Simply Asia Spring Vegetable Rice Noodle Soup Bowl

April 9, 2008 | Reviewer: Abi

Simply Asia Spring Vegetable Rice Noodle Soup Bowl
Price: $1.50 on sale at CVS
Serving: 1 bowl cup, 2.5oz.+water
Calories: 270
Fat: 4%, 2.8g
Cholesterol: 0%, 20mg
Sodium: 31%, 736mg
Protein: 5.1g
Carbs: 19%, 57g
Fiber: 3%, 0.6g
Sugar: 3.9g
Weight Watchers Points: 6 WW Points

Simply Asia says:Our soup bowl combines authentic 100% pure rice noodles in a delicious broth, vegetables and a traditional seasoning for a quick and satisfying meals in just 3 minutes.

Abi says: Thanks to Gluten-Free Girl, I know that if I were suddenly diagnosed with gluten intolerance I could live a life full of delicious, beautiful food. Sure, it would make writing for Heat Eat Review a bit difficult, but it wouldn’t be a hardship for home eating.

Unless, of course, I decided to purchase this soup bowl. When I dropped this into my basket at CVS (a pharmacy), I must have momentarily blanked on a previous Simply Asia meal that smelled like burnt tires. My excuse: I had a brain freeze after spending a half-hour watching the sun set from the steps of the Supreme Court (highly recommended on warm days, on cold days the bases of the marble columns will turn your bum into a block of ice) and I was on a post-Easter Cadbury Creme Egg Hunt (not for me, I think they are gross and that all of you fondant-loving fools are strange, strange people). Also, I have a website that requires me to eat (or at least heat up and taste) things that smell like burnt tires.

I followed the meal-preparation instructions closely: adding ‘vegetable’ and oil packets (should have been labeled ‘vegetable flakes’ and the oil is optional), filling to the ‘fill-line’ and microwaving for a few minutes. Then I sat down to eat some undercooked noodles. Okay, I can handle that. Another minute sitting on the counter and the ’soup’ was still hot, this time with limp, edible noodles.

Much to the chagrin of my taste buds, the noodles and the brother were both devoid of flavor, leading me to wonder in what Asian country “traditional seasoning” means “colored water”. The Spring Vegetable contingent was represented with four peas and a couple of pieces of dehydrated carrot. Okay, ten pieces of dehydrated carrot, a few kernels of corn and some shreds of green onion (I think). I wish I was kidding about this, but there is more vegetable matter in a single baby carrot than in this entire ‘Spring Vegetable’ noodle bowl. I resigned myself to finishing this flavorless, four-pea-featuring bowl of noodles, then poured the ‘broth’ down the drain.

I am now officially on the hunt for only food that looks fantastically delicious. Well, as soon as I try the 14 boxes of most likely mediocre food sitting in my freezer right now. Simply Asia might be making noodle bowls appropriate for Celiacs and college students alike, but just because you can eat these doesn’t mean that you should.

[Yes, I went overboard with the double and single quotes in this review. If you’d like to make fun of me for that, I have an even better site for your reading/wasting time at work pleasure: The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks.]

comments

15 Responses to “Simply Asia Spring Vegetable Rice Noodle Soup Bowl”

rob on April 9th, 2008

I fell for the Simply Asia trap, they sell it at Target Superstores. I was also bitterly disappointed. They are all pretty much the same product, with different packaging.

Why not go for broke and offer:

Simply Asia Prime Rib
Simply Asia Lobster Tail
Simply Asia Fois Gras
Simply Asia With Truffles

either way you get a cup of limp noodles that have very little flavor, so they should stop being so bashful about their packaging.
Lisa on April 9th, 2008

I have never watched the sun set on the steps of the Supreme Court, although I did watch the sun set on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial the other day and had a homeless man try to pee on me. Oh, D.C.. I love you.

And you are correct, these meals are awful. I once chose to eat sushi I bought at Bloom instead of a Simply Asia noodlefest. That should tell you all you need to know.
Crow on April 9th, 2008

I’ve always found “Simply Asia” products to be “off” to “god no.”

Lisa: That wasn’t a homeless man, that was a politician working to raise your taxes.
Janette on April 9th, 2008

As with Ramen Noodles I’ve always drained the water from these products to make just noodles. I like it a lot better that way
Red on April 9th, 2008

That picture does not do this product justice. I love Simply Asia bowls. It makes convenience food exotic and interesting.

My only qualm is the 31% sodium, but what else would you expect from a bowl of noodles?
Abi Jones on April 9th, 2008

@rob - “The Simply Asia Trap” sounds like a bad spy movie. I hear you on the false promises and I feel like I really should know better by now. Spring Vegetable? Ha.

@Lisa - Is there a Bloom near DC? I saw an ad while I was in the city, but they have ads for Sonic, and the nearest one of those is hours away.

Nobody’s ever tried to pee on me at the Lincoln Memorial.

@Crow - That’s true for me, too. I think I must get temporary amnesia immediately prior to purchase.

@Janette - I do love some semi-dry ramen (which I eat a lot of, but never blog about). I was reluctant to drain these noodles because they were so tiny.

@Red - This pictures looks exactly as the meal did in real life. Maybe you’re thinking of another variety of noodle within the Simply Asia line.
Becka on April 9th, 2008

I have fallen victim to Simply Asia as well [this exact product, in fact] and I only managed 2 bites.
anastasia on April 9th, 2008

I used to like these bowls quite a bit in high school. I would go short on the water (as with all ramen) and add the spices after (so I could pour off some water without losing flavor).
MaryAnne on April 10th, 2008

These also come in a package, sans the bowl, much like ramen and for only 99 cents regular price. I thought it might be a different brand but I double checked and it was Simply Asia. For some reason, those came out great. I used only half the oil, less water, and let it sit for a while so the noodles got big and then drained the water.

I tried a mushroom udon noodle bowl by Simply Asia. I haven’t eaten udon since. I’m pretty sure they substituted dead worms instead of real udon and dirt instead of mushrooms. Nasty.
Laurie on April 10th, 2008

I was just at the CVS in L’Enfant Plaza looking for something quick to eat. I saw the Simply Asia bowls on the shelf, and thanks to this review, I just kept walking. I went and stood in line at Au Bon Pain for 10 minutes, and now I am enjoying a Caprese sandwich. Wow, the wonders of fresh food!
bj on April 10th, 2008

Maybe I am crazy, but I like the simply asia kung pao bowl. Never watery, it is just a package of sauce, a tablespoon of water, peanuts, and that vegetable pack. I don’t use the veggies (I don’t really see the point) but I like the sauce and noodles for a quick lunch. Of course I only buy it when it is on sale, because I think the price of the bowl is too high, but taste-wise it is a 4 star to me. (only kung pao though–others have been gross.)
Rose on April 10th, 2008

This looks fairly disgusting. I’ve lived on regular ole ramen noodles. something like..what, a ten pack for two bucks. or something?
but I also don’t eat them with water, that whole idea disturbs me. watery noodles….
Rose on April 10th, 2008

sidenote;
cabury cream eggs are good. but the caramel version is more delicious. mmm.
Lisa on April 11th, 2008

@Abi - I don’t know if there are any in the District, but all of the ghetto fab Food Lions in MD and VA are now Blooms.

And don’t even get me started on Sonic. Stop showing me commercials for things I cannot have, you bastards!

@Crow - you know, he DID look familiar…
Jessica on April 12th, 2008

I actually like these, I prefer al dente pasta so these skinny rice noodles were a party. Wide rice noodles taste like funky rubberbands and smell BAD!!!