Nissin Geki Fiery Hot Chicken Flavor is finally hitting US shelves, marking the debut of Nissin’s chili-infused Geki line for the American market. Manufactured at Nissin’s California facility, this product isn’t just a repackaged version of the Indian or Indonesian releases (Geki’s original marketing region), but rather it’s a new recipe designed specifically for current US trends. The idea is straightforward yet ambitious: chili flakes are fried directly into the noodles during production, creating a built-in heat source rather than relying entirely on the seasoning packet. It’s a clever concept and one that even Samyang, the company behind Buldak, hasn’t attempted. Given the timing and the marketing, it’s clear that Nissin wants this to stand as its answer to the Buldak craze.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 169: Nissin Geki Fiery Hot Chicken Flavor NoodlesCategory: Noodle Reviews
Noodle Journey Episode 168: Dollar Store Instant Noodle Mega-Review
In this Dollar Store Instant Noodle Mega-Review, I’m diving into four ramen bowls that have been showing up in Dollar Tree stores across the US: Thai Authentic Sriracha Shrimp Ramen, Thai Authentic Chicken Curry Ramen, Norita Roasted Pork Tonkotsu Ramen with Miso, and Norita Tempura Udon Shrimp Soy Sauce Noodle Soup. I found all four of these at Dollar Tree for $1.25 each. These are all made in Thailand and imported by the same Kentucky company, so the two brands are essentially one and the same. Packaging is cheap and generic looking, but as you’re about to learn, you should never judge a book by its cover, or a noodle by its packaging.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 168: Dollar Store Instant Noodle Mega-ReviewNoodle Journey Episode 167: Nissin U.F.O. Japanese Sauce Yakisoba
It’s yakisoba time! For this review, I’m finally diving into the U.F.O. product line with Nissin U.F.O. Japanese Sauce Flavor, a Hong Kong export version of one of Japan’s most famous instant noodle brands. I found this at a local Asian market for $2.99, and while the original Japanese U.F.O. is hard to come by in the U.S., this version is somewhat easier to find. The name “U.F.O.” actually stands for umai, futoi, and ookii, meaning “delicious sauce, thick noodles, and large cabbage.” This export version omits pork to meet import regulations, explaining why it’s easier to find in the USA.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 167: Nissin U.F.O. Japanese Sauce YakisobaNoodle Journey Episode 166: Yumei Henan Noodle Original Soup
Original video description:
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.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 166: Yumei Henan Noodle Original SoupNoodle Journey Episode 165: Nongshim Noodle Salad with Miso Vinaigrette
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.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 165: Nongshim Noodle Salad with Miso VinaigretteNoodle Journey Episode 164: Samyang Buldak Mala Ramen
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.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 164: Samyang Buldak Mala RamenNoodle Journey Episode 163: Samyang Vegetasty Noodle Soup
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.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 163: Samyang Vegetasty Noodle SoupNoodle Journey Episode 162: Ottogi Kongguksu
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.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 162: Ottogi KongguksuNoodle Journey Episode 161: Nissin Cup Noodles Campfire S’mores Ramen
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 Ramen 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.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 161: Nissin Cup Noodles Campfire S’mores RamenNoodle Journey Episode 160: Simply Food Bún Bò Huế
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.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 160: Simply Food Bún Bò Huế