Top 10 Instant Noodles (2024) | Noodle Journey
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Top 10 Instant Noodles (2024) | Noodle Journey

I recently hit the milestone of 1,000 subscribers, and to celebrate, I’m finally compiling the first-ever Noodle Journey Top 10 Instant Noodles list. Over the course of this channel, I’ve reviewed a massive variety of noodles, but these ten are the absolute best-in-class for their categories, in my humble opinion. These are the varieties that blew me away when I tried them and that I keep stocked regularly in my pantry for when I’m not filming reviews. This list is in no particular order. These are simply the major varieties that are easily obtainable and represent the pinnacle of my own instant noodle universe in 2024.

Samyang Buldak Tom Yum Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 143
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Samyang Buldak Tom Yum Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 143

Samyang Buldak Tom Yum is hot off the presses, launching in the U.S. in January 2024. I may even be the first to do a full review of it on YouTube, since I couldn’t find any others when I filmed. While Buldak varieties pop up constantly in other countries, like Basil Cream Udon in Korea or Yakisoba in Australia, this Tom Yum flavor is, at least for now, exclusive to the U.S. market. I picked mine up from RamenMall for $1.99 a pack, though stock has been fluctuating quickly. At the time of this review, it hasn’t hit stores near me yet, but it should roll out to Asian groceries and other online sellers soon.

Samyang Hot Pepper Jjambbong Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 133
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Samyang Hot Pepper Jjambbong Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 133

Samyang Hot Pepper Jjambbong Ramen is the second product in the company’s hot pepper line, following the Jjajang variety I reviewed last time. Like that one, it’s easy to mistake this for a Buldak product, but it’s from a separate lineup with this "Hot Pepper" branding. And indeed, Samyang has made more than a few spicy takes on this flavor already: Buldak Jjamppong is its own thing, and an excellent one, while Samyang also recently released a Nagasaki Jjambbong that was outstanding. Both of those were perfect 10s for me, so I am eager to see how this compares.

Samyang Hot Pepper Jjajang Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 132
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Samyang Hot Pepper Jjajang Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 132

Samyang Hot Pepper Jjajang Ramen is part of a smaller Hot Pepper product line from Samyang, separate from their famous Buldak products even though it’s often mistaken for them. There’s also a Hot Pepper Jjambbong companion product in this line, which I’ll be reviewing next. This one has been available in foreign markets for a few years but only recently hit export packaging for English-speaking markets, so you’ll start seeing it in Asian grocery stores and online. You should be able to find this online for around $10 for a five-pack.

Samyang Nagasaki Jjambbong Ramen Soup Review | Noodle Journey Episode 131
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Samyang Nagasaki Jjambbong Ramen Soup Review | Noodle Journey Episode 131

Samyang Nagasaki Jjambbong is a new find I picked up at H Mart for $9.99 a five-pack, and it immediately caught my eye with the promise of a creamy, spicy seafood broth. This style of soup traces back to Nagasaki, Japan, where champon was first created in 1899 by a Chinese restaurant. The Nagasaki version stands apart with its mild, milky broth made from chicken and pork bones combined with seafood, pork fat, and vegetables. With this pack of noodles, Samyang is adapting that style into a Korean jjambbong with a spicier kick, while still keeping the creamy broth profile intact.

Samyang Tangle Bulgogi Alfredo Tangluccine Review | Noodle Journey Episode 122
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Samyang Tangle Bulgogi Alfredo Tangluccine Review | Noodle Journey Episode 122

Today's review is Samyang Tangle Bulgogi Alfredo Tangluccine, the first product I’ve found from their new Tangle line. Samyang is marketing Tangle as Korean-inspired pasta (“K-pasta”) that marries premium, air-dried noodles with Korean-flavored sauces in a twist on Italian pasta. The name “Tangle” comes from a Korean term for firm, elastic texture; the noodles here mimic fettuccine in width and bite, and the format aims to be a hearty one-pot fusion meal by pairing those noodles with a substantial plant-based flake packet. There’s also a Kimchi Rosé flavor in the line that I still haven’t been able to track down, so this bowl sets my baseline for what Tangle is supposed to be.

Samyang Bulgogi Ramen Soup Review | Noodle Journey Episode 119
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Samyang Bulgogi Ramen Soup Review | Noodle Journey Episode 119

Today's review is Samyang Bulgogi Ramen Soup, and I’m happy to finally cover a new Samyang product that isn’t another Buldak flavor. Bulgogi is something you'll find in Korean barbecue: thinly sliced beef marinated in soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and onion, sometimes with Asian pear for sweetness, then grilled or stir-fried. As a noodle bowl, that translates to those marinade flavors adapted into a soup, since bulgogi itself isn’t served as a soup.

Samyang Buldak Jjamppong Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 99
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Samyang Buldak Jjamppong Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 99

I’m wrapping up my current stash of Buldak products with something you don’t often see in US supermarket aisles: Samyang Buldak Jjamppong Ramen. Jjamppong is a spicy seafood soup that originated in Nagasaki, Japan, before being adapted into various regional styles. The Korean take leans toward a red chili broth similar to Nongshim’s Neoguri, which I loved back in Episode 25. This is Samyang’s super-spicy version of that style, and one of only a handful of Buldak varieties that are soups rather than stir-fries.

Samyang Buldak Cream Carbonara Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 98
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Samyang Buldak Cream Carbonara Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 98

I’m finally reviewing the second-to-last Buldak flavor in this marathon, Samyang Buldak Cream Carbonara Ramen, after months of hunting it down. This flavor, released in the US in 2023 alongside Quattro Cheese and Habanero Lime, proved far harder for me to find than its siblings. While the others were easy to spot online and in local Asian markets, Cream Carbonara was elusive for me, selling out quickly at YamiBuy and not restocking in what I would consider a reasonable amount of time. My local store even had an empty shelf tag for weeks before replacing it with regular Carbonara. The breakthrough came when I spotted a random case of it sitting on the floor at H Mart, hidden under other boxes.

Samyang Buldak Curry Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 97
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Samyang Buldak Curry Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 97

Today I’m looking at Samyang Buldak Curry Ramen, one of the most recommended Buldak flavors I’ve seen on Facebook and Reddit. From the first time I tried Buldak, I noticed hints of sweet, earthy curry powder in the base sauce, alongside umami smokiness and spice. This curry version promises to turn up that profile with extra curry seasoning. As someone who enjoys a well-balanced curry, I’m curious to see if this hits the mark or if it leans too far in any one direction.