Rap Snacks Icon Ramen Noodles Review - Noodle Journey Episode 105
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Rap Snacks Icon Ramen Noodles Review | Noodle Journey Episode 105

Rap Snacks is a line of products that feature prominent hip-hop/rap artists putting their name, likeness, and endorsements on various things like chips, snacks, and these instant noodles. These Rap Snacks Icon Ramen Noodles, which are dollar store staples, have sparked some divisive opinions online, but they have a few unusual ingredients and flavor concepts that made me curious enough to grab the whole set. For this episode, I’m reviewing all three of the Rap Snacks Icon Ramen Noodle cups that are available at the time of review: Creamy Chicken Gumbo by Master P, Beef Prime Rib by E-40, and Louisiana Hot & Spicy Chicken by Boosie. Each cup is branded with the artist’s face, and while the presentation leans into novelty, the ingredient lists makes me hope they might be more interesting than expected.

Ramen Bae Classic Seafood and Vegetables Mix Review | Noodle Journey Supplemental Episode
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Ramen Bae Classic Seafood and Vegetables Mix Review | Noodle Journey Supplemental Episode

For this supplemental review, I’m looking at Ramen Bae Classic Seafood and Vegetables Mix, a product designed to give your instant noodles a serious upgrade in toppings without a trip to the store. Ramen Bae is a small business that first popped up on Reddit earlier in 2023, went viral on TikTok, and quickly sold out of their first batch, followed by some distribution issues that commonly plague new businesses. They’ve since resolved their supply chain hiccups, and at the time of this review, their site is restocked.

Nongshim Shin Green Ramyun Review - Noodle Journey Episode 101
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Nongshim Shin Green Ramyun Review | Noodle Journey Episode 101

For Episode 101, I’m following up my Shin Gold review with the other recent addition to the Shin lineup: Nongshim Shin Green Ramyun. Released in the US in 2022, this variety started out as a Kroger-exclusive before finally making its way to other markets. This one takes Shin in a completely different direction: a certified vegan spicy mushroom and fried tofu soup. While many instant noodles happen to be vegan, Nongshim went the extra step to have this one officially certified, making it a notable option for vegan noodle fans. I’m not vegan myself, but as a mushroom fanatic, I was eager to see what they had done here, especially since early feedback from others has been very divided.

Nongshim Shin Gold Ramyun - Noodle Journey Episode 100
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Nongshim Shin Gold Ramyun | Noodle Journey Episode 100

I’m marking the 100th episode milestone with a fitting choice: one of Nongshim’s two new additions (at the time of this review) to the Shin lineup, Nongshim Shin Gold Ramyun. Since starting this channel with reviews of Shin and Shin Black, it only feels right to celebrate with another Shin variety. This one is a spicy chicken ramyun that promises a rich, flavorful bone broth while keeping the same core appeal that’s made Shin products some of my all-time favorites. The classic Nongshim balance of taste, portion size, and availability is here, and it’s just as easy to enjoy straight from the pack as it is dressed up with add-ins.

Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast Review - Noodle Journey Episode 89
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Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast Review | Noodle Journey Episode 89

In this review I'm taking a look at Nissin Cup Noodles Breakfast variety, a limited‐edition gimmick that pairs ramen with maple syrup, pancakes, sausage and egg flavors. Nissin announced it in March 2023 and many people assumed it was an April Fool’s joke, but it’s real and I was able to buy it from Walmart for about $1.18 at the time of review. It’s a Walmart exclusive and scalpers were reselling it online, which is disappointing because creating artificial scarcity for food is a particularly lousy thing to do.

Nongshim Tonkotsu Ramen with Kuromayu Review - Noodle Journey Episode 71
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Nongshim Tonkotsu Ramen with Kuromayu (Black Garlic Oil) Review | Noodle Journey Episode 71

I'm back with Nongshim Tonkotsu Ramen with Kuromayu, this time from one of my favorite South Korean brands! While tonkotsu is traditionally a Japanese pork bone broth, here we've got a Korean company making their interpretation of it with this Kuromayu (black garlic oil) variety. For anyone unfamiliar, kuromayu is made by charring garlic in sesame oil, giving it a deep, bitter, smoky flavor that’s common in tonkotsu ramen, with the word "kuro" literally translating to "black." This isn't the same as fermented black garlic (which is also a valid ramen topper if you so desire), but rather has a different flavor profile.

Trader Joe's Instant Ramen Cups Review - Noodle Journey Episode 65
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Trader Joe’s Instant Ramen Cups Review | Noodle Journey Episode 65

I'm checking out a trio of Trader Joe's Instant Ramen Cups: Miso, Spicy Miso, and Chicken. They sell for $1.69 each at the time of this review and come in light, single-serving cups. These do not exactly appear to be filling, but are priced well below what these usually cost under their original branding. Which brings me to the twist: upon opening the Miso cup, I discovered that these are actually rebranded products from Mike’s Mighty Good Ramen. The oil packet writing gave it away immediately, and sure enough, they’re confirmed to be co-manufactured. If you’re familiar with my past reviews, you know I’ve had my share of issues with Mike’s. That said, the Trader Joe’s versions are cheaper, so if for some reason you like Mike’s ramen, this is the place to buy it.

Trader Joe's Squiggly Knife Cut Style Noodles with Soy and Sesame Sauce Review - Noodle Journey Episode 64
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Trader Joe’s Squiggly Knife Cut Style Noodles with Soy and Sesame Sauce Review | Noodle Journey Episode 64

I’m reviewing a newish entry in the world of Taiwanese-style noodles sold in the US: Trader Joe's Squiggly Knife Cut Style Noodles with Soy and Sesame Sauce. Despite the silly name (“squiggly”? really?), this is a Taiwanese-style noodle kit that feels like a direct response to Momofuku’s popular product line. Trader Joe’s doesn’t make these in-house, but rather they rebrand from other manufacturers, so it honestly wouldn’t surprise me if these were made by A-Sha, the same company behind Momofuku’s noodles. At $4.99 for a 4-pack (at the time of this review), it’s a pretty reasonable entry point if you’re curious about this type of noodle.

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Nissin Cup Noodle Original Review | Noodle Journey Episode 47

I’m wrapping up the current lineup of Nissin’s Global Favorites with the Nissin Cup Noodle Original flavor, the third and final variety in this US-made series. While the name suggests this is the same recipe that launched Cup Noodle in Japan in 1971, it’s actually more of an homage. This version features an American-made version of that recipe, which contains salty soy broth with dehydrated shrimp, egg, and what Nissin affectionately calls “mystery meat.” Some fans online have claimed it doesn’t taste like the original they remember, which might be due to the glaring “No Added MSG” label. That decision seems geared toward appeasing American shoppers who still think it’s 1987 and MSG is something to fear.

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Nissin Cup Noodle Curry Review | Noodle Journey Episode 46

I'm revisiting Nissin's Global Favorites line with the Nissin Cup Noodle Curry flavor, manufactured in the US despite being based on a classic Japanese variety. Japanese curry is one of my favorite comfort foods. It's thick, mildly sweet, and richly spiced. I regularly buy Vermont Curry roux cubes to make it at home, and while the name "Vermont" would suggest otherwise, it's very much a Japanese product. Japanese curry tends to use honey or fruit for sweetness and has a silky texture with very little heat, even when labeled “hot.”