Some days, we do not have time to cook slowly. Work runs late, we get home tired, or we simply want an easy evening. A simple bowl of noodles can still feel comforting. It can be quick, but it can also taste good and feel satisfying. We like to keep noodles that we would happily eat again. Some have a rich sauce. Some have a nice texture. Some only need a few vegetables, tofu or mushrooms to become a simple and complete meal.
HeQiu Sesame Sauce Noodles (Vegan) | Pantry Score 8.8/10
HeQiu Sesame Sauce Noodles is one of those instant noodles that is easy to keep in the kitchen. It is quick to make, completely vegan, and works well on days when we want something warm without spending much time cooking.
Each pack comes with two sauce sachets: a rich sesame sauce and a soy sauce. Together they create a smooth, savoury bowl with plenty of roasted sesame flavour. The sauce feels creamy, but it is not too heavy, so it is easy to finish the whole bowl.
The noodles cook quickly, making them a practical choice for busy weekdays or a simple lunch at home. We found the sesame flavour stayed balanced from the first bite to the last. It was rich enough to feel satisfying, but never became overwhelming.
The mild sesame aroma and savoury flavour are what make it enjoyable. It is the kind of noodle we would happily keep in the cupboard because it is easy to come back to again and again.
Compared with many instant noodles, the price is slightly higher. However, the quality of the ingredients, the vegan recipe and the overall eating experience make the extra cost feel worthwhile.
We like keeping this one at home because it is quick to make, the sesame flavour is rich without feeling too heavy, and it is the kind of meal we know we will finish every time.
KiKi Typhoon Shelter Noodles (Vegan) | Pantry Score: 7.35 / 10
KiKi Typhoon Shelter Noodles is a Taiwanese vegan dry noodle inspired by the familiar flavours of Hong Kong-style typhoon shelter cooking.
Each pack comes with four separate seasoning sachets: fried garlic, dried vegetables, soy sauce and spicy red oil. There are more steps than a standard dry noodle, but everything is still quick and easy to prepare.
The first thing we noticed was the fried garlic. As soon as everything was mixed together, the garlic aroma became the main flavour of the bowl. It gave the noodles a savoury, roasted character that made them feel different from a typical soy sauce noodle.
Although one of the sauce packets is labelled as spicy mala oil, the heat is quite mild. The Sichuan pepper is also very light, so this is not the noodle to choose if you are looking for a strong mala experience. Instead, the garlic stays at the centre of the flavour from beginning to end.
The noodles have a balanced texture. They are not especially chewy, but they do not become too soft either. Together with the garlic and soy sauce, the whole bowl feels balanced and easy to finish.
We also liked having the seasoning in separate sachets. It gives you a little more control over the final flavour, especially if you want to use less chilli oil.
We keep this one because the fried garlic makes it different from most dry noodles in our pantry. It is easy to prepare, full of savoury garlic flavour and a good choice when we want something simple with a little more character than an everyday soy sauce noodle.
KiKi Sichuan Pepper Noodles (Vegan) | Pantry Score: 7.25 / 10
KiKi Sichuan Pepper Noodles is a Taiwanese vegan dry noodle that is easy to keep in the kitchen when we want something with a little spice but not too much heat.
The noodles come in a multi-pack with individually wrapped portions, making them convenient to store and easy to cook whenever we need a quick meal. The preparation is simple and only takes a few minutes.
The first thing we noticed was the Sichuan pepper. The pepper aroma slowly built up while we were eating, bringing a light numbing feeling together with a gentle smoky note. It was not an intense spicy noodle, but it had enough flavour to keep every bite interesting.
The seasoning stayed balanced from the first bite to the last. The spice never became overwhelming, so the noodles were easy to finish. If you enjoy pepper flavour more than chilli heat, this is a combination that works well.
The noodles are softer than some other Taiwanese dry noodles, so they may not suit people who prefer a firmer bite. Even so, the softer texture worked quite well with the pepper oil and seasoning, creating a bowl that felt balanced and easy to enjoy.
The multi-pack is another advantage. It is practical to keep at home, especially when we want a quick lunch or dinner without much preparation.
We keep this one because the pepper flavour is balanced and enjoyable without becoming too spicy. The noodles may be softer than we prefer, but the layered pepper aroma and easy preparation make it one we are happy to keep in the cupboard for everyday meals.
WeiLih Spicy Soup Instant Noodle (Vegan) ｜Pantry Score: 7/10
WeiLih Spicy Soup Instant Noodle is a Taiwanese vegan soup noodle that is easy to keep in the kitchen when you want something warm and quick.
The noodles cook in just a few minutes, making them a simple choice for lunch, dinner or a late evening meal. They are quite thin and soften quickly, so they are best enjoyed as soon as they are ready.
The soup is the highlight of this noodle. It has a warm spicy flavour with a light Sichuan pepper aroma. The heat is noticeable, but it is not too strong or overwhelming. Instead of being very spicy, it feels balanced and easy to enjoy until the last spoonful.
We also liked that the soup did not become too oily or too heavy. Even after finishing the noodles, the broth was still enjoyable to drink. That made the whole bowl feel satisfying without becoming tiring.
If you usually enjoy very spicy Sichuan noodles, this one may feel quite mild. However, if you prefer a bowl with gentle warmth, light pepper aroma and a comforting soup, this is an easy noodle to come back to.
We keep this one for the days when we want a warm bowl of soup without too much heat. It is quick to cook, easy to finish and the soup is enjoyable from the first sip to the last. Although the noodles soften quite quickly, the balanced broth is enough to make us keep a few packs in the cupboard.
NiuTou Pepper Sesame Noodles (Vegan) | Ashas Pantry Score: 6.3 / 10
NiuTou Pepper Sesame Noodles is a Taiwanese vegan dry noodle that is easy to keep in the kitchen for a quick everyday meal.
Each pack comes with noodles, a pepper sesame sauce and a lightly sweet soy sauce. The preparation is simple, and you can adjust the cooking time depending on whether you prefer the noodles a little firmer or softer.
The first thing we noticed was the pepper. The Sichuan pepper aroma was more noticeable than the sesame, and the light numbing feeling slowly built up as we ate. It was not an intense spicy noodle, but it had enough pepper flavour to make each bite interesting without becoming overwhelming.
The noodles are on the softer side rather than chewy. Together with the balanced seasoning, the whole bowl felt light and easy to finish. It is not the kind of noodle with bold or powerful flavours, but it is comfortable to eat and does not feel too oily or too heavily seasoned.
Compared with some stronger pepper noodles, this one is much milder. That also makes it a good choice for people who enjoy a little Sichuan pepper without wanting too much heat or spice.
The price is another reason we like this product. It is affordable, easy to prepare and fits naturally into everyday meals, especially when we want something quick without spending much time in the kitchen.
We keep this one because it is simple, affordable and easy to enjoy. The pepper flavour is enough to make it different from a regular dry noodle, but it never feels too heavy. It may not be the most memorable noodle in our pantry, but it is one we are always happy to have when we want a quick and easy meal.
KiKi Aromatic Scallion Noodles (Vegan) | Pantry Score: 5.5 / 10
KiKi Aromatic Scallion Noodles is a Taiwanese vegan dry noodle that focuses on scallion oil flavour and quick everyday cooking.
Each pack comes with one sauce sachet that combines scallion oil and soy sauce. The preparation is simple, making it an easy meal when you want something ready in just a few minutes.
The first thing we noticed was the strong scallion aroma. As soon as the sauce was mixed through the noodles, the fragrance became very noticeable. If you enjoy scallion oil noodles, this familiar flavour is probably the biggest reason to try this product.
The noodles are softer than we expected and have less bite than some other Taiwanese dry noodles. The sauce also becomes quite oily after a few bites, making the second half of the bowl feel heavier than the first.
Compared with freshly made scallion oil noodles, the flavour is much simpler. It still gives you the basic scallion oil experience, but it does not have the same freshness or depth that you would find in a restaurant.
The product is easy to prepare and reasonably priced, so it works well as a quick everyday meal. However, compared with other vegan dry noodles in our pantry, it was not one that we felt like reaching for again very often.
We still keep this one because it is quick to prepare and the scallion aroma is enjoyable. Although the noodles are softer and the sauce feels a little oily for our taste, it is still a useful option when we simply want a fast bowl of scallion noodles at home.
