The Ramen Rater

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The Ramen Rater www.theramenrater.com
www.youtube.com/theramenratertube
www.instagram.com/theramenraterter Why, offend their beloved instant noodles, of course.

‘Ramen Rater’ makes his mark

Hans Lienesch, an Anacortes native who's known as the "Ramen Rater," stirred up controversy in April, when he failed to list any Taiwanese noodles on his website rating list. Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2013 6:00 am

By Lynsi Burton


How does someone outrage the entire Taiwanese island and remain a media target for days? Anacortes native Hans Lienesch continues to dominate the world of instant noodles with his ever-growing website, The Ramen Rater. Now an Edmonds resident, Lienesch reviews instant noodles from all over the globe each day and posts his detailed thoughts to his website. And his thoughts are taken quite seriously.

“It’s getting pretty crazy,” Lienesch said. The Ramen Rater has passed judgment on 1,081 noodles and counting, with no end in sight. Lienesch caused an international stir in April when he posted his 2013 “Top Ten Instant Noodles of All Time,” a list that changes from year to year as he tastes ever more types of noodles. The Taiwanese media, hailing from a country that values its instant noodles, targeted Lienesch for not including any

Taiwanese varieties in his list.

“The Taiwanese are extremely proud of their instant noodles,” he said. His name and top 10 list remained in the Taiwanese news cycle for about three days, Lienesch said. A television segment featuring a Taiwanese man angrily pumping his fist with graphic flames blasted Lienesch for his omission. Tens of thousands of Taiwanese people posted comments to The Ramen Rater site. Lienesch finally issued an apology. But the Taiwanese omission wasn’t completely his fault. Genuine Taiwanese noodles are hard to come by locally because the United States can’t import certain ingredients included in the noodles, Lienesch said. A lot of Taiwanese varieties are Americanized and lose their authentic quality. Even when people mail Lienesch noodles from various spots on the globe, authorities will rifle through his packages and remove certain items. Though he enraged an entire republic, the controversy elevated Lienesch’s stature a bit in the instant noodle community.

“Being in the news like that, I’m considered the expert on instant noodles now,” he said. Now Taiwanese companies mail him their noodles, and he often interviews company representatives to introduce their brand to his readers. Lienesch also was featured this year in a Japanese TV show called “God of Patena,” where a panel of people discuss a random topic. An American character on the show interviewed Lienesch for his opinions on instant noodles and allowed him to present his top three — which were different at the time of the show’s filming. The character, a sort of bumbling “Larry the Cable Guy”-like figure, interviewed Lienesch over Skype. However, when looking back on the video clip, he can’t figure out what’s going on.

“I don’t know what they’re talking about most of the time,” he said. Soaring past 1,000 different noodles, Lienesch isn’t even close to running out of noodles to try, as fans and instant noodle companies continue to send him samples.

“I see no end in sight for the Ramen Rater,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun. I enjoy every bit of it.”

#5680: Nongshim KPop Demon Hunters Shin Ramyun Zoey Burger Hero – United StatesCheck profile for link to The Ramen Rate...
10/14/2026

#5680: Nongshim KPop Demon Hunters Shin Ramyun Zoey Burger Hero – United States

Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!

It's almost over... Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!
10/14/2026

It's almost over... Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!

Check out the new top ten! Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!
10/13/2026

Check out the new top ten! Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!

Time to heat things up - The Ramen Rater's Top Ten Spiciest Noodles 2026 Edition -
10/13/2026

Time to heat things up - The Ramen Rater's Top Ten Spiciest Noodles 2026 Edition -

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles 2026 Edition includes the hottest instant noodle varieties in the world

#5679: Samyang Buldak 3x Spicy Artificial Hot Chicken Flavor Noodle - ChinaAdded nothing. Noodle gauge and chew are rea...
10/12/2026

#5679: Samyang Buldak 3x Spicy Artificial Hot Chicken Flavor Noodle - China

Added nothing. Noodle gauge and chew are really quite nice. But that's not why you got this - you got it to prove you're of stern stuff - that you can handle the fire. Well, if you can scarf down a whole bowl of this, I won't give you that badge of honor - UNLESS! Unless you've not had any Buldak for a little while. The last mukbang we did was Cream Carbonara two days ago. That much lesser amount of Buldak heat I wager was enough to add tolerance for me on this one. I sailed through it pretty easily. Sure, my nose dripped, my brow sweated, my mouth burned. But it wasn't 'punch me in the face and send me to the corner' heat. But heat is very subjective. I'm not saying it isn't hot by any stretch of the imagination - this would literally kill my wife and my son was beaten down enough by it to only give it 2 stars - he's generally only given out 5 stars every time. It's mean - and if you wanna try the mean noodle, do it. 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8801073114548.

Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!

Hey look - something to peel the paint off the walls! Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!
10/12/2026

Hey look - something to peel the paint off the walls! Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!

Hey check out a new book! Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!
10/09/2026

Hey check out a new book! Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!

#5678: Nongshim Zoey Shin Ramyun Hamburger - South KoreaAdded scallion, sesame seed, Mae Mai garlic and onion, and crus...
10/09/2026

#5678: Nongshim Zoey Shin Ramyun Hamburger - South Korea

Added scallion, sesame seed, Mae Mai garlic and onion, and crushed red pepper. Noodle came out decently - round and standard in gauge. The broth indeed tastes very much like a hamburger - with a little spiciness and Korean style. It's not bad. I will say the meaty bits are honestly textureless an fluffy which was a bit alarming to the tooth. yet it is good. 3.75 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8801043053785.

Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!

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Time for demonic Shinburger posession - Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!
10/09/2026

Time for demonic Shinburger posession - Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!

#5677: Tang Master Spicy Pork Bone Noodle - ChinaAdded MaeMai garlic & onion, egg, scallion, and sesame seed. Noodle ca...
10/08/2026

#5677: Tang Master Spicy Pork Bone Noodle - China

Added MaeMai garlic & onion, egg, scallion, and sesame seed. Noodle came out very well - thin standard gauge. The broth was milky and had a good oiliness. It did however have a lean strength of flavor. Spiciness was there but not overabundant. Included garnish did not hydrate in the time allotted for steeping. 1.5 out of 5.0 stars EAN bar code 6925303770556.

Check profile for link to The Ramen Rater and over 5,000 reviews!

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