Sriracha is a place I’ve been to in Thailand. It was very hot and the sky was a deep azure blue. Telephone poles were packed with wires – you’d have to see it. Looking out my window right now it’s cold, windy, and the forecast is calling for a week of snow here, just north of Seattle. I miss Thailand.

However, Sriracha flavor that is going on here is something completely different from the sauce’s namesake. That’s not a bad thing. It’s also not from Thailand, this one’s from South Korea! So I just went on a tangentially unrelated blab for a second. Anyways, Paldo sent me these and something spicy on a cold, cold day sounded nice. Let’s give it a try!

Paldo Sriracha Lobster Flavor King Noodle – South Korea

Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains fish, molluscs and crustaceans. To prepare, add in sachet contents and boiling water to line. Cover for 4 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!

Detail of the lid (click to enlarge).

The noodle block.

Loose bits in the cup.

A dry sachet of soup base.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, spring onion, sesame seeds, Dodo shrimp and fish balls, and Lao Gan Ma spicy chilli crisp. The noodles are good – and there’s a lot of them (there’s a reason why they call this a king noodle). Broth has a spicy and tangy bite to it with a nice little seafood hit to it that was nice. 3.75 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 648436122011.

Teumsae Ramen(빨계떡) Bag- 4.23 Oz 5 Packs

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

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What do we have here? The second of two big bowls from Paldo! I’m in the mood for sampling spicy today- it’s cold outside. It’s snowing. Weatherman says we’re looking at 5 more inches of snow and gusty winds. It’s cold in here. Time to cook!

Paldo Lime Lobster Flavor King Noodle – South Korea

Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains crustaceans, molluscs and fish. To prepare, add in sachet contents and boiling water to line. Cover for 4 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!

Detail of the lid (click to enlarge).

The noodle block.

Loose bits from the cup.

A dry sachet of soup base.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added egg, Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, Dodo fish balls, and spring onion. Noodles came out nicely – lots of them too. Broth has a nice kind of seafood and lime thing going on – kind of a tropical feel. 3.5 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 648436122035.

Teumsae Ramen(빨계떡) Bag- 4.23 Oz 5 Packs

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

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Looks like this is a local version (I do’t know that there is export ones) of Paldo’s Jjol Bibim Men. After a little researxh, it looks lik the difference between this as their Bibim Men are the noodles are chewier in this one. Let’s give it a try!

Paldo Jjol Bibim Men – South Korea

Detail of the packaging (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free, but check for yourself. To prepare, boil noodles in 600ml water for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Add in sachet contents. Finally, stir and enjoy!

The noodle block.

A wet sachet of sauce.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added egg, spring onion, and sesame seed. The noodles are good although really didn’t come across to me as any chewier than usual. The flavoring is a sweet and sicy thing. Veryspicy in this one. 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 8809296882411.

Paldo Jjol Bibim Men(130g5 Pack) 650g / Spicy Cold Chewy Noodles / Ramen / 쫄비빔면

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Okay. This one’s interesting. This product is produced by Paldo Vina, a Vietnamese branch of Paldo Food of South Korea. It is for sale in Taiwan (formerly called Formosa). It was sent to me by Daniel – one of the guys from www.exoticnoods.com who visited Taiwan recently and brought it back for me – thanks again! Let’s check it out!

KORMOSA Kiss My Food Shrimp Instant Noodles – Taiwan

Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Probably contains shrimp but check for yourself. TO prepare, boil package contents in 550ml water for 4 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!

The noodle block.

A dry powder sachet.

A dry sachet of garnish.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, spring onion, egg, shrimp, carved squid, black sesame seed,. The noodle had a decent backbone and mouthfeel was pretty good. The broth had a sweetness akin to the profiles of Malaysian sweet prawn. Interesting noodle. 3.75 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 8936028640916.

Teumsae Ramen(빨계떡) Bag- 4.23 Oz 5 Packs

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

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Last year, I was way behind schedule on everything. This year however, it’s going to be the opposite. Last week, I kind of decided to go nuts on Top Ten Lists. I did more than one. I did up SEVEN OF THEM! So that should make 2021 a little better for everyone. I’m calling to all South Korean noodle companies – send me your stuff! I have been hoping to review more stuff from South Korea but it seems to be harder to come by – at least newer varieties as of late. Drop me a line! This list is current as of review #3,702. let’s check out The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2021 Edition.

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2021 Edition

Video

A visual presentation of The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2021 Edition.

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2021 Edition

#10: Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black

When Shin Ramyun Black came onto the scene a few years back it was a huge hit and still is. An upgraded version of their popular shin Ramyun, it includes a sachet of Sul-Long-Tang soup base which gives an extra heartiness to the broth. Thick ramyun noodles and a spicy bite round out the scene. Original review Get it here

#9: Samyang Cheese Ramen

A new cheese variety on the market and a very unique one. It’s got a neat smoky cheesiness to it which gives it a very different flavor. Great noodles and a rich broth make it pop onto the list for 2020. Original review Get it here

#8: Paldo Cheese Noodle

Paldo’s Cheese Noodle has been on the list for awhile now and with good reason. The way the cheese intermingles with the red spicy broth is amazingly good. The noodles are nice and thick ramyun and there’s a large quantity of them. Definitely one that everyone should try – and now there’s a spicier version on the market. Original review Get it here

#7: Nongshim Shin Light Air Dried Noodle Soup

The noodles in this one were unique – they were quite good! They worked nicely with the broth which was the standard kind of Shin thing going on. I wouldn’t call this Shin Light – I’d call it Shin White. I’d also say an apt name would be Shin Plus because I really enjoyed it. Original review Get it here

#6: Samyang Foods Buldak Light

The noodles are a refreshing changer. They have a very nice chew to them that imparts a little extra quality I think. The flavoring coats everything and is indeed less spicy – and works well. Included sprinkle seasoning is just as always – seaweed and sesame seed. A really nice newcomer to the well known Buldak range. Original review Get it here

#5: Samyang Foods Jjajang Buldak Ramen Topokki

Nope – those aren’t cocktail weenies. Topokki (or tteokbokki) are cylindrical rice flour pieces with a really unique chewiness and texture. These, coupled with Samyang’s noodles are presented in a thick jjajang sea (jjajang is a black bean sauce). Noodles and jjajang is one thing, but add that topokki in there and it’s a one two punch of amazing. Original review Get it here

#4: Paldo Rabokki Noodle

To understand Paldo’s Rabokki Noodle, you have to understand tteokbokki. It’s also spelled topokki – but however you spell it, tteokbokki are thick cylindrical rice tubes that have a nice chewiness to them. They’re often paired with a thick red sauce which is spicy as well as sweet and served with fishcake, egg and other garnish. These noodles are paired with the sauce in a very tasty representation and crossover of the dish. Original review Get it here

#3: Samyang Foods Samyang Ramen Spicy Flavor

This last couple years, I’ve really fallen for Samyang Ramen – both the regular and spicy version. It’s a bit different from most South Korean varieties as they usually lean towards beef, these have a ham flavor. The thick, chewy noodles and the rich and very tasty broth bring these to this list this year, and while I type this, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Original review Get it here

#2: Ottogi Jin Jjambbong Spicy Seafood Ramyun

Ottogi’s Jin series added a couple of new varieties recently, and this is my favorite of the two. During a trip to Taipei, I went to a restaurant called Love Instant Noodles where they doll up packs of instant noodles and serve them piping hot. This is the one I chose from their selection. Jjambbong is a kind of spicy stew and this one has a nice kind of grilled flavor to it, alongside the popular broader ramyun currently spreading around  – great stuff! Original review Get it here

#1: Samyang Foods Carbo Buldak Ramen Topokki

The jjajang variety earlier on this list is exemplary. But this one’s just out of this world. Very spicy, combined with the creaminess and taste of carbonara – and you get ramen as well as topokki rice cake tubes. It’s absolutely wonderful stuff and a must get for anyone who’s a fan of the Buldak range and South Korean instant noodles. The ultimate South Korea instant comfort food, bar none. Original review Get it here

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Want to hang out with like minded instant noodle fans? There’s over 3000 of them in Instant Noodles – The Ramen Rater, a group I created on Facebook. You can see what people are creating, looking for, and discovering! Join us!

The Ramen Rater Shop

People have been asking where to get a lot of varieties and so I’ve partnered with Exotic Noods to bring you The Ramen Rater Shop. Here you’ll find an expending variety of instant noodles at a pretty decent price. You’ll be able to try a wide array of varieties and not have to buy a ton of each variety. I really wanted to have a way you could just buy a single pack of two at a time. The same way I do when I visit an Asian grocery.

The All New The Ramen Rater App For Android

The Ramen Rater App for Android has been given a whole new look and functionality. You can scan bar codes to see reviews I’ve done while at the store, peruse the top ten lists, and do simple searches. It’s really great – even a dark mode! Best of all it’s fr

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This one gets the USA tag since it’s an export version for the United States. It’s from South Korea though – spicy beef! Sounds great for a Friday – let’s check it out!

Paldo Jumbo Instant Noodles With Flamed Beef Soup – United States

Detail of the packaging (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add everything in the pack to 550ml boiling water and cook for 4 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!

The noodle block.

A dry sachet of soup base.

A dry sachet of vegetable flake.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added mushrooms, processed cheese, dumplings, sauteed beef, Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, spring onion, sesame seed, and chili flake. Exxcellent chew on these – just superb. Broth is spicy and indicative of South Korean ramyun’s way of heating things up as well as filling the belly. All around good ramyun. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 8809296884644.

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

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Wow – it’s been forever since I had this one, so it’s getting a fresh and new review today. Namja mean’s it’s for men in Korean – sorry ladies! I dunno though, it could be an ingenious marketing ploy – tell women it’s not for them, they might just go and eat copious amounts of it to prove that they can handle the heat and garlic. What’s interesting is that I would say when it comes to gender specific ramen, I would say I’ve seen more that are purposefully geared towards women. Anyways, let’s check this one out!

Paldo Namja (Men’s) Ramen – South Korea

Detail of the packaging (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add everything to 500ml boiling water and cook for 4 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!

The noodle block.

A dry soup base sachet.

A vegetables sachet.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added homemade chashu pork, scallions, crushed red pepper, chili oil, sesame seed, and egg yolk. The noodle is girthy with a nice chew that Paldo usually brings to the table. The broth is a spicy and garlic infused one which was quite good. Garnish included nice sliced garlic. 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 648436100729.

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

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Had this just over 7 years ago – it can take another shot. Well, this is one I’ve enjoyed very much in the past – a Top Ten list variety. I think revisiting this with a heap of cheese is the right thing to do.

Paldo Cheese Ramyun – South Korea

Detail of the packaging (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add noodles, soup base, and flake sachet to 550ml boiling water. Cook for 3~4 minutes. Add in cheese sachet. Finally, stir and enjoy!

The noodle block.

A soup base sachet.

The cheese powder sachet.

The vegetable flake sachet.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added sesame seeds, spring onion, crushed red pepper, Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, and homemade chashu. This is still just awesome stuff. The noodles are thick and hug that broth. The broth is spicy, creamy, and cheesy with bit of vegetable here and there. It’s just the epitome of comfort food in the Korean ramyun vein. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.  UPC bar code 648436100934.

Paldo Cheese Fromage Ramyun Noodle, Cheese Ramyun, 3.92 Oz (4 Packs)

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

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One thing I’ve noticed – spicy is in. This list tends to be the most popular on my website The Ramen Rater every single day. People just want to get all the spicy they can get. Why is that? Spicy is intense. Spicy compliments flavor. Spicy will knock you on your butt. The challenge and chase for the endorphin rush that ultra spicy things give people is extremely tempting for many. These are the spiciest varieties I’ve had the opportunity to sample as of my 3,950th review. Ready to burn? Let’s get to The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2022 Edition.

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2022 Edition

Video Presentation

A special video presentation of The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2022 Edition.

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2022 Edition

#10: Paldo Volcano Curry Kkokkomyun – South Korea

Another dry noodle from South Korea by Paldo. This doesn’t feature the curry flavor I would have expected; it’s kind of like it’s own rendition of curry which didn’t honestly make me really think of curry all that much. But it’s spicy – that’s definitely not in question. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#9: Mamee SLRP! Mi Segera Perisa Kari Xtra Pedas – Malaysia

If you like curry and you like it hot, this will definitely do the trick. A strong, rich Malaysian curry shakes hands with a spicy bite that really will test your tastebuds and get you running for the water! Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#8: Paldo Teumsae Ramen 9,413SHU Version – South Korea

I’ve ben trying to get this one for a very long time and the folks at Paldo finally sent me some – thanks! This one was very tasty and very hot, although I remember the first time I tried it many years ago and it blew my head off. These days it’s not too hot to handle for me, but it’s still plenty hot. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#7: GB Company The Devil Of Fire Ramen – South Korea

This one was sent in by The Fat Hipster from YouTube – thanks! While incredibly spicy, it’s definitely not the spiciest I’ve had, that’s for sure. But it’ll burn you really good. What’s more, it sports a good noodle and a nice flavor to it which is excellent. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#6: Liangchengmei 30S” Hot Bird Noodle – China

Thirty seconds to cook, featuring fresh noodles. This company is coming up with some really unique and delicious varieties which I thoroughly enjoy. This one is very reminiscent of another one on this list with a chicken. Original review | Mukbang

#5: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyeon – South Korea

While not the spiciest in their lineup, I find this to be the real baseline for the heatwave instant noodles have experienced in the past few years. This is the origination of the Fire Noodle Challenge – and it’s popular. I can get this at the local store even – and that’s really saying something to it’s popularity. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#4: Mamee Shinsegae Ghost Pepper Spicy Chicken – Malaysia

Not the first time Malaysia’s been on this list that’s for sure, but the spiciest offering by far. Black noodles – that’s all I’ve got to say. Ominous and lethal! Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#3: Shinsegae Mamee Ghost Pepper Kari Lontong – Malaysia

Here we’ve got a Malaysian variety with a heat like no other. This is definitely the strongest curry on the market right now – at least that I can find. This was a seriously hard pack to scarf down – heat upon heat, upon heat! A beautiful broth and sensational flavor. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#2: Samyang Foods Buldak 3x Spicy HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen – South Korea

Every year, Buldak seems to get a little hotter. If this is 3x, that’s 13,200 SHU. This one was pretty tough to get down – but I did it. Nice flavor and very, very hot. If this is just out of your ballpark, I can highly recommend the tomato Buldak – that one’s far less spicy and absolutely delightful. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#1: Culley’s World’s Hottest Ramen – New Zealand

This was hard. The only reason I was able to finish it was because of the size. I think that’s why many people have conquered this one. There are some issues with the directions on this one and I think they could be changed without effecting flavor/heat level. Basically, cook the noodles, drain, add in boiling water and sachets and stir. This was conquering the worm for me. I pounded it and then it pounded me. Eight hours of capsaicin cramping – oh so bad. Felt like an alien was going to pierce its way out of my stomach – no joke. Plus I went through a phase where I was tingling all over, slightly numb, and kind of cold. I either went into or teetered on the edge of being in shock – endorphin land to be sure. Original Review | Mukbang | Get it here

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The Ramen Rater’s Definitive Guide To Nissin Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice Flavor

I’ll admit, I went a little overboard on this one. My 4000th review was an enormous yakisoba which I made into a few different things. Little did I realize that my 4001st review would be even more insane. Pumpkin pie, bread, French toast, prison burritos – and more. A full review and everything you could possibly want to know about the limited edition flavor that won’t be around for long. Check it out here!

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Over 70,000 folks have joined the Ramen Junkies group on Facebook! This is a group for everyone who loves noodles – of all kinds! Join the discussion and share your latest creation, restaurant picks, or just what you had for lunch!

#ramenbread

Yeah, bread made with instant noodles! A friend and I hatched the idea while back and I’ve gone a little crazy with it – it’s a lot of fun making bread! Here’s where you can see the latest loaves and videos!

The Ramen Rater Shop

People have been asking where to get a lot of varieties and so I’ve partnered with Exotic Noods to bring you The Ramen Rater Shop. Here you’ll find an expending variety of instant noodles at a pretty decent price. You’ll be able to try a wide array of varieties and not have to buy a ton of each variety. I really wanted to have a way you could just buy a single pack of two at a time. The same way I do when I visit an Asian grocery.

The Ramen Rater App For Android

The Ramen Rater App for Android has been given a whole new look and functionality. With it, you can scan bar codes to see reviews I’ve done while at the store, peruse the top ten lists, and do simple searches. It’s really great – even a dark mode! Finally, it’s free and currently ad-free.

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Here’s one from James in Lakeside, CA – thanks again! Wow – this looks burly. I had to read around to verify cooking instructions and they aren’t hard to cook – just wanted to do it right. This will be my first mukbang I’ve done in ages – not only that, I’ve been hardcore on diet and exercise lately, so not only will it be spicy, it’s going to be a gut buster. Egad. Let’s give it a shot!

Paldo Teumsae Cheese Tteokbokki – South Korea

Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, fill to line with hot water along with red sachet contents. Microwave at 1000W for 3 min (or 3.5 min at 700W). Add cheese powder sachet. Finally, stir and enjoy!

Detail of the lid (click to enlarge).

Tteokbokki! By the way – that’s not a seasoning sachet, that’s silica gel. People seem to think eating it will make you sick, however that’s not the case. It will pass right through you, but don’t eat it – it’s not food.

A spocy powder sachet.

A cheese powder sachet.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added marinated egg, spring onion, and sesame seed. The tteokbokki was good – a little less soft than I like, but it worked out in getting a 3 minute ride in our microwave. The broth was a sweet and cheese-ish affair along with a spicy lement which did pack a punch. However, even though I haven’t done a mukbang in a while, and this is generally a very spicy range – the Teumsae – this didn’t phase me much if at all. It was definitely tasty and enjoyable. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 8809695256110.

[Paldo] Teumsae Tteokbokki (Rice Cake with Spicy Sauce) x 3 with Korean Instant Coffee sticks, Spicy Challenge

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

Watch me burn on Spicy Noodle Mukbang!

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Thanks to Jessica K. for clueing me in about this stuff! She said it’s good stuff and I got a good deal on it on Amazon so figured what the heck. Anyways, this is a dry version of Paldo’s Teumsae and a mukbang sounds good – only 18 degrees Fahrenheit outside right now. Let’s give it a try!

Paldo Teumsae Stir-Fried Ramen – South Korea

Detail of the packaging (click to enlarge). Contains fish and shellfish. To prepare, boil noodles in 600ml water for 5 minutes. Drain. Add in sachet contents. Finally, stir and enjoy!

The noodle block.

A sauce sachet.

A sachet of flakes.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added fried egg, sesame seed, and spring onion. First, the noodles are great – nice and thick and chewy – just a perfect application for them. The sauce on the other hand… Main flavor is pepper extract which leaves a kind of chemical taste from capsicum oleoresin. I like this one about as much as their Volcano Curry spicy comer, which honestly I don’t like very much. Heat level was surprisingly low – the broth version is much hotter – I didn’t even break a sweat or get the a runny nose from this one. Disappointing. 2.0 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 64843612258.

Paldo Fun & Yum Extra Hot Spicy Instant Noodles Stir-Fried, Pack of 4, Soupless Original Korean Ramyun, Spicy Ramen Challenge, Teumsae Ramen, Oriental Style Korean Ramyun, K-Food 130g (4.58 oz) x 4

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

Watch me burn on Spicy Noodle Mukbang!

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Welcome to my newest installment of my experimentation with instant noodles and breads/pizza dough! This one was a real win IMHO – both came out exceedingly well! First, I made an Indomie pie which presented some questions – how do I make the sauce? Butter. How about a cold pizza with Paldo Bibim Men? Never baked a pizza that would be refrigerated before serving. It’s summer and really hot here right now. Cold sounds good. I’ll give you the recipes for both which are pretty simple. Let’s hit it!

Video

Here’s the visuals you will want to check out before attempting either of these. Like I said it’s pretty easy to do but I spent a lot of time on this video, so I’d appreciate it if you watch it.

Dough

• 4 cups AP flour
• 1/2 tbsp yeast
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 1/3c hot water
• 2 tbsp butter

Method

Add water, sugar, salt, and butter to bread machine. Add half the flour, the yeast, then the rest of the flour. Run the machine to make dough – not to bake a loaf of bread.

Indomie Pizza – aka Indomizza!

Add seasoning sachet contents from 2 packs of Indomie instant noodles to 2 tbsp melted butter and combine. I added sauteed chicken, coriander (cilantro), and mozzarella. Then baked at 425 for 19 minutes. Topped with more coriander and a fried egg.

Finished (click to enlarge). Initially, I found that the Indomie seasoning was a bit overridden by the seasoning on the chicken, but there definitely ended being a lot of nice Indomie flavor on this. Coriander fit well, and the fried egg tied things together nicely.

A side profile shot (click to enlarge).

Bibim Men Pizza

Topped with 3 sachets of the Bibim Men sauce, noodles, mung bean sprouts, ham, spring onion, carrot, and grape tomatoes and a lot of mozzarella.. After I baked the pizza, I added cucumber and more mung bean sprouts and more spring onion. I chilled in the refrigerator for 3 hours.

Finished (click to enlarge). I dislike wasting dough, so went a little crazy on this one and it rose really high! The 3 sachets of Bibim Men sauce seemed a little much, but it worked well and actually created an in-between layer on the bottom which was really quite nice. Being served cold worked incredibly well – much better than I expected.

A side profile of the pie (click to enlarge). Notice the height!

I’ll probably do more of these pizzas – any ideas? Maybe a tonkotsu? I have a feeling there will be one coming very soon all by itself – stay tuned!

The post Exotic Pizza Party! Indomie Pizza! Bibim Men Pizza! appeared first on THE RAMEN RATER.

I recently got an email from a company called BNB Global who is a big distributor for Paldo products here in the US. Paldo is a South Korean company that makes some great varieties – some of which I haven’t tried yet – here’s a special look at some of these new varieties! Enjoy and check ’em out!

BNB Global / CCC Sends Great Paldo Ramen Varieties

The post BNB Global / CCC Sends Great Paldo Ramen Varieties appeared first on THE RAMEN RATER.

If you’ve been following my reviews lately, you might wonder why this isn’t marked as for the USA – but the thing is if you look, it’s in English as well as French. This definitely means this is for the US and Canada – so, since I can’t pin it down for one or the other, this one gets the country of origin’s stamp on the review.

I’ve had the pack version of this and it was quite good. Let’s give the bowl a try!

Paldo Teumsae Stir-Fried Ramen – South Korea

Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contins fish and shellfish. To prepare, add boiling water to fill line and cover for 4 minutes. Drain. Add in sachet contents. Finally, stir and enjoy!

Detail of the lid (click to enlarge). Note the three stars – you poke them with chopsticks and use as a drain spout.

The noodle block.

A sachet of spicy sauce.

A garnish sachet.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added green onion and sesame seed. Noodle hydrated a little less than perfect; the cooked pack version was much, much better. The sauce is spicy and has a strong front of the mouth heat to it. Included garnish kind of just melds into it. All in all, high spicy and pretty tasty. 3.5 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 048436122615.

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

Watch me burn on Spicy Noodle Mukbang!

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It’s true – some like it hot. This list is comprised of the hottest varieties I’ve tried – that are currently available as far as I can tell. In prior years, there were some that were so hot that the #1 on here was like cotton candy. That being said, I’m guessing there weren’t many repeat customers. At the bottom, you’ll see those varieties. This list is current as of review #4300. Let’s get spicy with The Ramen Rater’s Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition!

The Ramen Rater’s Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition

Video Presentation

Watch for my commentary and images of The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition!

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition

#10: Paldo Volcano Curry Kkokkomyun – South Korea

A dry noodle from South Korea by Paldo. This doesn’t feature the curry flavor I would have expected; it’s kind of like it’s own rendition of curry which didn’t honestly make me really think of curry all that much. But it’s spicy – that’s definitely not in question. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#9: mi ABC Selera Pedas Spicy Beef Stir-Fry Noodles – Indonesia

The noodles have a nice gauge – they seem slightly wider and more chewy than most instants. The flavor was a surprise – a nice beef taste with a savory hit and then the spiciness. It’s really quite spicy – worthy of a mukbang. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#8: Mamee SLRP! Mi Segera Perisa Kari Xtra Pedas – Malaysia

If you like curry and you like it hot, this will definitely do the trick. A strong, rich Malaysian curry shakes hands with a spicy bite that really will test your tastebuds and get you running for the water! Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#7: Paldo Teumsae Ramen 9,413SHU Version – South Korea

I’ve ben trying to get this one for a very long time and the folks at Paldo finally sent me some – thanks! This one was very tasty and very hot, although I remember the first time I tried it many years ago and it blew my head off. These days it’s not too hot to handle for me, but it’s still plenty hot. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#6: GB Company The Devil Of Fire Ramen – South Korea

This one was sent in by The Fat Hipster from YouTube – thanks! While incredibly spicy, it’s definitely not the spiciest I’ve had, that’s for sure. But it’ll burn you really good. What’s more, it sports a good noodle and a nice flavor to it which is excellent. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#5: Liangchengmei 30S” Hot Bird Noodle – China

Thirty seconds to cook, featuring fresh noodles. This company is coming up with some really unique and delicious varieties which I thoroughly enjoy. This one is very reminiscent of another one on this list with a chicken. Original review | Mukbang

#4: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyeon – South Korea

While not the spiciest in their lineup, I find this to be the real baseline for the heatwave instant noodles have experienced in the past few years. This is the origination of the Fire Noodle Challenge – and it’s popular. I can get this at the local store even – and that’s really saying something to it’s popularity. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#3: Mamee Shinsegae Ghost Pepper Spicy Chicken – Malaysia

Not the first time Malaysia’s been on this list that’s for sure, but the spiciest offering by far. Black noodles – that’s all I’ve got to say. Ominous and lethal! Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#2: Mamee Shinsegae Ghost Pepper Kari Lontong – Malaysia

Here we’ve got a Malaysian variety with a heat like no other. This is definitely the strongest curry on the market right now – at least that I can find. This was a seriously hard pack to scarf down – heat upon heat, upon heat! A beautiful broth and sensational flavor. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

#1: Samyang Foods Buldak 3x Spicy HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen – South Korea

Every year, Buldak seems to get a little hotter. If this is 3x, that’s 13,200 SHU. This one was pretty tough to get down – but I did it. Nice flavor and very, very hot. If this is just out of your ballpark, I can highly recommend the tomato Buldak – that one’s far less spicy and absolutely delightful. Original review | Mukbang | Get it here

Previous Varieties

These two were even hotter, yet I can’t currently find them anywhere.

Isoyama Shoji 18禁カレーラーメン (Age 18 Prohibited/Restricted/Only La-Men Curry Taste) – Japan

The only variety I’ve NOT been able to conquer. Fail. Twice. First off, I think these taste awful outside of the violent spiciness; like burnt plastic curry. What’s rough is that this calls for 700ml water which I believe is the top end of any instant I’ve had. Not only that, you’d think that would dilute to the point of almost bland but it most certainly does not. I managed 1/4 to a 1/3 each time of trying this. The sheer size of the bowl plays a psychological game with you. It’s mean. Mukbang – Original review

Culley’s World’s Hottest Ramen – New Zealand

This was hard. The only reason I was able to finish it was because of the size. I think that’s why many people have conquered this one. There are some issues with the directions on this one and I think they could be changed without effecting flavor/heat level. Basically, cook the noodles, drain, add in boiling water and sachets and stir. This was conquering the worm for me. I pounded it and then it pounded me. Eight hours of capsaicin cramping – oh so bad. Felt like an alien was going to pierce its way out of my stomach – no joke. Plus I went through a phase where I was tingling all over, slightly numb, and kind of cold. I either went into or teetered on the edge of being in shock – endorphin land to be sure. Mukbang – Original Review

My Thoughts On SHU

‘Oh man, my face is on fire!’ ‘Dude, that’s not even hot.’ Two people can eat the same thing – one may be running for something to put out the fire while the other barely tastes it. That’s where my wife and I are at. The Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) is a way to measure spiciness; a very ridiculous way. The idea is that a glass of spicy and a glass of water are mixed. Does it will taste spicy? That’s 1 SHU. Repeat this, diluting each time. Now, products claiming thousands, hundreds of thousand or millions of SHU aren’t using this method; it would take far too long. Samyang Foods, makers of the Buldak line had this to say in an interview about how they measure –

SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) is a measurement of the spicy heat of chili peppers. First, we measure the concentration of capsaicin and dehydrocapsacin by using the HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). Then, we measure scoville heat units by using the equation below. (Although there is no official rule of calculating SHU, we have used the equation which is generally used.)

SHU = ( Dehydrocapsacin conc. X 0.82 + Capsacin conc. ) X 16 
※ Concentration unit = μg/g

As far as I know, there is no ‘SHU Police’ or group that has a stamp of approval on SHU claims. What’s funny is that people often balk that Buldak’s spiciness – the original is just around 4,000SHU – and they find it’s hotter than things they try that purportedly are 400,000SHU or more. That’s because as far as I can tell, Samyang does take this seriously and more importantly, they’re being honest about it.

I would love to see an industry group that would act as a ‘seal of approval’ – like a seal that companies could get to verify their SHU claims were true. I could sell you a bottle of water right now that said it was 1,000,000SHU and charge $10 for it and you’ll find it’s not spicy at all. Will the SHU Police cry foul? Nope. A seal showing that what’s in there is as spicy as it says it is would be a really great thing for consumers. Anyways, that’s my thought on this matter. Generally, things that say they’re spicy in an ultra-spicy class usually are.

Special Announcements

The Ramen Rater Recipe Experiments

Ever thought of what you can make when instant noodles are an ingredient? Well, if not I have. A lot. I started with making breads last year – even breads with flour make from fried noodles that were ground into a fine powder. Logically, the next step was pizza – everyone likes pizza, right? Finally, I’ve done a few different ice creams. Check the Special Features section to see all of these experiments!

Definitive Guides

This year, I’ve decided to do a special series called Definitive Guides. Recipes, trivia, history, and more on some of the most loved and fascinating varieties of instant noodles around the world! So far, I’ve got one on Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun, and Indomie’s Mi Goreng and Nissin Foods’ Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice! Very recently, I released a Definitive Guide To Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup. Future guides will include MAMA Tom Yum, and more. My plan is do feature one or two products from each country. I try to make these complete and informative as possible.

Ramen Junkies

Ramen Junkies is a Facebook group devoted to the love of instant noodles. People share their recipes, thoughts, ideas and humor Join the conversation today – over 70,000 members strong!

A Petition To Benefit Those In Need

For the last few years, a thought has been bouncing around in my head. Why is there a spot to donate a dollar to elections on tax returns? I think that little spot can be better by donating a dollar or some set amount to Veterans who are living in poverty. At the end of tax season, the donations can go to all who qualify. I think that would be a good thing. I started a petition to do this, and if you’re in the USA, you can sign it here and please feel free to share it around! Thanks!

The Ramen Rater App For Android

The Ramen Rater App for Android has been given a whole new look and functionality. You can scan bar codes to see reviews I’ve done while at the store, peruse the top ten lists, and do simple searches. It’s really great – even a dark mode! Best of all it’s free and currently ad-free.

The post The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition appeared first on THE RAMEN RATER.

This is an interesting one. While it says it is a stir-fried chicken flavor, below that it mentioned it has artificial chicken and beef flavor. I’m very curious – it sounds interesting. I’m excited as I’ll be reviewing some more Paldo stuff soon. Let’s check this one out – I think I found it at S*Mart in Bellevue, Washington.

Paldo Stir-Fried Noodle With Spicy Soy Sauce – South Korea

Detail of the packaging (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, boil noodle and flake in water for 3 1/2 minutes. Drain saving 5 teaspoons water  (25ml). Return drained noodle to pan along with water and sachet contents. Cook for 30 seconds. finally, stir and enjoy!

The noodle block.

A large sauce sachet.

A sachet of vegetable flakes.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added sesame seed, scallion, and chicken. Noodle is very thick with a nice chew. The sauce is kind of a sweet and spicy Buldak-esque affair. Heat level isn’t very high, but noticeable. 4.25 out of 5.0 stars.  UPC bar code 648436101351.

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

The post #4349: Paldo Stir-Fried Noodle With Spicy Soy Sauce – South Korea appeared first on THE RAMEN RATER.

This comes by way of BNB Global – thanks! So Bibim Men is a cold noodle dish – you cook and drain the noodle, rinse with cold water and then add the sauce. This is a variety of tteokbokki, rice cake tubes which are soft and thoroughly enjoyable. This uses the same type of sauce as in the cold noodle, however it’s hot. I don’t think chilling tteokbokki would work so well – probably would make them tough. Regardless, this sounds interesting and I’m very interested. Let’s give it a try!

Paldo Bibim Tteokbokki – South Korea

A distributor’s label (click to enlarge).

Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add tteokbokki, sauce, and water to line. Microwave for 3 minutes at 1000W with the lid on lightly. Finally, stir and enjoy!

Detail of the lid (click to enlarge).

A pouch of uncooked tteokbokki – the sachet contains dessicant – not for eating.

The Bibim sauce sachet.

A sachet of garnish.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added cucumber, carrot, grape tomatoes, mung bean sprouts, spring onion, ham, and sesame seed. Tteokbokki is soft and light on the chew – just right. The sauce is tasty and tangy, sweet, and spicy. Super good stuff. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 8809695256165.

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

The post #4350: Paldo Bibim Tteokbokki – South Korea appeared first on THE RAMEN RATER.

Thanks to BNB Global for sending this along! So this looks like a ‘king cup’ but I tend to consider them bowls. I’m thawing chicken in the sink right now for this one and the previous two as well. It’s hot – it’s about 8pm and 89 degrees (July 30th) and just been a tough go. We’re about to have a record for most 90+ degree days in the Seattle area ever. It’s gross. So, what do I do? I bake pizzas, cook ramen in boiling water. It’s a challenge. Anyways, hopefully when I do this up tomorrow it’ll be cool in the morning. Let’s hit it!

Paldo King Noodle Mild Chicken Flavor – United States

Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains fish. To prepare, fill to line with room temp water and add in seasoning sachet contents. Microwave at 800W for 5 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!

Detail of the lid (click to enlarge).

The noodle block.

Loose bits from the bowl.

A dry soup base sachet.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added chicken, mung bean sprout, spring onion, and sesame seed. Noodle is nice out of the microwave. Broth is a slightly sweet chicken flavor. Quite nice. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.  UPC bar code 648436122721.

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

The post #4352: Paldo King Noodle Mild Chicken Flavor – United States appeared first on THE RAMEN RATER.

After a couple years, here’s The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition. It’s been a sort of tough go lately; so few new Korean varieties have crossed my desk. Usually they’ve all been ultra spicy ones, and while good, they’ve not been ones that are top ten listers. There should be a few new ones to the list for next years list that have yet to be published, though. If you’ve an instant noodle company in South Korea, I’d love to review your products. I used to receive samples from the larger companies quite often, but unfortunately not so much recently. This list is comprised of varieties from South Korea that I’ve reviewed up to my 4,300th review. With that, here’s The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition!

The Ramen Rater’s Top Tern South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition

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A special video presentation of The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition.

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition

#10: Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black

I remember when this variety came out a few years back. It’s a good one, that’s for sure – and many on my Facebook group Ramen Junkies thoroughly enjoy this one. A thick ramyun noodle is coupled with the spicy Shin broth and Sul Lon Tang powder – which adds a nice savoriness. Vegetables run around in the broth which are nice. A testament to the standard that people have found to love about Korean instant noodles. Original review | Get it here

#9: Paldo Cheese Noodle

I’ve loved this one for years. A nice thick noodle coupled with a spicy broth – and a sachet of cheese powder. It works well and is made even better with processed cheese or swiss cheese which is nice and gloppy when really hot. This is a tasty variety, through and through. Original review | Get it here

#8: Nongshim Shin Light Air Dried Noodle Soup

This one combines a non-fried noodle and the flavor of Shin Ramyun’s broth to make for a lighter version calorie-wise, however the flavor isn’t light. In fact, it seems like a cleaner version. Great stuff! Original review | Get it here

#7: Samyang Foods Buldak Light

A lighter version of the ultra spicy Buldak – less spicy, and made with a non-fried noodle. This makes for less oil of course and in turn, fewer calories. The noodle is a bit different – slightly chewier which makes for a more gourmet experience in my opinion. Original review | Get it here

#6: Samyang Foods Jjajang Buldak Ramen Topokki

I wish I was positive this is still on the market in South Korea – hopefully it is as it’s excellent. Jjajangmyeon is noodle with a nice black bean sauce, however this variety comes with the noodle and tteokbokki – chewy rice cake tubes of splendor that I thoroughly love. It also has Buldak heat which is excellent. Short of sourcing this, you could just get Jjajang Buldak and add some tteokbokki to it. Original review | Get it here

#5: Paldo Rabokki Noodle

Rabokki or rapokki is what you have when you combine tteokbokki and ramyun noodle. This is just the noodle and a sweet spicy saucy kind of combo which is extremely good. Usually it comes with sliced egg as well as fish cake and other niceties. Original review | Get it here

#4: Yopokki Cheese Rapokki

Here’s another one where tteokbokki is included – starting to see a theme here? The texture of tteokbokki combined with noodles is really quite wonderful. This one has a cheese sauce and it’s a bit sweet. These are on the spendy side from what I’ve seen, but they’re really quite good, and a pretty large serving which could easily satisfy two. Original review | Get it here

#3: Samyang Foods Samyang Ramen Spicy Flavor

This is the spicy version, however the non-spicy version (which interestingly is actually a bit spicy as well) was the first Korean instant noodle on the market back in 1963. When it first entered the market, people weren’t exactly sure what it was; some thought it was a textile! After educating consumers and tunning the flavor from chicklen to a spicy ham flavor, it took off. I absolutely love this stuff – great with ham, cheese, and egg. Definitely give it a try! Original review | Get it here

#2: Ottogi Jin Jjambbong Spicy Seafood Ramyun

This one is really quite wonderful. We start with a different gauge noodle from their usual fare – thicker and broader. The broth is a savory seafood stew – and smoky like grilled seafood. I tried this at an instant noodle restaurant called Love Instant Noodles a few years ago – really great! If you like seafood, this will make your head spin. Original review | Get it here

#1: Samyang Foods Carbo Buldak Ramen Topokki

Again, unsure if this one is still available and if it isn’t, just get some tteokbokki to add into some Buldak Carbo. This is really quite good – a nice creamy and savory carbonara sauce couple with not only ramen noodles, but rice cake. It’s truly perfection and I can’t recommend this higher. Original review | Get it here

Special Announcements

The Ramen Rater Recipe Experiments

Ever thought of what you can make when instant noodles are an ingredient? Well, if not I have. A lot. I started with making breads last year – even breads with flour make from fried noodles that were ground into a fine powder. Logically, the next step was pizza – everyone likes pizza, right? Finally, I’ve done a few different ice creams. Check the Special Features section to see all of these experiments!

Definitive Guides

This year, I’ve decided to do a special series called Definitive Guides. Recipes, trivia, history, and more on some of the most loved and fascinating varieties of instant noodles around the world! So far, I’ve got one on Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun, and Indomie’s Mi Goreng and Nissin Foods’ Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice! Very recently, I released a Definitive Guide To Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup. Future guides will include MAMA Tom Yum, and more. My plan is do feature one or two products from each country.

Ramen Junkies

Ramen Junkies is a Facebook group devoted to the love of instant noodles. People share their recipes, thoughts, ideas and humor Join the conversation today – over 70,000 members strong!

A Petition To Benefit Those In Need

For the last few years, a thought has been bouncing around in my head. Why is there a spot to donate a dollar to elections on tax returns? I think that little spot can be better by donating a dollar or some set amount to Veterans who are living in poverty. At the end of tax season, the donations can go to all who qualify. I think that would be a good thing. I started a petition to do this, and if you’re in the USA, you can sign it here and please feel free to share it around! Thanks!

The Ramen Rater App For Android

The Ramen Rater App for Android has been given a whole new look and functionality. You can scan bar codes to see reviews I’ve done while at the store, peruse the top ten lists, and do simple searches. It’s really great – even a dark mode! Best of all it’s free and currently ad-free.

The post The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2023 Edition appeared first on THE RAMEN RATER.

This one hails from South Korea, but made in this packaging for the US market. They were sent to me by BNB Global – thanks!  The mild was good – let’s see how spicy this one is.

Paldo King Noodle Spicy Chicken Flavor – United States

Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains fish. To prepare, fill to line with room temp water and add in seasoning sachet contents. Microwave at 800W for 5 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy!

Detail of the lid (click to enlarge).

The noodle block.

Loose bits from the cup.

A sachet of spicy soup base.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added mung bean sprout, spring onion, chicken, sesame seed, and crushed red pepper. Noodle come out quite well in the microwave. Broth has a nice spicy chicken flavor – not too hot but more a balance with savoriness. Really quite good, especially with the included vegetables. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.  UPC bar code 648436122745.

Watch me cook on Instant Noodle Recipe Time!

The post #4365: Paldo King Noodle Spicy Chicken Flavor – United States appeared first on THE RAMEN RATER.