Nongshim vs Wai Wai:Which is more popular?

Name: Nongshim vs Wai Wai: Which is searched more in New Zealand?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In September 2026, Nongshim had more branded searches than Wai Wai among instant noodle brands in New Zealand. Nongshim had about 4,240 branded searches, while Wai Wai had 380. Nongshim made up 18.7% of all instant noodle brand searches we track, and Wai Wai accounted for 1.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about instant noodle brands, Nongshim appeared in four of the five answers and Wai Wai in none.

Among instant noodle brands in New Zealand in September 2026

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Top instant noodle brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Nongshim was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Wai Wai did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
Indomie	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Samyang	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Nongshim	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Maggi	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
Nissin	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
Ottogi	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
Wai Wai	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5

Indomie5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Samyang4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Nongshim4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Maggi3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Nissin3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Ottogi2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Wai Wai0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about instant noodle brands

5 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which instant noodle brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
1. 1Indomie
2. 2Nongshim
3. 3Samyang
4. 4Maggi
5. 5Nissin
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best instant noodle brands in New Zealand?”
1. 1Nongshim
2. 2Samyang
3. 3Indomie
4. 4Ottogi
5. 5Nissin
6. 6Maggi
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best instant noodle brand in New Zealand for quick meals?”
1. 1Indomie
2. 2Nongshim
3. 3Maggi
4. 4Samyang
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best instant noodles”
1. 1Nongshim
2. 2Indomie
3. 3Nissin
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ramen noodles nz”
1. 1Ottogi
2. 2Samyang
3. 3Indomie

Not named in any answer:

Wai Wai

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Nongshim or Wai Wai more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Nongshim and Wai Wai by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven instant noodle brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Nongshim and Wai Wai among instant noodle brands in New Zealand, by month

Month	Samyang	Indomie	Nongshim	Maggi	Nissin	Ottogi	Wai Wai
Oct 2025	38.6%	19.3%	19.5%	16.8%	2.4%	1.9%	1.6%
Nov 2025	39.3%	20.7%	18.8%	16%	2.3%	1.6%	1.4%
Dec 2025	35.8%	22.2%	21.4%	14.9%	2.4%	1.4%	2%
Jan 2026	35%	20.9%	21.5%	16.9%	2.6%	1.5%	1.5%
Feb 2026	36.8%	22.6%	18%	16%	2.7%	1.9%	2%
Mar 2026	31.5%	24.4%	21.6%	15.7%	2.8%	2.1%	1.9%
Apr 2026	33.4%	22.9%	20.7%	16.3%	2.8%	1.9%	2%
May 2026	30.9%	23.3%	20.8%	17.1%	3.8%	2.2%	1.8%
Jun 2026	31.1%	22.8%	21.6%	17.2%	3.4%	2.2%	1.6%
Jul 2026	32.9%	20.2%	22.3%	16.2%	3.6%	3.2%	1.6%
Aug 2026	33.6%	20.7%	21.2%	16.8%	3.6%	2.4%	1.7%
Sep 2026	36.4%	23.1%	18.7%	15.7%	2.5%	2%	1.7%

How has the Nongshim and Wai Wai comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

Nongshim was ahead of Wai Wai in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nongshim’s share of searches among instant noodle brands in New Zealand moved from 19.5% to 18.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.3K to 4.2K.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wai Wai’s share of searches among instant noodle brands in New Zealand moved from 1.6% to 1.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 350 to 380.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand instant noodle brands in September 2026?

2 changes

In September 2026, Indomie overtook Nongshim to rank 2nd among instant noodle brands in New Zealand, with 23.1% of the searches.
In September 2026, Nongshim lost share of searches among instant noodle brands in New Zealand, from 21.2% to 18.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

17 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nongshim’s and Wai Wai’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.