouthfeel that makes them super fun to eat because they are so springy. You also cannot beat the quality of the broths offered. I buy them at my local Asian market in the freezer section, but they are also available at many Whole Foods locations throughout the country." — Jennifer Zyman, senior commerce writer

To buy: Sun Noodle Ramen Soup Mix, $7 at amazon.com

Related: Ramen 101: The Most Popular Varieties You'll Find in Japan

Momofuku Noodles

"I was gifted a variety pack of Momofuku's noodles and they instantly became one of the most useful (and delicious) packages I've ever received. They come with just enough flavoring to make them interesting, but they’re not so overpowering that you're limited in the ways you can prepare them. Though if we're being honest, I usually just add a fried egg, some veggies, and a bit of their chile oil (I'm so obsessed that I go through a jar a month) and call it a day because you really don't need much more. The noodles come in Soy & Scallion, Tingly Chili, and Spicy Soy flavors. They're all extremely tasty, but I'm a sucker for the Tingly, because who doesn't love some noodles that have that extra bit of oomph when you're slurping them down?" — Sam Gutierrez, senior social editor

To Buy: Momofuku Ramen Noodles Variety Pack (3 flavors, 5 servings each), $48 at amazon.com

Related: F&W Game Changers: Momofuku's Consumer Packaged Goods

MìLà Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles

"I love the ritual of dan dan noodles. Whenever I've had them out of my home, mixing them up is always the best part. Now I can do that at home thanks to MìLà. The brand, which also makes excellent frozen xiao long bao, has nailed the frozen noodle. The texture is chewy, and the sauce (a liquid instead of a powder) coats them evenly every time with sesame and tingly szechuan flavor. This is my new favorite late-night snack, and my freezer is stocked with them." — Daniel Modlin, commerce editor

To buy: Sichuan Dan Dan Noodle (4-pack), $39, eatmila.com

Top Ramen

"I grew up eating "Oodles of Noodles" ramen as an after-school snack. Today it’s called Top Ramen, and it is my favorite. I enjoy the eminently slurpable, thin, coiled noodles and the umami wallop of the dehydrated broth. The Soy Sauce flavor is especially nice with add-ons like corn, an egg, sliced green onions, or even a slice of muenster cheese, which brings a French onion soup kind of experience to the instant ramen. Plus, Top Ramen is the OG ramen: it's made by Nissin, the company founded by Momofuku Ando, who invented instant ramen in 1958." — Karen Shimizu, executive editor

To buy: Nissin Top Ramen Noodle Soup (24-pack), $20 at amazon.com

immi Spicy Red Miso Ramen

"It’s hard to find satisfying plant-based instant ramen, but immi's Spicy Red Miso ramen slaps. immi is a new AAPI-founded brand, and I love that they listened to customer feedback and recently re-tinkered their noodle and broth recipes for better texture and flavor. This new Spicy Red Miso broth is comforting and garlicky, with a nice balance of shiitake mushroom funk and heat. I like to add chopped scallions, enoki mushrooms, and fresh cilantro." — Danielle St. Pierre, commerce editor

To buy: immi Spicy Red Miso Ramen (6-pack), $39 at immieats.com

A-Sha Hakka Sesame Oil Scallion Knife Cut Noodles

"When it comes to noodle shapes, I crave irregularity. I want curly bits, soft edges, chewy middles — suffice it to say I want it all. And the knife cut noodles from A-Sha do just that. The long noodles are much like the Italian pasta shape mafaldine, which is like a more narrow lasagna noodle. They have wavy edges and thicker middles formed by the long cuts of a knife. They take a bit longer to cook than traditional thin ramen but the result is totally worth it. A-Sha's noodles are air-dried and come with a flavorful sauce made with dried scallion and sesame. They are saucy without being too soupy and are the perfect base for just about any topping." — Lucy Simon, assistant editor 

To buy: Knife Cut Noodles Hakka Sesame Oil Scallion Flavor (4-pack), $13 at amazon.com

Omson Coconut Lemongrass Curry Saucy Noodles

"In a sea of instant noodles I've tried, these take the cake. To be fair, I am a sucker for anything lemongrass flavored, but these are especially delicious. The noodles are perfectly bouncy, have the most satisfying chew, and soak up that sweet-yet-heat-driven lemongrass coconut curry sauce perfectly. With a fried egg on top or some diced tofu, this is my ideal quick meal." — Ali Domrongchai, editorial fellow

To buy: Omsom Coconut Lemongrass Curry Saucy Noodles (8 boxes), $39 at omsom.com

Related: The Food & Wine Guide to Tofu

Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black with Premium Beef Broth

"I could not have made it through college without flavorful, filling, and — most importantly — inexpensive Top Ramen packets. But after finally paying off that student loan, I graduated to Shin Black. At around $3 a pack, they're 12 to 15 times the cost of those struggle bricks of yore, but also exponentially more complex and pleasurable, with an additional seasoning packet, richer broth, palpably bouncier noodles, and slices of shiitake that elevate this ramyun to an A+ on the survive/thrive curve." — Kat Kinsman, executive features editor

To buy: Nongshim Shin Black Ramen/Ramyun Premium Noodle Soup (16 Pack), $44 at amazon.com

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