Nissin's Ramen Bistro is a new brand for me, I haven't seen it around before. These I found at the Dollar General near my house. Researching, I've found in a FY 3/2025 H1 presentation that the Bistro brand was launched in November 2024.1

They have three flavors right now: Sichuan Garlic Chicken, Korean Gochujang Beef and Japanese Miso. Today I've got the first.

First impression: there are so many noodles here, more than other cup noodles I've had, so many that I can barely see the soup despite having filled it up to the fill line. It does seem like something absorbed the water, as it is a quarter inch below where I filled it to. There is a distant, wet spice imbued in the noodles. The lid claims the noodles are "chili-infused" so this checks out. They have great body and are springy despite me getting distracted and overcooking by a minute. Since starting on my humble Instant Noodles journey I've become more fond of noodles with bite. Mushy noodles cannot compare. These are perfect.

There are carrots, green onion and a dark, leafy green that the label betrays is bok choy. It has palpable texture. There's dried chicken in here too, which I find more of as I finish the noodles. Fascinating.

For a chicken broth it's damn good. Not too salty. It has suspended bits of oil floating around in it, a nice touch. The spice introduces itself a bit more aggressively in the broth than in the noodles. It's welcome, for me, but I like spice. Not overpowering though.

In my hierarchy, this rivals Shin. I like Shin a bit more because it has mushrooms. But this is a damn good cup of noodles for not that much money. I found you at the Dollar General!