The No-Shame Adult Guide to Instant Noodles

While it may be a trope of “poor college student,” the image of eating instant ramen and Cup Noodles in my freshman dorm room still lingers in my mind. Quite fondly. In fact, when the credit on my student meal pass was running low, I almost looked forward to those quick-and-dirty meals, microwaved in the office breakroom at my work-study job, or cradled in my hands like a cozy mug of tea while reading endless chapters of Austen and Brontë (I was an English major for God-knows-what reason).

I will never say my palate is refined. If anything, I’d argue it’s the opposite. Tweezed dinners have a way of being off-putting for a guy like me, who grew up on a diet of Hamburger Helper and whatever variation of a bologna sandwich my mother packed in my lunchbox. I was recently invited to a dinner at the Finnish consulate in New York City. We had a measly piece of salmon and a side salad—perfectly decorated for an Instagram photo, yes, but left much to be desired. I suppose the ambassador I sat next to will live longer than me with this heart-healthy meal, but I missed a bit of umami, a bit of sodium, a bit of, what’s it called, oh yes, flavor. So much so, dear reader, I ended up asking my Uber to make a pitstop at a burger place in Chinatown. 

I mention all of this now, quite publicly, to admit that I still like to eat like a college freshman. Not always, sadly, given the fact that I am thirty-four and my metabolism has finally sought its revenge on my waistline. But the ease, convenience, and satisfying warmth of a quick meal of instant noodles is, like smoking, a habit that hasn’t fully left my system. Fortunately, the market landscape in this food category has matured from my younger days. Gritty little MSG-filled sachets aren’t the norm anymore. Instead, many brands have embraced the cultural heritage of the instant noodle, expanded it to new flavor profiles, and have proven that flavor (and even nutrition) doesn’t have to be sacrificed for convenience’s sake.

The Best Instant Noodle Brands to Upgrade Your Pantry

Celebrity chef David Chang’s Momofuku brand has been credited as introducing the American palate to a wider range of Asian flavors, both through his restaurants and his wider pantry items. Coming in a variety of flavors (Soy & Scallion and Tingly Chili being two of my favorites), Chang embraces the nostalgia of the instant noodle while maturing the profiles, helping to legitimize this often-derided meal option. My tip? Add some fresh green onion and a six-minute egg, with a dash of Momofuku’s chili crunch for an even more well-rounded meal.

Shop Noodles at Momofuku

Jing Gao started her eponymous brand in 2018 with the goal of bringing the flavors of her hometown of Chengdu, and its population of hole-in-the-wall eateries called “fly restaurants,” to a wider audience. Having built a veritable empire by bringing her signature Sichuan Chili Crisp to market, Fly by Jing expanded into instant noodle meals. Chili Crisp, Sweet & Spicy, and Classic Soy make up her popular flavors and each is best complemented by a spoonful of chili crisp mixed in for good measure.

Shop Noodles at Fly by Jing

To an uneducated Westerner (like myself), “ramen” is sort of an umbrella term for any noodle-rich dish I’m enjoying in a bowl. I know I’m quite incorrect in this assumption, but Sun Noodle’s Shoyu Ramen does give a slightly more authentic experience from my farmhouse kitchen in rural Pennsylvania. With a soupy, salty broth, Sun Noodle is a great canvas to add an array of toppings—scallions, egg, even a bit of leftover steak—when you really want to beef this dish up. 

Shop Noodles at Sun Noodle

While instant noodles tend to get a bad rap for being sodium-rich and nutrient-poor, Immi’s offerings contest this stereotype with their plant-based options. Each option—from their Roasted “Pork” Tonkotsu to Tom Yum “Shrimp”—is high in protein and fiber and 100% vegan. Immi has brought the market into the 21st Century (and my waistline is thankful for that).

Shop Noodles at Immi

While, undoubtedly, most instant noodles lean Asian, Lazy Food has brought this same concept to Il Bel Paese with its array of Italian dishes. These one-pouch meals offer a 10-minute solution to “What do you want to do for dinner?,” while giving you a dish even your nonna would love. With a promise of plant-forward meals, including a vegan ragu, it’s healthy, satisfying, and takes the stress out of making some of your most beloved comfort foods.

Buy Noodles at Lazy Food