Video summary
Ethan Nestor embarks on a chaotic culinary journey in this video where he attempts to taste and rank every single ramen flavor available to him, totaling eighteen different varieties before attempting his own creation at the very end. The main subject of the video is an honest, often harsh evaluation of instant noodles that ranges from basic chicken flavors to gourmet options like Ichiran. Throughout the process, Ethan provides running commentary on his cooking mishaps, such as using a pot incorrectly and dealing with soggy noodles due to overcooking, while also making jokes about his physical state and the absurdity of trying so many similar foods in one sitting. He emphasizes that he is not following package directions strictly, which often leads to subpar results like burnt edges or overly soft textures, yet he maintains a humorous demeanor even when admitting defeat on certain bowls.
The video progresses through various tiers as Ethan assigns ratings based on flavor complexity and overall enjoyment rather than just spiciness or brand prestige. He starts with the original Top Ramen chicken flavor, which he surprisingly places in C-tier because it lacks depth despite being familiar to many viewers. As he moves through brands like Nongshim, Ottogi, and Samyang, his opinions fluctuate wildly; for instance, a Thai-inspired Shin Ramyun gets an A-tier rating simply because its artificial taste is unique compared to the others, while a spicy Jin Jjambbong earns an S-tier despite being less spicy than advertised. He also critiques gluten-free options harshly due to past negative experiences with such products and notes that some noodles are merely "noodles" without contributing much to the overall ramen experience beyond filling his belly.
The climax of the tasting session features Ichiran, which Ethan initially praises as a classiest option with a delightful broth worthy of an S-tier rating. However, the video takes a dramatic turn when he accidentally leaves tempura pieces in the bowl during the final dish, causing them to become soggy and ruining what was otherwise a wonderful meal. This mistake leads him to downgrade his own high praise for that specific bowl, illustrating how easily small errors can ruin an entire experience even after building up anticipation. Ultimately, Ethan concludes that while some ramen bowls were mediocre or disappointing due to poor preparation or lack of flavor, others provided genuine comfort and satisfaction, making the quest both a test of endurance and a lesson in not overcomplicating simple meals.
Read the full video transcript
Today, I will be tasting and ranking all
18 ramen flavors. I will also be vamping
and making jokes when I deem it
necessary. AT THE VERY END, I WILL BE
TRYING THIS BIG BOWL A hell of my own
creation. Stick around and watch as my
mind dwindles into the inevitable abyss.
Help.
>> [laughter]
>> Oh, no.
Oh, my soup. We all have one thing in
common. We're all going to eat and we
all
need to eat. Hi, my name is Ethan
Nestor. I'm the guy that you're watching
on your screen right now. And today, I'm
trying every ramen ever and giving it a
definitive rating. Am I rating it?
I'm rating it harshly. Also, I got a lot
of plants recently. Hey,
>> [snorts]
>> how's it going? I got a lot of plants
recently and I'm trying to take care of
them.
Great. Ramen is one of my favorite
things to get. It's so cozy. It's so
comfy. [music]
It's wonderful and it fills up my belly.
I'm starting with this. First up for the
rating is the original and it even says
the original Top Ramen. We all know this
ramen. We all
probably love it kind of.
It's fine. It's Top Ramen. You can
elevate it if you want. I'm not doing
that today. Says ready in 3 minutes.
God. We've got our lovely little flavor
sauce. We've got our lovely little
spices. We've got our lovely little
chicken flavor.
>> [music]
>> Great. Wonderful. Into the pot.
And now I just drop her in.
I know I've never used one of these
before, but it this I've used a pot
before in the stove. I've never used one
of these. YOU JUST DONKEROONIE.
>> [screaming]
>> WAIT, BUT IT GOES IN THIS. OH, my god,
it's on it goes on here. It's weighted
bad because I've got the little camera
on. That's so fun.
>> A few moments later.
>> Okay. Ramen
coming out into
bowl number one. Bowl number one, top
ramen. This lovely bowl was made by Sam.
Remember when we did the ceramics video?
You don't? You haven't been keeping up
with the channel? It's [music] your
problem.
Actually, it's more it's way more my
problem than it is yours.
I mean, I can't place the blame on you.
If I'm not entertaining you,
that's my fault. That's not your fault.
That's my fault. Hopefully, I can gain
back your trust. Okay.
Yeah.
But, now we mix.
All right, taste test number one of the
original top ramen chicken flavor. And
there's no added MSG, says the package.
>> [panting]
>> Not really getting any chicken. It's
cozy. I'm eating too much of this.
Into the bowl she go.
Cuz I [music] it's not going to be good.
Top ramen
tier list behind me. Great. With modern
technology, you don't even need a green
screen anymore. I'm putting this at C
tier. Right in the middle. Next.
Lovely life, lovely food.
Nongshim
bowl noodles hot and spicy ramen noodles
with soup mix.
Completely remove lid.
Add soup base. Some of these I didn't I
don't know any of these, by the way.
Hold on. What I mean by that I didn't
order any of these. All of these are a
surprise to me. I have no idea what kind
of flavors [music] we're going to get
into. I have no idea how spicy these are
going to get. But, I do know that I've
got a little kettle right here.
I can just pour this right in.
>> [screaming]
>> Yeah, this looks really good. Let's dive
in. Let me get a spoon. Can you kind of
smell?
>> [snorts]
>> Hear those clear airways that I'm
working with? It's really good.
Okay. Now listen, probably just to use
too much water. Probably used too much
water. Is this video fair to the ramen
community? No, because I'm not really
following the directions very well and
I'm just doing whatever I want, which is
the thing that I normally do. The flavor
is like
a memory, but not in a Ratatouille kind
of way where I'm like, "Whoa, it's my
childhood."
It's like if I thought of what ramen
tastes like. You know how when you think
of things you can kind of like envision
what it tastes like? That's like what
the broth tastes like. It's quite
mediocre. It's just very like
Anyway, into the bowl it goes. I'm
giving that D tier.
I think that the original ramen is
better. The flavor There was just like
more of a flavor. That didn't really
have a flavor. It was just a little bit
spicy. Ottogi
ramen noodle soup.
Now this is the ramen that when I go to
the grocery store and I say, "I want a
little bit of ramen." This is usually
the ramen that I would that I would get.
I've gotten this many times.
They're going to go right in there. Oh.
And she fits in so good.
There you go.
Nice. Take her out.
Put her
into here.
Come on.
Nice.
It looks like someone tried to crochet a
sweater and they put it in broth. I
crocheted a sweater and I put it
[laughter] in broth. Let's try the broth
first. Let's try the broth.
I don't know, man. It's broth. They're
all going to taste the
This was doomed from the start. THEY'RE
ALL GOING to taste the same. How can I
rate it when they're all going to taste
the same? Cuz the noodles are just
noodles. How good could noodles get?
Yeah, it's a noodle. Are the noodles
what make the ramen
or is the soup
in
the
noodles
what make the ramen? Something to think
about. I it has to be lower than the
other one, right? No, it can be the
same. No. You have to make sure that
we're looking this through the lens of
ramen itself. If I put something at F,
it doesn't mean that it tastes horrible.
It just means that it tastes the worst
of the
worst. The of the Not the worst of the
worst.
Someone can come last place in the
Olympics.
>> [laughter]
>> Oh, F.
Shin Ramyun Tom Yum flavor
award-winning Thai street food J5 spicy
happiness in noodles. I like this
packaging.
We take this. We've got the bowl. We do
this and we do that.
Come here, little noodle.
Good job.
Let's taste the broth.
Whoa.
That's crazy. Hold on. I think I'm
gaslighting myself. It I
I like feel like it tastes like
Takis. That tastes crazy. That tastes
really good. But it
it tastes weird. Not bad, but it like
tastes
artificial.
It's kind of a flavor that I haven't had
before. What does that
What does that taste like? That's going
in A tier.
It's going in A tier
cuz
the the flavor is so different than
anything else that I have tasted thus
far. Wouldn't you agree? Me, too. Black
garlic ramen coming up next. Tonkotsu
flavor. Okay, noodle.
The worst thing
across all the ramen. Not the Not the
worst thing. The normal thing.
I like that. That's rather nice. I can I
mean it it tastes like tonkotsu broth.
You're right, it was the broth.
So far
that's the best ramen that we've had.
But that was good. I'm going to say A
for that, a high A.
Next, Neoguri ramen.
>> [music]
>> How are you doing?
Have you ever subscribed before?
I never ask people to, but now it makes
the thing glow. Isn't that fun? See, I'm
like, "Hey, you should subscribe." And
then below the thing probably like
glowed or something.
And then if I'm like, "Hey, like the
video." then people don't. Isn't that
crazy how that works?
>> [snorts]
>> Does it do thumbs up?
If I say, "Hey, like the video." does it
make it a thumbs up happen?
Huh?
I don't know. You You tell me.
You tell me. And that's how I get you to
comment. I've gotten all three. Remember
when you could favorite videos? Remember
when it was a five-star rating system?
I remember.
I remember. Well,
we got to let that sit for a few
minutes, so I'm going to do another one.
And there's another, a classic cup
noodles protein. Everything's already
there.
Doesn't that look good?
Mhm.
Yes. All right. Cup noodles protein 16
grams.
Protein maxing community, [music] is
this a viable option?
Awesome. We'll wait for those to simmer
down and while we do that we can make
another one.
Map.
Samyang garlic and clam flavor.
Cool. Map takes you on a bold flavor
packed journey that ignites your senses.
Whether you're seeking comfort after a
long day or a fiery spark to recharge
your energy, every bite of Map delivers
an explosion of taste and joy. From the
gentle warmth of a simmer to an
electrifying kick, Map brings you a full
spectrum flavor experience,
one that sets you free.
>> [laughter]
>> Huh?
I'm a worried boy for
>> [music]
>> for Map.
>> [laughter]
>> I don't want to know what the Map it's
going to put me on the spectrum and make
me free.
>> [laughter]
>> That's what it says.
It's literally It's like what That's
what it says. I'm not EVEN MAKING A
JOKE.
>> [laughter]
>> Map Oh, it it brings you a full spectrum
flavor experience, one that sets you
free. I'm going to be free. Time to be
set free.
>> [screaming]
>> I'll give it a C. It's okay. Like it's
it's a little it's a it's a little a
little bit of kick. Just kind of like a
weird vague seafood flavor, you know,
nothing to write home about. It's all
It's fine.
You know? We've got these. This is udon
type noodles.
Oh my god. Oh, hot. I've let it sit for
far too long. The noodles are
very [snorts] soggy.
Very soggy in not a not a wonderful way.
Broth.
I'll give it
I'll see but like a lower like it's
okay. Rich and savory chicken flavor.
[music]
I'm going to put this at B.
It's very good and it's right now
refreshing because it's not seafood
flavor. Mike's mighty good craft ramen.
There's no palm oil.
I'm not going to even turn this on
because it was so hot before.
Now we let you simmer
for just a little bit.
We have another from Samyang but it's
not
nip.
The ramen
is going to go into my stomach.
It's going to form
>> [snorts]
>> a wheat wall. It's going to block
everything. I have never taken laxative
before.
Should I take laxatives?
Comment down below.
Wouldn't you know it another bowl of
ramen for me to try?
It sure is a noodle.
I just want to be wild now, you know?
God's light is shining down and upon me.
Everything I do is through him.
>> [laughter]
>> I should get I should do
I should do a
puppet show. Wouldn't that be cool?
If I was just down here. If I would well
I'm one guy
>> [music]
>> so it'd be mostly just this.
Wouldn't that be cool?
I can't. I'm not talented enough.
>> [laughter]
>> I don't like it.
It's fine. It's just
run of the mill stuff. Okay, we've got
Mike's Mighty Good
uh
What is this?
>> Ramen.
>> Yeah.
>> [laughter]
>> That was genuine.
>> [laughter]
>> I don't like it.
I don't like it.
>> [laughter]
>> Mighty good? More like
I [snorts] am I don't like it.
>> [laughter]
>> Next, we've got
>> Jin Jjambbong. [music]
>> Into the bag you go.
These look quite good.
>> Those noodles are the best ones that
I've had all day.
>> It's very good broth. Little bit false
advertising, I feel like,
cuz it's really not spicy at all, if I
can say that.
>> I'm going to give that an S tier of
these so far.
>> That one was my favorite. I wish it was
spicier, because it said that it was
going to be spicier.
Wasn't spicier.
Wasn't.
Very good. I liked it.
>> S tier for that ramen.
This next one, Samabila instant ramen.
Multigrain ramen. Seasoning not
included. Air-dried. Gluten-free. Vegan.
Multigrain Oh, I already said that. All
of this is gluten-free, which
I will judge
harshly. My mother is gluten-free, I'll
have you know. She became gluten-free
I don't know what year it was, but I was
a kid. And the gluten-free stuff back
then was really bad. It looks so [music]
different. It also just like looks
healthier and stuff.
Put you in there.
Put you in there. Okay, here's what I'm
going to do.
Fall. Ow.
Please.
>> [laughter]
>> Wait. Just for being mother.
While we wait, we've got two more ramen.
This one's coming soon. This is Jin
spicy ramen. Nissin ro- ro- rope.
Zoom in.
The king of ramen.
Okay.
We're almost there for the speed run.
Here we go.
Soon kimchi noodles. Normal broth, also
normal. C tier. I told you it was a
speed run. This
hot. Oh, hot. Noodles normal. Broth
That's [snorts] good broth. Put it at B.
B
B tier. You the king.
Broth is okay. The flavor's a little
weird. Put that at C. Gluten free time.
Noodle you have a lot to live up to
noodle.
That's good. Good classic chicken broth
flavor. Those are definitely the best
noodles of the bunch so far. Here we go.
On to the pile.
I
give Sam a Sam a billa Sam a billa Sam a
billa Sam a billa. I'm going to give it
A tier. I think if I were to make ramen
like from scratch, those that's
that's what I would use of all of these
for sure.
Next. Momofuku sweet and spicy noodles.
In you go.
I like that noodles.
Are certain parts of it that are really
spicy that hit you right in the back of
the head. B
tier.
Two
noodles
rib eye
Japanese tempura soba Ready in 3
minutes, they say.
There's stuff all over the place.
Packages, boxes, and bags. All of the
ramen in the world. Ichiran ramen.
The final ramen.
Look at this.
The height
of luxury.
Some of it's going to fall off.
I've almost gotten to the final
ramen.
Every
ramen
all 17
Now the final 18th ramen
will go into my belly and my
my quest will be done.
My little my little weekly quest will be
done.
Where I eat the ramen. Not a uh but
there's
and I'm almost done.
I turn off the water now.
Into the bowl
she goes.
Well,
this is
definitely the
classiest ramen
that we've had thus far.
I don't even care anymore. The final
noodle.
It's quite good.
Honestly,
it's quite good. Broth.
There's a very nice broth.
>> [snorts]
>> My final ramen.
I will give it
an S tier.
It was delightful.
It was a wonderful way to end
the thing
and I hope that
I [laughter]
DON'T WANT TO EAT IT.
It doesn't even look good.
>> [snorts]
>> That's so bad.
Don't leave Don't leave the tempura in
the thing and it's just really soggy
gross dough. I don't like it at all.
F.
I almost ended on such a lovely
peaceful note with the with this. It was
so delightful. The broth was so nice
like a warm little hug, a great little
noodle and then it [snorts] it's a
terrible with that. My day is ruined.
Well,
thank you for watching me eat all 18
ramen.
I hope that
this tickled you in some way.
I hope that no one
I hope that
it was fun at least
to
>> [laughter]
>> Oh, [laughter]
no.
Oh, my soup.
>> [music]