This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
If there’s one instant ramen that takes me straight back to childhood it’s the Mama Tom Yum Shrimp Instant Noodles. This was a staple in our house growing up. I probably ate more bowls of this than anything else. It’s still the one I measure everything against.
Produced in Thailand.
What’s in the Package
Inside is a fried, pre-seasoned noodle block. You get two sachets: a red-and-silver dual-chamber packet (containing the Tom Yum seasoning powder and chili powder) and a separate red-and-white sachet of Tom Yum paste.
How to Cook MAMA Tom Yum Shrimp Instant Noodles
Cooking directions per package instructions:
- Put the noodles and condiments in the bowl. Pour in 1 1/2 cups (350ml) of boiling water.
- Cover the bowl for 3 minutes.
- Now delicious and appetizing noodles is ready for serving.
How Does It Taste
The broth is perfectly sour. The lemon powder and lemongrass work together so that it’s bright, clean, and exactly what Tom Yum should smell and taste like. The garlic is there and well-balanced. Underneath everything is a subtle shrimp powder that completes the profile without taking over.
James gave the spice a 1 out of 5. It’s mild enough that the sourness and aromatics stay front and center. The noodles are the same thin wavy format across the whole MAMA lineup. Familiar and reliable. They carry the Tom Yum broth exactly the way they should.
How Does It Compare
The Mama Tom Yum Shrimp Instant Noodles is the benchmark for everything else in the MAMA lineup on this site. The Green Curry was a pleasant surprise. The Chicken and Pork are the comfort bowls. The Tom Yum has the most memorable flavor of the range. And after trying the Maggi Perisa Tom Yam, which we called better than this one at the tasting table, I still come back to the Mama for the nostalgia alone.
How to Level It Up
The toppings I add are the same ones we used at home growing up. Poached eggs — the yolk breaking into the sour broth is one of those combinations that just works. Vienna sausage is a personal favorite I’ve been adding since I was a kid and it pairs with the Tom Yum broth better than you’d expect. Fresh cilantro, green onions, and a squeeze of lime.
For seafood, any cooked shrimp, scallops, or squid dropped in just before serving makes this a quickly upgraded bowl. Cook them separately or in the same cooking pot. The Tom Yum broth was built for seafood.
For my full upgraded childhood recipe using these noodles check out My Childhood Ramen: Mama Shrimp Tom Yum Upgraded.
Final Verdict
The Mama Tom Yum Shrimp Instant Noodles is the bowl that started everything for me. The sour lemongrass broth, the garlic, and the subtle shrimp seasoning…it just holds up every single time. James and I would both buy this forever.
Tasting Notes
- Spice Level: 1/5
- Broth Viscosity: 0/5
- Noodle Thickness: 1/5
- Noodle Type: Thin and wavy
- Topping Suggestions: Poached Egg, Vienna Sausage, Cilantro, Green Onion, Lime, Seafood
How do I rate my ramen? Check out the Ramen Rating Guide.
Related Instant Ramen
- Mama Green Curry Instant Noodles
- Mama Chicken Instant Noodles
- Mama Pork Instant Noodles
- Maggi Perisa Tom Yam Instant Noodles
- Wai Wai Quick Zabb Tom Yum Shrimp Flavor
Where to buy Mama Tom Yum Shrimp Instant Noodles
Community Ratings
This is a classic for me and the shrimp flavour is the best one! It isn’t the spiciest which I have no problem with, and the noodles are pretty delicious.
For this, I love adding shrimp, chilli crisp, chive and a bit of lime. I also put the seasoning packets in the boiling water and let it reduce for three minutes before adding the noodles. Then a minute or two before I’m ready to eat I add the shrimp then garnish with everything else!
got to say the original version you can find in Thailand hits more but this one does great when you’re aboard and miss the nostalgic flavor. A 10 always
YUMMY!! The broth is so rich and limey which goes well with the thin and slurpable noodles! If you visit a Thailand grocery, make sure to put this on your grocery list 😛😛😛
I love the noodle texture so much. Thin, flat, chef’s kiss. The broth is delicious, but it gets pretty grainy toward the end of the soup.
Very tasty and reminiscent of tom yum soup
