Every now and then, I let myself grab something on impulse while shopping, and Fu Chung Village Dry Noodles Basil and Clam Flavor was that find. Fu Chung is a Taiwanese brand I hadn’t heard of before, and their Village Dry Noodles line immediately caught my eye based on the beautiful packaging. This Basil and Clam flavor stood out among the usual soy and sesame offerings, promising a fusion of herbs and seafood that felt unusual for a dry noodle, but with a surprising twist that I didn’t catch until I got home. With Mom’s Dry Noodle still scarce on shelves near me, I was curious whether Fu Chung might fill that gap.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 154: Fu Chung Village Dry Noodles Basil and Clam FlavorAuthor: Noodle Journey
Noodle Journey Episode 153: Indomie Mi Goreng Hot & Spicy
I’m long overdue for this one. Indomie Mi Goreng Hot & Spicy has been sitting in my pantry for months, and considering how often I recommend the original Mi Goreng, it’s about time I circled back. I last covered the base version way back in Episode 24, promising I’d review the spicy variant “soon.” Well, better late than never. This pack looks similar to the classic, but the question is whether it’s simply hotter or if there’s more going on.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 153: Indomie Mi Goreng Hot & SpicyNoodle Journey: Shin Zha Wang – A Nongshim Noodle Hack
I’m reviewing something a little different today: a recipe straight from Nongshim’s own website. This one combines two of their most popular products, Shin Ramyun and Zha Wang, into a single hybrid dish called “Shin Zha Wang.” It’s meant to merge the spice of Shin with the rich black bean sauce of Zha Wang, creating a beefy, umami-forward fusion. Since both of these noodles rank among Nongshim’s best, it’s hard not to be curious.
Read more: Noodle Journey: Shin Zha Wang – A Nongshim Noodle HackNoodle Journey Episode 152: Nissin Cup Noodles Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese
It must be April again, because Nissin has released yet another offbeat Cup Noodles flavor that sounds like a prank but isn’t. This time it’s Nissin Cup Noodles Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese, part of their growing list of limited-edition experiments like Pumpkin Spice and Breakfast Cup Noodles. Both of those turned out better than expected, so this one had me curious. I love everything bagel seasoning and cream cheese, just not necessarily together with noodles.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 152: Nissin Cup Noodles Everything Bagel with Cream CheeseNoodle Journey Episode 151: Nongshim Zha Wang
I’m diving back into the world of black bean sauce noodles, this time with a twist from Nongshim. Zha Wang promises an oyster-flavored sauce that builds on the classic jjajang base but introduces a new depth and texture. It stands apart from Chapagetti (the first black bean noodle I ever reviewed) by aiming for something richer and more complex. Given my mixed history with Chapagetti and how strong some other brands like Paldo and Samyang have been, I’m curious to see whether this can step up and deliver something different.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 151: Nongshim Zha WangNoodle Journey Special Presentation: Just Sweet Sour Noodles
Just Sweet Sour Noodles is an imported Turkish “noodle” product I found at Dollar Tree, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever reviewed. According to the label, these are sour noodles from a company called Just Sweet. I’ve never had noodles from Turkey before, and finding these at a dollar store seemed like destiny.
Read more: Noodle Journey Special Presentation: Just Sweet Sour NoodlesNoodle Journey Episode 150: Paldo Strawberry Bibimmen
Paldo Strawberry Bibimmen marks a milestone for the channel (Episode 150) and it might be one of the most unexpected instant noodle flavors I’ve ever reviewed. I first noticed it on MyKMarket while browsing for Korean-exclusive Buldak varieties, then forgot about it until a Reddit thread reminded me. The comments there convinced me to buy it for this episode, and it’s a fittingly strange way to celebrate a round-number milestone.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 150: Paldo Strawberry BibimmenNoodle Journey Episode 149: Samyang Sutah Ramen
Samyang Sutah Ramen is another product from Samyang that isn’t part of their Buldak line but still aims to satisfy fans of spicy Korean noodle soups. Before trying it, I tried to find out what “Sutah” means and couldn’t locate much official information beyond an old 2011 review on The Ramen Rater’s website. In that review’s comments, a reader explained that Sutah comes from Chinese characters meaning “hit by hands,” implying a handmade noodle style, though the noodles here are machine-made like most others. It seems Samyang is using the name to emphasize noodle quality rather than literal production methodology.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 149: Samyang Sutah RamenNoodle Journey Episode 148: immi Black Garlic Chicken Ramen
immi Black Garlic Chicken Ramen has been showing up constantly in my targeted social media ads, so I decided it was finally time to see what all the hype is about. immi is a California-based ramen company founded in 2019 whose motto is “instant ramen reinvented.” They market themselves as a healthier alternative to other instant noodles: lower carb, higher protein, medium sodium, and both vegan and keto-friendly. That’s great on paper, but it comes with a steep price tag: $6 for a single 2.4-ounce pack.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 148: immi Black Garlic Chicken RamenNoodle Journey Supplement Review: Ramen Bae Dried Japanese Fish Cake aka Narutomaki
Ramen Bae Dried Japanese Fish Cake aka Narutomaki is a stealth release that slipped out sometime between their Veggie Mix and Spicy Garlic Mix. I completely missed it until recently and decided it deserved a review. While the Spicy Garlic Mix disappointed me, this one looked promising.
Read more: Noodle Journey Supplement Review: Ramen Bae Dried Japanese Fish Cake aka Narutomaki