Noodle Journey Episode 81: Ramen Talk Japanese Volcano Bolognese Ramen

Ramen Talk has been one of the most interesting brands I’ve explored lately, offering premium-level instant noodles with unique flavor profiles and an elevated presentation. Their Japanese Volcano Bolognese Ramen is their latest release as of March 2023, though I actually spotted it on shelves at my local S Mart a month earlier. The name suggests an Italian-Japanese hybrid, but as you’ll find out, that label may be a little misleading.

This one runs about $6.80 on Ramen Talk’s website and a little cheaper if you’re lucky enough to find it in a local Asian market. Like their other products, it’s packed with toppings, distinct sauces, and separate cooking options. In this case, they offer both a “delicate” method and a more casual all-in-one approach. Either way, it comes with chewy whole wheat noodles, pork bone broth, sweet vinegar, spicy chili oil, and a mystery meat topping that, after I reached out directly to Ramen Talk to verify, turned out to be pork.

Noodles:
These are Ramen Talk’s signature wheat noodles with visible flecks of bran, and they hold up great once cooked. They have that chewy, bouncy texture I’ve come to expect when cooked on the lower end of the recommended time.
• 10/10

Spiciness:
This is seriously spicy. The Sichuan peppercorn is immediately apparent, and that numbing effect hits hard on my tongue, lips, and throat.
• 7/10

Overall:
Despite being called “Japanese Bolognese,” this has very little Japanese influence. It leans hard into Szechuan or Mala territory with floral Sichuan heat, sweet vinegar tang, and a richly porky broth. The minced pork itself is fantastic, super juicy and flavorful, and there’s even some diced mushroom and a few beans that round out the texture, which was a nice surprise. The tomato chili oil that coats the meat gives it a nod toward bolognese, but the overall dish is a fiery Chinese-style pork and tomato noodle soup with a whole lot going on. If you’re okay with the spice level, this is a phenomenal instant noodle, one of my favorite Ramen Talk flavors so far and a terrific surprise.
• 10/10