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Nissin Hot & Spicy Chicken is one of those bowls where the name is doing more work than the bowl. I tasted mostly chicken bouillon. The heat shows up briefly then disappears.
Produced in the United States. Distributed by Japan.
What’s in the Package
Inside the bowl, you’ll find a round block of fried wheat noodles accompanied by three sachets. There is a purple silver sachet labeled “1” containing the soup base powder, a large orange sachet filled with dehydrated vegetables (including carrots and green onions), and a small white sachet of liquid chili sauce.
How to Cook Nissin Hot & Spicy Chicken
- Add the liquid chili sauce to your preferred spice level, stir thoroughly, and serve.
- Remove the lid and all three packets. Empty the soup base (1) and the vegetable sachet onto the noodles.
- Fill the bowl with room-temperature water up to the inside fill line (about 400ml).
- Place the bowl in the microwave and heat on high for 3 minutes.
- Let the bowl sit in the microwave for 1 minute after the timer goes off to allow the noodles to finish softening.
How Does It Taste
The broth is straightforward chicken bouillon. It’s not bad, just not particularly interesting. There’s also a sour note that is subtle but it’s there.
The spice is a 2 out of 5. It hits quickly and dissipates just as fast. James and I both wanted it to build into something and it just doesn’t. For a bowl labeled hot and spicy that’s the main disappointment.
The noodles are the highlight. Thin, wavy, satisfying chew, hold up well in the broth. Standard Nissin noodle quality which is consistently good.
How Does It Compare
Sits in the same American budget spicy chicken category as the Maruchan Instant Lunch Hot and Spicy Beef. They both promise more heat than they deliver. The Tapatio Chicken has more flavor complexity at a similar price. If you want actual heat in a cup format the Nissin Hot & Spicy Shrimp is worth comparing directly.
How to Level Up Nissin Hot & Spicy Chicken
A fried egg adds the richness the thin broth is missing. Chili oil delivers the heat the bowl is advertising but not landing. Green onions right before serving.
Final Verdict
Decent noodles, thin broth, heat that doesn’t follow through. It’s not a bad bowl. It’s just a disappointing one given what the name promises. Add chili oil and it gets closer to what it should have been out of the packet.
Tasting Notes
- Spice Level: 2/5
- Broth Viscosity: 1/5
- Noodle Thickness: 1/5
- Noodle Type: Wavy
- Topping Suggestions: Fried Egg, Chili Oil, Green Onions
How do I rate my ramen? Check out the Ramen Rating Guide.
Related Instant Ramen
- Nissin Hot & Spicy Shrimp
- Tapatio Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup
- Maruchan Instant Lunch Hot and Spicy Beef
- Nongshim Bowl Noodles Hot & Spicy
- Snapdragon Spicy AF Super Spicy Noodle Soup
Where to buy Nissin Hot & Spicy Chicken
Community Ratings
It’s not that spicy, you can taste the lime/sourness in it more.
