I’m checking out a somewhat different flavor from Paldo with this Kokomen, a clean and spicy chicken noodle soup that’s a little more interesting than your average chicken broth. I don’t usually go out of my way to review plain chicken soups, because they tend to be a bit boring, but this one has an interesting backstory and flavor profile. Kokomen was the result of an amateur cooking contest in South Korea back in 2011, and the recipe became so popular that Paldo turned it into an instant noodle product.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 73: Paldo KokomenAuthor: Noodle Journey
Noodle Journey Episode 72: Paldo Bul Nak
I’m reviewing my first octopus-flavored product: Paldo Bul Nak. Not to be confused with Samyang’s Buldak, this Korean noodle combines a buldak-style sweet and spicy sauce with actual powdered octopus. And yes, it’s real octopus, not just flavoring. In Korean, “bul” means fire and “nakji” means octopus, so this is literally “hot octopus.” Expect heat.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 72: Paldo Bul NakNoodle Journey Episode 71: Nongshim Tonkotsu Ramen with Kuromayu (Black Garlic Oil)
I’m back with another tonkotsu ramen, this time from one of my favorite South Korean brands, Nongshim. While tonkotsu is traditionally a Japanese pork bone broth, here we’ve got a Korean company making their interpretation of it with this Kuromayu (black garlic oil) variety. For anyone unfamiliar, kuromayu is made by charring garlic in sesame oil, giving it a deep, bitter, smoky flavor that’s common in tonkotsu ramen, with the word “kuro” literally translating to “black.” This isn’t the same as fermented black garlic (which is also a valid ramen topper if you so desire), but rather has a different flavor profile.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 71: Nongshim Tonkotsu Ramen with Kuromayu (Black Garlic Oil)Noodle Journey Episode 70: Mama Phở Gà
I’m continuing the phở series with Mama’s Phở Gà, the chicken counterpart to the Phở Bò I reviewed last time. If you’re unfamiliar with phở, check out that review first – I covered the basics there and want to keep this one more focused. This bowl shares the same spice blend and artificial garnish flavors as the beef version, but swaps in a lighter artificial chicken-style broth.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 70: Mama Phở GàNoodle Journey Episode 69: Mama Phở Bò
I’m finally reviewing an instant phở product after nearly 70 reviews: Mama’s Phở Bò, a Vietnamese-style beef rice noodle soup. For those unfamiliar, phở is a noodle soup made with rice noodles, savory bone broth, and customizable fresh toppings like bean sprouts, Thai basil, chili peppers, and, unfortunately for me, cilantro (although I omit that part when I’m eating phở at a restaurant.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 69: Mama Phở BòNoodle Journey Episode 68: Ottogi Sesame Ramen
I’m checking out a fairly unique Korean ramen today: Ottogi’s Sesame Flavor Ramen. Unlike most instant noodles that merely contain trace sesame, this one puts it front and center as its defining flavor. And despite how prolific Korean instant noodles are, this is the only widely available one that openly markets itself as “sesame ramen” (that I am aware of, anyway). Dandan noodles use sesame paste, but those are Chinese; Nissin has a sesame ramen, but it’s Japanese. Ottogi seems to have the Korean sesame ramen space to itself, which makes this an interesting instant noodle entry.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 68: Ottogi Sesame RamenNoodle Journey Episode 67: Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein
I’m reviewing a viewer-recommended pack today: Sapporo Ichiban’s Chow Mein, which is a misnomer since this is actually yakisoba. You’ll spot “Chow Mein” on the packaging in English, but the Japanese text phonetically spells “Yakisoba,” and the ingredients back that up. It includes Worcestershire-style seasoning (minus the anchovies), which is a hallmark of yakisoba, not chow mein. The terms get used interchangeably in American contexts, but this is squarely a Japanese-style stir-fry noodle.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 67: Sapporo Ichiban Chow MeinNoodle Journey Episode 66: Paldo Jjajangmen
After enjoying several spicy black bean noodles like Samyang Buldak Jjajang and Nongshim’s Angry Chapaguri, I’m shifting gears and reviewing Paldo’s basic, non-spicy Jjajangmen. This one seems to be the go-to option for folks who want a rich black bean sauce without the heat. It’s widely available in 4-packs for $6–$10 online or at local Asian grocery stores, but be careful of price gouging on Amazon. According to Reddit, this version is often considered superior to Chapagetti due to its rich sauce and substantial veggie content. And with a 7-ounce pack weight, this is one of the heaviest instant noodles I’ve ever reviewed, most of that coming from a seriously chunky liquid sauce packet.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 66: Paldo JjajangmenNoodle Journey Episode 65: Trader Joe’s Instant Ramen Cups
I’m checking out a trio of instant ramen cups currently sold at Trader Joe’s: Miso, Spicy Miso, and Chicken. They sell for $1.69 each at the time of this review and come in light, single-serving cups. These do not exactly appear to be filling, but are priced well below what these usually cost under their original branding. Which brings me to the twist: upon opening the Miso cup, I discovered that these are actually rebranded products from Mike’s Mighty Good Ramen. The oil packet writing gave it away immediately, and sure enough, they’re confirmed to be co-manufactured. If you’re familiar with my past reviews, you know I’ve had my share of issues with Mike’s. That said, the Trader Joe’s versions are cheaper, so if for some reason you like Mike’s ramen, this is the place to buy it.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 65: Trader Joe’s Instant Ramen CupsNoodle Journey Episode 64: Trader Joe’s Squiggly Knife Cut Style Noodles with Soy and Sesame Sauce
I’m reviewing a newish entry from Trader Joe’s: their Squiggly Knife Cut Style Noodles with Soy and Sesame Sauce. Despite the silly name (“squiggly”? really?), this is a Taiwanese-style noodle kit that feels like a direct response to Momofuku’s popular product line. Trader Joe’s doesn’t make these in-house, but rather they rebrand from other manufacturers, so it honestly wouldn’t surprise me if these were made by A-Sha, the same company behind Momofuku’s noodles. At $4.99 for a 4-pack, it’s a pretty reasonable entry point if you’re curious about this type of noodle.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 64: Trader Joe’s Squiggly Knife Cut Style Noodles with Soy and Sesame Sauce