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This one came in a special ‘First Taste Club’ box from Nissin Foods USA – pretty snazzy. So, what’s the big deal? Well, it’s Top Ramen, in a bowl. It also comes with vegetables. It also comes with… teriyaki sauce? I’m very curious about this one – let’s cook it up and ruminate on this…
I was told a while back that Brazilians don’t go all in for ultra spicy and that this range does have varieties that are spicier than others, but not super duper spicy. Either way, this sounded like a good one for today, so here we go.
I found these at the Real Canadian SuperStore up in Richmond, BC a while back. I’ve been quite surprised how good this very, well, boring packaged range is. It all ges to show that you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, or noodles by it’s wrapper. I’m reviewing this one on Canada Day! Let’s give it a try!
This one comes from Zenpop.jp – a subscription box service. If you want to check out their boxes and get one, use coupon code RAMENRATER for a discount. Here’s what they have to say about this one – “The Cup Star came out on January 18th in 1973. This limited flavor is made to celebrate the Cup Star’s 44th anniversary. Some members from the idol group Nogizaka48 are printed on the label to give a special touch to the product, and you might see some of their printed autographs when you open the lid. Enjoy the combination of chicken and butter and this shio (salt) based ramen and contains slightly chunky potatoes along with cabbage, corn, and carrots. If you are a Nogizaka48 fan you should save the container after using it!”
I can’t thank my readers enough. When one went on a visit to Europe and kept updating m on varieties he’d found and asked if I wanted to try hem while I was there – that’s really jumbling. Thank you! This is from Spain. Barbecue chicken flavor. Let’s give it a go!
So I’m stoked – Chef Ron shot over a big box of samples! Things have changed though – these days the drink is missing, as are the vegetables. He promises that this is still an amazing product and I will still love it. Let’s find out!
I received a package with a couple of varieties of Peruvian instant noodles last week, then one with even more the next as well as a TON of Brazilian ones! I have to say, I have the nicest readers and want to thank you for your continued support in sending samples I couldn’t source otherwise!
The second of the Fitmee varieties sent by Empire International – thanks again! I sampled the first a couple days ago and was very impressed – it was a kind of buldak dry version that was pretty good and only 150 calories! This one has a soto flavor and is – get this – only 60 calories! What’s soto? Here’s some info from Wikipedia –
Okay, alright. It’s another Buldak spicy thing and this time its not topokki and ramen, it’s just topokki. What’s exciting about this is that this is the export version. I’m usually not happy about getting export versions; I want the local versions; te ones that people in their respective countries find at the store. But what’s cool is that this is now available in the United States – and I’ve seen it here recently. This is original Buldak Bokkeummyun flavor – there’s also a Carbo version as well. For those of you who are asking ‘what’s a topokki?!’ here’s a little info from Wikipedia –
This is an interesting one. Made in China for the US market. I found this one at a Fred Meyer supermarket here in Lynnwood – the last place I’d expect to see something like this. It’s nice to see stores expanding these kinds of things. Let’s give it a try!
A few months ago I did a Meet The Manufacturer series on Vite Ramen, but the packs I tried were prototypes and not this, the finished product for version 1.0 (version 1.1 will be coming soon and I’ll be giving that a try when it comes out). It’s a neat concept brought to life by Tim & Tom Zheng.
This came by way of Robert over at www.dadbert.com – thanks! I’ve never seen hide nor hare of this variety ever before – anywhere. Test market in Kentucky? Perhaps. It looks like these are a meat version of the Very Veggie really; lots of meat instead of vegetables. My thought – screw it – I mean put lots of meat AND vegetables in there. In fact, screw that – do a retort pooch with meat and vegetables – now you’re talking! Nissin – you’re here in the United States already – use real meat! Retort pouches are the salvation – they shall bring a whole new age to the domestic instant noodle industry in America! At least that’s my vision. Let’s check it out!
Another one from the Real Canadian SuperStore! Man, I just ran my knee into a metal bar that supports my desk. That really hurt. I’ve been doing a lot of walking yesterday – on my birthday last week I did 18,000+ steps – yesterday I did over 15,000. I’m knee deep into trying to walk as much as possible. I think by the time this post comes out I’ll have lost a lot more weight. I started in November, 2018. I was wearing size 48 pants – yeah… It’s March and I’m down to 42, so we shall see where I’m at then… Been trying to stick around 1,200 calories a day too… I’m going to bake some chicken to go with this one. I like chicken. Let’s look at this one.
Today we have a Zenpop.JP variety – so what’s Zenpop? They’re a subscription service for all things Japanese! Definitely, check them out. By the way, use coupon code RAMENRATER to get $2 off! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘Chicken based shoyu ramen – the kind that makes you cherish your memory eating your first shoyu ramen. (natsukoshi roughly means nostalgic). This is like the ramen you see being waten at yatai food stalls set up on streets by characters in some anime. Chopped chashu (roast pork) goes well with this simple, most enjoyed ramen.’
Here’s something new from MAma Pat’s – cups! I recently reviewed the chicken taco variety and was disappointed that they removed the vegetable sachets from their packs. Well, they’re still in these cups and that should be interesting. Let’s give it a try!
All I can think about when I see this one is Super Chicken. That in turn makes me think of Ice Cube. Which in turn reminds me of the days when I would ride on my mountain bike throughout the streets of Anacortes with a big boom box on the back blasting music and smoking cigarettes.
Here’s the second of the two initial varieties of the Momosan Ramen range from Sapporo Ichiban. These feature a collaboration with Iron Chef Morimoto , one is a tonkotsu and this is the Tokyo Chicken. Let’s crack into it and give it a try!
Today we have a Zenpop.JP variety – so what’s Zenpop? They’re a subscription service for all things Japanese! Definitely, check them out. By the way, use coupon code RAMENRATER to get $2 off! Here’s what they had to say about this one – ‘This Daikichi series cup noodle is common in Hokkaido. Daikichi means “excellent luck” in Japanese. Why don’t you wish for some good luck in the new year by eating Daikichi cup noodle? Chicken based salty soup with kelp broth and other ingredients such as flower-shaped toasted gluten cakes and fluffy eggs will bring you luck!’
Well here we are. The last of the French Samyang stuff. I’ve really found these to be really quite good and hope to see more from them at some time soon – maybe packs? Anyways, this is a coconut chicken flavored variety. Let’s dig in!
This is a new one – a smaller Buldak Bokkeummyun! However it packs a big punch. This one’s clocking in at 12,000SHU, the highest heat level to date in the range. This is to celebrate the 7th anniversary of Buldak Bokkeummyun – happy birthday! What’s cool too is that the character Hochi’s birthday is the same as my wife’s! I thought hey – I should put this out on her birthday! Let’s give it a try.
Woot woot! It is so rare these days I can get my hands on a variety from the Philippines that I’ve not reviewed yet and so I’m really stoked on this one. What’s interesting is that there are two Nissin companies in the Philippines. Nissin Monde and Nissin Universal Robina. Nissin Monde is actually a company that first started out selling biscuits. Nissin Universal-Robina is an arm of the well known Japanese empire of instant noodles. Nissin Monde is responsible for the Lucky Me! brand. Kind of interesting and odd. Anyways, let’s check this yakisoba out!
I was looking on Facebook and a friend from Samyang Foods posted something about developing a range specifically for France. Having never reviewed anything for the French marketplace, I thought this would be really great to try. Well, they arrived recently and so today we start with this interesting variety. What is it? Well, most likely it’s the standard buldak bokkeummyun fire noodle in different clothes. But we’ll find out. Let’s have a look!
Here’s one that was sent by a Brazilian reader named Daniel – thank you again! I couldn’t figure out a whole lot about this one – I do know that galinha is young hen. Usually tends to be on the oilier side. So let’s give it a try!
Today we have a Zenpop.JP variety – so what’s Zenpop? They’re a subscription service for all things Japanese! Definitely, check them out. By the way, use coupon code RAMENRATER to get $2 off! Here’s what they had to say about this one -“Chikin Ramen is the very first instant noodles in the world. It was invented by Momofuku Ando in 1958, and it is said that instant noodle is one of the greatest invention in 20th century. We definitely think so! This year is the 60th anniversary of Chikin Ramen, so enjoy the classic instant noodle to celebrate it!”
So yesterday was my birthday, and one of the best I’ve had yet. This one was a little different; usually I’m all about going out somewhere to eat or partying up. I had a couple goals for my birthday. One was to do a mukbang of this one and publish it yesterday – which I was able to do.
It’s been so long since I’ve seen a Nongshim product that’s been in an individual pack I’ve not tried it’s making my head spin. I used to get samples from them all the time, but not in quite a while. I miss them! I found this at a Fred Meyer store in Lynnwood, Washington last night! This looks like an interesting new concept for them – make it wet or dry. The name was a little confusing to me at first – I thought it was just called Pop then looked a little closer and thought Pot Por Pan? Ahhh – Pot OR Pan.. That makes more sense. I think I’m going to try pot today. Let’s check it out!
This one might be a bit of a surprise to you – insofar that I haven’t reviewed it, that is. Well, two other brand have these ‘bowl noodle’ style products from South Korea as well. This is Samyang’s entry into the fray of this form factor and style. Don’t get me wrong – one that’s been popular for years is their Yukgaejang bowls which look almost identical – except the name. They recently sent a bunch of these in different flavors – let’s give chicken a try!
Today, we have the second of the trifecta of Cup Noodles Intensos. a range of spicy varieties from Nissin Mexico. Not only are the spicy, but the three have different levels of spicy. I think this is the second hottest of the three. Alitas Hot – what does it mean? basically Hot Wings. Let’s give it a go!
Here’s one I found over at Waroeng Jajanan, the amazing Indonesian store on 99 in Edmonds. If you’re in Washington state and interested in anything Indonesian entering your stomach, go there. Trust me on this.
Here’s one of the many varieties I still have from Rooster, a range made in China for Canada’s Loblaw’s company. Loblaw’s owns The Real Canadian SuperStore, and that’s where I found these. Just think of Walmart, but slightly different and Canadian owned – not American. Let’s check this one out – the others in this range have been surprisingly good despite the very plain look to them.
This was one in a box sent by Mohd from Selangor, Malaysia – thank you again! So I was trying to figure out how to translate this one. Basically, Pedas Giler is ‘crazy spicy.’ I’m all in on this one. Let’s check it out!
Found this one up in Canad at a market in Richmond, BC called China World. I’ll be the first to admit that I like chicken, but abalone just isn’t my thing usually. Hopefully this one will be pretty good. Let’s find out!
So it happened. A date night. These are pretty rare for us and a lot of fun! So we decided to give another ramen joint a try. Tonight, it’s Jinya Ramen Bar in Bellevue, Washington.
This one was sent by a person named Shoffee in Malaysia – my thanks! This is truly something I’d never be able to review without a reader sending it in. From what I’m getting on the package, it looks to be much like the popular fire noodles. At the very least, it’s definitely influenced by them. Let’s give them a try!
Here’s one that was sent by James B. – thank you very much! What have we here? Well, it’s Thai flavor noodle cup action from the Netherlands! Thom Khakai is coconut chicken flavor. Let’s have a look!
Well, it finally happened. Samyang Foods originally released their 2x Spicy Buldak Bokkeummyun in South Korea a while back – for a limited time. In fact, it was supposed to be for a limited time everywhere. Well, it was in South Korea. But as of December 3rd, 2018 they brought it back. The original 2x was 8,706 SHU. This one is 10,000 SHU. This would then be 2.25x Spicy as the original version was 4,404 SHU. But one could round it up to 2.3, and if we’re rounding up I suppose one could round 2.3 up to 2.5. Regardless of how you look at it, it is indeed spicier. Let’s take a look!
After searching during four – count them FOUR – trips to Canada looking or them, I finally found them with the help of a reader/viewer from YouTube – THANK YOU! So you may know these as dumplings, gyoza, or potstickers – thy’re all the same thing. Just call them dumplings, please.
The second review in this series was the bowl version of this one. Steeping vs non-steeped. Let’s take a look!
Well, here we are again. I goit one of these bowls a long time ago and guess what happened? I opened the retort pouch and spilled it all over my leg and on the floor! Was crushed; hard to find this one and I had only one of them. Egad! Luckily, TTL sent all of these for Meet The Manufacturer (thank you again!) and now I can give it another go. I should note I didn’t spill anything this time – let’s give it a go!
I thought I ought to start at the beginning. I’m pretty sure this and the rice wine spring chicken varieties are the first that TTL shared with the world and it just made sense to go with those to begin Meet The Manufacturer. Here’s a little about Shaoxing wine, featured in this variety from Wikipedia –
