The Best Instant Noodles to Buy Right This Instant

The best instant noodles are affordable, quick to prepare, and flavorful. Luckily, there is no shortage of them on the market. There are so many different types of instant noodles from all over the world, giving you plenty of options. The worst thing about instant noodles is having to decide on only one packet to consume at a time.

You might be saying, “Jordan, didn’t you already do this ranking?” and my response is, “No. That’s instant ramen!” Since there are so many brands and styles in this category, we’ve broken it up into two groups: instant ramen (with broth) and instant noodles (without broth). These brothless, quick-cooking meals are absolutely delicious, and you should definitely buy the best instant noodles that we’ve listed below. And don’t yell at me about Buldak! They’re getting their very own ranking.

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Best for Dinner

Paldo Fun & Yum Jjajangmen Instant Noodles with Black Bean Sauce

If you’re looking for a hearty meal, grab a pack of these jjajangmen instant noodles with black bean sauce. The noodles are thick, the sauce is delightfully sticky, and the packet is huge. After eating these, you will definitely be full and happy. Jajangmyeon (or jjajangmyeon) “is a popular noodle dish served with black bean sauce” that “was introduced by Chinese merchants, but the flavor evolved to suit Koreans’ taste buds over time” (thanks for the history lesson, My Korean Kitchen!). You might’ve seen this dish at a restaurant topped with julienned cucumber and/or filled with ground pork, and I think either would be great with this packet of noodles to make a meal that tastes homemade. These are definitely some of the best instant noodles you can buy if you want your instant noodles to feel more like a meal than a snack.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best for Add-Ins

Maggi 2-Minute Authentic Indian Masala Noodles

The moment these hit my lips, I knew exactly how I’d prepare them. I’d wait until I had Indian leftovers and cook these up. Then, I’d top the noodles with leftover tandoori chicken and a drizzle of raita and mint chutney. I think that would make the most delicious leftovers revamp I could ever imagine. Don’t get me wrong, though. These are also delicious on their own. I will be keeping these on hand for quick meals in the future.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Sichuan-Style

Momofuku A-Sha Tingly Chili Wavy Instant Noodles

We tried lots of different brands of tingly, numbing, chili oil-based noodle packets and these were the best instant noodles of that style we tasted. The wavy noodles are perfectly chewy and they cook quickly. The sauce is oily and numbing and bursting with flavor. We like A-Sha noodles in general and this collaboration between them and Momofuku is a match made in heaven. We liked these even more than the regular A-Sha noodles (which are pretty dang good)!

Credit: Liv Averett / Target

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Most Unique

Lucky Me! Chili-Mansi Instant Pancit Canton

People are not talking enough about instant noodles from the Philippines, because these are some of the best instant noodles out there. They have a little bit of heat from the chili and they’re super tangy from the calamansi (a citrus fruit from the Philippines). I could eat these every single day. The other Lucky Me! flavors are also delicious, but these take the cake. If you’ve had these instant noodles, you know I’m right. If you haven’t had these instant noodles, get some ASAP to try. You’ll love them!

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Indomie Mi Goreng Fried Instant Noodles

Mie Goreng (or Mee Goreng) is an Indonesia stir-fried noodle dish. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to Indonesia, because this version from Indomie is literally perfect. No notes. They give me this euphoric feeling in my brain and body that only the best instant noodles could invoke. They are a true flavor explosion—savory and a little sweet and a tad hot. They’re so unique that the taste is almost indescribable. They’re totally different than anything else I’ve ever had and I absolutely love them. Now that I’ve had them, I will never go without them. Buy these now!

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other Products We Tried: Lucky Me! Kalamansi, Lucky Me! Hot, A-Sha Sesame Paste, A-Sha Original, Indomie BBQ Chicken, Indomie Hot & Spicy, Momofuku Spicy Soy, Momofuku Scallion

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About the Author

Jordan Myrick

Jordan is an L.A.-based writer and comedian who believes all food should come with extra sauce. When they're not writing for Sporked, Jordan is at the movies or sharing an order of french fries with their elderly chihuahua.