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 KongguksuAll 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 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 Supplement Re-Review: Ramen Toppers Chashu Pork, Fish Cake, & Vegetable Mix (2024)
I’m doing something I’ve never done before: a full re-review of a product that I didn’t love originally. Back in September 2023, I covered Ramen Toppers Chashu Pork, Fish Cake & Vegetable Mix and walked away unimpressed. I found the pork to be tough and flavorless, the vegetables pale and unappealing, and at nearly twenty-five dollars a jar, I couldn’t justify recommending it. Fast-forward nine months, and the company themselves reached out to me to say they’d completely overhauled the recipe and wanted me to give it another shot. I respect any business that takes constructive feedback seriously, so when they offered to send me the updated version, I said yes without hesitation. If you watch the video above, you can see a comparison of the old recipe’s contents to the new.
Read more: Noodle Journey Supplement Re-Review: Ramen Toppers Chashu Pork, Fish Cake, & Vegetable Mix (2024)Noodle 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 HuếNoodle Journey Episode 159: Nissin Hot & Spicy Fire Wok Bowls
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 pantry.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 159: Nissin Hot & Spicy Fire Wok BowlsNoodle Journey Episode 158: Nongshim Shin Ramyun Light
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.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 158: Nongshim Shin Ramyun LightNoodle Journey Episode 157: Paldo Volcano Chicken Noodle
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.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 157: Paldo Volcano Chicken NoodleNoodle Journey Episode 156: Mama Tom Yum Noodles
This one’s been a long time coming. I’m finally reviewing all three of the very popular Mama Tom Yum Noodles flavors: Shrimp, Creamy Shrimp, and Pork. These are everywhere, including Asian grocers, international markets, even Walmart, and they’ve been some of the most requested noodles on my list. Instead of stretching them across multiple videos, I’m covering them all at once, because if any trio deserves a proper showdown, it’s this one.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 156: Mama Tom Yum NoodlesNoodle Journey Supplement Review: Ramen Bae Dried Enoki Mushroom
I’m reviewing the second of Ramen Bae’s new April 2024 products: Ramen Bae Dried Enoki Mushroom. Enoki mushrooms are those long, delicate strands you often find in Asian soups and hot pots, adding crunch and a mild, sweet mushroom flavor. They’re fantastic to cook with, but fresh enoki usually has a short shelf life and isn’t easy to find. I’ve got one Asian market about half an hour away that sells them, and they only last around a week before going bad. Ramen Bae’s dried version solves that problem with a pack that stays shelf-stable for over a year.
Read more: Noodle Journey Supplement Review: Ramen Bae Dried Enoki MushroomNoodle Journey Episode 155: Nissin Chikin Ramen
This might be the most important noodle I’ll ever review. Nissin Chikin Ramen (spelled “Chikin” intentionally, not as a typo) is the original instant noodle, first released in Japan in 1958 by Momofuku Ando. At the time, postwar Japan was facing food shortages, and the U.S. was supplying wheat flour to help feed the country. Bread wasn’t popular, so Ando set out to turn wheat into noodles that could last without refrigeration. His breakthrough came when he saw his wife frying tempura and realized that oil could be used to dehydrate noodles instantly. That discovery led to the world’s first flash-fried, shelf-stable noodle, and the birth of instant ramen itself, in the form of this Chikin Ramen.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 155: Nissin Chikin Ramen