The Noods: Our Favorite Asian Instant Noodles

When we reach for a pack of instant noodles, it’s never for nourishment—it’s for a filling plate of carbs that you can prepare in 10 minutes. It’s for that sodium-loaded bite that can bring some comfort for the rainy days.

Admittedly, instant noodles are our guilty pleasure. Particularly the exciting packets that seem to wave at us whenever we walk by the Asian aisle at the grocery. With that, we’re sharing our favorites, with pictures of how they look like when cooked without no additional ingredients:

Prima La Mian Laksa

Not all instant Laksa noodles are created equal. We prefer the rich, sauce-based, and creamy flavor for this Peranakan favorite. It may be a little steep (price-wise) in the quick-cooking category, but the taste and serving size make up for it.

Where to get it:

• Leading supermarkets
• Lazada: bit.ly/lazlaksa
• Shopee: bit.ly/shoplaksa

Mama Tom Yum Noodles

We’ve tried other brands, but this one strikes a refreshing balance between tangy, sweet, and spicy flavor with thin and chewy noodles. Throw in a couple of shrimps, fishballs, an egg, and vegetables for a filling bowl.

Where to get it:

• Leading supermarkets
• Lazada: bit.ly/laztomyum
• Shopee: bit.ly/shopmamatomyum

Maggi Kari

Maggi Kari is a Perancah curry mee hailing from Malaysia. If you haven’t tried one already, it’s curry noodles cooked with flavorful broth thanks to the symphony of 12 spices: coriander, cumin, fennel, ginger, cardamom, chillies, turmeric, paprika, nutmeg, fenugreek, clove, and white pepper (yes, I read the back of the package). Add a few slices of greens (our favorite is bokchoy) and egg just before your turn off the heat.

Where to get it:

• Lazada: bit.ly/lazkari
• Shopee: bit.ly/shopmaggikari

Mi Sedaap Perisa Kari

Mi Sedaap is a lighter and tangier version of the curry noodles. As with most, it’s nice with greens and egg.

Where to get it:

• Lazada: bit.ly/lazsedaapkari
• Shopee: bit.ly/shopsedaapkari

Micoem Cung Dinh Pho Bo Ha Noi

We’re not really sure how it translates but it looks like an instant beef pho (?) We picked it up at S&R since they were on the buy-one-take-one shelf. We didn’t expect much, but it’s good! It’s more flavorful than our DIY attempt.

Where to get it:

S&R

• Lazada: bit.ly/lazmicoem
• Shopee: bit.ly/shopcungdinh

Indo Mie Mi Goreng Cili Hijau

It’s interesting to know that there’s a green chili flavored fried noodles. We didn’t realize that green chillies taste differently from the ripe ones we’re accustomed with. It’s slightly sweet with the distinct well, green chili flavor. Among the Indomie variants that has reached our shores, this one is our favorite.

Where to get it:

• Lazada: bit.ly/lazindomie
• Shopee: bit.ly/shopimgreenchili

Try them!