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#1665: Paldo Vina Koreno Premium Mushroom Flavor

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Paldo Foods is a South Korean company, and it looks like they’ve expanded to Vietnam with Paldo Vina. Now mushroom isn’t generally my favorite flavor, but I’ve been surprised in the last year or so at how much I’ve liked many mushroom instants. Let’s see how this one pans out.

Here’s the back f the package (click image to enlarge). Looks to be meat free, but check for yourself. To prepare, boil 400-450ml water and add noodle block and sachet contents. Cook for 4 minutes and enjoy!

The noodle block.

The powder soup base sachet.

Has a musty mushroom kind of scent.

The vegetables sachet.

A smattering of vegetables.

Finished (click image to enlarge). Added mung bean sprouts, mushrooms and spring onion. The noodles are pretty standard ramyun – thick with a little more chewiness. The broth had a little spicy hit and a kind of funky mushroom flavor. Not a fan of it as it reminded me of dirt. 1.,5 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8936028640312.

Here you can get Paldo Vina Koreno Kimchi flavor!

Here’s a Koreno TV commercial.

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#1677: Paldo Rabokki Noodle (Export Version)

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A couple years back, I did a Meet Ther Manufacturer with Paldo, a South Korean company. I was stoked to get a pack of this Rabokki back then and asked if it would ever be in the United States. It sounded like there weren’t any plans to bring it this way and I was bummed – really bummed. Well, bummed no more, I can happily announce that it’s gracing store shelves in the USA now! Rabokki is a fusion of ramyun and topokki Topokki is what you see there on top of the noodles on the package – finger length rice cakes that are chewy – about the consistency of string cheese, served most popularly in a thick sweet and spicy sauce. I will say it’s probably one of my favorite foods of all time – especially the way I’ve tried it lately at a local place called Chi-Mc n Hot Pot, with cream cheese – egad it’s really good. Let’s check out this ramyun-topokki fusion from Paldo!

Here’s the back of the package (click image to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add everything to 400ml boiling water and cook for 4 minutes. Stir and enjoy!

The gigantic ramyun block!

The soup base sachet.

Has a nice spicy scent.

Topokki sauce!

Smells like happiness.

Finished (click image to enlarge). Added kamaboko, mung bean sprouts and spring onion. The noodles plumped up just perfectly – thick and a good chew. The broth is more of a sauce and it’s very rich – spicy and sweet – like an adult version of Spaghetti-O’s which I find delectable. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 648436101054.

Rabokki Noodle 5.11 Oz (Pack of 4)

Making Rabokki at home.

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The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodle Bowls Of All Time 2015 Edition

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Another year’s gone by and here we are again with the new bowls list. A lot of really interesting ones this go around and some old favorites. At the point of putting this list out, I’ve almost hit 1,700 reviews. Of those, these are in my opinion the best tasting and the most memorable varieties. With that, allow me to present The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodle Bowls 2015 Edition.

Just like with the regular top ten, I did a countdown video!

#10 – Hao Way Penang White Curry Instant Bowl Noodles – Malaysia


As you know from my Top Ten packages list, I’m a big fan of curry – especially Malaysian curry. This bowl boasts a thick and chewy noodle and a strong white curry flavor. Original review here

#9 – Nissin King Spa王 (Spa Oh) Tarako Spaghetti – Japan


Here’s one where the liquid is drained off. Tarako is a fish roe based sauce used in Japanese pasta dishes. The flavor is very good and the noodles came out just right. The seaweed bits go very nicely as well. Original review here

#8 – Maruchan Big Cup Ramen Corn, Salt & Butter Flavor – Japan


Another one from Japan. This one was a real treat – scads of corn and even a little block of butter inside! Definitely unique. Original review here

#7 – Paldo Jjamppong Seafood Noodle King Bowl – South Korea


Thick and chewy ramyun noodles are augmented by a broth with a good consistency – a little thickness was very good. Also a slightly sweet, seafood and spicy flavor to it I thoroughly enjoyed. Original review here

#6 – Acecook Comet Mori Yukino Tan-tan Men – Japan


This stuff is very red! The noodles are broad and flat. They have a very nice chew to them and are of a premium type. The broth is very rich and oily. It has a strong spiciness and is almost thick – but not in a bad way. A rich pork flavor abounds. The veggies and other bits hydrated quite nicely. Original review here

#5 – Unif Man Han Feast Sichuan Chili Eel Flavor Instant Noodle – Taiwan


The noodles are flat and broad. They have a nice quality to them; not too chewy but very good for a bowl noodle. The broth is rich with a good spiciness. The added bonus with this is the eel – it’s really good! Everything is rich and hearty and it’s definitely a feast to behold and consume. I should also note – this is one of a line that includes a braised beef variety amongst others. I would very much like to review every one of these, both in pack and bowl form. If you can source them and would like to send me some, please use the above contact form to do so! Thanks! Original review here

#4: Paldo Jjajangmen Chajang Noodle King Bowl – South Korea


Another in Paldo’s King Bowl line. Again, this one has thick and chewy ramyun but is a broth-free variety, coated with a delicious and savory black bean chajang sauce. Sticks-to-your-ribs! Original review here

#3 – Plats Du Chef Cuisine Adventures Chicken Phở Soup – Canada


I have to say this was a great surprise. I have had a throng of horrible Canadian instant noodles – in cups, bowls, packs – just horrible. This one is a diamond in the rough. It includes excellent rice noodles, a very tasty pho broth and to top it off, it’s got real chicken! This is a bowl to behold. Original review here

#2 – Nissin Raoh Rich Soy Sauce Flavor – Japan


Slipping to second place this year is Nissin’s Raoh. The noodles and broth play so nicely together and the pork is quite good. A bowl of noodles to really enjoy by candlelight. Note – Japanese varieties have become very hard for me to come by. If you would like to donate some varieties found in Japan, please use the contact link above! Thank you! Original review here

#1 – Choripdong Hurricane Rice Cake Topokki – South Korea


It’s red. It’s got a thick spicy and sweet sauce. It’s got ramyun. It’s got topokki. This was a real find – Just looking at the picture makes me want some right this instant. The most wonderful big bowl of noodles I’ve ever had. Original review here

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The Ramen Rater’s Bottom Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2015 Edition

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After trying over 1,700 instant noodle varieties, it is expected that some of them will be on this list. Why? Well, some just make me wretch. They’re the ones that get a score of one to zero stars. Not to say that there are some folks out there who like them, but that hypothetical someone would not be myself. With that, here’s the new The Ramen Rater’s Bottom Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2015 Edition.

The Ramen Rater’s Bottom Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2015 Edition video.

#10: Unzen Mushroom Honpo Shiitake Nutritious Noodle – Japan

A reader had been looking high and low for these noodles and I helped her find where they came from. As a thank you, she sent me a pack. Well, I’m glad someone likes these, but I really didn’t. There were large pieces of mushroom in a gelatinous gravy substance, and the orange stuff was reminiscent of phlegm. Original review here

#9: Mitoku Brown Rice Ramen – Japan

While the only issue with the noodles were a little crumbly mushiness, the broth was the culprit that brought this one to the Bottom Ten yard. Bitter and earthy – like coffee grounds or dirt. Original review here

#8: Nan Jie Cun Hot-Dry Instant Noodles Chilli Flavour – China

I had such high hopes for this one. These noodles are made in the last true Communist cist in China. There’s no money! You work, you go to the store and get what you need, you go home. Fascinating. These were just plain gross; I dunno – maybe I just don’t like monotone flavors. The ingredients were good, just all came together as a pile of yuck.Original preview here

#7: Nan Hsing Vegetarian Rice Noodles – Taiwan

The noodles were akin to cobwebs – not the ones spiders make, but the fake ones you get for Halloween. The veggies didn’t hydrate well at all, and the broth wasn’t much. Couldn’t eat it. Original review here

#6: Paldo Green Tea Chlorella Noodles – South Korea

While this company makes some noodles I really enjoy, they also make this one which I deplore. It’s just got such a funky flavor to it and a smell I can’t take. Original review here

#5: Fu Chang Chinese Noodle Company Pork, Seafood & Noodles Combo – United States

The noodles in this one were really mushy, and while it had a retort pouch with meat and seafood, it was really nasty. Original review here

#4: Azami Kimchee Noodle Soup – Canada

This cup has a lot of issues. The noodles were at the lowest end of the spectrum. The ended up crumbly and almost rubbery with no character or flavor whatsoever. Then, the broth was pretty darn bland, with just a hint of spiciness. Original review here

#3: Baijia Instant Sweet Potato Noodle Spicy Fei-Chang Flavor – China

A strong ‘dirt and urine’ scent accompanied by slimy sweet potato noodles. As it turns out, Fei Chang relates to fried pork intestines. Original review here

#2: One Dish Asia Japanese Ramen Noodle – United States

This one comes with a fresh noodle pouch. They didn’t have a very fresh texture; more mushy. The bamboo shoots (which more resembled overcooked carrot and I had to consult the ingredients to figure what they were) were mushy as well. The broth had an acidic and a flavor reminiscent of the teriyaki flavor I’ve encountered in bad teriyaki instant flavors. A hot mess. Original review here

#1: Baijia Single Noble Black Bone Chicken Flavor Instant Sweet Potato Noodles – China

Here is my least favorite variety of all. Retaining it’s #1 ranking again this year, its slimy sweet potato noodles, thick, greasy broth and horrid veggies that didn’t hydrate well was just a flavor, texture, and complete food hole nightmare for me.. This was just horrible stuff that I couldn’t stand. Original review here

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The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2015 Edition

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As many might know, I started The Ramen Rater (click to see the old site) in 2002 and did about 60 reviews. Then, I turned my attention to spicy hot sauces with The Sauce Rater. In 2010, I resumed my instant noodle reviewing. I’ve long been a fan of the spicy side of things – strong heat and good flavor are a couple of my favorite things. Let’s have a look at the absolutely hottest varieties I’ve found in my over 1,700 reviews of instant noodles from around the world in this year’s The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2015 Edition.

#10: Wugudaochang Sichuan Pepper & Chicken Flavor – China

The Sichuan pepper was something relatively new to me until I really got a mouthful of them in this variety. It kind of reminds me of the way a hot pepper acts, but then when you inhale, it has a kind of cooling kind of sensation like mint; hard to explain but definitely something different. This one came with a peanut and pepper garnish and the noodles had a very nice gauge and texture. Original review here

#9: Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja – South Korea

While still not available in the United States, Jinjja Jinjja is back in South Korea! This one packs a serious punch of heat along with pork, peanut and black sesame seeds. Original review here

#8: JML Emperor Instant Noodles Spicy Chicken – China

I wasn’t expecting this one to be extremely spicy at the outset and then was in for a ride. Very very hot – augmented with a large sachet of coarse chilli peppers. Original review here

#7: emart Dare You! Habanero Jjamppong – South Korea

Extreme heat is paired with nice bit of seafood broth and lots of bits of seafood. All the fire and flavor melded together with thick ramyun noodles make it hot as well as delicious. This one comes in at 1,960 SHU (Scoville Heat Units). Original review here

#6: MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle – Malaysia

MyKuali’s new recipe added a big punch of heat to their already amazing and groundbreaking Penang White Curry Noodle. Thick almost saucelike broth fires up the palate and includes a generous amount of garlic this time. Original review here

#5: Ching’s Secret Hot Garlic Instant Noodles – India

When I found this one at a local Indian market, I was very enthused. I thought to myself ‘hey, I like garlic!’ I kind of expected a salty, buttery and almost fettucini kind of thing. But no – this innocuous looking plate of noodles was violently spicy! Super hot garlic spiciness just builds and builds! Original review here

#4: Paldo Teumsae Ramyun – South Korea

On the list for four years now! Another South Korean ramyun with serious kick to it. This isn’t to be trifled with!  Teumsae has restaurants in South Korea which serve up some seriously spicy fare. I really like the text underneath the word Teumsae which reads, ‘Flavor. Culture. Human’ Original review here

#3: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyeon – South Korea

I would say that I’ve seen dozens of videos on YouTube showing people competitively eating this one. This stuff is extremely hot. Another brothless variety and it really packs a punch as well as has a nice taste to it. Thick ramyun noodles round everything out nicely and will transmit the spicy sauce to your tongue. Original review here

#2: Paldo Bulnak Bokkummyun Spicy Fried Octopus Ramyun – South Korea

See that little octopus on the package with the smile on his face? He’s laughing. Laughing as he watches you sweat as you eat this ultra spicy ramyun! I’m not kidding this one was over the top spicy! Bring a fire extinguisher. Original review here

#1: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramyun – South Korea

For the fourth year running, this stuff tops the list. Despite a packaging design change, you should still heed the warnings; habanero pepper top right corner, temperature gauge and screaming person, black packaging… Yeah – it’s not one to underestimate; this is violently hot. The broth just keeps delivering the heat and it’s just insane. Try licking a lit candle – I swear this stuff is hotter! Original review here

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#1754: Paldo King Bowl Super Spicy Pan Stirfried Noodle

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Here’s an interesting one I hadn’t seen before. First off, the pull tab is at the top of the bowl. My wife saw this one at a local Korean grocery called GMart. It’s funny; GMart used to be KSMart and before that it was Paldo World. A Mile or so away from GMart is Hmart. The #1 on my spicy list is by a grocery chain in South Korea Called EMart. As if that all wasn’t confusing enough, there’s a new Asian Food Center store in 130th and Aurora – where the old KMart used to be! Anyways, let’s check out this one from Paldo.

Detail of the lid (click image to enlarge). Contains fish. To prepare, open halfway and remove sachets. Add in contents of white veggie sachet and boiling water to fill line. Cover for 4 minutes. Poke holes in the spots shown on the lid and use as drain spout. Add in contents of remaining sachets and stir well. Enjoy!

The noodle block.

A sauce sachet.

Thick and spicy!

The vegetables sachet.

Lots of bits and pieces.

An oil sachet.

Looks like a spicy oil.

Finished (click image to enlarge). Added carved squid and sliced pepper. The noodles are of a good ramyun gauge – lots of them as well. The flavor is a kind of seafood and spicy thing and there’s a sweetness going on as well. The supplied vegetables did great – this was an amazingly good stir noodle! 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8809296882725.

Super Spicy Stir-fried Small Octopus Ramyun 6 Packs Korean Noodle BULNAKBOKEUM

I did this video around two years ago – it’s a recipe for Gol Bim Men – a nice tasty Summer dish that uses Paldo Bibim Men.

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#1766: Paldo Bulnak Bokeummyun King Noodle

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I recently did the Top Ten Spiciest list and the not-so-distant cousin of this one (basically the pack version) was in the second place position. I think this one was definitely violently hot and a good choice for the Fire Noodle Challenge that lots of people do on YouTube. Anyways, let’s see what we have in the bowl and maybe I’ll have to give this Fire Noodle Challenge a shot.

Here’s the distributor’s sticker (click image to enlarge).

Detail of the side panels (click image to enlarge). Contains small octopus and pork. To prepare, add in contents of white sachet and boiling water to fill line. Cover and steep for 3 minutes. Poke holes in spots on lid and use to drain. Add in contents of liquid sachet and stir. Enjoy!

Detail of the lid (click image to enlarge).

The noodle block.

The liquid sachet.

Has a violently spicy scent.

The vegetables sachet.

A nice little mix.

Finished (click image to enlarge).The noodles are thick and have a great ramyun gauge and texture. Good stuff as always from Paldo. The flavor is like putting an ashed over charcoal briquet in your mouth – it’s extremely spicy. It’s also sweet as well, but the heat sets in and lingers really long. The vegetable bits worked great. 3.5 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 8809296882213.

Bulnak Stir Fried Spicy Octopus Flavor Ramen, 4.58 Oz (Pack of 16)

Here’s what you can experience while eating this spicy noodle!

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The Ramen Rater’s Easy-To-Find Instant Noodles 2015 Edition

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A lot of people have come to my site from the United States, knowing only a couple varieties, those usually being chicken or beef, pack or cup. If that’s you, this is kind of a beginner’s guide to exploring the different brands and varieties that are pretty easily sourced here in the States. You can find many of these in your local grocery store, although some might require a trip to the Asian grocery, or to Amazon. But all of them can be found here, unlike many I review that only are sold in their local countries. Many of these have even been on my top ten lists, past and present – so get ready to have some of my favorite and most memorable varieties that you can easily find here in the United States!

Domestics

All of these are made in the United States and will be the easiest to find.

Nongshim Shin Bowl Noodle Soup

This microwavable version of the popular Shin Ramyun was absolutely wonderful. Very tasty noodles and a broth that has heat and excellent flavor to it. Not only that, it cooks up very quickly in the microwave and there’s nothing to clean up afterwards. I think my favorite add-ons for this one are cheese and kimchi. Original Review / Amazon

Maruchan Creamy Chicken Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

They say that chicken soup is good for what ails you, and whenever I am feeling under the weather of want some nice comfort food on a cold day, this is my definite go-to. What’s great is that the broth is indeed creamy – almost like a hint of cream of chicken soup is in there. This is great stuff – I rarely add anything to it, but I would recommend maybe some corn. Original review / Amazon

Nissin Cup Noodles Ramen Noodle Soup With Shrimp

Recently, Nissin Foods down in Gardena, California decided to change things up a bit. The Cup Noodle has been a ubiquitous and easy go-to staple since 1971, but the cup itself has been the same since then. No more. They decided to change it up a little by making it microwavable, contains materials resulting in 20% less carbon emissions, and making it ‘customizable.’ How so? Well, there’s extra room in the cup now – you can add a little bit of vegetable and meat in the cup, add the water, microwave, and there you are – an instant cup noodle with your own spin on things. Note – these are only available at Super Walmart to start with but will be available everywhere as time goes on.  Original review / Amazon

Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein

This has been a favorite of mine for years because of its supreme versatility. The noodles are broth-free but have a great chow mein/yakisoba flavor – which is a salty Worcestershire kind of affair. Original review / Amazon

Imports

Many of these will be easily found in bog box grocery stores, some might require an Asian grocery or Amazon.

Mama Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum Flavor Oriental Style Instant Noodles – Thailand

To those who enjoy Thai food, this will be a very nice treat. The noodles are just a tad thinner than your standard domestic instant noodles. What’s fascinating about them too is that they don’t continue to gorge themselves on the broth the longer they sit; which is kind of nice if you want to make some of these and bring them with you somewhere. The broth has a brilliant color to start with, and a milky kind of look to it. The flavor is that of shrimp, lemongrass and spicy chillis. I would recommend pairing it with some nice shrimp, coriander (aka cilantro), your favorite pepper and a slice of lime. Original review / Amazon

Indomie Mi Instan Mi Goreng – Indonesia

Not only is this one versatile, it’s very unique in that it comes with so many sachets! The noodles are your standard gauge instant, but that’s where the ‘standard’ stops. The sachets contain a myriad of extras which are just awesome. Sweet soy sauce which is a thick, syrupy sweet soy sauce, a sweet chilli sauce that’s spicy, a seasoned oil, a dry base with chilli powder and finally a crunchy fried onion garnish to put on top. This goes really great with a fried egg on top for breakfast. Original review / Amazon

Prima Taste Singapore Laksa La Mian – Singapore

Third time on my top ten instant noodles list. The noodles are thick and have a great chewiness to them – definitely on the premium end of the stick and very impressive. The broth is a deep and flavorful one, with a richness to it that’s really quite amazing. When you open the package, you’re greeted by a huge noodle block and a couple big seasoning sachets – one full of coconut powder, the other with laksa paste. The broth is thick from the coconut powder which gives it a sort of milkiness. The paste had all sorts of things going on – has a great homemade ‘stewed for hours’ kind of feel. It’s a little spicy and a little sweet. Original review / Amazon

Nongshim Soon Veggie Ramen – South Korea

The South Korean ramyun noodles are thick and chewier than your standard gauge instant noodles – plus there’s a lot of them here. The broth is very much like Nongshim’s popular Shin Ramyun, but a tad less spicy. Get yourself some tofu puffs at the Asian market as well as some nice vegetables to fill this one out. Certified Vegan, too! Original review / Amazon

Paldo Cheese Noodle – South Korea

To start off, the noodles are thick. The broth is made with a sachet with a sachet of spicy red powder and one with cheese powder. They go together like chocolate and peanut butter. A nice addition to this one is even more cheese! Like the package shows, put in some Swiss cheese – it gets all gooey and really beefs things up. By the way – beef goes really well in this too! Original review / Amazon

Koka Instant Non-Fried Noodles Laksa Singapura Flavor – Singapore

This one’s here for the folks looking for a lower calorie, lower fat option. These noodles are baked and so all of the oil used to fry instant noodles aren’t anywhere to be found, resulting is about a third of the fat. The noodles are extremely good too – a slightly nicer than normal instant with a very familiar gauge to them. The flavor is that of a spicy and sour seafood. The broth is nice and flavorful and lends itself well to fish balls, shrimp, tofu and veggies of all kinds. Original review / Amazon

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The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition

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South Korea has the highest per person consumption of instant noodles in the world. It’s not a surprise that their instant noodle are quite good – usually the noodles (known as ramyun) are thicker and accompanied by a spicy broth. These are my very favorite varieties of South Korean instant noodles – hope you enjoy!

#10: Paldo Kko Kko Myun

This one is like a bowl of candy to me. We start with nice quality noodles, and then the broth takes over. The broth has a kind of chicken and jalapeno flavor to it. The flavors play off of each other quite nicely and deliver both a strong bite as well as a mellow comfort food flavor in one bowl. The vegetable packet includes little chicken pieces. Original review

#9: Paldo Jjamppong Seafood Noodle King Bowl

Thick and chewy ramyun noodles are augmented by a broth with a good consistency – a little thickness was very good. Also a slightly sweet, seafood and spicy flavor to it I thoroughly enjoyed. Original review here

#8: Samyang Foods Red Nagasaki Jjampong

The noodles are perfect – what I like to find in ramyun! Thick and chewy. The broth is amazing – an excellent level of heat balanced with a respectable amount of seafood flavor. The added vegetable pieces hydrated quite well. Top notch! Original review

#7: Paldo King Bowl Super Spicy Pan Stirfried Noodle

The noodles are of a good ramyun gauge – lots of them as well. The flavor is a kind of seafood and spicy thing and there’s a sweetness going on as well. The supplied vegetables did great – this was an amazingly good stir noodle! Original review

#6: Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup

This is the first instant noodle on the top ten to be marketed towards vegetarians. What surprised me about it was the broth had such a full flavor to it; deep and satisfying. The noodles are slightly larger in gauge than your run of the mill instant, which is common of South Korean ‘ramyun.’ Magnificent stuff! Original review

#5: Nongshim Zha Wang (Jjawang) Noodles With Chajang Sauce

The noodles are out of this world – soft and chewy, with a nice width and thickness – very hearty. The sauce coats everything and there’s more than enough of it. It has a rich black bean flavor augmented with peas, cabbage and other veggies. This is the best jjajang I’ve ever tried. Original review

#4: Paldo Cheese Noodle

These noodles – wow. I think the best addition to South Korean ramyun has to be cheese. Well, not only is cheese included here but it’s got just the perfect notes of spiciness and strong, rich flavor. The little guy with the sign that says cheese noodle rocks as well. Original review

#3: Paldo Rabokki Noodle

The noodles plumped up just perfectly – thick and a good chew. The broth is more of a sauce and it’s very rich – spicy and sweet – like an adult version of Spaghetti-O’s which I find delectable. Original review

#2: Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja

The noodles are very good – nice thick ramyun. The broth has a seriously spicy kick to it and a very peanut aroma with pork notes. The vegetables hydrated very well. Back with a vengeance! Original review

#1: ChoripDong Hurricane Rice Cake

It’s red. It’s got a thick spicy and sweet sauce. It’s got ramyun. It’s got topokki. This was a real find – Just looking at the picture makes me want some right this instant. The most wonderful big bowl of noodles I’ve ever had. Original review here

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Re-Review: Paldo Kokomen Spicy Chicken Flavor

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You know, I just saw this one at the local HMart a week or so ago and thought it would be nice to have it again. Kind of weird to be doing a re-review when I’m getting close to the 2,000th review, but hey, like I said it sounds good. This has been a popular one for a while now since it slammed onto the scene. I think it was a comedian named Lee Kyung who made this spicy chicken variety a big hit. Anyways, let’s crack it open and dig on in.

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Contains chicken. To prepare, boil 500ml water and add in package contents. Cook for 4 minutes. Stir and enjoy!

A big noodle block!

The powder soup base sachet.

Has a really nice spicy chicken scent. Honestly, it reminds me of Jalapeno Cheddar Chee-tos.

The vegetables sachet.

A nice assortment. Note the little strips of chicken. A little story – so I found out that this is chicken from the United States, however this is a product of South Korea. So they import USA chicken into South Korea, process it, then export it back into the USA. A lot of extra work, but the CBP/USDA can be quite insane that way.

Finished (click to enlarge). The noodles have a great width and chewiness I really enjoy. They kind of have a two-layeredness – kind of extra soft on the outside with more of a chew within. The broth is a jalapeno and chicken hit which works very well. Supplied vegetables worked perfectly as always. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 648436100682.

Paldo Kokomen 20-Pack

A little clip with the comedian who made the whole Kokomen launch a huge hit.

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The Ramen Rater’s Reader’s Choice Top Ten Instant Noodles 2016 Edition

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A couple days after The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2015 Edition came out, I got to thinking. Every year, a lot of people enjoy my list, a lot also complain. They’ll say things like ‘how can this not be on here,’ or ‘you have no clue of what youre talking about’ – you can guess the rest but it sometimes gets downright rude. I usually tell people to go and review as many instant noodles as I have and make their own list and we can compare notes, but nobody’s ever taken me up on that. At the same time I thought of this, I came to the realization that although they might not agree with me, they’re still people who love their varieties of instant noodles. I thought that they (you) should have a voice. So, I started a poll. I didn’t want to make a list of varieties for people to pick from – that would sway things in those varieties’ favor. I told people to just write in the flavor they liked and what brand made them. A week or so ago, I ended up with a difficult task. See, a lot of them were listed as the brand name but no variety (six people put Maggi, but Maggi what? From India, From Malaysia? Which one?). Some got cut, but most got counted. There were almost 300 votes and here are the results. I’m going to start a new poll tomorrow and this will be an annual thing! Let’s begin!

#10: 3 Way Tie: Paldo Kokomen / Paldo Cheese Ramyun / Paldo Teumsae Ramyun – South Korea

Each got three votes and since many only got three votes but were from different brands, I figure that 3 with 3 equals 9 for Paldo and that’s more than the other companies got that only had three votes. One thing is certain – you guys like ramyun! Reviews: Paldo Kokomen / Paldo Cheese Ramyun / Paldo Teumsae

#9: 2 Way Tie: Indomie Chicken Curry – Indonesia / Prima Taste Singapore Curry Laksa – Singapore

These two both had 4 votes each. A couple of curries! Reviews: Indomie Chicken Curry / Prima Taste singapore Curry Laksa

#8: Two Way Tie: Indomie Soto Mie – Indonesia / Nongshim Neoguri – South Korea

With 5 votes each, these two have fans from around the globe. Reviews: Indomie Soto Mie / Nongshim Neoguri

#7: MyKuali Penang White Curry – Malaysia

This is where the ties end and the numbers start to rise. MyKuali’s Penang White Curry scored 6 votes. Review: MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle

#6: Samyang Buldak Bokkeummyun – South Korea

Apparently, many of you like to feel the burn! This is the famous noodle that people use to challenge eachother to see whether they can handle the fiery heat. It got 7 votes. Review: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun

#5: MAMA Instant Noodles Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum – Thailand

With 9 votes, the flavor of this tom yum hits the halfway mark. Review: MAMA Instant Noodles Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum Flavour

#4: Nongshim Shin Ramyun – South Korea

Okay granted I don’t know if everyone was voting for the variety produced in South Korea, the United States or China, I won’t nitpick. Shin Ramyun got an impressive 18 votes. Review: Nongshim Shin Ramyun

#3: Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black – South Korea

Yeah you guys really like your ramyun! This one got 22 votes! Review: Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black

#2: Prima Taste Singapore Laksa La Mian – Singapore

A seriously good one – with 28 votes! Review: Prima Taste Singapore Laksa La Mian

#1: Indomie Mi Goreng Fried Noodles – Indonesia

Team Indonesia really turned out for their favorites. Indomie’s Mi Goreng got a whopping 46 votes! Way to go! Review: Indomie Mi Goreng Fried Noodles

Well, there’s the inaugural readers’s choice list. Hoping for more votes next time around! Remember, the more voters there are, the better glimpse we can see of everyone’s favorites! The new poll will be going up very soon so be on the lookout!

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The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodle Bowls Of All Time 2016 Edition

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Instant noodles sold in bowls are very popular as they provide a certain convenience to those ‘on the go.’ They’re great to pack in a bag for a trip or for the office at lunch. These are the best of the best that I’ve tried out of my over 2,060+ reviews to date. With that, open lid halfway, pour in some boiling water, stir – and enjoy!

A video presentation.

#10 – Unif Man Han Feast Sichuan Chili Eel Flavor Instant Noodle – Taiwan


The noodles are flat and broad. They have a nice quality to them; not too chewy but very good for a bowl noodle. The broth is rich with a good spiciness. The added bonus with this is the eel – it’s really good! Everything is rich and hearty and it’s definitely a feast to behold and consume. I should also note – this is one of a line that includes a braised beef variety amongst others. I would very much like to review every one of these, both in pack and bowl form. If you can source them and would like to send me some, please use the above contact form to do so! Thanks! Original review here

#9: Paldo Jjajangmen Chajang Noodle King Bowl – South Korea


Another in Paldo’s King Bowl line. Again, this one has thick and chewy ramyun but is a broth-free variety, coated with a delicious and savory black bean chajang sauce. Sticks-to-your-ribs! Original review here

#8 – Nissin Chikin Ramen Donburi – Japan

This one really brings me back. My first brush with exotic instant noodles was the Nissin Chikin Ramen package version when I was around 8-10 years old. This one really builds upon that, including a freeze dried block which springs to life with boiling water. It contains scrambled egg and spring onion – and delivers. This is excellent, classic and delicious. Original review

#7 – JML Spicy King Bowl Noodle Spicy Chicken Noodle – China

The noodles as usual plumped up nicely as they engorged themselves on the broth. good gauge, good chew. The broth is definitely strong and worthy of the top ten spicy list – it means business! Sichuan chilli heat is abundant. The oiliness is great and the hydrated vegetable bits are good as well – a tasty spicy bowl. Original review

#6 – Seven & I (Nissin) Gold Sumire Ramen – Japan

The noodles are thick and chewy – very premium. The broth has a very rich miso flavor that had a little thickness and a nice oiliness. The vegetables and bits hydrated perfectly – nice bits of ground meat and menma float happily about and are of good quality. Original review

#5 – Tokushima Seifun Yakibuta Ramen – Japan

The broth has a nice saltiness and soy flavor with just a little touch of sweetness. The pork flavor finds it’s way into the broth as well which is spectacular. The pork has a nice sweetness and ‘fall off the bone’ texture to it which is pure delicacy. The army of decent sized slices of narutomaki were amazing, and the spring onion and bamboo shoots were perfect. A bowl of amazing taste and quality. Original review

#4 – Nissin Raoh Rich Soy Sauce Flavor – Japan


The noodles and broth play so nicely together and the pork is quite good. A bowl of noodles to really enjoy by candlelight. Raoh slips to 4th place this year. Original review here

#3 – ORee Garden Malaysia Green Curry Noodle – Malaysia

A newcomer in both variety and brand to this list for 2016, ORee Garden’s green curry bowl is amazing stuff. Decent noodles are brought to life with a very rich and flavorful green curry broth which acts more like a tasty sauce. Then, they augment it with the inclusion of tofu puff and long bean. Exquisite! Original review

#2 – Choripdong Hurricane Rice Cake Topokki – South Korea


It’s red. It’s got a thick spicy and sweet sauce. It’s got ramyun. It’s got topokki. This was a real find – Just looking at the picture makes me want some right this instant. One of the most wonderful bowls of noodles I’ve ever had. Slipping from first place last year. Original review here

#1 – Nissin Gyoretsu-no-Dekiru-Mise-no-Ramen (Shrimp Tantanmen) – Japan

Talk about amazing. Now, on most of these bowls, you’ll notice I’ve added my own garnishes. I don’t count them in my reviewing – everything is reviewed prior to any additions I make. This is one where I’ve added nothing and just look at it! This one had very good noodles to start off. The broth was a very thick prawn infused decadent flavor spectacle. Then there’s the little crunchy topping and the other garnish they provide and this is just amazing stuff. Wow. Floored. Original review

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The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition

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Every year, I review a ton of instant noodles – and every year I come out with quite a few lists. This list tends to change the least of all my lists – I’ve had a lot of spicy instant noodles in my time and just seems like nobody’s getting any spicier products to market. Could be that they don’t want to melt people’s faces off perhaps. Anyways, here’s this year’s list – the spiciest varieties out of over 2,100 reviews. Enjoy – if you dare!

A video presentation of The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition.

#10: Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja – South Korea

While still not available in the United States, Jinjja Jinjja is back in South Korea! This one packs a serious punch of heat along with pork, peanut and black sesame seeds. Original review here

#9: JML Emperor Instant Noodles Spicy Chicken – China

I wasn’t expecting this one to be extremely spicy at the outset and then was in for a ride. Very very hot – augmented with a large sachet of coarse chilli peppers. Original review here

#8: emart Dare You! Habanero Jjamppong – South Korea

Extreme heat is paired with nice bit of seafood broth and lots of bits of seafood. All the fire and flavor melded together with thick ramyun noodles make it hot as well as delicious. This one comes in at 1,960 SHU (Scoville Heat Units). Original review here

#7: MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle – Malaysia

MyKuali’s new recipe added a big punch of heat to their already amazing and groundbreaking Penang White Curry Noodle. Thick almost saucelike broth fires up the palate and includes a generous amount of garlic this time. Original review here

#6: Ching’s Secret Hot Garlic Instant Noodles – India

When I found this one at a local Indian market, I was very enthused. I thought to myself ‘hey, I like garlic!’ I kind of expected a salty, buttery and almost fettucini kind of thing. But no – this innocuous looking plate of noodles was violently spicy! Super hot garlic spiciness just builds and builds! Original review here

#5: Mi E-Zee Perisa Kari Mi Segera – Malaysia

The noodles plumped up well and were nice and springy. The broth – ah, the broth. Here’s the improvement! The curry taste is much stronger (the old version called for 450ml water and this one calls for 400ml) – not only that, the little sachet of chilli pepper flake just puts it over the top. It’s hot – real hot – like walking around the living room as my mouth and lips are burning saying ‘ooh’ repeatedly hot. Original review

#4: Paldo Teumsae Ramyun – South Korea

On the list for four years now! Another South Korean ramyun with serious kick to it. This isn’t to be trifled with!  Teumsae has restaurants in South Korea which serve up some seriously spicy fare. I really like the text underneath the word Teumsae which reads, ‘Flavor. Culture. Human’ Original review here

#3: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyeon – South Korea

I would say that I’ve seen dozens of videos on YouTube showing people competitively eating this one. This stuff is extremely hot. Another brothless variety and it really packs a punch as well as has a nice taste to it. Thick ramyun noodles round everything out nicely and will transmit the spicy sauce to your tongue. Original review here

#2: Paldo Bulnak Bokkummyun Spicy Fried Octopus Ramyun – South Korea

See that little octopus on the package with the smile on his face? He’s laughing. Laughing as he watches you sweat as you eat this ultra spicy ramyun! I’m not kidding this one was over the top spicy! Bring a fire extinguisher. Original review here

#1: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramyun – South Korea

For the fourth year running, this stuff tops the list. Despite a packaging design change, you should still heed the warnings; habanero pepper top right corner, temperature gauge and screaming person, black packaging… Yeah – it’s not one to underestimate; this is violently hot. The broth just keeps delivering the heat and it’s just insane. Try licking a lit candle – I swear this stuff is hotter! Original review here

 

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New Samples From South Korea’s Paldo Food

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First, I want to send a special thank you to Yongmin Park for sending me product samples! See, every year I do the Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles list and each year it’s starting to seem like I get fewer and fewer products to try from South Korea. People have been getting grumpy about the list too – see, it’s only for products made IN South Korea, not elsewhere. Let’s have a look inside and see what awaits!

Under the lid (click to enlarge).

New premium varieties – jjamppong and jjajang (click to enlarge).

Budae Jigae (click to enlarge) – if you look at the enlargement, you can see that there are very interesting things on the package – beans, macaroni, sausages… Budae Jigae was developed after the Korean War – lots of US military rations were left for the people and they adapted them into a special stew/soup!

Finally, Bibimmyun – IN A BOWL (click to enlarge)!!! I’ve been trying to get my hands on this for a VERY long time! Thanks again Yongmin Park – you rock!

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#2212: Paldo Bul Jjamppong

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Here’s a new Jjamppong from Paldo of South Korea sent by Yongmin Park of Paldo. Thank you very much!  I really like jjamppong so let’s check it out!

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Contains fish. To prepare, add noodles and both the red and white sachets to 550ml boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Add in oil at the end. Stir and enjoy!

The noodle block.

A liquid sachet.

A liquid soup base.

The vegetables sachet.

A nice little mixture.

An oil sachet.

Spicy oil!

Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, spring onion, carved squid, Busan fishcake and shrimp. The noodles are big thick and great – very nice! The broth has a very good taste to it but seems to be missing the saltiness perhaps? I really like it, but something seems missing; maybe that makes it gourmet? Unsure. Vegetable bits hydrated very well. 3.75 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8809296883180.

Paldo Bul Jjamppong Noodle Soup, Spicy Seafood Flavor, 4.90 Ounce

A Paldo video about adding garlic and pork to a pan, sauteing it, then adding in water and this product and cooking it.

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#2220: Paldo Budae Jigae Ramyun

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Today I’ll be trying something new sent to me by Yongmin Park of Paldo – thank you very much! Very curious about this one as I’ve never seen it before. This is Budae Jigae – let’s see what Wikipedia has to say about it:

Budae jjigae (Korean pronunciation: [pudɛ tɕ͈iɡɛ]; literally “troop stew”) is a type of jjigae (a thick Korean soup similar to a Western stew). Soon after the Korean War, food was scarce in Seoul, South Korea. Some people made use of surplus foods from U.S. military bases around the Uijeongbu area, Pyeongtaek area (also called Songtan)[1] or Munsan area, such as hot dogs, Spam, or ham, and incorporated them into a traditional spicy soup flavored with gochujang (red chili paste) and kimchi.

Budae jjigae

Budae jjigae is still popular in South Korea. The dish often incorporates such modern ingredients as instant noodles and sliced American cheese. Other ingredients may include ground beef, sliced sausages, baked beans,minari, onions, green onions, tteok, tofu, chili peppers, macaroni, garlic, mushrooms, and other vegetables in season.[2]

Okay, this really sounds fascinating! Let’s give it a try, shall we?

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Looks to contain meat. To prepare, Add the large sachet contents to 500ml boiling water and stir. Add in the noodle block and simmer for 4 minutes. Add in contents of oil sachet. Stir and enjoy!

The large noodle block.

Liquid soup base.

Smells spicy!

The solid ingredients sachet.

Lots of interesting things in here – looks like sausage and tofu amongst other things!

The oil sachet.

Definitely detecting the scent of a hot dog vendor!

Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, coriander, processed cheese, Beanee Weenie, sausage, SPAM and kimchi. Wow – okay again I’m shocked when something comes across my desk that’s unlike anything I’ve reviewed before. Starting with the noodles – they’re great – thick ramyun. Chewy and thick gauge. The broth is really good – a little thicker than most and has a kind of ‘been boiling with hot dogs in it all day’ kind of thing going on. The included garnish was a real treat as it contained not only beans, processed meat and slices of sausage but pieces of macaroni as well. They really went above and beyond on this one and I’m impressed. Definitely find this one for the Winter months – good ‘stick to your ribsy’ kind of stuff. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 8809296883616.

Another one of my favorite Paldo products – Rabokki Noodle 5.11 Oz (Pack of 4) by Paldo

A nice little first person shooter – involving instant noodles…

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#2234: Paldo Bibim Men

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SPECIAL ELECTION MESSAGE

I wanted to take a second to talk about the events that have happened concerning the Presidential election here in the United States. I’ve got to say, I wasn’t expecting the outcome we’ve seen here. I live in Washington state – a very Liberal state – where Bernie Sanders won over 80% of the votes for the primary. Personally, I think we’d have a different President today if the DNC hadn’t played politics and made it impossible for him to win. Our delegates here all went for Clinton – even though the people voted otherwise. I decided not to vote for either Clinton or Trump as I didn’t like either of them. My friend Raffael over at Happy Souper in Germany has posted a review – and he mentioned people there are kind of freaked out about our new President. I guess we’ll see what happens. I’ll keep reviewing noodles. I did this video a long time ago – wish he would’ve gotten the nomination. 

Today I’ll be trying something new sent to me by Yongmin Park of Paldo – thank you very much! I’ve been really wanting to review the bowl version of Bibim Men for a long time and finally I got one! It’s funny; I’m sure this is as easy to get as anything in South Korea – like going to the convenience store here and getting a Pepsi… But this variety had eluded me for a long time. No longer! Let’s give it a try!

Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add boiling water to fill line and let steep for 3 minutes. Use a chopstick and poke holes in the designated spots on the lid (there are three of them) and use them as a drain spout. Add in liquid sachet contents. Stir and enjoy!

Detail of the lid (click to enlarge). Note the three marks on top to create the drain.

The noodle block.

The liquid sachet.

Has a sweet and spicy scent.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added hard boiled egg, spring onion, Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts and red pepper strands. This is such a nice match; you have the cold noodle which has a good denseness to it – kind of like the cold causes the noodle to contract a little. Then, you have a spicy sweet sauce which meets with the noodle and is just devourable. I really love this one – seriously good and simple; noodles and sauce. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8801128503594.

Paldo Bibim Men Cup Noodle 2-pack

A recent Paldo Bibim Men TV spot.

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The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles 2017 Edition

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The Ramen Rater's Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2017 Edition

South Korean instant noodles are known around the world as being spicy and beefy for the most part. However, there are many different styles. In fact, seafood jjamppong, black bean jjajang, cold noodles, and creamy beef noodles exist in the scene. Today, I’ll do a rundown of my favorites – the best of the highest rated South Korean varieties from over 2,300 unique varieties I’ve reviewed from around the world. Finally, I would like to note that it’s tougher to find South Korean varieties. Therefore, any instant noodle companies from South Korea should contact me promptly to be considered for upcoming top ten lists. Let’s get started.

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten South Korean Instant Noodles Of All Time 2017 Edition

This year’s video presentation with some extras!

#10: Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup

Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup

This is the first instant noodle on the top ten to be marketed towards vegetarians. What surprised me about it is that the broth has such a full flavor to it; deep and satisfying. The noodles are slightly larger in gauge than your run of the mill instant, which is common of South Korean ‘ramyun.’ Magnificent stuff! Original review here

#9: Samyang Foods Cheese Curry Ramyun

Samyang Foods Cheese Curry

The noodles are of a decent ramyun gauge and hydrate nicely in the three minutes directed. In addition, the broth is thick with a very nice kind of creamy curry flavor. Finally, an inkling of spiciness. Beautiful stuff! Original review here

#8: Nongshim Zha Wang (Jjawang) Noodles With Chajang Sauce

Nongshim Zha Wang Chajang Jjajangmyun

The noodles are out of this world – soft and chewy, with a nice width and thickness – very hearty. The sauce coats everything and there’s more than enough of it. Finally, its thick, rich black bean flavor is has peas, cabbage and other veggies. This is the best jjajang I’ve ever tried. Original review here

#7: Paldo Cheese Noodle

Paldo Cheese Noodle

These noodles – wow. Arguably the best addition to South Korean ramyun has to be cheese. Well, not only is cheese included here but it’s got just the perfect notes of spiciness and strong, rich flavor. The little guy with the sign that says cheese noodle rocks too! Original review here

#6: Nongshim Champong Noodle Soup Spicy Seafood Flavor

Nongshim Champong Noodle Soup Spicy Seafood Flavor

These noodles are big and plump and chewy – wider as well. They’re fantastic! Would love to see a Shin Ramyun using this noodle! The broth is equally wonderful insofar as the flavor has this taste and smell. It has a seafood barbecue kind of taste. The oil adds a nice extra to the broth. Spicy, tasty and awesome! Original review here

#5: Paldo Rabokki Noodle

Paldo Rabokki Noodle

The noodles plump up perfectly – thick and a good chew. The broth is more of a sauce and it’s very rich – spicy and sweet – like an adult version of Spaghetti-O’s which I find delectable. Original review here

#4: Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja

Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja

The noodles are very good – nice thick ramyun. In addition, I have read that they are augment them with chilli pepper in them as well. Next, the broth has a seriously spicy kick to it and a very peanut aroma with pork notes. Finally, the vegetables hydrate very well. Back with a vengeance! Original review here

#3: Nongshin Chal Bibim Myun

Nongshim Chal Bibim Myun

First, the noodles are nice and thick with a great chew – ramyun through and through. Second, the sauce works extremely well. It’s sweet and spicy and works perfectly with a cold noodle. Finally, the flavor is nice and crisp while smooth and effective. Original review here

#2: ChoripDong Hurricane Rice Cake

ChoripDong Hurricane Rice Cake Rabokki

Very red. It’s got a thick spicy and sweet sauce. Fresh ramyun. It’s got topokki. Indeed, this is a real find – Just looking at the picture makes me want some right this instant. Slipping from #1 to #2 this year. Original review here

#1: Paldo Budae Jigae

Paldo Budae Jigae / Chigae

As always, I’m shocked when something comes across my desk that’s unlike anything I’ve reviewed. In the first place, the noodles are great – thick ramyun. Indeed they are chewy and thick gauge. The broth is really good; thicker than most and has a kind of ‘boiling with hot dogs in it all day’ kind of thing going on. Moreover, the included garnish is a real treat as it contains not only beans, processed meat and slices of sausage, but pieces of macaroni as well. This one really goes above and beyond on this one – I’m impressed. Original review here

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#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon Instant Noodle

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#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Here’s a new jjajangmyun from Paldo of South Korea sent by Yongmin Park of Paldo. Thank you very much!  For those of you unfamiliar with jjajangmyeon, here’s some info from wikipedia:

Jajangmyeon (자장면; 짜장면; jjajangmyeon) is a noodle dish topped with a thick sauce made of chunjang (salty black soybean paste), diced pork and vegetables, and sometimes also seafood.

The dish originated from zhajiangmian (, literally “deep fried sauce noodles”) in China’s Shandong region.[1] The start of jajangmyeon can be traced back to the Joseon Dynasty. When the Joseon opened the Incheon port, many Chinese people from the Shandong region moved to a town in Incheon, which is now known as Incheon China Town.[2] these people created chines returant and made a é* The pronunciation of the dish’s name is nearly identical to that of its Korean counterpart. However, Korean jajangmyeon differs from Chinese zhajiangmian, as Korean jjajangmyeon uses black Korean chunjang including caramel, and onions.

Curious how this one will stand up compared to others. Only one way to find out!

#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon – South Korea

#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add noodle block and vegetables sachet to 600ml boiling water and cook for 4 1/2 minutes. Drain well. Add in contents of large sauce sachet. Stir and enjoy!

#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

The noodle block.

#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

The jjajang sauce sachet.

#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

A lot of sauce and it smells really good!

#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

The vegetables sachet.

#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Looks like peas and cabbage.

#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Finished (click to enlarge). The ramyun is great – thick and chewy just like I like it. The sauce is really awesome. I like the fact that it’s a sauce and isn’t mixed from a powder, although those kinds are really good too. This one has lots of nice bits of vegetables in the sauce. Solid. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8809296883098.

#2324: Paldo Jjajangmyeon - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Here’s Paldo’s other version – Paldo Jjajangmen Chajang Noodle Vegan No MSG 16-pack

A TV commercial for Paldo Jjangjangmyun.

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Spicy Korean Noodles From Anders & Ji-Min!

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Spicy Korean Noodles From Anders & Ji-Min! - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant noodles

I got an email a few weeks back asking if I’d tried the new 2x Spicy Buldak Bokkeummyun. I hadn’t and really wanted to. The email was sent by Anders and his girlfriend Ji-Min who live in South Korea and were kind enough to send some varieties along! Let’s see what’s inside!

Spicy Korean Noodles From Anders & Ji-Min! – South Korea

Spicy Korean Noodles From Anders & Ji-Min! - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant noodles

Well packed!

Spicy Korean Noodles From Anders & Ji-Min! - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant noodles

The beastly spicy (click to enlarge) 2x Spicy Haek Buldak Bokkeummyun!

Spicy Korean Noodles From Anders & Ji-Min! - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant noodles

Check it out (click to enlarge)! South Korean version of Shin Ramyun and Shin Black by Nongshim!

Spicy Korean Noodles From Anders & Ji-Min! - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant noodles

The Stew version of Buldak Bokkeummyun (click to enlarge).

Spicy Korean Noodles From Anders & Ji-Min! - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant noodles

Finally (click to enlarge), we have Paldo’s foray into the super spicy chicken scene – Volcano Spicy Curry! Thanks to Anders & Ji-Min!!!

The post Spicy Korean Noodles From Anders & Ji-Min! appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

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