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.
Brand: Trader Joe's
Noodle Journey Episode 130: Trader Joe’s Thai Noodle Bowls (Garlic Sauce, Red Curry & Peanut Satay)
Trader Joe’s Thai Noodle Bowls come in three flavors, Garlic Sauce, Red Curry, and Peanut Satay, and I’m diving into all of them in this review. I’ve tried other Trader Joe’s instant noodle products before, like their Squiggly Taiwanese noodles and ramen cups, but those weren’t particularly impressive. Trader Joe’s usually rebrands products from established manufacturers, but I’m not sure who made these bowls. Each is sold exclusively at Trader Joe’s for about $2.50, although third-party sellers on Amazon list them for a steep markup.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 130: Trader Joe’s Thai Noodle Bowls (Garlic Sauce, Red Curry & Peanut Satay)Noodle Journey Episode 126: Trader Joe’s Mee Krob Snackers
Today I’m trying Trader Joe’s Mee Krob Snackers, a crispy noodle snack that takes its inspiration from the Thai dish mee krob for its sweet-and-sour profile. I do not get to Trader Joe’s often, so when I spotted these, I immediately grabbed a bag to see how well a cluster of crispy noodles works as a snack.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 126: Trader Joe’s Mee Krob SnackersNoodle 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