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Weeknight meals can be tough. You clock out, commute home, set your stuff down, and plop on the couch — and the absolute last thing you’re in the mood to do is come up with a game plan for dinner. That’s why a lot of people (myself included) have resorted to microwavable meals or ordering in out of convenience. After a while, though, those microwavable meals get pricey, and you start to get sick of the sight of those same old plastic takeout containers. So, you’ve gotta strike that perfect balance between easy, affordable, and delicious — and one crowd favorite that checks all of those boxes is instant ramen. Unfortunately, instant noodles tend to get a bad rap for being low-quality food meant for college students and stocking break room kitchens. However, buying high-quality instant noodles like the ones from Momofuku is a tasty, quick, and incredibly easy way to take your weeknight meals to the next level. Plus, the brand just dropped two new flavors that might be my new favorite: Spicy Chili and Sweet & Spicy.
What Are the New Momofuku Noodles?
If you’re not familiar with the brand, chef David Chang opened Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City in 2004 — one of my personal favorite spots to slurp down a piping hot bowl of ramen — and the company recently expanded to sell pre-made ingredients to home cooks. The team at Momofuku engineered these noodles with the convenience of instant ramen and the restaurant-level flavor they’re known for. The noodles are also wider and flatter than a lot of instant noodles on the market, and each order contains five servings of noodles. All you do is pop them in boiling water for a few minutes, strain (or don’t!), add the flavor pack and boom — dinner is served.
Why I Love the New Momofuku Noodles
First off, the noodles are the easiest way to make weeknight meals fun and delicious. I always have a few packs on hand, and since they last a super long time in the pantry, they’re always ready to go in case I don’t know what to cook. And, you can really make them your own: Momofuku has a bunch of recipes on their website, but I like to play around and add in whatever I’m feeling on that particular day, whether it’s sliced chicken thighs and peppers or eggs, onions, and mushrooms. (You can even do miso cacio e pepe!) I’ve been a huge fan of the noodles since they first came out, but while I love the Spicy Soy, Tingly Chili, and Soy & Scallion noodles, the two new flavors have moved into the top spot. I can’t get enough of the balanced heat of the Sweet & Spicy noodles, and the Spicy Chili brings the “I might need a glass of milk pretty soon” punch that I crave, especially in the winter or after a long night out.
Plus, I’m not the only one who’s been raving about the new flavors. “These noodles live up to the name,” one reviewer wrote about the Spicy Chili noodles. “As someone whose favorite noodles were always the tingly chili noodles, I wondered how these would compare. They are equally as good, if not better!” And, there was also a ton of love for the Sweet & Spicy noodles. “‘Spicy’ being in the name left me with the expectation these noodles would have more heat, BUT I actually love how balanced the sauce is,” one reviewer explained. “For people who aren’t fans of heat, I would say don’t be afraid to try these noodles.”