Nissin Strongest Donbei Kakiage Soba Review

I like the regular Nissin Donbei soba noodle bowls and this special edition of Donbei called the "Strongest Donbei" is no exception.  There are also regional varieties for Donbei soba noodles such as for the "east" and "west" parts of Japan, but the "strongest" stands on its own.  This one has the tagline "Everything is the leading role" to make it the best / strongest of its varieties.  When I first opened the bowl I certainly noticed the impressively thick disc of tempura that came with it!

The Nissin Donbei instant soba noodle bowl with thick onion tempura makes this kind of Japanese cuisine conveniently available. The buckwheat noodles have a combination of elasticity and bite that has a clean break to them.  The soup is made with six kinds of ingredients characterized by the gorgeous aroma of dried bonito and soy sauce.  The tempura or "Oni Kakiage" is thicker than usual too. The "Special Shichimi Chili" is specially formulated at Yagenbori, a long-established store in Asakusa, Tokyo, is a perfect addition to the broth, adding a nice level of heat to the dish.

3/4 view of the noodle bowl.  The packaging is the typical Donbei styrofoam bowl with a smooth interior and exterior.  It follows the typical logo and layout and uses the red / white colour scheme of the normal soba Donbei. This version adds gold to the mix of colours.

Lid of the Strongest Donbei soba noodle bowl.  The graphics are definitely jazzed up for this special edition.  The Donbei logo and edging is a brilliant gold on brilliant red for the top half of the lid.  The design really pops out!  The middle portion of the lid is occupied by a picture of the tempura disc inside to show it off.  A spoon the left shows the stock is delicious to sip.  The tasty buckwheat noodles are shown on the right side.  There's pile of characters on the lid that describes all of the tasty bits of this noodle soup!

Nutritional information and allergens on the left.

Cooking directions, preparation warnings (e.g. don't microwave), and manufacturer's information.

The contents of the noodle bowl.  A disc of fried noodles, a packet of soup base and seasoning, and a tempura disc.

The soup base with the six kinds of ingredients listed on it to make a special dashi / soy based broth.

Fancy puck of fried tempura with onions.  It smelled like onion rings! and was packed with veggies. Very nice!

The reconstituted soup base mixed with the noodles.  There are little bits of green onion in it.  You had to add boiling water and let the noodles rehydrate for 5 minutes.  These soba noodles are different from the regular Donbei buckwheat noodles.

The finishing touch is to add the block of tempura on top of the noodles.

The tempura is a standout in this dish. It has a nice, oniony smell, and is firm and crunchy. The tempura soaks up the broth, adding to the overall flavor of the dish. The soba noodles are also top-notch. They are firm with a clean break to them on the chew and have a good, buckwheat taste. The broth is strong and flavorful, with a good level of heat from the pepper powder.

Overall, the Nissin Donbei instant soba noodle bowl with thick onion tempura is an instant culinary experience. The combination of the different ingredients and flavors creates a dish where everything is the leading role and "strongest Donbei." I do recommend trying this noodle bowl.

 

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