I originally planned to dig into one of the Korean or Japanese packs gathering dust in my pantry, but a bag of Momofuku Spicy Soy Noodles caught my eye at Target. Given the name attached to it (David Chang) and the fact that Momofuku started as a noodle bar, I have some reasonably high hopes going in.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 4: Momofuku Spicy Soy NoodlesThese noodles are air-dried Taiwanese style and come in a five-pack (mine was around $8–10). You get a single sauce packet per serving, and unlike the other stuff I’ve reviewed so far, this is not a soup but rather a dry noodle dish. Sodium clocks in at 1300mg per serving, which isn’t bad in the instant world.
Noodles:
These are phenomenal. Genuinely some of the best instant noodles I’ve ever had. The texture is firm and chewy, with that satisfying alkaline bite you only get from a well-made noodle. I hate using the term “mouthfeel,” but it applies here. These noodles are so good they could carry just about any sauce you throw at them.
• 10/10
Spiciness:
This one brings some warmth, but nothing that would scare anyone off. The chili heat is mild but present, enough to be noticed without dominating the dish. If you’re looking for a serious kick, though, you’ll be disappointed.
• 4/10
Overall:
This is a weird one to score. The noodles are fantastic, but the sauce? Not so much. It’s just soy sauce, chili oil, and sesame oil. There’s no complexity, no depth, nothing you couldn’t throw together at home in about thirty seconds. If you’re just looking for a quick lunch without the need to dress it up, this is a just okay. But if you’re willing to toss in some add-ins – maybe a fried egg, some greens, a dollop of chili crisp – then these noodles are absolutely worth having on hand. As-is, though, it’s a middle-of-the-road experience.
• 5/10
Notes since filming: And thus begins my love/hate relationship with Momofuku and David Chang. My Momofuku reviews get thousands of hits and have netted me tons of subscribers, and so I feel obligated to review them when something new comes out even though the luster has worn off since I filmed this.
I was a little starstruck when filming this video. It was so early on and I was so happy to review something that was made by a “celebrity chef.” Unfortunately, David Chang didn’t really “make” these so much as just slap his branding on it and double the price. And since we now know what a total asshole David Chang can be, I feel bad that I gushed over these as much as I did in my introduction.
Still, I have to credit Momofuku for getting me to try Taiwanese-style noodles for the very first time, because while the sauce on this one was unimpressive, I still absolutely love A-Sha’s noodles.
Full credit to A-Sha for the noodles since I didn’t say it in the video.
