Vifon Instant Porridge with Salted Egg (Chao Trung Moi)

Vifon makes some of my favorite instant products and I’ve reviewed their bean thread noodles before, so I was curious to try their take on chao. The Instant Porridge with Salted Egg is marketed as instant rice porridge.

Produced in Vietnam.

What’s in the Package

Inside you get a rice packet, one soup base packet, and a larger packet that contains the toppings and egg component. Three items total.

How to Prepare It

Put the porridge and all soup base packets into a bowl. Pour in about 250ml of boiling water. I’d recommend using about 100ml less than the 350ml listed on the instructions. At full volume it becomes closer to soup than porridge and the flavor gets very thin. Cover for 3 minutes, stir well, and serve.

How Does It Taste

The name promises salted egg and I was looking forward to that richness a good salted egg yolk brings. That flavor doesn’t come through in the bowl.

What I got instead was something close to a mild Asian rice porridge with chicken bouillon seasoning. The texture is on the softer and more granular side, which is expected for an instant porridge but takes some getting used to if you’re new to chao. The flavor is quite light on its own.

At 170 calories it’s one of the lighter products I’ve reviewed, which makes it a decent base if you’re willing to add your own toppings to build it up.

How to Level Up Vifon Instant Porridge with Salted Egg (Chao Trung Moi)

This bowl responds really well to toppings. Since the salted egg flavor doesn’t come through, a Thousand Year Egg sliced on top would provide the depth and richness the bowl is going for. Shredded imitation crab adds texture without competing with the delicate base.

Chili oil and a splash of soy sauce make a noticeable difference. Plenty of scallions on top to round it out.

Final Verdict

This is a gentle, light bowl that works best as a base to build on. The salted egg flavor doesn’t show up the way the name suggests, so go in knowing you’ll want to add your own toppings. Use less water than the instructions call for, layer on the additions, and it becomes a decent light meal. I’d love to see a stronger salted egg presence in a future version.

How do I rate my ramen? Check out the Ramen Rating Guide.

Where to buy Vifon Instant Porridge with Salted Egg (Chao Trung Moi)

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