by Noodle Journey -

Ichiran Tonkotsu Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 19

Ichiran Tonkotsu Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 19

In this review, I’m finally checking one of the most hyped (and most expensive) instant ramen products out there: Ichiran Tonkotsu Ramen. Ichiran is a famous chain of Japanese ramen shops with many locations around the globe. Some call it the McDonalds of the ramen world because of its ubiquity, but by all accounts (I've never been to one in person), it sounds like it's still a damn fine meal. This noodle kit comes as a five-pack of straight noodles with a concentrated liquid tonkotsu broth and an optional spice packet, designed to replicate the flavor of their famous shops. I’ve already gone through two servings before this review, which should tell you something right away. But the big question is whether this lives up to its reputation and its price.

Momofuku Noodles: The Basic Hack - Noodle Journey
by Noodle Journey -

Momofuku Noodles: The Basic Hack | Noodle Journey

Full disclosure - this Momofuku Noodles: The Basic Hack article works better as a video, which you can view by clicking above. However, for the sake of completion, I'm giving this one a write-up in the same way as my video reviews. Read on if you'd like to learn more about this simple little noodle hack!

After reviewing all three varieties in the Momofuku noodle lineup, I came to the same conclusion about two of them: great noodles, boring sauce. While that's not a great thing, it does actually make them a nice blank canvas. So let me explain to you how to take those underwhelming packets and turn them into something way more satisfying with just a few simple additions. In the video, I used a Soy & Scallion pack, but you can pull this off with any of the Momofuku flavors (or even many A-Sha flavors!).

Momofuku Soy & Scallion Noodles Review - Noodle Journey Episode 18
by Noodle Journey -

Momofuku Soy & Scallion Noodles Review | Noodle Journey Episode 18

It’s time to round out the Momofuku noodle lineup, at least for now at the time of this review, with Momofuku Soy & Scallion flavor. This is the third variety I’ve reviewed after the Spicy Soy and Tingly Chili, and if you’ve seen those reviews, you know I’ve got a lot of love for the quality of the noodles. Credit goes to A-Sha for creating something with serious quality and texture. The Spicy Soy sauce packet was fine but a little underwhelming flavor-wise. The Tingly Chili kicked things up nicely and had a much broader array of flavors besides just soy. This one? It’s basically the Spicy Soy sauce minus the chili oil, with a pack of dried scallions added in. So today’s overall score is going to hinge almost entirely on whether those scallions pull their weight.

Samyang Buldak 2x Spicy Hot Chicken Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 17
by Noodle Journey -

Samyang Buldak 2x Spicy Hot Chicken Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 17

Time to up my spicy street cred. This episode covers Samyang’s 2x Spicy Buldak Hot Chicken, the viral challenge noodle that gained a reputation for destroying people at double the intensity of the original Hot Chicken flavor. I'm not eating this to prove anything, I just want to see whether the hype is deserved, and more importantly, whether it's still actually edible. I’ve already covered the original Buldak and the Carbonara, both of which I enjoyed, so I'm going into this one with a decent idea of what to expect from a flavor perspective, but not from a spice perspective.

Samyang Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 16
by Noodle Journey -

Samyang Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 16

Time to dive into the one that started it all: Samyang Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen, the pack that kicked off a thousand spicy noodle challenges and an entire subculture of people shoving noodles into their tear-stained faces for the enjoyment of others. I’m not here for the Internet clout, just a proper review of a famously spicy stir-fried noodle. I’ve already tried the Carbonara version and loved it, so it was time to see how the base flavor holds up without the creamy powdered cheese to tone it down.

Prima Taste Singapore Curry LaMian Review - Noodle Journey Episode 15
by Noodle Journey -

Prima Taste Singapore Curry LaMian Review | Noodle Journey Episode 15

This was a big one for me. Prima Taste Singapore Curry LaMian comes highly recommended across the internet, especially by Hans The Ramen Rater, and I’ve been looking forward to trying it ever since I started this channel. This is also my first time reviewing a lamian-style noodle, which is traditionally a hand-stretched Chinese wheat noodle known for its thickness and chew. Between the packaging, reputation, and size of the noodle block, expectations were pretty high going in.

Lotus Foods Purple Potato Rice Ramen with Turmeric Curry Soup Review - Noodle Journey Episode 13
by Noodle Journey -

Lotus Foods Purple Potato Rice Ramen with Turmeric Curry Soup Review | Noodle Journey Episode 13

Welcome back to another purple noodle review as I continue my quest to find something gluten-free that doesn’t taste like punishment. This is another Lotus Foods variety, their Purple Potato Rice Ramen with Turmeric Curry Soup. If you caught my review of their Forbidden Rice Ramen with White Miso Soup, you’ll recall I wasn’t exactly kind to the broth in that one. The noodles were fine, but the flavor was a total debacle. This one, at least on paper, looks more promising thanks to the addition of actual spices and the novelty of potato-based noodles.

Unif Artificial Beef and Sauerkraut Noodles Review - Noodle Journey Episode 12
by Noodle Journey -

Unif Artificial Beef and Sauerkraut Noodles Review | Noodle Journey Episode 12

This one definitely falls under the category of “I didn't know this existed.” My wife challenged me to review something more exotic, and while I’m not sure this qualifies, I couldn’t resist the product description. Unif Artificial Beef with Sauerkraut wasn’t on my radar until it popped up as a new item for me on Yami, and the flavor combo was just strange enough to justify an impulse purchase. I love sauerkraut. I love beef broth. I love noodles. All three together? No idea. But that’s what the channel is for.

Nissin Cup Noodle Seafood Review - Noodle Journey Episode 11
by Noodle Journey -

Nissin Cup Noodle Seafood Review | Noodle Journey Episode 11

It was only a matter of time before Cup Noodles made an appearance on the channel, and this Nissin Cup Noodle Seafood flavor brings a bit of a twist. Rather than reviewing the familiar American grocery store staple, this is one of Nissin’s Japanese-inspired varieties sold in the USA, "Cup Noodle" Seafood, singular, without the "s" at the end of "Noodle," just as it's branded in Japan. If you’ve ever wondered what sets these apart from the basic domestic offerings, you're not alone.