A viewer recommendation led me to try Yumei Henan Noodle Original Soup, a Chinese instant noodle that immediately stood out to me for its wide, air-dried noodles and interesting-sounding broth ingredients. The product photos looked amazing: flat, broad noodles unlike anything I’ve had on the channel before. Henan noodle soup (Huī miàn) dates back to the Tang Dynasty, and its traditional version uses lamb bones and herbs for a light but rich broth. This export version skips the lamb but advertises an herb-forward, savory base. Yumei makes a range of foods beyond noodles, including snacks, sauces, and self-heating hot pots, though this was my first review of any of their products. There’s also a spicy version with a different vegetable mix, which I plan to track down later if this one performs well.
Category: Noodle Reviews
Nongshim Noodle Salad with Miso Vinaigrette Review | Noodle Journey Episode 165
After my last cold noodle review fell flat, I wanted to give the category one more shot before summer ended. That’s when I came across Nongshim Noodle Salad with Miso Vinaigrette, one of three cold noodle "Noodle Salad" varieties Nongshim currently makes for the US market. The others feature gochujang and sesame vinaigrettes, but this one caught my eye immediately because I love miso and had never tried a cold noodle dish built around it. I picked up a four-pack at my local Asian grocery for $8.99, hoping it would redeem the cold noodle genre.
Samyang Buldak Mala Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 164
Today’s review is something special: Samyang Buldak Mala Ramen, a flavor that many fans thought had vanished forever. Several years ago, this variety disappeared without warning all across the globe, leaving fans (and there were many) wondering if it would ever return. It was one of the most beloved Buldak flavors, blending the familiar heat of Samyang’s Hot Chicken with the numbing, herbal punch of Sichuan peppercorn. For years, social media threads and Reddit posts kept asking the same question - "What happened to Buldak Mala?" After years of speculation, I can finally answer that question: it’s back, just not where you’d expect.
Samyang Vegetasty Noodle Soup Review | Noodle Journey Episode 163
It’s time for something vegan-friendly from Korea, so today I'm checking out Samyang Vegetasty Noodle Soup, a product that’s been around for years under different names but is finally becoming easier to find in the US. It’s Samyang’s answer to Nongshim Soon, a mildly spicy vegetable ramen made for those who want a full-bodied Korean chili broth without animal products.
Ottogi Kongguksu Review | Noodle Journey Episode 162
Summer’s here, and with it comes the perfect time for cold noodle dishes. Today’s review features Ottogi Kongguksu, a Korean instant noodle that swaps hot broth for a chilled soy milk soup. It’s something I’ve never tried before, and from a Western perspective, the concept is strange - soy milk and noodles in a cold broth - but that’s exactly why I had to check it out.
Nissin Cup Noodles Campfire S’mores Review | Noodle Journey Episode 161
It’s not April Fool’s Day, but Nissin has once again gone completely off the rails. The new Nissin Cup Noodles Campfire S’mores is very real, and somehow even more absurd than it sounds. Coming from the same brand that gave us Pumpkin Spice, Breakfast, and Everything Bagel Cup Noodles, this dessert-themed entry takes the concept of novelty flavors to an entirely new level. As Nissin Japan launches a classy blowfish flavor, here in the US we’re stuck with marshmallow and chocolate noodles. The audacity is impressive, but the concept itself already feels like a dare, or even worse: something to get social media all abuzz.
Simply Food Bún Bò Huế Review | Noodle Journey Episode 160
When I filmed this review, I’d had a serious craving for Bún Bò Huế - a Vietnamese noodle soup known for its spicy, beefy broth and strong lemongrass aroma - so when I spotted this Simply Food Bún Bò Huế, I figured it was worth a shot. It’s the first time I’d seen this dish in instant form, and I was genuinely curious whether it could pull off that mix of richness and herbal heat that makes the real thing so addictive.
Nissin Hot & Spicy Fire Wok Bowls Mega-Review | Noodle Journey Episode 159
Today I’m covering the full set of Nissin Hot & Spicy Fire Wok Bowls: Sizzlin’ Rich Pork, Scorchin’ Sesame Shrimp, Molten Chili Chicken, and Volcanic Mongolian Beef. These aren’t part of the regular Hot & Spicy line, but while they use what I think is the same noodle base, they come with their own unique Fire Sauce recipes for extra heat. Each bowl aims for “restaurant-level” stir-fry flavor (Nissin's words, not mine) straight from the microwave, which sounds ambitious for a $2 cup of noodles. I’m testing them from mildest to hottest to see if any of them deserve a spot in your noodle rotation.
Nongshim Shin Ramyun Light Review | Noodle Journey Episode 158
It’s time for a healthier twist on one of Korea’s most famous noodles: Nongshim Shin Ramyun Light. This version of the iconic Shin Ramyun swaps the fried noodles for air-dried ones and claims to have 75% less fat and 25% fewer calories than the original. Shin is the product that originally got me hooked on Korean ramen, so I was curious to see whether this “light” version could deliver the same punch or if it would lose some of what makes the red pack so satisfying.
Paldo Volcano Chicken Noodle Review | Noodle Journey Episode 157
It’s time to take on Paldo Volcano Chicken Noodle, one of the earliest examples of Buldak-inspired instant noodles that I'm aware of. The packaging screams danger with flames, a volcano logo, and a crying chicken that leaves no doubt what kind of experience this is supposed to be. It’s positioned as a spicy curry chicken noodle, though we'll get to that "curry" claim soon. Either way, I’m curious whether Paldo’s version can bring something new to the table or if it’s just another heat-for-heat’s-sake bowl.










