Maruchan Instant Lunch: Chicken Flavor
August 1, 2008 | Reviewer: Abi
Price: 34¢
Serving: 1 package, 2.25oz. + water
Calories per serving: 290
Fat: 18%, 12g
Cholesterol: 1%, <5mg
Sodium: 49%, 1,180mg
Protein: 7g
Carbohydrates: 13%, 38g
Fiber: 8%, 2g
Sugar: 1g
Weight Watchers Points: 6 Points
Maruchan says: Ramen noodles with vegetables. Fast and tasty as a hot snack or a delicious meal - anytime.
Abi says: You know you’re making a bad food choice when other people in Wal-Mart give you a look that says “Oh my God, you’re buying that?”
The negatives of Instant Lunch are vast: powdered chicken flavor that doesn’t fully dissolve in water (clumps, mmm), styrofoam packaging that mocks recycling efforts and microwave instructions that really read “Don’t put styrofoam in the microwave, you idiot. Heat water separately.”
On the plus side, this thing cost all of 34¢
And it didn’t taste like an old sock.
Between the excessive salt and uh, the excessive salt, there isn’t much good I can say about this lunch but “35¢! Woo!”
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I cant believe you reviewed RAMEN. XD
And I thought we were hitting low points with Eating Right from Safeway :p
Wow. You deserve a reward.
Denise, I happen to like ramen
Well, the ‘Oriental’ flavor at least. These meat ones make me feel a bit odd.
MaryAnne, I used to really like these when I was a kid. My dad bought them in 12 (or maybe it was 24)-packs from Costco. He also bought peanut butter/cheese crackers. Mmmm, Costco.
Now I’m craving a Hebrew National hot dog.
How can you not like Ramen????
I dont not-like Ramen.
Im just surprised it merited a review.
Costco and “mariner” hotdogs last time I went (they werent called that I dont think, but they were the ones they serve at Safeco) and they were awesome.
Costco *had*
derrrrrr
WHAT!?! Two stars! This product is not just food, it’s a survival tool. Think of all the college students out there who consume this because they can’t afford or are too lazy to make a decent meal. Sure, five minutes after eating it, you’re hungry again, but for five minutes you weren’t hungry.
Yeah, come ON! Who can resist the rich, salty goodness of Ramen with beer? The perpetual college dish!
I always heat them in the styrofoam container and I haven’t gotten hit by lightning yet.
I wonder what their problem is with styrofoam and microwaves?
I only like Ramen noodles. I can only eat them without any broth.
God, I sound like I’ve been drinking. I only like Ramen noodles without any broth. That’s what I meant to say.
I LIVED off of Maruchan Chicken and Shrimp cup o’ noodles until I was a teenager, I will not tolerate a bad word about either of them!
I still get these once in a while, for late night sodium/carbohydrate cravings they can’t be beat. I usually add some red pepper to make it spicy.
I remember seeing a picture online of one contest they had at PAX called “Win your own weight in Ramen.” I thought that was an awesome contest idea.
Oh, wow. I’ll admit it. I’ve never eaten the old cup’o'noodles.
but I do eat a fair amount of the regular old block of noodles you boil in a pot for the price of what, ten or so cents?
I’ll also willingly admit that they make me sick, but I’m incredibly cheap, and broke, so I still eat them occasionally.
I like Maruchan ramen once in a while. Well, I like Chicken, Creamy Chicken, and Beef. The Roasted Chicken and the Cheddar Cheese are nasty and I refuse to even try the Shrimp, Lime Shrimp, or Chili flavors. The other flavors aren’t really available around here.
It’s really odd though how the Maruchan cup, like this one, and the kind in packets taste different, even when they’re the same flavor.
I’ve only ever liked the ramen packages. The soup cup ones are weaker in flavour which is sad considering the amount of salt, and I can’t stand the texture of the noodles.
The way things have been going for me lately I’ll be buying ramen real soon again. Or I’ll have too give up beer.
I’ll be eating ramen.
It’s not real ramen!
The packages are far superior to the cups IMO
Are you guys serious? The cup version noodles are farrrr superior. They are… clean feeling. Ramen block-o-noodles always get super starch yand gummy. Barf-o.
Sometimes I’ll add an egg to the plain non-veggie Ramen noodles. Instant Egg-Snot Noodles. I love it.
Blargh! My insides are now on the outside.
:p
For those who really dig ramen-already-in-a-bowl but want a step up from Maruchan, try the Nong Shim Bowl Noodle in Spicy Kimchi flavor. It’s bigger and tastes great, with enough spicy for spice-likers (but spice-lovers should probably have their own Sriracha at their desk/table).
Disclaimer: I have never had actual kimchi, so I cannot speak on authenticity of such a flavor. But this is still delicious, and available at most 7-11s in the DC metro area ( and probably much more broadly than that).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PDO2YC
I agree with most posters — I like the blocks WAY better than the cups. In fact, I don’t like the cups at all. I will often poach an egg separately and plop it in the bowl on top of the noodles.
Another good thing — get some instant miso soup — the red miso in the ketchup packet with the separate packet of dried seaweed and stuff — NOT the dried miso powder ugh! Put the plain noodles in a bowl, squish in the miso from the ketchup packet, sprinkle on the dried seaweed stuff, pour in boiling water to just above the stuff in the bowl, then cover with a salad plate from the same set as the bowl because that usually makes a perfect fitting lid for holding all the steam in.
Let sit for 5 minutes, which, coincidentally, is just long enough to poach an egg if you’ve started your egg water at the same time as your tea kettle that you’ve used to heat water for your noodle broth.
Added bonus tip: a splash or two of vinegar (rice wine vinegar seems appropriate in keeping with the theme) in the poaching water helps the egg firm up prettier than plopping the egg into plain old simmering water.
This cures colds, flus, hangovers, tooth pain, and general yuckiness, especially when paired with a nice pot of tea with sugar and milk and served in a nice tea pot. My daughter dubbed this ‘Noodles Feel You Better’ when she was 3 1/2 and I was battling a particularly obstreperous bout of stomach virus plus cough and cold.
I absolutely LOVE the shrimp flavor in the cup. I always found Maruchan brand the best by far - wouldn’t touch the other kinds. Now I don’t eat any of it because it’s so bad for you (or at least, so not good for you). I miss it!
I like the Japanese brands of instant ramen, FTW!
We actually DO put these in the microwave believe it or not…. I can’t really stand them though my Mom loves them still…
Awww, poor Maruchan, even with his saltiness he doesn’t deserve 2 stars! Seeing a picture of that package is like seeing an old friend, in a weird sort of way.
It was my go-to meal during a lot of elementary school, either Chicken or Shrimp flavor. I remember going into the cafeteria’s kitchen and getting one of the workers to spray hot water into the cup.. it always was a teensy bit foamy at the top, which had me mildly concerned that there was a little soap in it somehow, though it never tasted like it… haha, that’s terrible, I know. Ah, memories.
I tried taking it to work a few times, as it’s so cheap and *seems* easy enough, but my 30 minute lunch break isn’t ever enough time to heat water/pour water/let it cool down, and then eat it without sloshing the broth everywhere…
I love this noodle soup but i wish it came in low sodium.
Any way possible?
I just don’t drink the water (thus sodium isn’t a problem). It’s delicious, you want to eat it, and you know it. So shut up.
I Love Ramen! I still eat 4-5 packs a week as a afternoon snack at work. Their also great without water and just a sprinkle of seasoning, its like a crunchy cracker or chip.
BTW does anyone know what happen to the creamy chicken flavor? The Kroger near my house stopped carrying them about a year ago and I haven’t found that flavor anywhere since. Its been my favorite since college.