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!
Author: Noodle Journey
The Han Kitchen Budae Ramyun Review | Noodle Journey Episode 142
The Han Kitchen Budae Ramyun is the last of the three Han Kitchen products I currently have. Han Kitchen is an Australian company with noodles manufactured in South Korea for global export. You should be able to find this one online as well as in H Mart and other Asian grocery stores. This flavor is their take on budae jjigae, or Korean army stew, a dish born in the 1950s by combining American military base rations like Spam, hot dogs, baked beans, and American cheese with Korean ingredients like kimchi, rice cakes, and gochugaru. It’s a concept I really enjoy, though I know it can be polarizing.
The Han Kitchen Pocha Ramyun Review | Noodle Journey Episode 141
The Han Kitchen Pocha Ramyun is the second of three products from The Han Kitchen I’m reviewing. Han Kitchen is an Australian brand owned by ByAsia, with its noodles manufactured in South Korea and now starting to show up more often in the U.S. I found a four-pack at Yamibuy for $5.99, and they’re also available in H Mart and other Asian markets. This is my first time seeing “pocha” used on a noodle product, and after some digging I learned it’s short for "pojangmacha," which means a tent or stall that sells street food in South Korea. The name doesn’t describe the flavor directly - no tents were ground into powder to make this broth - but according to Han Kitchen, this is their take on a spicy red ramyun soup in the same vein as Nongshim Shin or Ottogi Jin.
The Han Kitchen Gomtang Ramyun Review | Noodle Journey Episode 140
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.
Daebak Ghost Pepper Spicy Chicken Flavor Noodles Review | Noodle Journey Episode 139
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.
Marutai Original Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 138
This review of Marutai Original Ramen closes out my 2023 Marutai Marathon with the flavor that started it all. Released in 1959, this was Marutai’s very first stick ramen product and remains in production today. Unlike the regional or restaurant-supervised varieties I’ve reviewed so far, this one is from Marutai’s basic series and comes in simple packaging. It offers a light broth flavored with chicken, pork, soy, and sesame oil.
Marutai Nagasaki Shikairo Champon Review | Noodle Journey Episode 137
Marutai Nagasaki Shikairo Champon is the third of Marutai’s restaurant-supervised products I'm reviewing in a row, and the first Japanese champon I’ve reviewed. Champon originated in Nagasaki in 1899, created by a Chinese restaurant called Shikairo, which still operates today and directly supervised this instant version. Unlike its spicy Korean counterpart, jjampong, this Japanese champon uses a mild, creamy meat and seafood broth and is typically topped with stir-fried pork, seafood, and vegetables.
Marutai Ikkosha Tonkotsu Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 136
Marutai Ikkosha Tonkotsu Ramen is the second of Marutai’s restaurant collaborations I'm reviewing this go-round, this time supervised by Ikkosha, a ramen shop based in Hakata with additional locations in Los Angeles, Torrance, and Costa Mesa. The recipe promises a concentrated tonkotsu broth meant to highlight the natural flavor of pork bones.
Marutai Seiyoken Tonkotsu Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 135
Marutai Seiyoken Tonkotsu Ramen is the first of three restaurant collaboration products I'm reviewing in a row from Marutai, supervised by Seiyoken in Kurume City, the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen. Unlike the Local Series packs I’ve reviewed before, these are part of Marutai’s “Famous Store Ramen” line, meant to replicate specific restaurant recipes. This one promises a light yet rich tonkotsu broth made with a liquid soup packet instead of the usual powder for a more authentic experience.
Marutai Oita Chicken Paitan Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 134
Marutai Oita Chicken Paitan Ramen is the newest entry in Marutai’s “Local Series” of stick ramen, released for the 15th anniversary of the line. This product replaces the Miyazaki Chicken Shio and Oita Chicken Yuzu Shoyu flavors, both of which appear to have been discontinued since I reviewed them. Those were solid entries very typical of Marutai's quality, but they were on the lower end of my rankings compared to the rest of the series, so I’m excited that Marutai introduced something that should be more interesting in their place. This recipe is from Oita and features a creamy chicken paitan broth, which marks a contrast with Marutai’s previous clear chintan-style chicken offerings.