Instant ramen is easy to acquire, afford, and make. Deciding what instant ramen to buy can be much, much harder since the market is flooded with different brands and flavors. Luckily, Rhett & Link (with the help of Mythical Beasts) tasted and ranked the best instant ramens on the market.
In September 2020, Rhett & Link asked fans to vote on their favorite instant ramens for their head-to-head instant ramen bracket. More than 28,000 fans voted, and these were their top choices for instant noodles. The winner secured a permanent spot on the “Golden Soup Stoop” and will live there forever. (For even more instant ramens, check out the Sporked ranking too.)
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Round 1
Maruchan Creamy Chicken vs. Indomie Special Chicken
Rhett & Link found the Maruchan Creamy Chicken “comforting” and “creamy.” The Indomie Special Chicken was “more brothy” and had “a lot more spice.” The Creamy Chicken won in the end because Link felt like “it hugs your heart.”
Winner: Maruchan Creamy Chicken
Maruchan Beef vs. Nissin Top Ramen Chili
Link said Maruchan’s Beef flavor made him “bored,” and Rhett “wasn’t immediately into it.” The Nissin Top Ramen Chili, on the other hand, had an “interest factor” that Rhett & Link both loved.
Winner: Nissin Top Ramen Chili
Shin Ramyun Spicy Gourmet vs. Maruchan Soy Sauce
While Maruchan Soy Sauce was nice, it was a little too “simple” for the guys. Rhett & Link loved the “thick noodles” and “next level” flavor of the Shin Ramyun Spicy Gourmet.
Winner: Shin Ramyun Spicy Gourmet
Nissin Chicken Cup Noodles vs. Shin Ramyun Black Noodle Soup
Rhett described the Nissin Chicken Cup as “pretty nice” and “comforting,” but Link found it “a little boring.” It definitely couldn’t stand up to the Shin Ramyun Black Noodle Soup that Rhett & Link both thought was delicious.
Winner: Shin Ramyun Black Noodle Soup
Semi-Finals
Maruchan Creamy Chicken v. Nissin Chili Top Ramen
While the Maruchan Creamy Chicken was the favorite of the fans and Link, Rhett preferred the spicier Nissin Chili. He won an instant noodle tug-o-war so Nissin Chili Top Ramen moved on to the next round.
Winner: Nissin Chili Top Ramen
Shin Ramyun Spicy Gourmet v. Shin Ramyun Black Noodle Soup
Even though the Shun Black is more expensive than the Shin Gourmet Spicy, both Rhett & Link agreed that the Shin Ramyun Spicy Gourmet is “some tasty stuff.” Link liked the taste of the Black Noodle Soup a little better, but agreed the Spicy Gourmet should move on because it’s cheaper.
Winner: Shin Ramyun Spicy Gourmet
Finals
Nissin Top Ramen Chili v. Shin Ramyun Gourmet Spicy
Top Ramen is the originator of instant ramen, and Shin Ramyun has been the Internet’s favorite instant ramen over the last few years. Shin is much more expensive than the Nissin Top Ramen, but both are still affordable. Rhett & Link agreed that the Shin Ramyun Gourmet Spicy Instant Ramen was “perfection.” Rhett said it was “five times as good” as the Nissin.
Winner: Shin Ramyun Gourmet Spicy
From the thick noodles to the spice of the broth, Rhett & Link agreed that the Shin Ramyun Spicy Gourmet Ramen was their favorite. Rhett loved that the noodles were “not mushy at all” and Link felt it was “so much larger of an experience” than the other ramens they tried.
College Students Rejoice! These Are the Best Instant Ramens
Instant ramen is one of the greatest foods on planet Earth. After consuming approximately one million noodles, these are our favorites.
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