This Baijia Hi A’Kuan Broad Noodle Chili Oil Flavor is one of those products that caught my attention the instant I saw the packaging. The massive ribbon-like noodles pictured on the front were calling out to me, practically daring me to try them. This variety from China has been recommended to me more than once, and based on what I’ve seen from others online, this flavor in particular seems to be one of Baijia’s most popular offerings. Baijia is a Chinese company that’s been around for nearly two decades, specializing in non-fried noodles of all shapes and thicknesses. Their Hi A’Kuan series leans into premium noodle quality, and this particular flavor promises a balance of chili oil spice and vinegary tang. Between the reputation, the presentation, and my own curiosity about how broad noodles handle this type of sauce, I went into this one with high expectations.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 170: Baijia Hi A’Kuan Broad Noodle Chili Oil Flavor (Hot and Sour)All Reviews
Browse all instant noodle reviews from Noodle Journey. I’ve covered hundreds of different flavors from brands like Nongshim, Samyang, Nissin, A-Sha, and more.
Noodle Journey Episode 169: Nissin Geki Fiery Hot Chicken Flavor Noodles
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 NoodlesNoodle 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 Dumpling Review: Samyang Buldak Dumplings
When I first saw Samyang Buldak Dumplings in the frozen section, I bought them purely out of curiosity without any intention to review them. I mean, after all, these aren’t exactly noodle. My wife and I had tried them a couple months ago and quickly forgot about them until I found the bag buried in the freezer while cleaning. But since people on Reddit frequently ask about these or are surprised to learn they exist, and because they are technically noodle-adjacent as a product, I decided it was worth making an official Noodle Journey review to settle the question once and for all.
Read more: Noodle Journey Dumpling Review: Samyang Buldak DumplingsNoodle 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 Supplemental Review: Ramen Toppers Vegetable Mix for Noodles
After re-reviewing Ramen Toppers’ Chashu Pork, Fish Cake, and Vegetable Mix and awarding it a perfect score, I was excited to try their other major product: the Ramen Toppers Vegetable Mix for Noodles. This mix contains the same vegetables found in the Chashu blend – peas, corn, cabbage, carrots, and green onion – but without the meat or fish elements, making it completely vegan. Ramen Toppers sent me this canister at the same time as the Chashu sample so I could evaluate both.
Read more: Noodle Journey Supplemental Review: Ramen Toppers Vegetable Mix for NoodlesNoodle 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 Soup