Nissin Breakfast Flavor Ramen Cup Noodles

McGriddle You Can Slurp

I tried Nissin’s new Breakfast Flavor Ramen Cup Noodles. Like more traditional cup noodles these are a complete meal in a styrofoam cup, just add hot water. Traditional cup noodles are describes as “Instant Soup” or “Noodles in Broth”. These say “Noodles in Sauce” so I’m expecting a textural difference in the noodle liquid.

Upon opening the noodles you’re immediately hit with a strong sweet smell of syrup. There’s more subtle breakfast smells underneath, it’s somewhat reminiscent of walking into a greasy spoon diner. The noodles are caked in the syrup powder, and there’s bits of freeze dried eggs and sausage peeking out from the top.

I followed the directions to heat up my noodles, and the sweet savory aroma of a Denny’s grand slam drifted out of my microwave and filled my kitchen. The cooked noodles took on a typical instant ramen texture, and the eggs and sausage seem to have rehydrated nicely. The liquid clings to the noodles and definitely seems more saucy than brothy.

The first bite is sweet and surprisingly complex. The sauce takes like maple syrup, and the noodles have somehow been imparted with the essence of pancake. The bits of sausage and egg are reminiscent of what you’d get at a complimentary hotel breakfast, but they do their part to round out the flavor profile. The food this invokes more than anything is the McGriddle, which is one of my all time favorite fast food sandwiches. If the mad scientists at Nissin find a way to integrate some processed American cheese it would add some richness to balance the syrupy sweetness of the pancake noodles.

Overall Nissin’s Breakfast Flavor Ramen Cup Noodles was a fun novelty meal that tasted good but came a little bit short of its potential. If you see it at the store it’s totally worth a try, but I doubt it will become a staple ramen. (3.5 / 5)