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Thai Kitchen’s Spring Onion flavor hits a lot of the same delicate notes as their other varieties. If you’re coming in expecting a bold salty broth you’ll be surprised since this one plays it extremely quiet. But that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker if you know how to work with it.
Produced in the United States.
What’s in the Package
Thin straight rice noodles with a seasoning packet and oil packet. The rice noodle format sets this apart from wheat-based instant ramens since the texture and cooking behavior are noticeably different and worth being prepared for.
How to Prepare It
Bring water to a boil, add the noodles and seasoning, and cook briefly. Rice noodles move fast and can go from undercooked to mushy in a very short window so watch them carefully.
How Does It Taste
The flavor profile is light and delicate almost to a fault. If you’re used to bold salty broths this will feel underwhelming right out of the package. It’s reminiscent of a very light rice water base with a subtle spring onion note. The smell has an earthy almost rustic quality when you first open it. The rice noodles are thin and straight and have a softer texture than wheat noodles. The overall experience feels more like a light snack than a full meal.
How Does It Compare
Compared to other rice noodle instant options this sits on the very mild end of the spectrum. It is gluten free and vegan though, which gives it an audience that wheat-based ramens can’t serve. If you’re coming from something like Mama Tom Yum or any bold Southeast Asian instant noodle this will feel like a completely different category.
How to Level It Up
This bowl needs brightness and acidity to find its potential. A good squeeze of lime juice is the single best thing you can do for it since it wakes the whole thing up instantly. Fresh cilantro adds an herbal note that plays well with the spring onion base. Thinly sliced beef stirred in at the end adds the protein and savory depth this bowl is missing. A dash of fish sauce or soy sauce also helps if the seasoning feels too light.
Final Verdict
Best approached as a blank canvas rather than a complete bowl. On its own it’s too mild for most instant ramen fans but with a few additions it becomes a light refreshing meal. A good option for those who find most instant noodles too salty or want a gluten free rice noodle alternative. Personally, I wouldn’t purchase this again.
Tasting Notes
- Spice Level: 0/5
- Broth Viscosity: 2/5
- Noodle Thickness: 1/5
- Noodle Type: Thin and Straight
- Topping Suggestions: Fresh lime, Cilantro, Thinly Sliced Beef
How do I rate my ramen? Check out the Ramen Rating Guide.
Where to buy Thai Kitchen Spring Onion Instant Rice Noodle Soup
Community Ratings
I’m probably a little biased by nostalgia since I ate these (and the other flavors from this brand) all the time as a teenager since it was one of the few readily available vegan options in my area at the time.
It’s pretty different from your typical instant ramen (I kind of hesitate to even describe it as ramen tbh- it’s more of a general instant noodle soup). The flavor is definitely pretty mild- though on the plus side, that means you can drink the soup without feeling like you just got a huge salt bomb. The portions are pretty small, and since the noodles are rice noodles it can be a little fussy cooking them properly- it doesn’t take long for them to go from unpleasantly hard to mushy. All that said though, I do find the flavor really nice and IMO they’re great as a snack rather than a meal.
