The Ramen Rater Visits Taiwan – Day 4: Media, Malls & Raohe Night Market
The Ramen Rater Visits Taiwan – Day 3: Taichung Noodle Factories & Taipei’s Huaxi Night Market
Day 1 * Day 2 * Day 3 * Day 4 * Day 5
Woke up at the Silks Place hotel and had some breakfast. Then we were off to the Tainan rail station. We said goodbye to Darren there and then goodbye to Perry who had to head back to Taipei as he was off to travel on business the next day. The rail stations were really fascinating; almost like a mall to themselves! Tons of people, but everything seems to work very logically. We took the train from Tainan to Taichung where three more noodle factories were to explore! Met Jason, Erickk and Paul and went out for lunch at a hot pot restaurant. Got to try plum drink – kind of tasted like American barbecue sauce to be honest, but went very well with the Taiwanese beef. Was an enjoyable meal for all and then we were off to visit three noodle factories. These factories are all part of a company called Hung Guang.
The Ramen Rater Visits Taiwan – Day 2: South To Tainan
The Ramen Rater Visits Taiwan – Day 1: Arrival & Immersion
Day 1 * Day 2 * Day 3 * Day 4 * Day 5
A couple of months ago, I was invited by Kyle Kao of Mom’s Dry Noodle – a company in Taiwan – to visit and check out their operation. Just like last time I traveled (last May to Thailand), my wife is pregnant and the trip would happen when she was too far along. Again, just like last time, she said it was alright to go and I was accompanied by my sister Sue. Like many of you know, I can’t see very well so I need a little help when travelling. In the following posts, I will chronicle everything we saw and did while there. Thank you so much to Kyle for extending this invitation, as well as to Perry, James and everyone else we met there – You made us feel welcome and we had an amazing time! I hope you all enjoy the posts!
#2257: Fuku Tom Yum Soup Instant Noodle
This one sounds really good. I really like tom yum and this looks like it’ll be good – I’ve liked most of the Fuku products I’ve tried so far and hoping this will be a continuation of that trend! Let’s dig in!
#2256: Goku-Uma Ramen Noodles Artificially Flavored Tonkotsu
I haven’t reviewed anything by this brand in a long time – they were ubiquitous for a while then kind of disappeared, then came back with more traditional Japanese ramen flavors. Let’s check out this tonkotsu bowl!
#2255: Daikoku Hiroshima Flavor Yakisoba
Saw this one at Uwajimaya a few weeks ago after visiting the Living Computer Museum and walking around the Seattle International District – good times with my homie Matt B. I thought today I’d make my lovely wife Kit some yakisoba – she really likes yakisoba and she’s been pretty miserable lately so I thought it’d be a nice treat. Let’s check it out!
#2254: Nissin Disney Cuties Instant Noodle Seaweed Flavour
Here’s another one of these neat little cups from Nissin Thailand! Let’s check it out!
#2253: Singa-Me Instant Noodles Mi Goreng Flavour
This is one from Australia sent by an Australian named Jen who sent out a big box of noodles a few months back – thank you very much! Mi Goreng – it’s beeh a while! Let’s do this!
#2252: New Touch Sugomen Sano Ramen
Here’s another one sent to me by Javier from Box From Japan. Box From Japan has subscriptions for all sorts of neat Japanese things. I regret to say that I was informed that they won’t be taking subscriptions for their ramen boxes for now – hopefully that will start again soon. He mentioned that you can purchase instant noodles from them here. Here’s what he had to say about this particular variety:
#2251: Ottogi Ramyon Sabor Camaron
Here’s another one sent to me by a reader named Colin from the east coast – thanks again! This is one he got on a recent trip to Mexico. Let’s check it out!
#2250: Nissin Demae Iccho Spicy XO Sauce Seafood Flavour Instant Noodle
Here’s yet another leftover from the Nissin HK Meet The Manufacturer! This is a really large bowl and sounds pretty good! If you’re unsure about what Xo sauce is, here’s an excerpt from Wikipedia:
#2249: Love Cook Sun Dried Noodle – Fruity Soy Bean Paste
A few months back I did a Meet The Manufacturer with Love Cook. Well, they’ve come out witha new flavor and sent me some to try! Let’s check it out!
#2248: Nongshim Shin Noodle Soup
Every year in January I come out with a Top Ten list of South Korean varieties. Much to the disappointment and anger of many people, this will never be on that list. Why? Simple. It’s made in the United States. People have debated me into the dirt on it too ‘so, why does it matter?’ Well, if I put Nissin top Ramen on the Top Ten Japanese list that would be a little ridiculous, wouldn’t it? The differences between the Nongshim Shin Cup manufactured here and manufactured in South Korea might be only geographic and packaging, but those are the rules. This could be on the Top Ten Made In The USA list at some point (I haven’t come out with a new one of those lists in a while – maybe next year perhaps). I’m working on getting some South Korean varieties soon, so I guess we’ll see this January!
#2247: Nissin Sapporo Noukou Miso Ramen
Here’s one that Javier from www.BoxFromJapan.com – thanks! Box From Japan is a monthly subscription service where you can get 4 unique bowls of ramen from Japan a month. It’s pretty awesome – I haven’t gotten a duplicate yet! Here’s what he had to say about this variety:
#2246: Dream Kitchen Soy Sauce
The last Dream Kitchen variety I had wasn’t all that great; it was tonkotsu but didn’t seem to really scream tonkotsu to me. This one is soy sauce (shoyu) and hopefully will be a good one. Let’s find out!
#2245: Nissin Vietnamese Chicken Coriander Flavour Vermicelli
If you follow my daily reviews, you might have noticed not just a lot, but a lot a lot of Nissin reviews lately. This is because I’ve done a few Meet The Manufacturers and they were kind enough to send more varieties than I review in a Meet The Manufacturer (15 maximum). Nissin Hong Kong sent around 50 different product varieties! That’s what we have today. Let’s check out this chicken flavor vermicelli!
#2244: Kang Shi Fu Artificial Spicy Beef Flavour
Here’s yet another one sent by a reader named Colin from back east – thanks again! It’s funny how we don’t have any of these Kang shi Fu variants out west – at least not at any of the stores I’m near to. Spicy beef sounds awesome – it’s a really cloudy and rainy day here in the Seattle area. Let’s check it out!
#2243: Nissin Cup Noodles Black Pepper Crab Flavour
Here’s the last of the varieties that Prima Taste sent a while back – thanks! You might be wondering – why would they send a product they don’t make? Well, I asked for anyone who could help to send me noodles – I was down to three or four varieties in my hamper – a bad situation! Well, lots of people sent noodles – even Prima Taste! So let’s check out this one from Hong Kong with a Singaporean taste!
#2242: Great Value Beef Style Noodles With Vegetables
Here’s one my sister brought me back from Canada – thanks again! Ah, Walmart. They’re probably the biggest store around and there are lots of them. What’s funny is that these are made in the United States and sold in Canada – but you can’t find them at Walmart store in the United States. Let’s check out the elusive Walmart Great Value cup noodle!
#2241: Fuku Spicy Soup Instant Noodle Beef Flavour
Another left over from the Hong Kong Nissin Meet The Manufacturer. Thanks again! Still lots of varieties from them that they sent! Spicy beef eh? Let’s give it a taste!
#2240: Wang Rice Noodle Anchovy Flavor
Here’s a flavor I don’t usually have all to often – anchovy. Salty little fishies! I am hoping it’s tasty but not too fishy; there’s a fine line between yes and yecch when it comes to such things I believe. Let’s give it a go!
#2239: Nissin Cup Noodles Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup (New Recipe)
After a few decades, Nissin decided they wanted to make some changes to one of their flagship products here in the United States, Cup Noodles. They’ve lowered sodium and now there is no added MSG and no artificial flavors. I thought this was kind of interesting as last year they came out with these new cups, but it looks like they’re not available anymore. Let’s have a look at this iconic domestic instant noodle in a cup.
A Big Box Of Donations From Colin
A reader named Colin has again sent another big box of instant noodles – thank you so much! He’s sent two others that have been absolutely awesome – lots of kinds I’ve never seen! Let’s see what’s in here!
#2238: Asian Thai Foods Rumpum Gundruk Flavour
Here’s one sent by Marvin R. from Texas – thanks again! This one’s from Nepal and says it’s ‘gundruk’ flavor. Gundruk? Wikipedia?
#2237: Nissin Cup Noodle Light+ Bagna Cauda
Okay, magna carta Cup Noodle? No, this is one based on an Italian food. Let’s consult Wikipedia –
#2236: Maruchan Gotsumori Koku Tonkotsu Ramen
Here’s another one sent to me by Javier from Box From Japan. Box From Japan has subscriptions for all sorts of neat Japanese things. I regret to say that I was informed that they won’t be taking subscriptions for their ramen boxes for now – hopefully that will start again soon. He mentioned that you can purchase instant noodles from them here. Here’s what he had to say about this particular variety:
#2235: Fashion Food Tom Yum Shrimp Creamy Flavour Instant Noodles
It’s been a really really long time since I’ve reviewed any of these FF bowls. My friend Matt B. was saying he got one and really liked it, and so I found this one to try out. Let’s have a look!
#2234: Paldo Bibim Men
SPECIAL ELECTION MESSAGE
I wanted to take a second to talk about the events that have happened concerning the Presidential election here in the United States. I’ve got to say, I wasn’t expecting the outcome we’ve seen here. I live in Washington state – a very Liberal state – where Bernie Sanders won over 80% of the votes for the primary. Personally, I think we’d have a different President today if the DNC hadn’t played politics and made it impossible for him to win. Our delegates here all went for Clinton – even though the people voted otherwise. I decided not to vote for either Clinton or Trump as I didn’t like either of them. My friend Raffael over at Happy Souper in Germany has posted a review – and he mentioned people there are kind of freaked out about our new President. I guess we’ll see what happens. I’ll keep reviewing noodles. I did this video a long time ago – wish he would’ve gotten the nomination.
#2233: Nissin Cup Noodles Milk Seafood Flavour
A while back, I put out a call to anyone and everyone who might be able to send me some noodles. Fact is that once in a while, I run out of things to review. Amongst the outpouring of varieties were some sent actually by Prima Taste (thanks again!) – I believe these are from their Hong Kong distributor. Let’s give it a try!
#2232: Nissin Spicy Chikin Ramen Donburi
Here’s one I was sent by Daisuke-san from Nissin Japan! Arigato! I really like Nissin Chikin Ramen – always have. By always, I mean always too; Nissin USA made something like it and that was the first variety I had when I was a kid. This looks like an interesting spicy one – let’s take a look!
#2231: Fantastic Noodle Chicken Flavour
This is another one sent to me from Australia by a reader named Jen – thank you very much! Well, pretty much every company has a chicken flavored something – usually a pack or cup, and it usually tends to be one of the first products they introduce to the market. Let’s give this chicken variety a look.
#2230: Marutai Kuroma-yu Tonkotsu Kumamoto Ramen
Here’s one the folks at Washoku Explorer sent as a gift with their tonkotsu explorer kit. This one looks really good from the picture – I’ve reviewed the bowl version of this in the past… Let’s check it out!
#2229: Kang Shi Fu Artificial Beef With Sauerkraut Flavour
Here’s yet another one kindly sent to me by a reader named Colin from back east – thanks! A lot of people think Germany when they think sauerkraut and that makes sense; it’s a German word for pickled cabbage. But pickled cabbage is exceedingly popular in Asia as well. Let’s check it out!
#2228: Nissin Raoh Shoyu Ramen
This is one of the fancier instant noodles out there – Nissin’s Raoh is usually great stuff! Comes with fancy noodles, liquid broth and other garnishes such as a slice of chashu pork. Wow. Let’s check it out!
#2227: Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Sriracha Chicken Flavour
Time for a new domestic variety! found this one a while back down in Renton, Washington at the Uwajimaya there. It’s right next to where they have Pokemon League at a card shop. Anyways, it was kind of a shock since I found this one, their new chipotle chicken cup, and a few new bowls they came out with recently. I think this is the last of the new stuff. Let’s give it a look!
#2226: Nagatanien Hiyashi Soba Taidashi Goma
Found this one recently at a local Japanese supermarket (Uwajimaya). Really wasn’t sure what the heck it was but it was with the instant noodles so I picked it up. Well, this is a cold dipping noodle – should be interesting. Let’s give it a look!
#2225: Fuku Bowl Chicken Flavour Instant Rice Vermicelli
Here’s another one leftover from the Nissin Hk Meet The Manufacturer! Thanks again for sending so many! Been trying a lot of rice noodle variants lately – been kind of nice for a change! Let’s check this chicken variety out!
#2224: Wai Wai X-press Flavour Of Pizza In Noodles Proprietary Food
I want to send a huge thank you to Marvin R. of Texas for sending me this – the second pizza flavored instant noodle I’ve EVER reviewed! The first one was from Pakistan – this one’s from India! Not only that, but this one’s a proprietary food! Let’s check it out!