Maruchan Cheddar Cheese Instant Lunch

December 11, 2006 | Reviewer: Abi

Price: $1.29
Serving: 1 container, 2.25 oz. plus water
Calories: 300
Fat: 22%, 14g
Sodium: 47%, 1,120mg
Protein: 7g
Carbs: 12%, 37g
Fiber: 8%, 2g
Weight Watchers Points: 7 Points

Maruchan says: America’s finest Ramen Noodle Soups

Abi says: When something bad is going to happen, I try to psyche myself out mentally by imagining that it is going to be significantly more enjoyable than it ends up being. While this strategy is somewhat useful when it comes to drilling teeth, pulling off band-aids, jogging, and doing shots, it is not a good idea in the realm of macaroni and cheese. Mac and Cheese is NOT something you should have to psyche yourself out about. In fact, the word ‘psyche’ should not be used in conjuntion with the words ‘macaroni’ and ‘cheese’ in a negative manner.

I considered ending this review by imploring you to gaze upon the picture of the cheddar noodle product and then avoid it at all costs. I soon realized that this would be an enormous disservice to my low-vision and blind readers. Dear low-vision and blind readers, the cup of noodles in the image is a mess of deep-fried nastiness soaking in a watery broth of cheddar cheese powder. Please do your best to make sure that this item ceases to exist. I can think of 10 things I’d rather have on store shelves. One of those things is Jerk-flavored potato chips.

comments

28 Responses to “Maruchan Cheddar Cheese Instant Lunch”

Marvo on December 12th, 2006

At least it has zero trans fat.

I’ve tried this and I would have to disagree with your zero stars rating. I personally would give it a negative five stars. I don’t know if you go negative with ratings, but if you did, that’s what I think it deserves.

I tried the Creamy Alfredo version and it’s just as bad.

Oh, Maruchan. You bring shame to all Asians.
Ace N. on December 12th, 2006

Oh…my…god…

I saw this at the supermarket a year ago and realized that if I died that day, it wouldn’t be so bad. Why? Because I would never have to be forced to eat this crap when the alien overlords take over and torture us with cheese flavored ramen. “Cheese flavored ramen? Who created such an instrument of carnage?!” the people will proclaim, but it’ll be too late. Oh, if only they had read Heat. Eat. Review. Maybe that would’ve given them the chance to rise up and commit the holiest of arsons on the Maruchan factory! Until then, this will be looming in the background…only picking off a few innocent college students until the day arrives.

Yeah, I don’t know where I’m going with this, but that thing looks disgusting. Kudos for biting the bullet, Abi.
Heather on December 12th, 2006

Oh, Abi, you’ve outdone yourself. This is like food blog Fear Factor. What will the fearless blog mistress do next??? And all for the love of her readers! Selfless, really, you’re just selfless.
MaryAnne on December 12th, 2006

So uh, what did it taste like?
Abi Jones on December 12th, 2006

Taken ramen noodles, add 1 teaspoon of cheese powder. The teaspoon is the small one, FYI. Add water. Let sit for 3 minutes. Then add an old sock. Let sit for 2 more minutes. There you go.
MaryAnne on December 12th, 2006

Delicious… as long as the old sock doesn’t add any fat or sodium
Crow on December 13th, 2006

I don’t know what people think it’s all that bad. It’s good, for a little bit; it just becomes awfully bad before you finish the thing.
Colleen on December 15th, 2006

I’ve had this and hated it long, long ago.
cheryl on January 15th, 2007

I don’t know who these rprevious reviewers are but in my family we love the ramen cheddar cheese noodles. We can’t be alone. The supermarkets by our house are always selling them out. They are delicious. If we had a complaint, it would be that the product could use a more cheddar powder. So, we add on our own.
Dana on March 13th, 2007

I had these for the first time last week while on vacation in Mexico and LOVED it! I brought 2 back with me and can’t seem to find them in the stores here in Michigan. I had never heard of the cheese flavored before seeing it at Super Walmart in Acapulco. Sorry that so many of you disagree with me but I love it.
SJ on March 14th, 2007

Well, I don’t know about y’all but our family loves the stuff. In fact, we just happened upon it at Walmart and it seriously is never on the shelf. The last two times I went to look, I saw ppl buying it by the entire case. Who said noodles have to be asian if made by an asian maker?
Talislanta on March 20th, 2007

Um… we’re talking about instant ramen noodle soup; do we expect it to be good? I thought ramen noodles were invented for poor college students who couldn’t afford anything to eat!
Heather E. on March 20th, 2007

I just tried the Chedder Cheese Noodles and I’m just going to say that I’ll stick w/the beef and chicken flavors. Blah! Ramen noodles in a cup is fun to eat; you don’t have to wait for the microwave at work. Ramen noodles is a frugral persons food: 25 cents a cup versus $5.00 more or less for takeout is a considerable savings over time.
Abi Jones on March 20th, 2007

Cheryl - I’m glad that somebody likes this stuff

Dana - I’ve been to that Wal-Mart! Sadly, I’ve been to multiple Mexico Wal-Marts.

SJ - I certainly don’t think that noodles have to have ‘traditional’ Asian flavors. In fact, the ‘Asian Flavor’ I so love probably has little congruence in true Chinese, Japanese, or Korean cuisine.

Talislanta - Yes, I expect Ramen soup to be good. I love ramen.

Heather E. - Thanks for backing me up. I completely agree with you about frugality. I love saving tons of money by eating some ramen or a delicious frozen meal. Eating out (even for lunch) is really expensive!
tasty noodles. on June 16th, 2007

I think these noodles are absolutely amazing. so amazing, that I googled it (pure boredom) and found this site. I mean, for such a cheap price, do you really expect it to taste like a gourmet meal? It’s delicious. But like someone else said, my only discrepancy is adding more cheese to it. Other than that, its ALWAYS sold out in my neighborhood. Ok, I’ve wasted enough brain cells arguing this. I’m done now.
Sherry on October 1st, 2007

I tried this in Ireland when I was starving and everything was too expensive to eat . . . and it was SOOOOOOO awful. I had no idea that they were inflicting this upon the people of the US as well.
Aly on November 30th, 2007

ha! When you laid eyes on this, what was it that jumped out at you and made you think, “why that sounds fantastically delicious! I must eat it!”?
Laura on January 14th, 2008

Huh. I really like this. It tastes like cheetos. I can see why people wouldn’t, because it’s nothing like creamy yummy mac & cheese, but it works for me. And I don’t add more cheese powder… I add less water. Just enough to cover the noodles, not all the way to the fill line. I like it better than the ramen cups with the weird little bits of dehydrated meat. Cheese powder is cheese powder, but meat just shouldn’t be that way.
Michelle on January 24th, 2008

Tried it for the first time today and thought it was pretty good. Just goes to show how people’s tastes differ.

For those who think instant ramen is just for poor college students, think again. Go to any grocery store in Japan and see the aisles of different varieties of instant ramen, along with instant yakisoba, instant miso soup, etc. Ramen and other types of a noodles are a staple of the Japanese diet, and many homemakers regularly serve their families these types of instant foods. I’m not saying it’s the most nutritional diet, but it’s totally acceptable, and a lot more convenient and much cheaper than making ramen from scratch or taking your family out to a local ramen shop. To make it heartier, you can throw in chopped veggies, sliced pork, dehydrated onions, etc.

For those who would like to try an awesome instant yakisoba, check out U.F.O. brand yakisoba. It’s the bomb-diggity.
Chang on February 16th, 2008

$1.29? Do you have some kind of economic crisis around where you live? Because it costs like 33 cents at my local Wal Mart.

Anyway, even though I absolutely adore ramen cups and practically live on them, I just can’t stand cheese flavored ones.
Dave on February 22nd, 2008

Come on people. For ~35 cents a cup, it ain’t all that bad. I would rather have the bowl (or 2) of the cheese + noodles (@ less than a buck) for lunch than drop $5 at the local fast food place on food that is equally questionable and certainly worse for calories/fat content.
Rose on March 1st, 2008

This seriously, looks like vomit. and makes me want to vomit in my mouth.

Sure, as a young person on a budget, I have lived off of the normal every day chicken and beef ramen noodle flavors. but I don’t want it with disgusting cheese powder, or water/broth. ew.
Irl on March 31st, 2008

I thought it tasted pretty good for the price, but the noodles were so long they were all but impossible to pick up with a fork or spoon without being very messy.
00000000 on April 8th, 2008

I gotta disagree, maybe s’a matter of personal taste though. I love this stuff. Jus’ got done eating one, in fact. No lie. It sounds, in theory, like a bad idea but is actually my favorite ramen flavor.

Weird and hard to find but tasty.
Cat on April 12th, 2008

I have a love hate relationship with this stuff. I hate it then forget about it and love it.. and then hate it again.

You wanna try something.. random.. try Maruchan’s Yakisoba.
Bugz on May 1st, 2008

Apparently none of you have ever served in the Armed Forces. We would drool at the site of Maruchan and sometimes have a cook off using Ramon noodles as the primary ingredient. Believe me, eat MREs for 6 months straight and you will eat just about anything.
Adam on June 4th, 2008

The spicy cheese one is really good.
gary taylor on July 31st, 2008

my wife and i love the cheese taste and are having a hard time finding it here in charlotte n.c. .if anyone knows where to get it here please reply.