Samyang Hot Pepper Jjajang Ramen is part of a smaller Hot Pepper product line from Samyang, separate from their famous Buldak products even though it’s often mistaken for them. There’s also a Hot Pepper Jjambbong companion product in this line, which I’ll be reviewing next. This one has been available in foreign markets for a few years but only recently hit export packaging for English-speaking markets, so you’ll start seeing it in Asian grocery stores and online. You should be able to find this online for around $10 for a five-pack.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 132: Samyang Hot Pepper Jjajang RamenCategory: Video Reviews
Noodle Journey Episode 131: Samyang Nagasaki Jjambbong Ramen Soup
Samyang Nagasaki Jjambbong is a new find I picked up at H Mart for $9.99 a five-pack, and it immediately caught my eye with the promise of a creamy, spicy seafood broth. This style of soup traces back to Nagasaki, Japan, where champon was first created in 1899 by a Chinese restaurant. The Nagasaki version stands apart with its mild, milky broth made from chicken and pork bones combined with seafood, pork fat, and vegetables. With this pack of noodles, Samyang is adapting that style into a Korean jjambbong with a spicier kick, while still keeping the creamy broth profile intact.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 131: Samyang Nagasaki Jjambbong Ramen SoupNoodle Journey Episode 130: Trader Joe’s Thai Noodle Bowls (Garlic Sauce, Red Curry & Peanut Satay)
Trader Joe’s Thai Noodle Bowls come in three flavors, Garlic Sauce, Red Curry, and Peanut Satay, and I’m diving into all of them in this review. I’ve tried other Trader Joe’s instant noodle products before, like their Squiggly Taiwanese noodles and ramen cups, but those weren’t particularly impressive. Trader Joe’s usually rebrands products from established manufacturers, but I’m not sure who made these bowls. Each is sold exclusively at Trader Joe’s for about $2.50, although third-party sellers on Amazon list them for a steep markup.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 130: Trader Joe’s Thai Noodle Bowls (Garlic Sauce, Red Curry & Peanut Satay)Noodle Journey Episode 129: Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Momosan Ramen
Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Momosan Ramen is the second flavor in the Sapporo Ichiban x Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto collaboration, following the Tokyo Chicken variety. While that one impressed me, this tonkotsu faces tougher competition. I’ve reviewed many premium tonkotsu ramen before – from Marutai’s lineup to Itsuki’s vegan version to even Sapporo Ichiban’s own bowl tonkotsu – and they’ve all set a high bar. With Morimoto’s name attached, this one has a lot to prove.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 129: Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Momosan RamenNoodle Journey Episode 128: Sapporo Ichiban Tokyo Chicken Momosan Ramen
Sapporo Ichiban Tokyo Chicken Momosan Ramen is one of two collaborative flavors developed in collaboration between Sapporo Ichiban and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, promising a unique take on chicken ramen. I just reviewed Sapporo Ichiban’s standard chicken flavor as a baseline to compare this one against, and I’m expecting something much more complex here. I’ve actually been to Morimoto’s Philadelphia restaurant (still the most expensive and best meal I’ve ever had) so I’m holding this to a high standard. Momosan, Morimoto’s more noodle-centric venture, is behind these packaged offerings, and this Tokyo Chicken flavor claims to be an exclusive Morimoto recipe.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 128: Sapporo Ichiban Tokyo Chicken Momosan RamenNoodle Journey Episode 127: Sapporo Ichiban Chicken Ramen
In the bowl today: Sapporo Ichiban Chicken Ramen. I’m reviewing one of the most common ramen varieties you’re likely to see in the supermarket, and I’m doing it while I’m not feeling 100%, so a savory chicken soup sounds perfect right now. I had never tried Sapporo Ichiban noodles before launching the channel, but now that I have, I’m always happy with how good these noodles are for the price. I’d walked by them in grocery stores for years and never knew they were better than similarly priced noodles until I had my first bite of their original soy sauce flavor.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 127: Sapporo Ichiban Chicken RamenNoodle Journey Episode 126: Trader Joe’s Mee Krob Snackers
Today I’m trying Trader Joe’s Mee Krob Snackers, a crispy noodle snack that takes its inspiration from the Thai dish mee krob for its sweet-and-sour profile. I do not get to Trader Joe’s often, so when I spotted these, I immediately grabbed a bag to see how well a cluster of crispy noodles works as a snack.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 126: Trader Joe’s Mee Krob SnackersNoodle Journey Episode 125: Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor Ramen
This one is pretty interesting and is a flavor profile I’ve never tried before: Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor Ramen. XO sauce is a Cantonese condiment made from dried seafood cooked with chilies, onions, and garlic (and sometimes ham). The “XO” name comes from XO Cognac, which has been colloquially adopted in China as shorthand for luxury, despite there being no cognac in the sauce. Based on that, I’m expecting a funky, salty-sweet, very seafood-forward broth with a little heat and some oil for richness.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 125: Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor RamenNoodle Journey Episode 124: JML Instant Noodle Artificial Mushroom Chicken Flavour
Today, I’m checking out a new-to-me Chinese noodle company called JML ( short for JinMaiLang), with their Instant Noodle Artificial Mushroom Chicken Flavour. I’m going into this one with a specific curiosity: there’s been a big swing toward artificial meat flavors in products exported to the U.S., largely because importing real-meat noodle packs is difficult under USDA rules. In practice, “meat” gets approximated with yeast extract, maltodextrin, soy protein, and similar additives – sometimes convincingly, sometimes not – so I’m treating this as a flavor exercise first and seeing where it lands.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 124: JML Instant Noodle Artificial Mushroom Chicken FlavourNoodle Journey Episode 123: Ottogi Snack Ramen
Time to review Ottogi Snack Ramen, a product that is actually marketed as a snack instead of a full meal. I’m going in wondering whether this is worth choosing over Ottogi’s full-size Jin soups I like, and what the flavor actually is. The main conceit of this product is the cooking speed – it’s a true two-minute cook time thanks to the super-thin noodles in here. I’ve seen a cup version of this as well, but I’m reviewing the pillow pack here.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 123: Ottogi Snack Ramen