Category: United States
#745: Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja (Really Really) Ramyun
Here’s something really new and very different from a lot of the instant noodles I’ve reviewed before. Jinjja Jinjja translates to “Really Really” (Spicy Spicy) – and I suppose in this review we’re going to find out how really really spicy Jinjja is! I should say that I sampled this one at Nongshim America while I was down there, so I have tried it before – but not a while bowl of it. I found out that the flavor comes from boiling pork bones for a long time, black beans and peanuts! It also turns out that the wheat flour used to make these has some red pepper powder added to them – heat in the noodle as well as from the dry seasonings! Let’s give this a try!
Donation Of Samples From Nongshim America & Nongshim Korea!
I got two shipments today – one from Nongshim America, which I visited last week (there’ll be a lot of stuff all about the visit, the plant tour and the people very soon!). Here’s the first one from Nongshim America!
Back From Nongshim USA!
Well, we’re back from outr trip to Nongshim USA! It was absolutely amazing! The people were so nice, seeing how noodles were made amazing, and the new flavors I tasted were great! I’ll be posting a bit about the trip very soon! For now, I’d like to thank Ray Adams for introducing my wife and I to the world of Nongshim USA! His boss Ray Kim made us feel very welcome and it was so much fun talking with them and everyone else there about noodles and the Nongshim culture. We are so lucky to have been afforded this opportunity and really appreciated it! Can’t wait to do Meet The Manufacturer: Nongshim week! Until then, I’ll be posting a bit of info about the tour and what happened while I was there. Keep your eyes peeled!
The Ramen Rater Really Meets The Manufacturer On Nongshim USA Trip!
Tomorrow, my wife and I are headed to the airport to fly down to the Nongshim USA plant in Rancho Cucamonga, California! There, we’re going to do a plant tour, a noodle tasting, and a videotaped interview for the next Meet The Manufacturer, which (you guessed it) will feature Nongshim. We’ll return on Saturday with stories and pictures – I might do a post while we’re down there from my phone possibly. I want to say thank you to the wonderful folks at Nongshim USA for this opportunity to learn more about their company and instant noodles! We’re really looking forward to this! Next stop, southern California.
#736: Maruchan Yakisoba Spicy Vegetable Flavor Homestyle Japanese Noodles
Haven’t done one of these in a while! This is another one donated by Ramen Place. Spicy vegetable huh? That’s a kind of weird flavor. I have seen vegetable / vegetarian flavor and then spicy varieties, but not usually spicy vegetable. Well, let’s try it out!
#719: Nissin Spoon it Beef Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup
Yep – yet another one of these. So far I’ve enjoyed them as lot! They’re part of the box of samples that Nissin Foods USA sent for Meet The Manufacturer week. Anyways, check it out!
#717: Nissin Ramen Bowl Spicy Chicken Flavor
Here’s another one of the samples Nissin Foods USA were kind enough to send me. Thanks! Spicy chicken today huh? sounds good to me.
#713: Nissin Spoon it Creamy Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup
Last evening, my wife and I both started really getting attacked by an insidious enemy. One that doesn’t show itself but just occurs without warning. Allergies. Eyes, nose throat; everything just seemed to be very busy making us miserable. At this point, I would usually turn to an old standby my mother used to make for me when my face’s innards went awry like this – Mrs. Grass Chicken Soup Mix. Wonderful stuff – it has a little rubbery golden egg shaped thing called (I’m totally not kidding about this) ‘The Golden Flavor Nugget.’ Lots and lots of noodles and chickenny goodness. Well, we don’t have any, so I thought I’d go ahead and hit up this one. Creamy chicken flavor is one of my favorites – and Nissin doesn’t make creamy chicken Top Ramen anymore so I wonder how this stuff is. So off we go intgo noodle land!
#709: Nissin Original Chow Mein Spicy Chicken Flavor
Here’s another Nissin – had to make something quick today – it’s my wife’s birthday! Happy birthday, Kitten!
#704: Meet The Manufacturer – Nissin Original Chow Mein Chinese Chicken Vegetable Flavor
#703: Meet The Manufacturer – Nissin Spoon it Rich & Hearty Beef Stew Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup
Here’s another of the new Spoon it line of noodle soups from Nissin! Beef stew sounds tasty…
#701: Meet The Manufacturer – Nissin Big Cup Noodles Lime Chili Shrimp
Re-Review: Meet The Manufacturer – Nissin Top Ramen Beef Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup
Last time I had a bowl of Beef Top Ramen was way back at review #221! That seems like forever ago! Well, it’s Meet The Manufacturer: Nissin week and I couldn’t go without reviewing some Top Ramen, right? Decided I’d go with beef. Here we go!
#698: Meet The Manufacturer – Nissin Original Chow Mein Orange Chicken Flavor
Here’s a new flavor of chow mein to check out! Sounds pretty good – I like orange chicken.
#697: Meet The Manufacturer – Nissin Spoon it Rich & Hearty Savory Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup
Whoa check this out – Spoon it? This is something brand new from Nissin. Apparently, it’s been released on the east coast. I was told that noodles like this do better in colder climates (funny how the weather worked this year!). A box of noodles… Let’s check this out!
#696: Meet The Manufacturer – Nissin Big Cup Noodles Spicy Chicken Flavor
Here’s a new one from Nissin – Spicy Chicken Big Cup Noodles. Let’s give it a try!
Meet The Manufacturer: Interview with Nissin Foods USA – Makers of Top Ramen, Cup Noodles & More
Welcome to the second installment in the ‘Meet The Manufacturer’ series! This one’s with Nissin, makers of the ever-popular Top Ramen, Cup Noodles and the like. They sent a nice package of different instant varieties to sample – most of them new to me. The following interview is with Senior Marketing Manager, Linda Chung, facilitated by Senior Marketing Coordinator Scott Akazaki.
#690: Maruchan Yakisoba Savory Soy Sauce Flavor Homestyle Japanese Noodles
Here’s another one from Ramen Place! Thanks! I think this should be a tasty one – let’s see!
Big Donation: Nissin USA
This big box was at the office today for me to pick up after work – it’s samples from Nissin USA! I’ve been talking with one of the people in their marketing department lately and we’re going to do a Meet The Manufacturer week pretty soon – just waiting for the answers to the interview questions to come back from the Sr. Marketing guy! Well, let’s open it up and see what’s inside!
The Ramen Rater: Nongshim America Visit
I’ve been waiting for everything to be all set up to post about this, but I have excellent news! Nong Shim America has invited my wife and I to come and tour their plant in Rancho Cucamonga, California! They’re going to fly us down for a weekend in late May where we will take a tour, sample their products and do an interview! This is about as cool as it gets! Want to say thanks to Nong Shim America for this wonderful opportunity for us to see a real instant noodle factory and to be able to bring it to everyone who enjoys the website! I’ll mention this again as time draws nearer. We’re very excited!
Ramen For What Ails Ya – Special Recipe
You may have been wondering, “why so few reviews this week?” Well, to put it mildly, I’m sick. Had this horrible nagging cough for three weeks. Didn’t make it to work two weeks ago, made it this week and then the whole thing kicked into ultra overdrive. We’re talking about staying in bed all day people. Mucus flowing like the Mississippi. I’m starting the slow path to recovery thanks in no small part to my wife and my sister’s kindness. Today I decided that after being upo for quite a while I’d better make myself eat something. I decided to go with some chicken Top Ramen.
#667: Nissin Ramen Bowl Kimchi Flavor
Today seemed like a good day to have some Kimchi noodle bowl action. Here we are and here we go!
#664: Thai Kitchen Bangkok Curry Instant Rice Noodle Soup
Curry. Always sounds good to me! Thai curry usually is a very tasty thing to behold – let’s see if this pack does it justice.
The Ramen Rater Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2011 & 2012 Editions
Here it is – the new Ramen Rater Top Ten List! It was originally released on Foodiggity.com on January 9th, 2011 as an exclusive guest post I did. Now, here it is on The Ramen Rater for your perusal with links to all of the corresponding reviews! Enjoy!
#659: Nissin Ramen Bowl Spicy Shrimp Flavor
Decided to go with quick and easy and those words had Nissin Ramen Bowl written all over them. (?)
#656: Nissin Ramen Bowl Hot & Spicy Flavor
It’s really funny; someone just emailed me asking if I had noticed that Nong Shim’s Bowl Noodle had changed since they repackaged – I haven’t tried it yet. One thing they also said was they couldn’t find the Hot & Spicy variety anywhere anymore. I picked up a few of these Nissin Ramen Bowls at H Mart the other day. 99 cents apiece and they’re very much like the size of the Nong Shim – and lo and behold, Hot & Spicy! Let’s see if it’s a good one.
#652: Sapporo Ichiban Shio Ramen Japanese Style Noodles
Soon as I saw this, I was really excited. I really like Shio (salt) ramen. I don’t know what it is, but it works! What’s more is this stuff is made in California. I found it at H Mart in Lynnwood, Washington. Let’s dig in!
Happy Momofuku Ando Day!!!
Well, today’s the day! The first Ramen Rater Momofuku Ando Day! I hope people out there are enjoying noodles today! Been a great day here – had some good noodles (which you’ll see shortly in the video) and was featured on the Seattle Weekly’s blog! Today I decided to review the closest thing I had to the 1958 Nissin Chikin noodles – the first instant noodles that were produced ever. I went with Nissin’s Top Ramen Chicken flavor; kind of the great grandchild of the Nissin Chikin! So sit back, relax, and check out the video. Happy Momofuku Ando Day!
#637: Snapdragon Pan-Asian Cuisine Chinese Mushroom Rice Noodle Soup
#633: Mr. Udon Oriental Udon Noodle Seafood Selection
Assorted seasfood eh? Trout and octopus? Sardine and shrimp? Crab and sea cucumber? Not sure but Let’s find out.
#632: Mr. Udon Oriental Udon Noodle Japanese Miso
Mr. Udon, I presume? I was looking in the fridge yesterday putting groceries away. A couple sodas wouldn’t fit – something was blocking them. Two packs of Mr. Udon noodles that I got early lasrt year. Hmmm… I wondered if they were still good – May 2012 exclaimed the expiration date! So let’s give this stuff a try before it goes bad!
Re-Review: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Oriental Flavor
Such a classic – almost as American as it is Japanese! Actually, this packet was made in California. Just like rival Nissin, Maruchan has a huge southern California factory. Here’s a re-review of this standard that probably everyone has had once in their lifetime.
Re-Review: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Pork Flavor
I remember reviewing this one a while back up in Anacortes – got it and was really stoked as I’d never seen it before!
#612: Maruchan Yakisoba Spicy Chicken Flavor Homestyle Japanese Noodles
Here’s one that we got at a northern Oregon Chevron of all places. Man, I’m still jonesin’ to try the Beef Taco and Jalapeno Cheddar flavors!!!
#600: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Beef Flavor
Here we go with review 600! Yep – this is why there were all the re-reviews last week! Thanks go to Mike M. of Staten Island, NY for pointing out that I’d reviewed the Roast Beef but not the regular beef flavor!
#596: Thai Kitchen Lemongrass & Chili Instant Rice Noodle Soup
Yeah, I know – two ramens in one day? But these be small. Anyways, I wanted to see if switching back to a different camera worked better. I’m still unsure… Lemongrass and chili eh? Okay let’s do this.
#595: Thai Kitchen Spring Onion Instant Rice Noodle Soup
I’ve had the bowl version of this before, so I’m curious as to whether or not this is any different. We shall see!
Re-Review: Nissin Top Ramen Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup
From time to time, it’s a good idea to revisit a baseline. Top Ramen Chicken is something I compare all noodles to in one way or another. The noodles themselves are classic – they’re not bad and soak up the flavor well. They’re not mushy although not exactly what one would call chewy. When reviewing chicken instant noodles I always think to this stuff. Of course, when I see an article someone has blogged or written on the Internet about ramen, a good 80% of the time there’s a nice big picture of the product you see above. Youtube’s no stranger to this either; there are about a zillion videos telling you simply how to prepare a packet of instant Top Ramen. It’s not only good but its everywhere. Eaten raw or cooked, people seem to like it. Well, I like it too and so I revisit it with a sore throat and runny nose. Here we go!