This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
The Cielo brand markets itself around Mexican flavors and the Birria variety is one of their most recognizable. Before I even looked at the label I would have guessed this came from Mexico. The packaging and the branding, all of it reads Mexican. Turns out it’s produced in Vietnam and distributed in the United States, which was surprising to me.
Produced in Vietnam. Distributed in United States.
What’s in the Package
he package contains a block of instant ramen noodles, a liquid birria soup base, a packet of oil for richness, dehydrated cilantro and onions, and a convenient folding plastic fork.
How to Prepare It
To prepare the soup, place the dry noodles and vegetable toppings into the bowl and add boiling water to the fill line. Cover the bowl and let it steep for 3 to 4 minutes until the noodles are tender. Finally, stir in the liquid birria base and the oil packet, mixing thoroughly.
How Does It Taste
The broth is sweet in a way I wasn’t expecting. Traditional birria is rich, deeply savory, and spiced with dried chilies and warm aromatics. This version leads with sweetness, which gives it a somewhat unique character but pulls it away from what birria actually tastes like.
The birria flavor is subtle. It doesn’t hit you upfront. It lingers in the aftertaste as a faint hint of what the bowl is trying to be. The spice level is a mild 1 out of 5. Overall this is a gentle, mild bowl that works better as a base to build on than as a standalone experience.
The noodles are thin and wavy at a 1 out of 5 on thickness. They hold up in the light broth without going soft.
How Does It Compare
Within the Cielo brand the Pozole has more interesting broth depth from its oregano and cinnamon notes. The Menudo has a stronger oregano character. The Birria is the mildest and sweetest of the three.
How to Level It Up
A small pinch of salt helps balance the sweetness and brings the savory elements forward. A dash of fish sauce adds umami depth that the broth is missing without pushing it away from its Mexican-inspired profile.
Cooking the noodles in beef stock rather than water is the biggest single upgrade you can make. It gives the broth substance and makes the birria notes more prominent.
For protein, scrambled Mexican chorizo with eggs is a good move. The fat and spice from the chorizo fills in the gaps the mild broth leaves and transforms this into a satisfying meal.
Final Verdict
The Cielo Birria Instant Ramen is a mild, lightly sweet bowl that hints at birria without fully delivering on it. The flavor is pleasant enough with the right additions. Cook it in stock, add chorizo and eggs, and it becomes something worth eating. On its own it needs help.
Tasting Notes
- Spice level: 1/5
- Broth viscosity: 1/5
- Noodle thickness: 1/5
- Noodle type: Wavy
- Topping Suggestions: Scrambled Mexican Chorizo and Eggs, Fish Sauce, Salt
How do I rate my ramen? Check out the Ramen Rating Guide.
Where to buy Cielo Birria Instant Ramen Noodle Soup
Here my review on the other brand’s instant ramen flavors:
Community Ratings
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.
