Ching's SecretInstant Noodles#17 of 89 in categoryRating 3/5

Ching's Secret Loaded Chilli Garlic Hakka Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains TBHQ
  • Red flag: High sodium (1280mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base
  • Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (9.2g)

Ingredients, decoded

24 listed
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CC3

Nutrition per 100 g
CNutritionCIngredients3Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy332 kcal
Protein9.2 g
Carbohydrates67.8 g
Total sugars2.5 g
Added sugars1.2 g
Dietary fibre2.7 g
Total fat2.6 g
Saturated fat0.7 g
Trans fat0 g
Sodium1280 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Real garlic and chilli, but 45% of a day's salt per serve

Ching's Secret Loaded Chilli Garlic Hakka pairs the air-dried maida noodle with a wet sauce of water, salt, sugar, cottonseed oil with TBHQ, dried garlic (4.3%), chilli (3.4%), ginger and green chilli paste, thickened with modified starch and xanthan, with caramel colour, enhancer 635 and sodium benzoate.

CleanPlate scores it CC3. The C for nutrition reflects modest protein and a little fibre. The C for ingredients reflects maida, fifteen additives and TBHQ. The 3 for risk reflects low fat and sugar, capped by very high sodium.

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • On the pack

    “Not fried, air dried”

    Holds

    The noodle cake has almost no fat.

  • Product name

    “Chilli Garlic”

    Holds

    Dried garlic (4.3%), chilli (3.4%) and green chilli paste are in the sauce.

  • On the pack

    “Contains Chilli Garlic Sauce”

    Holds

    A wet sauce sachet; salt is its second ingredient.

How CC3 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
C

Adequate nutrient density

Protein
9.2 g
Fibre
2.7 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
332 kcal

Scored on eight nutrients (protein, fibre, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, D and zinc), per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
Main fat
Refined Cottonseed Oil...
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
15
Flagged
3 ingredients

Scored on six things: base processing, fat quality, sweeteners, additives, colours and flavours.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
3

Moderate risk

Added sugar
1.2 g
Sodium
1280 mg
Saturated fat
0.7 g
Trans fat
0 g

Scored on added sugar, sodium and saturated fat, with a penalty for trans fat.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

The noodle is maida, gluten, salt, raising agents, five phosphate and emulsifier additives, guar gum and acidity regulators. The sauce is water, salt, sugar, cottonseed oil with TBHQ, garlic (4.3%), modified starch and xanthan, chilli (3.4%), ginger, green chilli paste, soy sauce powder with caramel, enhancer 635, onion, caramel 150c, tomato paste, black pepper, natural flavours and sodium benzoate.

Per 100 g: 332 kcal, 2.6 g fat, 0.7 g saturated, 1280 mg sodium, 1.2 g added sugar, 9.2 g protein and 2.7 g fibre.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1280 mg per 100 g; 896 mg in one 70 g serve, 45% of the daily limit.

  • TBHQ (319)Concern

    In the sauce oil.

  • Caramel 150cWorth watching

    For colour only.

  • Real garlic and chilliFine

    Named with their percentages.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "The sauce is mostly garlic"

Water, salt and sugar come first; garlic is 4.3% of the sauce.

Myth: "MSG is what makes instant noodles unhealthy"

Flavour enhancers are not the main issue at food levels. The salt matters far more.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenOccasionally; spicy
  • High blood pressureRarely; use half the sauce

Smarter ways to eat it

Use half the sauce

Add fresh garlic, chilli and spring onion to make up the flavour.

Make it a meal

Add an egg, paneer, tofu or boiled chana and a handful of vegetables so the bowl brings protein and fibre, not just refined flour.

Common questions

Is Ching's Secret Loaded Chilli Garlic Hakka Noodles healthy?

Ching's Secret Loaded Chilli Garlic Hakka Noodles scores CC3 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: Contains TBHQ; High sodium (1280mg per 100g); Refined flour (maida) base; Contains Sodium Benzoate. On the plus side: Source of protein (9.2g).

What does the CC3 score mean?

The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (3) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): moderate risk.

Which ingredients in Ching's Secret Loaded Chilli Garlic Hakka Noodles should I watch?

Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Refined Cottonseed Oil [Antioxidants (INS 319)] (TBHQ), Green Chilli Paste (2.9%) [Acidity Regulator (INS 260), Preservative (INS 211)] (Sodium Benzoate), Preservative (INS 211) (Sodium Benzoate).

Last reviewed September 29, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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