# Tried some Maruchan cup noodles. Same "meh" taste as in college 30 years ago. Any better brands now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-some-maruchan-cup-noodles-same-meh-taste-as-in-college-30-years-ago-any-better-brands-now/600581 "2011-10-23T23:01:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-some-maruchan-cup-noodles-same-meh-taste-as-in-college-30-years-ago-any-better-brands-now/600581/21 "2011-10-24T15:33:43Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I’ve always hated Ramen noodles. The noodles are kinda nice but the broth is so weak its like they just waved a chicken or cow or whatever over it to give it flavor. On the other hand, stuff like Campbells Chicken Noodle or Beef Whatever has good broth but the noodles are mush. Combine the two and its much better. > > We also like to take Ramen and combine with the following. They sell these cans of “oriental vegetables”. It will have stuff in it like fried tofu, baby corn, some kinda fungus thingy, mushrooms, and other things. Usually in a pretty strong and oily broth. Use that in combination with Ramen and its pretty good. I don’t understand this. The broth is so strong that most people I know have to use less of it. That stuff always knocks me down. The real problem is that it tastes nothing like what it’s supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-some-maruchan-cup-noodles-same-meh-taste-as-in-college-30-years-ago-any-better-brands-now/600581/22 "2011-10-24T15:53:15Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I don’t understand this. The broth is so strong that most people I know have to use less of it. That stuff always knocks me down. The real problem is that it tastes nothing like what it’s supposed to be. Well, I certainly agree it doesnt taste of this world. But apparently your circle of friends and mine are from different planets because in my circle the broth sucks in both taste and strength. Unless of course you are referring the overpowering strength being mainly that of salt flavor. That I could see. Or its that wussy generation X thingy 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-some-maruchan-cup-noodles-same-meh-taste-as-in-college-30-years-ago-any-better-brands-now/600581/23 "2011-10-25T04:16:45Z")
> [@davey77](#): > > Yong Shim Noodle Bowl is easily found at supermarkets and suits this ramen-lover just fine. My only complaint in earnest, or maybe not so earnestly is the Nong Shim Logos… [Quote=Nong Shim] Taste NONGSHIM. Feel the Happieness. [/Quote] Awesome! ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-some-maruchan-cup-noodles-same-meh-taste-as-in-college-30-years-ago-any-better-brands-now/600581/24 "2011-10-25T04:35:21Z")
Feels very… very, um Very Cloverfield shadow corporation. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-some-maruchan-cup-noodles-same-meh-taste-as-in-college-30-years-ago-any-better-brands-now/600581/25 "2011-10-25T08:49:20Z")
You’d probably have to head to an Asian supermarket to find them in the US (if it’s even possible), but the Japanese have quite good “up-scale” ($4-5) instant ramen. Their liquid soup bases taste much better than the packets of powder. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-some-maruchan-cup-noodles-same-meh-taste-as-in-college-30-years-ago-any-better-brands-now/600581/26 "2011-10-25T09:01:15Z")
I DID once buy a package of udon noodles at the store I work at that was close to $4 for the package. It was pretty elaborate, but I didn’t care much for the noodles themselves. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tried-some-maruchan-cup-noodles-same-meh-taste-as-in-college-30-years-ago-any-better-brands-now/600581.md?page=1)