The “So Delicious” Instant Noodles That Are Almost Better Than Homemade

I’ve always been an instant noodle girl. Microwaveable cups of ramen, frozen mac and cheese, instant pasta dishes — yum! Chicken noodle soup and mac and cheese cups pretty much sustained me in college. As my culinary prowess developed, I began to stray from these convenience items. But I still have room in my heart (and grocery cart) for one brand in particular: A-Sha.

When I discovered A-Sha noodles a few years ago, I was intrigued by the brand’s ingredients. Various types of round and flat noodles are air-dried over 18 hours to make them shelf-stable — no preservatives, sodium, or oil needed. The sauce packets also aren’t too salty, sweet, or artificial-tasting.  

A-Sha’s noodles come in several varieties, including branded collabs with Hot Ones and Sanrio. It’s sold in ready-to-eat bowls and cups or packets, but I’m partial to the packets, which quickly boil in water and can be a fitting snack with the various sauces or made into a more elaborate meal or side dish. Almost all of the noodle varieties are vegan too, which is great when plant-based friends unexpectedly pop by. 

A-Sha’s instant noodles are air-dried rather than fried in oil like traditional instant noodles, which makes the noodles naturally lower in fat. Made with just two ingredients — wheat flour and salt (plus water, which is then dehydrated out) — the noodles themselves are pretty neutral in flavor, so they’re easy to use in pretty much any noodle recipe, or with the enclosed sauce packets. 

I love variety, so picking a favorite is tough, but if I had to pick one for my bunker it would be the Spicy Dan Dan Meteor Noodles. The noodles are round and have a nice bite to them, and the package includes a garlicky spicy soy sauce and a second sesame paste packet to mix in for creaminess. The long noodles are luscious and flavorful, and can be topped with crumbled tofu, meat, and some veg to create a meal. 

My favorite way to enjoy the noodles is as a quick meal or snack, with the addition of some type of veg. While the water is boiling, I’ll prepare my veggies — maybe cold sliced cucumber or radish to enjoy as a topping, or chopped green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, or arugula that I’ll wilt in with the noodles. 

Then I drain the noodles, mix with sauce and veg, and I’m ready to eat! If I want extra protein, I’ll add a soft-boiled egg cooked in the same water as the noodles. 

For creamy noodles, I’ll ladle some of the cooking water into a mug while the noodles are boiling and stir in some tahini or nut butter (or both!). I then mix this sauce with the noodles and enclosed sauce packet for extra-rich noodles. I’ve made several packets of noodles at once to bring to dinner parties and potlucks; I garnish the bowl with fresh herbs, like parsley and cilantro, plus black and white sesame seeds or crushed peanuts and cashews. If you dress it up, no one knows it’s from a box.  

Buy: A-Sha Spicy Dan Dan Meteor Noodles, $11.99 for 15.94 ounces at A-Sha

What’s your favorite instant noodle brand? Tell us about it in the comments below.