Sales of instant noodles up as former bad-boy snack turns classy

A TikTok trend for garnishing ramen noodles has turned yesterday's post-pub last resort into today's desirable dish

With their bad-taste adverts and laddish branding, instant noodles were once a mainstay for lazy bachelors who needed a quick post-pub fix.

Now they are back in the limelight - but with a gourmet makeover spurred by a social media trend. Supermarket sales and search data show instant noodles are once again becoming a cupboard staple, this time with a few fancy" additions.