This is the Tongyi The King of Tomato Beef Noodles, an instant noodle inspired by the Chinese dish of the same name.

Each package included dehydrated noodles, as well as three sachets: one green, housing powdered vegetable, meat and stock; one orange, containing concentrated beef soup base in paste form; and one white, holding concentrated tomato paste. To prepare these noodles, the first step was boiling the dehydrated noodles in 500-600 mL of water along with the contents of the green sachet for 1.5 minutes. After loosening the noodles, the orange sachet was added and mixed for 30 seconds before introducing the white sachet. A thorough mix followed, and the noodles were cooked for an additional 2.5 minutes before being served.

The prepared soup base had an opaque red hue and emitted a rich aroma of beef and tomato. Upon tasting, the soup revealed a deeply savoury beef flavour, accompanied by a pronounced umami and tangy sweetness from the tomatoes. The noodles, cooked slightly shorter than the recommended time (2.5 minutes instead of 3), offered a delightful springy and al dente texture, while effectively absorbing the broth’s flavour. Impressively, the cubes of dehydrated beef rehydrated to replicate the taste and texture of real meat, infused with a spiced flavour and a satisfying meaty texture.

Overall, this instant noodle rendition of the classic Chinese dish proved to be exceptionally satisfying, faithfully capturing the essence of its culinary inspiration. As a result, it stands as a strong contender for future repurchases.

This Tongyi The King of Tomato Beef Noodles contained 126 g (85 g noodles + 39 g seasoning). It was produced in China and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2023.