Umai Crate by Japan Crate focuses on bringing you Japanese-exclusive instant noodles. Each month, you'll receive 7-8 instant noodles to try, along with a bonus collectible!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Umai Crate
The Cost: $25 a month + free shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $3 off your first box
CODE: MSADD3
The Products: 7-8 Japanese-exclusive instant noodle dish + a bonus collectible
Ships to: Worldwide
Check out all of the Umai Crate Reviews to get more information on this subscription. Check out all of our Food Subscription Boxes in the Subscription Box List. Rate, review, and follow this subscription on the Umai Crate profile page.
This month’s Umai Crate booklet is a bit smaller than previous month's that I have received. You still get that detailed look at each ramen featured for the month, which I always find to be super helpful. The last page highlights a recipe that you can use with one of your ramen packets. I haven't been brave enough to try one of the recipes, but the one for this month looks amazing!
Time to get cooking!
My Friend Big Tanuki Udon
This bowl was massive! This particular udon is in a hot dashi broth with lots of tempura pieces in it that are called Tenkasu. I thought the tempura was a little too soft from soaking in all of the broth to really enjoy, but it did add a delicious flavor to the bowl. The broth itself was salty and delicious that paired so well with the thick udon. This bowl was so hearty and warm, perfect for the cooler weather!
Yamamoto Umakaro Negi Ramen
No doubt my favorite ramen of the month! This bowl tasted so classic to me with its bright green onions with a bold onion flavor. There was a light shrimp flavor in the broth so I decided to add some pieces of shrimp to this bowl to bring that out even more. The broth was salty and rich that paired so nicely with the thinner noodles. You really can't go wrong with this bowl, so yummy!
Yamamoto Umakaro Yakisoba
According to the monthly booklet, this is Yamamoto's newest addition to their Umakaro series featuring popular Japanese dishes. The noodles were fried with that delicious crisp texture to it. There is a mayo packet that you can add, which I did, that added this creamy layer to the broth. I am not sure if it was the mayo or a spice packet, but I did get a little spice in each bite that lingered as I enjoyed this bowl. There were so many layers of flavor in the broth that pair so nicely with the fried noodles.
Tempura Udon
This to-go cup was so bright and colorful with greens and the little tempura shrimp. Even though there are a lot of shrimp in this bowl, I didn't get an overwhelming fish flavor. The broth itself had a hint of salt, but really the super thick udon was the star in this bowl. While this to-go cup didn't have that wow factor for me, it was still a deliciously warm cup to enjoy!
Kirin Shio Ramen
Actually, this might be my favorite ramen of the month, I can't decide! According to the booklet, Kirin ramen is a classic food icon in Japan, known for its nostalgic taste, retro packaging, and domestic ingredients. The broth is that perfect light color that is extra salty. The noodles are what made this my favorite I think. They are thin and fluffy so it really feels like there are so many noodles in your bowl! They also have this creamy butter flavor that is so comforting. I added some chicken, a hard-boiled egg, and hot sauce to dress this bowl up a bit. It made for the most delicious dinner!
Michio Kawamura's Kimchi Miso Ramen
I was wondering who was on the packaging of this one, but luckily the monthly booklet informed me that it is Michio Kawamura, a Japanese radio personality. He focuses on nature and healthy foods and is looking to bring Kimchi, a traditional Korean dish, to the Japanese ramen. I love kimchi and its added benefits for your stomach and that it is packed full of vitamins if I can get that in a ramen bowl then you have sold me! This dish was honestly beautiful with how flavorful it was from start to finish. There was a small hint of spice mixed with a light sweetness and then a cabbage flavor that you probably wouldn't detect if you didn't know this was a kimchi miso. The noodles really soak that broth up which somehow creates this overall sweetness when brought together. I really loved everything about this bowl!
Kenko Foods: Genmai Ramen
Last but not least we have this healthy ramen from Kenko Foods! This bowl is unique because the noodles are made from brown rice so you are getting lots of fiber in this bowl. The noodles were really unique because they had this crunchy texture to it, unlike any other ramen bowl I have tried. The broth was so light and paired very well with the noodles. A very yummy and healthy ramen!
Bonus Item - Yudetama Egg Timer
I am fascinated by this bonus item, mainly because I am shocked that it works! Yudetama means "boiled egg" in Japanese so this graphic looks like an egg, makes sense! However, this is so much more than just a cute graphic, this is actually an egg timer! All you do is put this little timer into your saucepan or pot with the egg you are boiling. The timer will change colors to indicate how cooked your eggs are. I am terrible at cooking the perfect hard boiled egg, but using this timer seemed to really help.
Verdict: Umai Crate does it again bringing delicious comfort food with a few healthy options right to my door! I always love reading about each bowl to understand a bit more about the flavors, and they will always highlight any fun facts or if it is a collaboration for each bowl. The flavors are always such unique blends that allow me to feel like I am getting a small glimpse of some favorite ramen bowls from Japan. Plus, you get so many bowls each month that these take me from lunch to dinner for days!
To Wrap Up:
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? No, order by the end of November to receive the Decmeber box.
Coupon - Use code MSA3 to save $3 off your first Japan Crate Premium, Doki Doki Crate, Umai Crate, or Kira Kira Crate
Value Breakdown: This box is $25 a month with free shipping. I received seven ramen bowls which comes to an average of $3.57 per item. Each ramen featured are flavors that you will not find at your local grocery store. The overall value is absolutely worth it since you are getting really unique bowls, and are spending less if you were to get these to order online or to eat out at a specialty ramen restaurant.
What was your favorite bowl from the November Umai Crate?
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