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I was not expecting much from the Maggi Perisa Tom Yam Instant Noodles going in. It’s a Singaporean import produced in Malaysia and I’d never tried it before. But we’re going on record with this one, we liked it better than the Mama Tom Yum Shrimp, which has been the standard for this flavor on the site for a long time. That’s not a statement we make lightly.
Produced in Malaysia.
What’s in the Package
Inside, you’ll find a square block of classic fried wheat noodles and a single seasoning powder sachet.
How to Prepare It
- Bring 360ml (approx. 1.5 cups) of water to a boil.
- Add the noodle block and boil for 2 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the seasoning sachet.
How Does It Taste
The Maggi Perisa Tom Yam Instant Noodles tastes like real Tom Yum. The sourness is aggressive in the best possible way. It’s the kind that hits your whole tongue simultaneously rather than arriving in stages. The balance is there from the first sip and it doesn’t need a single adjustment.
The lemongrass and citrus notes that define authentic Tom Yum are present and sharp. This is the sharpness that James noted was muted in the Nongshim Shin Ramyun Tom Yum Jay Fai. The kaffir lime and lemongrass character that most instant versions approximate but don’t fully capture. The Maggi gets there.
The broth is the star and it is complete as-is. Don’t reach for lime or lemon juice — the broth doesn’t need it. Adding citrus would tip the sourness past where it already sits perfectly.
The noodles are thin and they can get a little soggy if you let them sit too long. Eat this promptly after cooking.
How Does it Compare
The Mama Tom Yum Shrimp Instant Noodles has been the Tom Yum benchmark on this site since the beginning. The Maggi Perisa Tom Yam surpasses it on flavor authenticity. The Mama has the nostalgia and a well-calibrated balance that’s hard to argue with.
The Maggi has a more aggressive and more convincing sourness that tastes closer to an actual restaurant Tom Yum. The Samyang Buldak Tom Yum is the Korean-Thai crossover that’s more about the Buldak heat than the Tom Yum flavor. The Nongshim Shin Ramyun Tom Yum Jay Fai is the most complex Korean interpretation. The Maggi is the most authentically Thai of the group.
How to Level Up Maggi Perisa Tom Yam Instant Noodles
Since the broth is already perfect don’t interfere with it. The additions here are about substance rather than flavor correction.
Shrimp and squid are the natural protein additions for a Tom Yum broth. You can add them while heating up the broth. I would also add mushrooms, green onions, and fried shallots.
Final Verdict
The Maggi Perisa Tom Yam Instant Noodles is the best Tom Yum instant ramen we have reviewed. The sourness is authentic, the balance is precise, and the broth needs nothing added to it to hit every note it’s aiming for.
Tasting Notes
- Spice Level: 3/5
- Broth Viscosity: 1/5
- Noodle Thickness: 1/5
- Noodle Type: Thin and Wavy
- Topping Suggestions: Shrimp, Squid, Mushrooms, Green Onions, Fried Shallots
How do I rate my ramen? Check out the Ramen Rating Guide.
Related Instant Ramen
- Mama Tom Yum Shrimp Instant Noodles
- Nongshim Shin Ramyun Tom Yum Flavor Jay Fai
- Samyang Buldak Tom Yum Spicy Chicken Ramen Soup
- Mama Green Curry Instant Noodles
- KampongKu Penang Prawn Noodles
Where to buy Maggi Perisa Tom Yam Instant Noodles
Community Ratings
as a South East Asian who grew up eating these since the 90s I would like to say. the original was considerably better. they used actual tom yam paste instead of the powder they used now which tastes 100x better. I am sad that they literally don’t make them like they used to.
GUYYYSS SI LOVEEE MAGGIII ITS MY PRIDE AND JOYYYY YUMMM (ALSO I LOVE WATCHING U LISA (that sounded weird lwk))
I’m Malaysian (where this noodle comes from) so I may be a bit biased since I grew up with these noodles. In high school when all my friends would have noodles for lunch/dinner everyone would pick Tomyam as their favourite flavour out of the Maggi Instant Noodles line. This is basically as close as you can get to a Tom Yum flavour in an instant noodle as you can get! And you just know if its the yellow packet Maggi that the noodles will be springy and delicious I sometimes eat the noodles raw because of how good it tastes 😋 Highly recommend!
