I’m finally reviewing something from Mom’s Dry Noodle, also known as Lao Ma Noodles, a popular Taiwanese brand that’s made frequent appearances on the Ramen Rater’s top ten lists. This is my first Dandan-style noodle, and I’m hoping it lives up to the hype. These are air-dried, sauce-based noodles without broth, and this particular variety is essentially a mildly spicy sesame noodle with some Sichuan flair.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 35: Mom’s Dry Noodle Dandan NoodlesCategory: Video Reviews
Noodle Journey Episode 34: Maruchan Gold Soy Sauce Ramen
I’m following up on my review of Maruchan Gold Spicy Miso with the only other variety in the Gold line currently available in the US: their Soy Sauce flavor. I’m curious if this could become my new favorite shoyu-based noodle soup.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 34: Maruchan Gold Soy Sauce RamenNoodle Journey Episode 33: Maruchan Gold Spicy Miso Ramen
Today, I’m trying out Maruchan’s Gold Spicy Miso Ramen, which marks the first review of a Maruchan product if you can believe it. While the company is known for their budget-friendly options, this “Gold” line aims to be their premium entry, positioned as a counterpart to Nissin’s Raoh series. It’s labeled as “Craft Ramen” and sold in sleek, reflective packaging, priced around $2 per pack at some supermarkets, although it tends to be a bit harder to find than Nissin Raoh from my experience.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 33: Maruchan Gold Spicy Miso RamenNoodle Journey Episode 32: Ottogi Jin Ramen (Spicy)
In this review, I’m checking out the counterpart to the last review, this time trying Ottogi’s Jin Spicy Ramen. This is the counterpart to the Mild variant I reviewed in the previous episode, and while the core formula is nearly identical, the spice level promises a different experience. If you haven’t checked out the last review yet, go do so first, since there’s some overlap between the two reviews.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 32: Ottogi Jin Ramen (Spicy)Noodle Journey Episode 31: Ottogi Jin Ramen (Mild)
In this review, I’m taking a look at a red chili soup from Ottogi, a brand I haven’t featured before despite their long history in the instant noodle world. This is their Jin Ramen Mild, which offers a more approachable alternative in terms of spice compared to things like Nongshim Shin Ramyun or Paldo Namja, but still belongs to the same family of savory Korean red chili broths.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 31: Ottogi Jin Ramen (Mild)Noodle Journey Episode 30: Samyang Buldak Jjajang Ramen
Samyang returns to the spotlight in this review with their spicy twist on a Korean favorite: Buldak Jjajang. For those unfamiliar, jjajang is a Korean adaptation of Chinese black bean sauce, which is a thick, earthy, and slightly sweet sauce that I’ve only recently started exploring. My first exposure was through Nongshim’s Chapagetti, but this version promises a much more intense experience thanks to Samyang’s trademark Buldak heat.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 30: Samyang Buldak Jjajang RamenNoodle Journey Episode 29: Myojo Shio Tonkotsu Ramen
This review marks a first for me: a review of a frozen instant noodle product. Everything prior has been shelf-stable, but this one, Myojo’s Shio Tonkotsu Ramen, comes straight from the chilled section of my local H Mart. With two servings per pack and a price of $5.99, it’s a $3 bowl of fresh ramen, which is remarkably affordable compared to premium instant varieties like Ichiran. This is a Japanese product from Myojo, a brand known among noodle enthusiasts and often praised on Reddit for its quality.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 29: Myojo Shio Tonkotsu RamenNoodle Journey Episode 28: Paldo Bibimmen
It’s the middle of a brutal summer heat wave at the time of this review, so I’m turning to something refreshingly different: a cold noodle dish from the always-reliable Paldo. This is my first cold noodle review, and I’m diving into a variety called bibim naengmyeon, or bibimmen for short, which features chewy noodles paired with a sweet and spicy sauce. If cold noodles aren’t your thing, the packaging does include hot prep instructions, but I stuck with the cold version to keep things authentic.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 28: Paldo BibimmenNoodle Journey Episode 27: Snapdragon Miso Ramen
This review continues the Snapdragon saga, this time with their Sapporo-style miso ramen. Following up on last episode’s dismal tonkotsu review, I’m bracing myself for disappointment again, but trying to remain impartial. I paid $3.19 for this cup at my local supermarket at the time of this review. It’s microwavable and contains the same cup format as before, claiming “rich, vibrant, mouth-watering umami flavor.”
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 27: Snapdragon Miso RamenNoodle Journey Episode 26: Snapdragon Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen
This review features my first-ever encounter with a Snapdragon product, a brand I wasn’t familiar with before spotting it at my local Acme. I paid $3.19 for this Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen cup, which is more than any other cup product I’ve reviewed so far. Snapdragon markets itself as delivering premium street food flavor, but this price tag is tough to justify unless it really delivers. This brand also offers other flavors like miso, curry, and pho in mainstream US grocery chains, and I’ve heard very good things about their pho in particular. Let’s see how this goes!
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 26: Snapdragon Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen