The Definitive Source For Instant Noodle Reviews Since 2002
Here’s one of the new one Nissin Foods USA sent recently. Cucharealo, eh? Couldn’t find out what that exactly means, but it looks like it’s something new and geared towards the Latino market. Interesting that it says Top Ramen on it too – brand recognition! Awesome – let’s give it a go.
This is different – usually you don’t see a clear window in on the noodle block inside! Let’s have a try with this one.
All good things… Well, these weren’t all that good but they were a lot of fun! Thanks go to Mark K. and Erika L. for getting these to me! They sent a slew of different flavors of Mr. Noodles and they were really my first foray into the world of Canadian instant noodles! Now it is time to give the last pack a try. Here we go!
Here’s another great one sent to me by my friend in Jakarta, Indonesia – thanks again! This is some really neat stuff – like Mi Goreng on steroids! Pedas means spicy! Extreme! Check it out.
I can’t even imagine how long ago I last reviewed anything from Wai Wai – pretty stoked on it! Let’s try seom Thai noodles!
Found this the other day at KS Mart in Lynnwood (that’s where I git my kimchi!). This is from China – never had a Chinese made mee-goreng before! Usually I like the Dragonfly stuff though. Let’s give this a go!
It’s been a couple months since our trip to Nongshim in Rancho Cucamonga, California. I was sent a very nice gift from the president of Nongshim America to thank us for visiting and for our reviews! Thank you! This is a golden pot, a very standard cooking item in Korea used to make ramyun!
If you’re new to The Ramen Rater’s Show Your Noodles, every week you can email me a picture of some noodles you’ve made. include your name and location and I’ll post it on the weekly roundup! Fancy or functional, it doesn’t matter. I mean, you could do literally anything you want with some instant noodles – use your imagination! Want to be part of next week’s Show Your Noodles? Just email me at hans@theramenrater.com. Let me know you first name, last initial, and city/state or country! My wife does the judging – here we go!
So I got an email from my contact at Nissin Foods in Gardena California mentioning a package was sent. What could it be?
I don’t usually review these but I saw this one and I thought it looked kind of interesting. Basically, take instant rice and shred it up and then use instant noodle packets and steep it for a few minutes. Basically it’s like rice noodle mush!
This one comes from Courtney N. from British Columbia, Canada! How rad – this is from Seven-11 in Japan! Looks interesting…
Oh man I thought this was a new one! I reviewed this at #93! Here’s something from the Philippines! Been awhile since a review from there. Pancit Canton reminds me a lot of Indonesia’s Mi Goreng; the noodles are drained and then stirred with the dry and wet ingredients and served. Let’s try this one out!
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:
I saw a YouTube video recently where a man is trying to handle the heat of this instant ramyun. He couldn’t – to the point of cursing these noodles. Another reason that Paldo’s Teumsae Ramyun is #1 on the Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles of All Time list. But Teumsae; what is that? Teumsae is a well known restaurant chain in Korea. They’re well known for their spicy ways as well!
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!
This rather unassuming package of ramen came from Bo H. of China. I don’t know if this is exactly what this is called, but I hope it comes close to its name in taste. Potatoes aren’t something commonly found when it comes to instant noodles; there’s sweet potato noodles and potato noodles, but really nothing that involved potato flavor.
Been a while, but here we go with the 16th edition of The Ramen Rater Noodle News!
I search the ‘net for interesting news and view on instant noodles and beyond. Here you go!
Today is probably the hottest day we’re going to have in Western Washington this summer. Right now it’s 88 degrees! I thought a nice bowl of spicy noodles would go well with it. I mean, isn’t it hot in Thailand too?
This is one that came from Courtnay N. of Surrey, BC – thanks! Maruchan makes lots of instant noodles that can be found in the USA, but of course they make varieties that are only available in Japan – this is one of them.
Here’s another that was sent by my friend in Jakarta, Indonesia – thanks again! Next week, I’m starting up a new Meet The Manufacturer spotlight and so I thought I’d have something very different from what I’ll be sampling. Let’s give it a try!
Here’s a list of odd instant noodle-isms.
We have the British to thank for these bacon instant noodles. Pair ’em with eggs and toast and t’s actually pretty great stuff. But, you should know, the rest of the day your burps will taste like bacon. This one was sent to me by a Ramen Rater fan in England who also included about two dozen other fascinating packs with flavors such as Curry, Sweet & Sour, and Southern Fried Chicken.
Got this one at a grocery store in Livermore, California called Nob Hill. Pretty rare these days that I find something I haven’t tried in a grocery store!
Back in Washington! We had a great trip down to the Bay Area – saw the San Francisco Giants play (and win) at AT&T Park, went to Six Flags in Vallejo, CA and lots of other fun things. On the way home, we stopped at the Uwajimaya in Beaverton, Oregon. Found ten new varieties I’d never seen before and here’s one of them. Sounds good! Gonna give it a try.
Good news and bad news. Bad news: no reviews for about a week (we’re going on vacation). The good news: I will leave you with the first ever bacon monstrosity!
I’ve wanted to re-review this one for a while. Just has a kind of weird name, ya’know? Here’s what the Nongshim site says about it:
