I never paid much attention to these products. If they were available in the 60s which I was at UT Austin I never saw them or heard of them. I tried a few over the years and didn't get the appeal until the poster Huiray here on eG started posting about them in the Lunch and Dinner threads. I don't read the site much anymore so I don't know if Huiray is still posting. In answer to a question once he recommended Dragonfly, Nongshim, & Myojo Chukazanmai brands. I've never found the first locally, Nongshim is almost as ubiquitous as Nissin and Maruchan here; I've had a couple of the Myojo but they aren't common here as far as I've discovered.
I tended to avoid the cheap, mass produced (i.e., Nissin and Maruchan) and discovered a few varieties of other brands I like but then I discovered the Nissin Raoh. The noodles are really superior, air dried instead of fried. Raoh means 'King.' Mostly I'm buying those 3 varieties now, and hording them because the shelves are usually pretty empty these days.
Here's some articles I've come across that give some good background and taste judgements.
https://www.tastecooking.com/cup-noodle-industrial-complex/?utm_source=pocket-newtab
https://www.seriouseats.com/2020/01/shin-ramyun-taste-test.html
https://www.seriouseats.com/2020/06/american-nongshim-versus-korean-nongshim-instant-noodles.html
After reading the Sho Spaeth articles on SE, I try to only buy the packets, not the convenience cups or bowls, and whatever one I buy, I take the noodles out and cook them in boiling water rather than nuke them or 'add hot water and soak.' It produces a better 'noodle experience' I think.
I haven't had a chance to get out to China Town or up to Korea Town or the 2 small Japanese markets we have but I'm hoping maybe they're able to import some of the products made for the Japanese or Korean markets, which apparently are superior. These products are marketed here still as cheap food and convenience food but they're taken more seriously in other countries, similar to canned fish products.
The Sun refrigerated noodles are excellent but they're only available at 3 places in the whole Houston metropolitan area. I tend to agree with Kenji on SE that the soup bases in the kits are nothing special so I prefer to buy just the noodles.
My fascination with ramen has pretty much swamped my interest in pho. I have 2 good pho shops near me so I haven't tried home products as much. I keep some of the really inexpensive packets around, for snacking rather than a whole meal: Mama Pho Ga, Mama Pho An Lien, Oh! Ricey from Ace Cooks Pho Bo and Hu Tieu Nam Vang when I can get my hands on them.
I like some of the Indomie products as snacks/sides. Another good one I came across was Ottogi Buckwheat Chilli Noodle. Have some kimchi on hand to doctor that one up some.
