Maruchan Yakisoba Roasted Chicken Japanese Instant Noddles Review

I know you have all tried Ramen noodle soup before! Maruchan Yakisoba Roasted Chicken Japanese Instant Noddles is just that (but slightly different). Unlike the instant noodles you cook on the stove, these can be cooked in the microwave and also contain "vegetables" that you toss in there as well.

These noodles come in a square box that is about the size of an average bowl, rather than a little plastic package that the stove top noodles come in.

I have seen these in quite a few flavors including beef and some spicy ones as well. This particular one I am reviewing is roasted chicken flavor. I think roasted chicken is rotisserie chicken... right?

When you open up these noodles and peel back the paper cover inside you will find the noodles (comes in the traditional block that the stove top noodles do), packet 1 which contains "vegetables", and packet 2 which contains the seasoning.

The first packet, the vegetables, contains an assortment of what looks to be tiny little dehydrated pieces of chopped up veggies. I think they are peas, corn, carrots, cabbage, and red peppers. To be honest I have no clue if that is what they really are. They are hard and plasticity feeling and do not look appetizing in the least. Kinda looks like something you would feed a bunny.

The flavor packet contains a powder that is I would say light tan. It is much larger than the packet that comes with the stove top Ramen. Maybe this means more flavor?

Sorry about the bad pics, I took these on my phone at work.

There are 6 steps to the instructions.

1. Open the lid halfway, only to remove the two packets.
2. Open packet #1 and sprinkle packet contents; gently shake container.
3. Add 1 cup of water to fill line.
4. Close lid and cook in microwave on high for 4 minutes.
5. Grab the corners and carefully remove from microwave.
6. Remove lid. Pour in packet  #2. Mix in the powdered flavoring... Enjoy! 

 After completing all these steps your meal will look something like this:

The package does clearly state that you should let the noodles sit for one minute after cooking them. After my noodles had sat for one minute, they were not longer watery. They were not soup at all. So I do not think that this product is really much like Ramen Noodle Soup, but rather a different form a more dry form. If you want soup, don't buy this!

The smell of theses noodles is VERY strong! it actually filled my whole office, and lingered for quite sometime even after I had eaten the whole meal. It smells like well... instant noodle spices. Kinda like a veggies a little too or maybe even soup. But nothing like chicken. Or roasted chicken for that matter either.

After cooking these noodles four 4 minutes in the microwave just like the package instructed. The texture was pretty good. They were not soggy but not hard either. I did find the noodles kinda rubbery at some points and dry at others almost as if they did not cook evenly. Ultimately they were not bad though, especially for 99 cents!

The vegetables were no longer hard or rubbery, they were now soft. I wouldn't say they were "good" but they were not icky by any means. The corn was okay but the cabbage was quiet limp, it resembled old lettuce. They didn't really taste like anything either. I do not think that they added anything to the meal, other than maybe color?

The flavor of the noodles themselves, was not bad. I would say it was kinda of sweet at first and then I tasted notes of red bell pepper. I don't think it tasted like chicken one bit. That's kinda odd seeing as mostly everything tastes like chicken! The flavor was very different from Ramen Noodle Soup, it was much stronger (I assume because less water and more flavoring). I would say it is a lot more bold than Ramen Soup.

If you like Ramen but don't like the soup part of it and wish it had more flavor, I would say definitely go out and get some Maruchan Yakisoba Instant Noodles!

I have actually had these cold before, and I am not a fan. This is just one of those things that you eat hot.

The nutritional value of this meal is deplorable BTW. Look at that sodium content! Yikes! :O

This is a hefty meal and if did fill me up, unlike those tiny cup noodles they sell in the white foam cups. (You know the ones).

Over all I would say this is an acceptable mean for a quick lunch when you have nothing else on hand. Would I buy it again? Absolutely. Do I prefer if over the traditional Ramen Soup? You bet!

Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: nice size, strong flavor, not too watery, actually has a smell, texture, cooks in 4 minutes
Cons: kinda rubbery in spots, made my whole office smell, plastic veggies?