Tag: foods

#4625: Samyang Tangle Bulgogi Alfredo Tangluccine – United States

#4780: Samyang Tangle Bulgogi Alfredo Tangluccine - United States

Found this one recently at Boo Han Market in Edmonds, Washington. I rarely buy a multipack, but I found this one so compelling that I figured why not. Bulgogi is a delectable dish which usually isn’t represented well when not in it’s original form, and marrying it to something as western as an alfredo pasta seemed really fascinating – if it works. Let’s see if they can manage to balance the authenticity of both dishes well. ...see full post

#4438: Samyang Foods Buldak Lovely Hot – South Korea

#4438: Samyang Foods Buldak Lovely Hot - South Korea

A big thank you to The Fat Hipster from YouTube for sending this over – so I figured this sounds like a good place to start. Why? Well, I realized in my post schedule for YouTube that this would come on Valentine’s Day, so hearts, Valentine’s day – not an extreme stretch. This appears to be a less spicy version – but it’s also got something else going on. The packaging scheme looks a lot like Buldak Light. ...see full post

#4420: Samyang Buldak Cheese Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen – United States

#4420: Samyang Buldak Cheese Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen - United States

So I’ve not reviewed this one in a long time. Way back when it was introduced, it had a black background, then changed to cheese colored to lessen confusion. That was back when the import version looked like the original Korean version with the Hangul text. Well, this is the current version for the US market. They’ve changed the recipe for a few of these and so curious about how this one is these days. Let’s find out. Oh – and by the way – this isn’t chicken flavored – it’s based on the spicy sauce you put on Korean BBQ chicken, so calling this chicken flavored is like calling Sweet Baby Ray’s beef flavored – but that explanation would really make for a long title. Ok let’s do this. ...see full post

#4404: Samyang Foods Habanero Lime Buldak Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen – United States

#4404: Samyang Foods Habanero Lime Buldak Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen - United States

Recently, I reviewed the pack version of this one and the nice folks at Samyang also sent me the cup version! I’m curious what the difference is going to be, if any. This one’s going to take a spin in the microwave. There should be a mukbang as well. Made in South Korea and packaged for US market sale. Let’s get started! ...see full post

#4139: Prince Katsu Hello Kitty Spicy Noodle Soup – United States

#4139: Prince Katsu Hello Kitty Spicy Noodle Soup - United States

This is an interesting one. It appears this is a variety made just for the United States by Taiwanese company A-Sha, however it is produced in Vietnam. What’s more interesting is that it’s a Hello Kitty licensed product and it’s spicy – better do a mukbang! How spicy could it be with the cutesy factor? We’ll find out. ...see full post

#3817: WhatIf? Foods Bamnut Noodles With Sweet Hot Seasoning – Singapore

#3817: WhatIf? Foods Bamnut Noodles With Sweet Hot Seasoning - Singapore

I did a bunch of preliminary work with an interviewer from Channel News Asia a while back for a program they were developing. They chose to not include me in it, which does happen. I was disappointed, but the interviewer was really nice and connected me with a company who was to be featured on the show. The show was focusing on the trend of more health focused noodles around the world, and these are some from that company, WhatIf? Foods. Definitely a unique box! Let’s look within and give them a try! ...see full post

#3638: Hi-Lai Foods Lai Noodle – Taiwan

Hi-Lai Foods Lai Noodle - Taiwan

I was contacted in July 2020 about a new variety of noodle hailing from Taiwan. I was very interested in trying and gave the company the go ahead. Fast forward to mid September and I’m going to give it a try – they arrived last week. These sound interesting; they’re Vegan friendly and have a minced pork sachet which is made with so  protein, mushrooms, white fungus, celery and other vegetables. A chewy noodle and a ‘secret sauce’ with Sichuan pepper is mentioned in the promotional sheet that accompanied these. Let’s give it a try! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Wu-Mu

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Sanyo Foods (1 of 2)

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Sanyo Foods (1 of 2)

Was really happy to get samples directly from Sanyo Foods Corp Of America for this Meet The Manufacturer series. As I said previously, one of my goals has been to do Meet The Manufacturer series with all the instant noodle companies in the United States. Let’s see what’s inside! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Sanyo Foods Corp Of America

Samyang Foods Sends 2x Fire Noodle & Others

Samyang Foods Sends 2x Fire Noodle & Others

Buldak Bokkeummyun is the Korean name for what people all over the world have been enduring in the Fire Noodle Challenge. It’s a seriously spicy variety – #3 on my Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition. Well, they’ve come out with a spicier version that’s supposed to be just amazing. I contacted them and they sent me some along with other varieties – let’s check it out! ...see full post

Re-Review: Samyang Foods Fresh Jjajang

Okay so I guess karma will get you. I dunno. Let me explain… So I got this pack along with a couple others at HMart a week or two ago (great store, HMart by the way) and they had one of this series in single packs to buy, but the other two were in 5 packs that were around $9 each. Well, I went to the trouble of opening a couple of the 5 packs and taking out one each . Now, I’m unsure if this is truly a horrible thing to do; I’m sure they just put them on the shelf with the others that are sold in singles. Plus hey – I got them at HMart (there – the third time I mentioned HMart! Ooh a fourth!), so if you want to get these you can find them there. Well, as it turns out I reviewed this one in May and now I’m reviewing it again! Wasn’t my plan to do a re-review today but here we are. So perhaps the pulling of single packs from the multipack is why this happened. But probably not; I’m just getting old. Anyways, this is a jjajang/zha jiang (black bean sauce) noodle. Let’s hit it! ...see full post

#2136: Nissin Demae Ramen Roast Beef Flavour Instant Noodle

Here’s another I reviewed as part of a collaboration with Apple Daily news. Nothing like a good beef instant noodle! I remember a couple years ago being told that Chinese sausage is popular to put in with beef instant noodles, so I think that’ll be what gets put in today – haven’t used it in a long time. Just to reassure you, nothing gets scored after I put any external ingredients in. That’s the way I always review; I think you’ll agree that’s the only fair way to do it. anyways, let’s get started! ...see full post

#2099: Sanpo Yakibuta Ramen

Here’s another one from the Box From Japan box from March! BoxFromJapan.com is a monthly subscription service – you get 4 neat and very unique bowls of ramen sent from Japan along with a few chopsticks and a little letter! Really awesome – I’ve not gotten any that I’ve reviewed before at this point which is really quite amazing! Anyways, check them out! Today’s variety looks interesting – they mention that the piece of pork is shaped like a heart to show the care they put into their products. Neat! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #2078: Nissin Demae Iccho Curry Beef Flavour Instant Noodle

If you’ve followed my reviews for a while, two things you’ll probably have realized – I like curry and I like beef. I don’t think I’ve tried a curry instant from outside of South Korea before and this one looks pretty neat. This is the first cup version of the Demae Iccho line I’ve ever gotten my hands on! Let’s have a look inside! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Nissin Hong Kong

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

Instant noodle… snacks? Yeah! Snacks of all kinds have come from instant noodles – candy, crunchy bits, you name it. They’re popular all over Asia and also the United States; have you ever taken a pack of instant noodles, crushed them and added in the seasoning and shaken the bag up and eaten them like potato chips or popcorn? Well, this is popular elsewhere as well! Let’s check out my favorite instant noodle snacks from over 1,900 reviews. Enjoy! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1451: Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yam Seafood Flavour

Whether you call is Tom Yam or Tum Yum, it’s a tasty, spicy and citrus flavored soup that originally heralds from Thailand. It is often served with seafood (shrimp seems most common) and garnished with coriander, better known in the United States as cilantro. When I first saw something mentioning coriander in Tom Yam, I decided to go to the store and find some. I ended up with a $5 little jar of powder. At the point I realized they call it cilantro here, I felt a little stupid, albeit a more educated. Coriander adds a nice little flavor to things. The thing is that you can’t get it here in very small amounts. For usually between 50 and 90 cents, you get more coriander than I would have any clue of what to do with, and I suppose it could be frozen, but I don’t think it would be as fresh and happy as it is when it’s just bought. So, I always feel a bit wasteful when I buy it. On the bright side, I think it’ll come into play a few times in this week, so that’s at least a plus. Well, let’s try this Tom Yam and use some coriander! ...see full post

#1425: Hao Way Instant Penang White Curry Noodles

It was only a matter of time that I would get to try yet another Malaysian Penang white curry variety. There are quite a few out there now! Unfortunately, most of them are only available in Malaysia, so it’s tricky to get them. If I can get enough of them, I’d like to do a top ten of those! As far as I know, there are ten varieties, but now there could be more. Win Onn makes this Penang white curry  – and they really wanted me to try it! After the first try and the noodles being destroyed by the US Department of Agriculture for having a little chicken in them, they tried again with some documentation – and the USDA saw fit to let them through! Yay! Let’s have a look at this, the third Penang white curry variety I’ve gotten my hands on. ...see full post

#1408: Pamana Chicken Sopas Creamy Macaroni Soup

The other day we headed south to check out Ikea. I’d never been there before – wow pretty crazy place! I even tried the meatballs – not bad. Nearby Ikea is Seafood City, a big grocery store that sells mostly Filipino stuff. I have only been there once before and found lots of great instant noodles I’d not reviewed before. Sadly, I only found one – and this is it. Actually, my wife Kit found it! Thanks, Kit! I like the name; it looks like Panama and my spellcheck is insisting is should be spelled Panama, but it’s Pamana. One thing to note – so by the time this is posted, we”ll have moved. I’m quite a few reviews ahead which is nice. No time today to do the pics of sachet contents (actually I packed my little bowls already). Let’s see what’s inside! ...see full post

#1121: Sau Tao Oat Noodle Sesame Oil Flavored

Let me say that the past couple of days have been probably a couple of the most crazy, fascinating and rewarding of my run so far as The Ramen Rater. I did am interview with Quartz (part of The Atlantic) and it went viral; Huffington Post picked it up, Grub Street, Digg,… Did an interview with South Korea’s Cultwo Veranda Show and appeared, and have two interviews with radio and television lined up in the next couple of days. A couple of interesting opportunities I can’t talk about yet have popped up and I’m very excited about them and will share as soon as I can. Thursday I went up to Canada and met with some folks at a big Asian grocery called T&T Supermarket. They were really nice people and even sent me home with some great new varieties to review and share! Thank you so much! This is one of them. Oat noodles? This sounds different – see the little circle on the lower right? It says ‘health is important. Let’s check it out! ...see full post