The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Kristen W. of Arizona sent me some noodles she got while she was in South Korea!
This is a great little collection of South Korean varieties you can’t easily find here! Ottogi Cheese Ramyun and Spaghetti bowls – been wanting to try them for a while! The two above are Paldo Korea varieties – I think Rabokki and Jjajang. The Nongshim Shin Cup in the lower right is the South Korean version. Thank, Kristen! Soon as they’re made, some The Ramen Rater stickers will be coming your way!
My friend Sungmin over at Paldo Foods America sent a package of neat stuff!
Wow this looks cool!
Here’s the original review. It’s cold today so I thought it sounded good. I figure I should mention – there will be some new reviews very soon! I am working on a huge project that’s been taking so much time. A hint – it has to do with upgrading this blog! I’ve been editing every post and image. A lot of work let me tell you! It will definitely be worth it in the end!
Hey look! The Kokomen cup! Been waiting to try this one with some leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
It’s the day after Thanksgiving and I thought this would be nice to have. I’ve reviewed the Korean version in the past – this is the version for sale in the US.
Been quite a while since I reviewed this one – it was #348. I thought some kimchi sounded really good and so here we go!
Here’s some more Kokomen – this is the one sold in the USA! It’s a really rainy day today and some spicy chicken noodles sound really tasty! Let’s hit it!
I went on a walk today and luckily, I missed the rain – but not the mailman! He had a very odd shaped package for me that I was completely befuddled about. That is, until I saw who it was from. Moses from Paldo had sent me some samples!
Been a while since I reviewed this one! Had it for #346 (check out the original review). I’m hungry – let’s go.
I have fallen ill with some kind of head cold it seems and I thought something spicy would be good. My lovely wife Kit was kind enough make me some noodles for breakfast – she’s so good to me! Thought I’d have these – they’re available in the US now, but this is a Re-Review of the pack that is sold in Korea. The version sold in the US will be being reviewed soon! Here’s the link to the original review I did during Paldo’s Meet The Manufacturer.
Last night, Obama got re-elected as the President, and here in Washington state, same-sex marriage was approved – as was the recreational use of marijuana. Quite an evening! Anyways, was fun watching the political process wind up and come to a close for this cycle. Now, on to the urgent task of noodle reviewing! The last time I reviewed this one was back in February of ’11 and was #287 (link). I forgot how awesome the picture on this one – I love how it says ‘serving suggestion.’ It makes me think that this is one enormous king of the lobsters that wants you to serve it these self-flavored noodles! Roarrr!!! On a side note, if you look at the lower right hand side of the cup, you can see it says “Chitosan Oligosaccaride 2 mg.” What the heck is that?!?! What I got out of this Wikipedia article is that this is something that comes from the exoskeletons of crustaceans. It got me thinking – Chitosan… ChitoSlim? I remember commercials for ChitoSlim, a weight lossupplement. I found it and lo and behold it contains 1000 mg of Chitosan. I figure it’s basically like a super-fiber. Anyways, let’s continue.
Yep – another re-review! Had this one back in February of this year for #658. Today I felt like something spicy from Korea!
Here’s a new one from Paldo not yet available in the USA – Namja cup! Namja translates to Man’s or Guy’s – gender-specific noodles – that’s something new! I think would like to know about the ladies’ ramyun and what that would be… Anyways, let’s give this new one from Paldo a gander.
Our refrigerator has been on the fritz lately so I had just let the maintenance guy out when there was a knock at the door; I figured he left something. But it was our mailman! With a box! I really like when that happens!
I’d thought I’d had everyone’s bowl noodles by now but lo and behold, a shrimp flavor by Paldo. So let’s give it a try!
It’s been quite a while since I’ve had this one – thought it’d be a good one to finish Meet The Manufacturer: Paldo with. Hot day, cold noodles. I should also mention the last time I had this was review #118 – over 700 packs ago – and my tastes have changed a bit. I’m happy to say I like cold noodles nowadays.
Here’s another interesting one – Jjajangmen. The last time I reviewed this, I had mixed it in like it mentions on the back. This time, I’m going to put it on top like in the picture!
Here’s Paldo’s standard hot & spicy variety. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be the hottest days of the year here in the northwest – temps are supposed to hit 94 degrees today and 96 tomorrow. Hot and spicy sounds just about right! What’s Hwa though? Couldn’t figure that one out but here’s what the health info on soy peptide is! Anyways – I’m hungry – time to noodle it up!
In the US, it’s Kokomen, in Korea it’s Kko Kko Myun! They also have not only the package variety, but also in a King Cup! Let’s see if it’s as good as the package version.
Oh man I’m thoroughly ticked off. Melky Cabrera just got caught taking testosterone and now is out for 50 games. I’m a huge SF Giants fan and this is just painful. Just went to my first game a few weeks ago too. Feel kind of cheated in a way. Anyways, no reason that jerk’s gonna mess up my noodle day! This is something I’ve never even heard of! Seolleongtangmyeon? I looked it up on Wikipedia:
A spicy seafood soup – sounds good for today!
Back of the package (click image to enlarge).
Rabokki huh? Ramyun and Ttebokki perhaps? Let’s check this one out!
The back of the package (click image to enlarge). I went with the second set of instructions (the lower ones)
Hey rad – a big cup of kimchi noodles! I’m a big fan of kimchi these days and hoping this is just what the doctor ordered today!
Here’s a new one from Paldo – Namja. Namja translates to “man” or “guy” – I think they’re saying this is very hot and spicy. I wonder if there will be a product that is made for women as well? Well, let’s see if I’m man enough for this bowl of noodles!
Usually when asked ‘what was your first noodle product,’ the answer I get from a company is chicken flavored instant noodles. Well, chicken flavor instant noodles are these and they look like a nice big bag of noodles! Been awhile – last time I had this is was review #88!
How often do you see Korean instant noodles that aren’t spicy? Well, here’s one of those rare times. Pronounced Gohm-tahng (thanks Moses from Paldo America!), this is a traditional beef noodle soup.
This product is one that Paldo makes for sale in Japan. Shoyu (soy sauce) is a very traditional Japanese style of ramen.
Here’s something different – Cucumber Bibim Men! Bibimbap is a common Korean dish involving a sauce with mixed vegetables and rice. The ‘Men’ here is pronounced ‘main’ as in chow mein as in noodles. So what this is is a cold noodle deal – you boil the noodles and veggies, drain and rinse with cold water a few times, add the liquid packet and stir it together. Curious if I’m going to like this – I’ve had Bibim Men a long time ago, but my tastes have changed so we’ll see.
Finally after a long wait, Kkokkomyun has come to the United States as Kokomen! This is the instant that brought about the whole ‘white broth’ craze in Korea. Here’s an excerpt from my interview with Paldo:
Wow check this out! Paldo sent me this prototype of a new product – a bowl of instant noodles that only takes a minute and thirty seconds to cook. Pretty amazing – but how does it taste?
I asked my wife Kit to pick which pack of noodles to begin Meet The Manufacturer: Paldo week and she picked this one. Sounds like a great place to start!
I got a couple of large boxes from the folks at Paldo America today! Wonder what’s inside?
I’m very happy to announce that today begins Meet The Manufacturer Week: Paldo~ There will be many reviews and information about this great South Korean company. Here, we shall start with the interview. Enjoy!
* UPDATE * See here.
A couple of days ago, I received an email from a man who was angry. He was angry that the instant noodles he bought said that they were spicy Chicken flavor but weren’t spicy whatsoever and that I needed to change the seasonings ASAP. Every once in a while, I get a comment or email from someone who thinks that I make instant noodles or am affiliated with an instant noodle company. I decided to reply and do a review of the product he had problems with, adding some hot spices, sauces and peppers from around the world to really heat it up. It then occurred to me that a lot of people really like spicy instant noodles and that there’s really no list of the hottest ones out there. I figured I’d better do something about that, and so here’s the Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time!
Here’s something extra special, sent by Chris H. of Westport, CT. This is the extremely popular Kko Kko Myun. What I know is that this is made using chicken broth instead of spicy red peppers. It is based on a recipe created by Korean comedian Lee Kyung-kyu. It has an unusual white broth – everything for the most part coming out of Korea has that bright red chili-infused broth. In the first five months of this stuff being released in Korea, they sold 100 million packs! Very popular! So here we go with a review – this is from Korea and not a regular export so the packaging doesn’t have all of its info, but hopefully you can glean info from the nutrition facts, etc off of the label.
Here’s one I’ve been meaning to get to and here we go! Thisd one is from Greg B. of Marathon, FL! Thanks Greg – let’s give this one a try!
Hey look! Mega-enormous Korean noodle bowl! Found this one at H Mart in Lynnwood, WA. Had the pack and the cup – now we’ll find out Hwa-ssup with this enormous King Cup! Yes we will. Yes.
I’ve heard now from two separate sources that this Kkokkomyeon stuff is really popular and is going to be a really big deal when it comes to the USA. Both a seller of instant noodles alluded to it as well as a mention by name by the lady at the Kitty House at 99 Ranch Market (they sell Hello Kitty stuff there).
Gomtang? Sounds pretty bizarre. I wonder what it means…
I found a little info on Wikipedia about this stuff:
Hey it’s the 600yj post! That’s overall – not just reviews obviously. Okay so this is one really big bowl. It’s about the size of a 45 RPM record! About as deep as a regular bowl noodle. Been waiting for the right day for this one – I’m sick and my nose is clogged and sore throat, aches and pains, etcetera. This should do the trick – hot and spicy Korean noodles!
