10 Best Instant Noodle Brands

From super spicy trending ramen to everyday snacktime staples, the world can’t seem to get enough of instant noodles. These are the must-try brands every instant noodle connoisseur should know!

Buldak (Samyang)

If you’ve so much as glanced at the noodle section in your local supermarket, you’ll likely be familiar with the mega-popular brand Budalk. Produced by the South Korean instant noodle titan Samyang Foods, the Buldak line has become renowned across the globe for being super spicy and addictive.

The noodles are inspired by a fiery dish of the same name, made from chicken coated in a spicy, sweet sauce and melted cheese. You can get various Buldak noodle flavours that offer different twists on this classic dish. If you can handle the heat, try the 2x spicy flavour that packs in double the kick, or if you’re after something slightly milder, the carbonara flavour is a trusted favourite.

Mama

For delicious Thai flavours, instant noodles from Mama are the absolute gold standard. Affordable and offering rich, aromatic notes, they’re widely considered some of the best noodles on the market for lovers of Thai cuisine.

Inspired by a variety of traditional dishes, including tom yum soup, pad Thai and green curry, expect tasty, complex flavours with fragrant hints of things like lemongrass, lime and chilli.

The classic tom yum noodles are probably the most popular, but the brand has some brilliant other lines, including the Oriental Kitchen selection and Pho bowls.

Demae Ramen (Nissin)

Another of the most recognisable instant noodle brands worldwide, Demae Ramen, made by Japanese brand Nissin, has been delighting ramen lovers since 1969. Based on the traditional Japanese noodle dish of the same name, Demae Ramen combines succulent noodles and rich umami broth for a hearty, comforting ramen experience.

Flavours range from sesame, soy and miso to chicken, beef and shrimp. They’re pretty mild compared to some of the spicier Korean options.

Cup Noodles (Nissin)

Nissin’s Cup Noodles line is another top choice, this time offering a tasty ramen experience in convenient cup noodle form, where you just pour boiling water in and wait for it to work its magic.

As well as regular wheat noodle options, you also get the choice of instant soba noodle cups. These wok-style noodles are less soupy than normal ramen cups and come in moreish flavours like yakitori, Peking duck, chilli and teriyaki.

Indomie

Affordable prices and excellent versatility have helped Indomie noodles gain widespread global popularity. Outside of the brand’s place of origin in Indonesia, Indomie noodles are particularly popular in Nigeria, as well as in the Middle East, Australia and parts of Europe, marking them a true global sensation!

The brand is most well-known for its Mi Goreng range, which provides soup-less stir-fry style noodles that replicate the classic dish. Seasoned to perfection and ready in just three minutes, you can’t go wrong with a packet of Indomie Mi Goreng noodles!

Shin Ramyun (Nongshim)

Heading back to South Korea, Shin Ramyun is another ultra-popular brand beloved for its bold, spicy flavours and satisfyingly chewy noodles. In fact, it’s one of the best-selling brands in Korea. The line, made by the iconic global brand Nongshim, includes several varieties, ranging from the classic red packet, kimchi, tom yum and toomba to the premium black packet, which provides an extra-thick, umami broth.

While still featuring signature Korean spiciness, most people consider Shin Ramyun noodles to be somewhat more manageable and balanced compared to Buldak’s super-spicy levels.

Chapagetti (Nongshim)

Chapagetti is another of Nongshim’s beloved brands, coming in just behind Shin Ramyun in popularity. As an instant version of the Chinese-Korean fusion dish jjajangmyeon, it combines thick, chewy noodles with savoury black bean sauce for a deliciously hearty bite.

Surprisingly, they’re not spicy like other beloved Korean noodles. One popular way to eat them is to combine them with another Nongshim noodle variety, Neoguri, which creates a dish known as Chapaguri or Ram-don. This combination rose to global fame after being featured in the award-winning movie Parasite.

Prima Taste

Lovers of Singaporean flavours and traditional dishes need not look any further than the brilliant range from Prima Taste. A step up from your basic instant noodle packets, this brand promises restaurant-like quality at home.

The laksa noodles, which combine a fragrant coconut broth, premium noodles and an infusion of traditional herbs and spices, are among the brand’s most popular products. They frequently feature at the top of global best instant noodles lists, leaving no doubt of their popularity and deliciousness!

Master Kong

For popular Chinese instant noodles, check out Master Kong (also known as Kang Shi Fu), which offers some of the nation’s best-selling flavours. They’re renowned for a robust noodle texture paired with a rich savoury broth, giving you a satisfying snacking experience.

The undisputed favourite from the brand is the braised beef flavour, thanks to its complex, hearty notes and perfectly balanced taste. Other popular variations include the beef with pickled vegetables flavour, which provides an extra tanginess.

Jin Ramen (Ottogi)

For more Korean classics, Jin Ramen, made by Ottogi, has you covered. As the brand’s flagship line, Jin Ramen products frequently feature among the country’s bestsellers, just under Shin Ramyun. In acknowledgement of their shared name, Jin from the K-pop group BTS became a global brand ambassador for Jin Ramen in 2025, no doubt boosting the popularity of the noodles even more!

They’re a tasty staple, offering a nice kick of spice without being too overpowering. Enjoy a range of flavours, including mild, jjambbong seafood, jjiajang, spicy and veggie to satisfy your noodle cravings.

Ready to try these unbeatable noodles? We stock all of these famous brands and plenty more to help satisfy your instant noodles cravings!

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