Original video description:
Want to know what to avoid next time you go shopping for noodles? Check out the channel’s very first bottom 5 list. These are the 5 worst products I’ve reviewed since the channel started, current as of February 2024.
Author: Noodle Journey
Noodle Journey: Top 10 Instant Noodles (2024)
Notes since filming:
I never deal in absolutes, which is why I won’t commit to saying any one noodle product is my number one of all time. I enjoy all of these for different reasons, and what awesome product I crave one day may not be what awesome product I crave another day. That’s why I filmed this list this way, and I will continue to do so with any future top lists.
Original video description:
Time for the channel’s first top 10 list! I’ve reviewed a lot of great products since the channel began. This list, in no particular order, highlights my 10 current favorites among the major noodle varieties, along with some honorable mentions for those of you with dietary preferences.
Noodle Journey Supplement Review: Ramen Bae Spicy Garlic Mix
Notes since filming:
I felt horrible giving this a 5/10 score, but I absolutely got a bad batch of those dehydrated eggs and I don’t compromise on my opinions on any review, even on a company I love as much as Ramen Bae. I never want to sour a potential relationship with any company, but I pride myself on honesty and integrity in my reviews, so that’s why this product was scored the way it was.
From everything I’ve seen on Facebook reviews, The Ramen Rater’s review, etc., my egg incident was largely isolated, so go ahead and buy this if it appeals to you.
Since filming this review, Ramen Bae has cut the amount of eggs per bag in half and has also removed the narutomaki (fish cakes). Assuming the egg issues are all ironed out, that would put this at a 9/10 for me as an overall score.
Original video description:
Today’s review is the brand-new, long-awaited Spicy Garlic Mix from Ramen Bae! This product contains an assortment of dried toppings that you can add to your instant noodles while they cook. This one seems to have some pretty strange ingredient choices this time around, so you are going to want to check out this review before you buy this.
Link to purchase:
https://theramenbae.com/products/spicy-garlic-mix
Scores:
- Fried Garlic & Onion Spiciness: 1/10
- Separate Chili Flake Spiciness: 4/10
- Overall: 5/10* (This would’ve been a 9 out of 10 without the eggs)
Noodle Journey Episode 144: Ramen Talk Tomato Meatball Noodles
Notes since filming:
As I write this, the Tomato Meatball flavor still hasn’t found its way to Ramen Talk’s website, yet I can still find it in S Mart stores where I live. So weird. I can’t imagine this flavor wouldn’t sell well online.
Original video description:
One of the absolute best noodle companies on the planet, Ramen Talk, stealth-released a new variety in the US, and Noodle Journey has the scoop on it! This is a tomato pork broth with a generous portion of meatballs, tomato chunks, and corn. Will this Asian/Italian fusion make your tastebuds sing? Check out the review to find out.
When Ramen Talk starts selling this online, you’ll find it on http://ramentalk.us and http://ramentalk.co.uk.
Also check your local Asian markets and Asian convenience stores!
Please like and subscribe!
Scores:
- Noodles: 10/10
- Spiciness: 0/10
- Overall: 10/10
Noodle Journey Episode 143: Samyang Buldak Tom Yum Ramen
Notes since filming:
Here’s another variety I will defend on Reddit frequently. The common complaint is that it doesn’t taste like “authentic” tom yum and that Mama’s tom yum is better. While its authenticity may be a valid critique, it doesn’t change the fact that this I think this is delicious, and its existence in no way invalidates Mama’s existence, or vice versa. I buy Buldak Tom Yum and Mama Tom Yum to scratch different itches.
I have no problem calling out a product when it isn’t authentic to what’s on the label, but if it’s delicious on its own merits then that is certainly worth a good score. That’s the case with this flavor from Samyang: it’s certainly more of a Korean-inspired take on tom yum than an authentic tom yum (you only need to look at the kimchi in the ingredients to see that that’s the case), but that doesn’t make your experience any less valid if you enjoy the flavor of this.
Original video description:
This Tom Yum Ramen is Samyang’s brand-new Buldak flavor launched in the USA in January 2024. With all of the other Buldak varieties out there, is this one worth hunting down? Check out Noodle Journey’s full in-depth review!
Links to purchase:
https://ramenmall.com/collections/ramen/products/samyang-buldak-tomyum-family-pack
https://www.yamibuy.com/en/p/buldak-spicy-tomyum-hot-chicken-flavor-stir-fried-ramen-23-81-oz/1021111181
Also check your local Asian markets and grocery stores!
Scores:
- Noodles: 9/10
- Spiciness: 6.5/10
- Overall: 9/10
Noodle Journey Unboxing: Ramen Mall
Notes since filming:
I didn’t really get into it in this video, but I was always hesitant to order from Ramen Mall because their site always looked so amateurish that I was suspicious it was a scam. When Buldak Tom Yum came out and I couldn’t find it anywhere else, I decided it was worth the risk.
Their site went down for an “upgrade” in September of 2024 and while it’s still technically online, you can’t see any products or order anything. A shame, because they had some other varieties I was planning on ordering that I couldn’t find anywhere else.
Original video description:
Here’s a new unboxing video from January 2024 containing some super unique goodies from Ramen Mall! Delivery took only 3 days and they carry a lot of stuff that I have never seen anywhere else. Check them out at ramenmall.com!
Noodle Journey Episode 142: The Han Kitchen Budae Ramyun
Notes since filming:
I bungled/reversed the translation of “budae” and “jigae” in this video and got (rightfully) called out on it. Don’t regret your little mistakes and always take the opportunity to learn from them. If you can’t find Nongshim K Army Stew anymore, this is a great alternative!
Original video description:
This is the last of the three Han Kitchen varities I currently have, and it’s their take on army stew, aka budae jigae. Check out this review of their Budae Ramyun to see how it compares to the king of K Army Stew, Nongshim!
Links to purchase:
https://www.yamibuy.com/en/p/authentic-army-stew-budae-ramen-119g-x-4pack/1021103661
https://www.hmart.com/10010147
Also check your local Asian markets and grocery stores!
Scores:
- Noodles: 8/10
- Spiciness: 5/10
- Overall: 8/10
Noodle Journey Episode 141: The Han Kitchen Pocha Ramyun
Original video description:
Today we’ve got Han Kitchen’s version of something that might be familiar to all of you Korean ramyun aficionados. This is their take on a spicy red chili soup, similar to Nongshim Shin or Ottogi Jin. If you’re a fan of those kinds of ramyun, you’re going to want to check out this review!
Links to purchase:
https://www.yamibuy.com/en/p/spicy-korean-street-pocha-ramen-118g-x-4pack/1021103671
https://www.hmart.com/10010148
Also check your local Asian markets and grocery stores!
Scores:
- Noodles: 8/10
- Spiciness: 6/10
- Overall: 7.5/10
Noodle Journey Episode 140: The Han Kitchen Gomtang Ramyun
The Han Kitchen Gomtang Ramyun is a milky beef bone soup with thick, chewy Korean noodles. I’m starting a trilogy of reviews from this relative newcomer to American markets because I want these on the books as they start popping up in more places. It’s been a long time since the Paldo Premium Gomtang review back in Episode 6, so this is a good chance to see how another take on gomtang measures up.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 140: The Han Kitchen Gomtang RamyunNoodle Journey Episode 139: Daebak Ghost Pepper Spicy Chicken Flavor Noodles
Daebak Ghost Pepper Spicy Chicken Flavor is one of those infamous social media challenge noodles, and it kicks off my 2024 reviews. The cup even includes hashtag instructions for filming yourself eating it, underscoring how much of a gimmick this product is. My goal here isn’t to chase clout but to find out if this is actually worth eating outside of the challenge setting.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 139: Daebak Ghost Pepper Spicy Chicken Flavor Noodles