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 RamenNoodle Journey Episode 25: Nongshim Neoguri
For this 25th review milestone, I wanted to do something a little special. I had originally planned to review the Korean import of Nongshim Neoguri, a spicy seafood ramyun with thick udon-style noodles. But while prepping for the shoot, I noticed a twist: my local Wegmans carried a version manufactured in the US, while the one I had bought online was manufactured in Korea for export to the US. That might sound like a small difference, but the ingredients told a very different story.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 25: Nongshim NeoguriNoodle Journey Episode 24: Indomie Mi Goreng
This review features one of the most beloved instant noodles on the planet: Indomie Mi Goreng. This particular variety is basically synonymous with Indonesian instant noodles; other brands make mi goreng, sure, but when people mention it, they almost always mean this one. It’s something I’ve had many times prior to this review, but I wanted to showcase it here because it’s got a lot of great things going for it: it’s dirt cheap, packed with flavor, and extremely easy to find worldwide.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 24: Indomie Mi GorengNoodle Journey Episode 23: Mama Pa-Lo Duck Noodles
In this review, I finally dive into the Mama brand, which has a massive online following thanks to its affordability and wide flavor variety. I’ve never tried any of their products until now, so I’m starting with the Pa-Lo Duck flavor, which was the most interesting flavor I noticed at my local Asian market. From what I was able to deduce in my research, this is inspired by a Thai stew called Kai Pa-Lo, traditionally made with braised pork and egg and seasoned with Chinese five spice. I couldn’t find much information about a duck variant, so I assume this is a vegan interpretation that blends artificial duck flavor with traditional five spice elements.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 23: Mama Pa-Lo Duck NoodlesNoodle Journey Episode 22: Nongshim Chapagetti
This review marks my first experience with jjajangmen, or black bean sauce noodles, starting with Nongshim’s Chapagetti. You might recognize this from the movie Parasite, where it was combined with Neoguri and steak to make the now-famous “Chapaguri” (or “ram-don”). I actually tried that hack myself before starting the channel, but I never tasted Chapagetti or Neoguri on their own until now. Nongshim has since released a bowl version of Chapaguri, which I’ll check out if I find it.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 22: Nongshim ChapagettiNoodle Journey Episode 21: Paldo Namja Ramyun
In this review, I’m taking a look at Paldo Namja Ramyun, a Korean red chili and garlic soup with a very bold marketing campaign. “Namja” translates to “man,” and Paldo has leaned into that with a hilariously over-the-top commercial you can find if you search on YouTube. Thankfully, anyone can enjoy this soup regardless of how masculine they feel. I’ve had good luck with Paldo’s Premium Gomtang before, so I’m hoping this one would also deliver.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 21: Paldo Namja Ramyun