When those late-night supper cravings hit, instant noodles have always been there for us. Easy to put together, wallet-friendly and addictively delicious, what is there not to love?

Over the years, the instant noodle scene has grown drastically and we are constantly seeing new brands and variations of this popular instant snack enter the market. Forming a wide spectrum with cheap, classic options such as Indomie Mi Goreng to more fancy variations like Hai Chi Jia Guo Ba Fen, the choices are endless.

Want to try something new but don’t know where to start? Here are the 21 best instant noodles in Singapore you can give a shot the next time you need to stock up your pantry.

Read: 10 best spicy instant noodles in Singapore that will set your senses on fire.

A1 ABALONE INSTANT NOODLE 

A1 Abalone Noodle features chewy noodles that come paired with a very rich, herbal flavour broth. What makes it stand out from the rest of its instant noodle contenders are the two pieces of abalone that they include in each packet.

Price: S$4.30 (1packet)

Snag a few packs of the A1 Abalone Instant Noodles online from Giant and Cold Storage.

MALA ODEN

Another recent addition to the instant noodle market in Singapore is the Hei Ren Bu Luo Mala Oden. Similar to a Japanese oden that comes with a variety of fishcakes, The Hei Ren Bu Luo Mala Oden replaces the usual sweet oden soup with a tongue-burning mala broth for a spicy remix. Each cup comes with sweet potato noodles, dried vegetables and a generous serving of fishcake.

Price: S$46.90 (1 carton, 12 cups), S$89.90 (2 cartons, 24 cups)

Update your snack stash with the Hei Ren Bu Luo Mala Oden from Snacksdelivery.sg.

Read our review of the Mala Oden here.

MUSHROOM ODEN

For those of you who do not take spicy food, this new Mushroom Oden is a good alternative to our bestselling Mala Oden.

It is a cup chockfull of goodness. Each cup comes with a portion of sweet potato noodles (or what we Chinese know as tang hoon), dried veggies and a generous mix of fishcake. The savoury soup smells a bit like peppercorn, but it is neither spicy nor numbing.

Price: S$46.90 (1 carton, 12 cups), S$89.90 (2 cartons, 24 cups)

You can get the mushroom oden from Snacksdelivery.sg.

INDOMIE MI GORENG INSTANT NOODLES 

It would be a crime to leave out this classic from our list. Indomie Mi Goreng Instant Noodles is one of the OG instant noodles in Singapore and is an essential kitchen staple for many households. Sweet, spicy and savoury all at once, it’s easy to see why this dry-style instant noodle has been popular for so many years.

Indomie is the best thing ever!

Price: S$2 – S$2.10 (Bundle of 5)

Stock up and get your Indomie Mi Goreng Instant Noodles from NTUC Fairprice and Cold Storage.

HAI CHI JIA GUO BA FEN

A recent addition to the instant food market is Hai Chi Jia Guo Ba Fen, which is essentially fiery goodness in a cup. It features sweet potato noodles and crispy rice soaked in a spicy peppercorn soup base. It is very different from your usual instant noodle ensemble but trust us when we say that it is worth a try!

Price: S$19.90 (1 carton with 6 boxes), S$58.80 (3 cartons, 18 boxes + free courier)

Spice up your life and order these popular instant noodles online from Snacksdelivery.sg.

Read our review of Hai Chi Jia’s Guo Ba Fen here.

Photo Credit: Shopee, sgluxex

ICHIRAN RAMEN HAKATA-STYLE STRAIGHT THIN NOODLE SET 

Can’t hop on a plane to Japan? Get the experience right from the comfort of your home with their instant ramen. Slurp up the classic Hakata-style noodles that are doused in Ichiran’s tonkatsu-based broth.

Price: S$26.90 (2 servings) – S$43.20 (5 servings)

Hurry and get a few packets of these instant noodles from Shopee.

HAI CHI JIA HUA JIA FEN 

Another instant noodle snack that packs a mighty punch is Hai Chi Jia Hua Jia Fen. This popular snack from China has been making waves in the instant food market and has been a massive hit, especially with people who get a kick out of eating spicy food. Each bowl comes with real lala clams, potato noodles, enoki mushrooms and vegetables that are drenched in a numbingly-good hot soup.

Price: S$19.90 (1 carton with 6 boxes), S$58.80 (3 cartons, 18 boxes + free courier)

Spicy food lovers can buy this popular instant noodles online from Snacksdelivery.sg.

Read our review of Hai Chi Jia’s Hua Jia Fen here.

Photo Credit: Shopee, s3beauty.sg

TTL WINE CHICKEN TAIWAN INSTANT NOODLES

If your secret instant noodle hack was to add a dash (or splash) of hua tiao jiu, the TTL wine chicken Taiwan Instant Noodleswere designed for you. The soup contains a unique hua tiao jiu flavour as well as real chicken chunks that really enhances the entire instant noodle experience.

Price: S$20.90 (bundle of 3)

You can get these popular Taiwanese hua tiao jiu instant noodles online on Lazada.

KOKA SIGNATURE STIR-FRY ORIGINAL INSTANT NOODLES 

If you aren’t feeling soup-based noodles and prefer something that you can whip up dry-style, you should try Koka’s Signature Stir-Fry Original Instant Noodles. The seasoning is packed full of bold flavours that hit all the right spots. The best part is that these noodles are Halal-certified and do not contain any MSG, preservatives and artificial colourings, so you can feel less guilty about eating them

Price: S$2.30 – S$2.60 (Bundle of 5)

Update your stash and get these instant noodles online or instore from NTUC Fairprice, Cold Storage and Giant.

Photo Credit: Kiki Singapore 

KIKI SCALLION NOODLES 

Up your instant noodle game with Kiki Scallion Noodles. Instead of your usual instant noodles, they use springy handmade noodles that go well with their special scallion sauce which is known for being very fragrant.

Price: S$18.90 (Bundle of 5)

Get yourself a pack of these noodles from Buzz. You can also get these instant noodles online from Lazada.

LAOMA HANDMADE NOODLES

Another instant noodle brand that uses handmade noodles is Laoma Handmade Noodles. Their noodles are flat, thick and very chewy. These taste amazing when tossed together with the accompanying sauce which is sour, spicy and tangy all at once.

Price: S$8.50 (Bundle of 4)

Try it for yourself and get a pack (or two) of these popular instant noodles online from Lazada.

Photo Credit: NTUC Fairprice 

MAMA TOM YUM SHRIMP INSTANT NOODLE  

If you’ve been craving for some Thai flavours, Mama Tom Yum Shrimp Instant Noodles will be able to help you with that. It features a full-bodied tom yum soup that is packed with plenty of spice and flavour. To jazz it up, we recommend adding a few pieces of prawns.

Price: S$3.85 – S$3.95 (Bundle of 5)

Refill your shelves and get a pack of this instant noodles from Cold Storage and NTUC Fairprice.

Photo Credit: Redmart 

MARUTAI HAKATA SOY SAUCE TONKOTSU NOODLE 

For instant noodles that are similar to a bowl of ramen, get Marutai’s Hakata Tonkotsu Noodle. These noodles are directly imported from Japan and have a lovely, chewy texture that goes well with the broth that is chock full of umami-rich pork marrow broth.

Price: S$5.15 (2 servings)

Order yourself some of these ramen-like instant noodles online from Amazon.sg.

MYOJO THAI TOM YUM INSTANT NOODLE 

Another popular tom yum instant noodle to try is Myojo’s Thai Tom Yum Instant Noodle. These Halal-certified instant noodles are great for anyone who is craving for something that is zesty and full of spice.

Price: S$2.25 – S$2.35

Bring home a pack of these instant noodles from Giant, Cold Storage and NTUC Fairprice.

NISSIN HOKKAIDO MISO INSTANT JAPANESE RAMEN 

If you’ve been missing Hokkaido and their delicious ramen, get a quick fix with Nissin’s Hokkaido Miso Instant Japanese Ramen. The creamy, slurp-worthy soup goes well with the provided noodles and tastes very similar to the real deal.

Price: S$2.40 (bowl), S$3.85 (bundle of 5)

Lug home a few bowls of these instant noodles from Cold Storage and NTUC Fairprice.

Photo Credit: NTUC Fairprice 

NONGSHIM SHIN KIMCHI RAMYUN INSTANT NOODLE 

Possibly our favourite Korean instant noodles, Nongshim’s famous Shin Kimchi Ramyun Instant Noodles is a must when we eat Korean Army Stew. The noodles here are thicker than your usual instant noodles and have plenty of bite. They are also Halal-certified so our Muslim friends can enjoy them too.

Price: S$1.35 – S$1.45 (cup), S$1.60 – S$1.65 (big bowl), S$4.35 – S$4.45 (bundle of 5)

Get your Korean instant noodle fix from Cold Storage, Giant and NTUC Fairprice.

OTTOGI — CHEESE RAMEN 

Cheese lovers will definitely be thrilled with Ottogi’s Cheese Ramen. Each pack of instant noodles comes with 3 sachets for the soup, dehydrated vegetable mix and cheese powder. Cook the noodles and soup first and when you’re done, sprinkle the cheese powder over it to complete the dish.

Price: S$4.30 – S$4.90 (bundle of 4)

Get your share of their cheese instant ramen online or instore from NTUC Fairprice and Cold Storage.

PRIMA TASTE SINGAPORE LAKSA LA MIAN 

When regular instant noodles don’t excite you anymore and you’re hankering for something more premium, get Prima Taste’s Halal-certified Singapore Laksa La Mian. Their instant noodles taste as good as an authentic bowl of Singapore Laksa and the gravy is creamy with a rich coconut flavour. They also use steamed air-dried premium noodles which has the same texture as traditional hand-pulled noodles.

Price: S$10.95 (bundle of 4)

Get these atas instant noodles from Cold Storage, Giant and NTUC Fairprice.

SAMYANG HOT CHICKEN INSTANT RAMEN (STEW TYPE) 

For those of you who want to test your heat tolerance, try Samyang’s Hot Chicken Instant Ramen. Using classic Korean Ramen which is thicker and chewier, the noodles greedily soak up all the spice from the gravy and ensure you of a mouth-tingling experience.

Price: S$7.50 (bundle of 5)

Whisk these instant noodles off the shelves of NTUC Fairprice and Giant.

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

TSENG NOODLES SCALLION WITH SICHUAN PEPPER FLAVOUR 

Another popular Taiwanese instant noodles you can find in Singapore is Tseng Noodles Scallion.

All their noodles are handmade and sun-dried, resulting in a chewy texture that is very addictive. The sauce itself has a sweet and savoury taste that helps to elevate the noodles.

Price: S$16.20 (bundle of 4)

These Taiwanese instant noodles are available online on Lazada.

TSUTA INSTANT RAMEN

The popular ramen brand also has its very own Tsuta Instant Ramen—a Shoyu-based ramen based on Tsuta’s signature ramen that can be cooked in less than 3 minutes.

Price: S$21.90 for 3 packets of Tsuta Instant Ramen

You can get your Tsuta Instant Ramen from Snacksdelivery.com.

October is a great month for ramen lovers! Not only do we have the legendary Ichiran Ramen’s pop-up stall and an abundance of other famed ramen booths setting up shop at Takashimaya’s Japan Food Matsuri, there is also the new “Ichiran-inspired” Gangsta Ramen at Tanjong Pagar Plaza.

What sets Gangsta Ramen apart from the usual ramen restaurants in Singapore is that they are the first place in Singapore to emulate Ichiran Ramen’s private ramen dining concept! Their prices are also NETT, with no GST or service charge.

They offer 12 single-pax booths, separated by wooden dividers for you to eat in isolation and peace. They also have sharing tables for those who prefer to dine with friends.

We tried their Original Ramen (S$10), which had a classic pork bone broth. The noodles were springy and quite firm.

The tonkotsu broth was light—bordering on bland—on the palate and it was not as creamy and rich as we expected.

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We also had the Signature Ramen with Cheese (S$12). All the soups are simmered in the same tonkotsu broth, so taste wise, it was not that much different from their original ramen. The cheese was a let-down; it only coated the first few noodle strands, and the broth did not have the richer, cheesier taste as claimed.

We did like the pork belly slices though; they had a well-balanced meat to fat ratio and were melt-in-your-mouth tender! The hanjuku egg was also runny, and the yolk was slightly sweet, complementing the savoury soup. The ingredients were generous in portion as well, with thick slices of pork belly, bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms.

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If you’re alone and in the area looking to have a peaceful lunch, you can consider dropping by Gangsta Ramen! We will visit here once for the experience, but we won’t return for the ramen.

Gangsta Ramen
1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#2-10
Singapore 082001
Mon to Fri: 11:30am – 8:30pm
Sat: 11:30am – 2:30pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

The legendary Ichiran is finally coming to Singapore! From 3 to 20 October 2019, Ichiran will be having a pop-up in Singapore at Takashimaya Square as part of the third edition of annual ramen festival Ramen Revolution at the Japan Food Matsuri event.

If you’ve ever been to Japan, you’ll know that ramen is a must-try item; leaving Japan without slurping down a bowl of this goodness is an absolute crime! There are a plethora of ramen shops scattered across Japan but one of the more famous brands that is high up on everyone’s list is the well-loved Ichiran.

Ichiran has been widely accepted as the god of tonkotsu ramen and they definitely set a high benchmark for a classic bowl of ramen. We are so damn excited that Ichiran Ramen is finally having a pop-up in Singapore (and hopefully a permanent shop next?!). That means that you no longer have to book a plane ticket to Japan just to satisfy your cravings for a bowl of the best ramen in the world.

Our team joined the queue at 10am during the opening on 3 October 2019 and we waited for almost 2 hours for our Ichiran Ramen! The queue is expected to get even longer, so get there early if you are planning to try it.

The secret to Ichiran’s exceptional tonkotsu ramen is its ambrosial broth; rich, thick and chock full of umami, every sip is pure bliss. Paired together with the ramen noodles which are cooked to perfection — springy, chewy and al dente — and outrageously tender chashu slices, it is no wonder that they are one of the most popular ramen chains in Japan!

But before you get too excited, Ichiran Ramen’s pop-up in Singapore will serve bowls of its instant ramen instead of fresh noodles. The instant noodles will be cooked on-site with spicy seasoning and sprinkled with wood ear mushrooms and green onions, and there will be no charshu. There are only 700 portions available daily.

For those of you who are not familiar with Ichiran Ramen, what makes Japan’s Ichiran special is the fact that they value alone time and solitary dining so much that they have individual booths where people can huddle up in their own space to enjoy their piping hot bowl of ramen.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that Ichiran Ramen will be opening a permanent shop in Singapore after the pop-up.

Ichiran Ramen Singapore
3 to 20 October 2019
Takashimaya Square
Japan Food Matsuri event

If you are heading to Tokyo to eat the real Ichiran Ramen, check out our Tokyo’s travel guides on the other places in the city that you should explore.

Ichiran Ramen is a popular ramen chain in Japan, and it has been widely accepted as one of the best spots for tonkotsu ramen. And I could not agree more wholeheartedly. A bowl of Ichiran ramen is super satisfying, and very affordable (¥780/S$10). It is undisputedly a ramen house that you cannot miss out on when you are in Japan.

Ichiran does an exceptional tonkotsu ramen, and has most definitely set the benchmark for Japanese ramen. The broth is unbelievably rich, and thick, and something inexplicably but really special that it wows you with every sip (or slurp). It is so good that I am always caught in a situation to decide on whether I should do a second bowl. The noodles are cooked just right, springy and al dente – exactly the way I like my ramen to be. And if this is what you like too, be sure to select the “extra firm” option when you place your order. The chashu is also spot-on; every bite makes me go weak in the knees. It is, in a nutshell, the perfect bowl of ramen. Let’s just put it this way – If you are a fan of tonkotsu ramen, it is impossible to not like Ichiran’s rendition.

For the benefit of those who do not know, at Ichiran Ramen, you have to get a ramen ticket at the vending machine located at the entrance of the restaurant to choose your ramen and toppings. Next, you have to fill up a 5-field form to indicate your preference (noodle’s firmness, types of garlic, level of spicy-ness…) and customise your ramen. You will then be ushered to wooden booths where you slip your order forms into this small hole, and the staff will pass you your ramen through the same hole – the whole time, no one sees each other. It is simple yet fascinating.

While the process of ordering ramen via a vending machine is very common in Japan, no ramen restaurants in Singapore have adopted this method. I am puzzled as to why this system is taking so long to be an F&B trend here. The system greatly improves the efficiency of the ordering process, and makes the work easier, smarter and safer for the staff.

As for the part where the staff would pass the ramen through the small hole at the booth, it is indeed a brilliant concept for two reasons. First, it helps to create a unique experience for the customers where they get to dine in a booth. Second, it improves the efficiency of the entire operation and makes the work a lot easier and safer for the staff as it reduces the risk of them bumping into diners while serving the ramen.

In Japan, the country which developed the business concepts of 5S and kaizen (or continuous improvement), the Japanese had to find ways to streamline, reduce wastages and improve tirelessly.

Singapore still has a long way to go before catching up with Japan’s technology, and with the shortage of F&B staff here, it will be a welcome change if casual dining restaurants here could find ways to get the food served faster to customers.

After all, investments to raise productivity can be partially subsidized by NTUC’s Inclusive Growth Programme, and with over 800 such projects in the works, I am looking forward to happier staff and better customer experiences in Singapore in future.

I have nothing but praises for the concept at Ichiran. It is not only innovative and interesting for the diners, but it also makes it easier, smarter and safer for the staff to perform their duties within tight space constraints. Ichiran has opened in Hong Kong this year, and I hope that they will be opening a branch in Singapore soon. Until then, we just have to plan a trip to Japan for their delicious ramen.

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