Tag: japanese

Meet The Manufacturer: #1386: Takamori Sukiyaki Style Noodle Stew

Well, we’re almost to the end of this Meet The Manufacturer. It’s been a really fun journey through all of these Japanese flavors. Today, I’m going to review a beefy sukiyaki udon stew! But what is sukiyaki? Let’s ask Wikipedia: ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1385: Takamori Yaki-Udon Roast Soy Sauce

First things first: Happy Mother’s Day! Don’t forget to call your Mom today!

This one sounds good – yaki-udon is something really new to me and during this Meet The Manufacturer, the first time I’ve tried it. The one I had the other day was really tasty – curious how this one will be! Basically the different between yakisoba and yakiudon is that it’s a wider gauge noodle. Let’s see how this one with roast soy sauce flavor comes out! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1384: Takamori Hiyashi Udon Bonito Sauce

This is another cold noodle dish. Bonito is a fish that is used to flavor broths quite often in Japanese cuisine. The last Takamori cold noodle variety I had was one of the best I’ve ever had – let’s see how this one fares! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1383: Takamori Futomen Yakisoba

During this week, we’ve been reviewing different types of yakisoba – but what is Futomen yakisoba? Futomen is a variety with a slight wider gauge noodle than the regular soba noodle. Also I am told that the flavoring is a little spicier. Let’s check it out! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1382: Takamori Hiyashi Chuka Lemon Sauce

We;ve had some nice sunny days already this spring here in Washington. Had a day that got close to 80 degrees! Was really nice. The review today is on a noodle dish that is served cold. Cold noodles are enjoyed throughout Asia, but it’s really something that isn’t commonly seen in the United States. Let’s have a look at this unique variety. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1381: Takamori Curry Udon

Hey it’s curry time! Japanese curry is much different from other curries around the world. Often with a sweet and less spicy hit, it’s really excellent stuff to behold and taste. I’m really curious about this one – let’s dig in! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1379: Takamori Shio Yakisoba

This was a welcome surprise – shio yakisoba! Shio is a popular variety of ramen, but I’ve never heard of it as a version of yakisoba before. Shio translates to salt in English, but that doesn’t mean that it”s just flavored with salt. Wikipedia has this to say about Shio ramen: ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1378: Takamori Yakisoba

I’ve always liked yakisoba. It’s a brothless soba noodle that’s fried in a skillet with some meat, veggies, and a nice Worcestershire sauce flavor. It’s great stuff! I’ve always been curious though, how Worcestershire sauce made it into Japanese culinary culture. I dug around and found this on Wikipedia: ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1377: Takamori Yaki-Udon Mild Spicy Sauce

On the menu today is something I’ve been very curious to try – yaki-udon! As you might surmise, the yaki prefix means fried. Yakisoba are fried soba noodles, and so yaki-udon are fried udon noodles; simple! Anyways, it sounds really interesting – let’s have a look at this one. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1376: Takamori Katsuo Dashi Udon

Udon is a very popular noodle in Japan and around the world. It’s characterized by being really thick. My wife’s a big fan of udon – they’re her favorite noodles! But what is katsuo dashi? Well, katsuo is the Japanese name for Skipjack tuna, a variety which is popular all over Asia. Dashi on the other hand is a little less simple. Here’s what Wikipedia had to say ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: #1375: Takamori Tomato Spaghetti Napolitan

Thought a neat one to start with would be this. It’s kind of like a twist on yakisoba and spaghetti and sounded really neat. Let’s have a look! ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Product Samples From Takamori Kosan

A week or so ago, Yuji contacted me with a tracking number – samples were on the way! I saw the mailman drive by and ran outside and got this package. ...see full post

Meet The Manufacturer: Interview With Takamori Kosan

#1374: Tokyo Noodle Spicy Garlic Ramen

Here’s one that came to me by way of Abbie C. of Hong Kong – thanks! Spicy garlic – that sure sounds good! This pack hold four little blocks. The blocks have the flavoring infused into the noodles! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1368: Nissin Soba Teriyaki Noodles With Japanese Yakisoba Sauce

Nissin has factories all over the world – even one in Germany! This is one of the varieties manufactured there. Soba is a type of noodles. Yakisoba is that noodle being fried (there’s yakiudon as well). These cups are really neat – let’s pop it open and look inside! ...see full post

#1346: Oyatsu Baby Star Ramen Round Consomme Mini

Here’s a neat one I got at Fujiya up in Richmond, BC during this year’s birthday trip! This is a snack ramen – basically cooked and dried ramen that’s crunchy and tasty! I really like finding new ones to try as eventually I’m thinking a top ten list of snack ramen noodles will be produced. Anyways, let’s have a look! ...see full post

#1330: Sapporo Ichiban Otafuku Okonomi Sauce Yakisoba

Here’s some more noodles I picked up last July in Canada. It’s been a while now, so I’ll tell you the story of the July trip. I saw a blog post from a guy up in Vancouver, BC who was talking about my top ten list. He had a really neat little graphic icon that looked cool, so I tried to figure out where it was from. Finally, he was the one who let me in on it. It was a graphic someone had made of my top ten list! I was curious to find out where it had come from… ...see full post

#1321: Takamori Fresh Chow Mein Noodles With Seasoning

A co-worker named Joan at my wife’s work recently went to Hawaii and went out of her way to find something I hadn’t tried yet! She looked through the Big List and lo and behold, I hadn’t tried this chow mein! Thank you very much! These are fresh noodles, usually found in the cold section. They’re also a broth free variety. You might be more familiar with them as yakisoba, a noodle dish that can be found at little teriyaki joints all over. Let’s give this a try! ...see full post

#1318: Nissin King Spa王 (Spa Oh) Tarako Spaghetti

I’ll admit when I first saw the packaging, I thought this stuff was called Spaz! I kind of wish it was as that would be exceedingly humorous, but I digress… This is Tarako Spaghetti; so what is tarako? Wikipedia tells us: ...see full post

#1312: Maruchan ‘I Want To Eat Ramen’ Miso Flavor

I can honestly say that I want to eat ramen. Every day. Well, if not ramen, ramyun, udon, mi goreng, mee and every other kind of instant noodle out there! It’s fun! Sometimes it’s hard to decide which one to review though, and so my wife was kind enough to pick one out of the bin and toss it to me this morning – and this is it. Let’s have a look! Most people here in the US think of Maruchan as making their instant packs and ‘Instant Lunch’ cups, but they make a varied line of products over in Japan with more traditional flavors from the region. But to start things off before any reviewing, today is Valentine’s Day – happy Valentine’s Day to all! My wife Kit and I spent a special day yesterday in Seattle yesterday… ...see full post

#1307: Nissin Cup Noodle Cheese Curry

This one was sent to me by Abbie C. of Hong Kong – thank you again! Curry – and cheese? Been very curious about this one, that’s for sure. I like curry a lot – one of the flavors that’s always strong and varies so much from culture to culture. Let’s see how it pairs with cheese and noodles in this cup. ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Japanese Instant Noodles Of All Time 2014 Edition

It’s only a few days until Momofuku Ando Day, and what better time to introduce the very first Japanese Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time list? In 1958, Momofuku Ando initially brought these convenient products to the world. At first seen as an overpriced novelty, they’ve grown in popularity; 100 billion instant noodle products were enjoyed in 2012! Here are my favorites, manufactured in the instant noodle’s birthplace of Japan. ...see full post

#1281: Tokachimen Koubou Jet Black Sesame Oil Pork Tonkotsu

This one came by way of Courtnay N. of British Columbia, Canada – thanks! Got help translating from Scott A. – thank you! This looks like an interesting one – let’s check it out! ...see full post

Christmas Review: #1263: Nissin Cup Noodle Curry X Gunpla RX-78-2 Gundam

I’ve been really wanting to review this one before now but I decided to do it for the Christmas review quite a while back. I don’t usually barge in with a different review during Meet The Manufacturer, but it’s Christmas so here it is. The ABC President Meet The Manufacturer will continue after Christmas. For now, let’s check out this cup. I’ve had cups that have come with little doo dads before; a ticket for a contest, a sticker, a little card… But this is something completely different. A little model kit! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1247: Maruchan ‘I Want To Eat Ramen’ Pork Tonkotsu Flavor

Wow thank you to Scott A. and Mari S. for help in translating the name of this one! Making this one for the kid – he’s unsure about it, but hopefully he’ll want to eat it! Let’s check it out. ...see full post

#1241: Nissin Donbei Kansai Soy Sauce Flavor Udon

Was digging through the box today and decided I’d better get on this one. I couldn’t really find a lot about it other than the Google translation from Nissin Japan’s site. It mentions something about being special for the rainy season. Also mentions seaweed. Let’s give it a try! ...see full post

#1238: Sapporo Ichiban Sesame Ramen

Wow a noodle review on Thanksgiving? Yeah – although I did it yesterday and scheduled it to auto-post… Rest assured as you read this I’m probably helping make Thanksgiving dinner up at my mom’s. Sesame ramen eh? I bet turkey would go good with it… I’ll do some kind of turkey recipe soon. Let’s check this one out. ...see full post

#1229: Kumamoto Tonkotsu Ramen MEGA Dragon

Wow look at that! Huge, isn’t it? This is probably the largest noodle package I’ve ever seen! It was sent by the folks in Japan at God Of Patena. Let’s see what’s in this mega ramen package! ...see full post

#1228: Maruchan Seimen Japanese Instant Noodles Shio Aji

Here’s one I got early this year the MBS TV station sent to me after I did the God Of Patena TV show! Thanks again – hope to be on again someday! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1220: Nissin Ultraman Instant Noodle Pork Flavor

This was sent by Abbie C. of Hong Kong – thank you! She offered to find a Pokemon cup for my son but couldn’t find one, so this is an Ultraman cup! Awesome! It’s really small – smallest sized noodle cup I’ve tried yet! Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1219: Tokyo Noodle Mini Instant Noodle Spicy Flavor

I asked my wife Kit if she’d pick which instant I’d review today. Well, this is what she picked! We got it at Uwajimaya in Seattle in July at some point (the reason I know that is because the first review I did of this brand was July 20th). I used to end up with a big haul of new stuff every time I’d hit Uwajimaya, but these days they’re a little farther and fewer between. What’s great about these is that they’re much like the first instant noodle I ever got at Uwajimaya a long time ago, just smaller. Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1217: Doll Hello Kitty Dim Sum Noodle Japanese Curry Flavour

Here’s one that was sent by Abbie C. of Hong Kong – thanks! I always try to source Hello Kitty and Pokemon related instants as my wife likes Hello Kitty and my son’s a Pokemaniac. Let’s check this one out! ...see full post

#1207: Nissin U.F.O. (Unidentified Flying Object) Yakisoba With Wasabi Mayonnaise

Yakisoba is great but add some mayo with wasabi? Man that sounds really good! Let’s have a look at this one! ...see full post

#1202: Sugakiya Foods Udon Miso Stew

Hey this looks really good! It’s a foggy day here and I can hear the ships out in the sea blowing their horns in the distance. Time for seafood! Let’s check this one out! ...see full post

#1200: Men-Sunaoshi Tonkotsu Ramen

Review #1200! Wow – only 800 to go to #2000! By the way if you’ve got a second, can you vote for The Ramen Rater in the Best of Western Washington contest? Trying to get first place in the food blog category! Here’s the link. So here’s an interesting one I picked up in Canada. Took a bit of figuring to tell what it was for sure – let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1197: Nissin Cup Noodle Chili Tomato

Robert F. of Hoboken, NJ was kind enough to send one of these – thanks! Very curious how it will be… Only one way to find out! ...see full post

#1193: Nissin Soba Curry Noodles With Japanese Yakisoba Sauce

Here’s another one from Scott over at Nissin USA – thanks! These are neat little cups. They’re made in the EU for the European market. Let’s check it out! ...see full post

#1190: Sanrio Hello Kitty Hakata Shoyutonkotsu Ramen

Check this out! This is one I got from Mira at Record China news in Japan! Thank you! I’ve been desperately seeking noodles that have Hello Kitty on them. You might be thinking, ‘dude, really?’ Yeah – it’s true. My wife really likes Hello Kitty stuff (her nickname is Kitten after all). Let’s check out this Hello Kitty laden variety that comes with a reusable bowl! ...see full post

#1189: Acecook Comet Mori Yukino Tan-tan Men

Here’s one sent from Japan by Ichiro Yamoto of Yakantei! Thank you! This one was a little tricky to translate – I want to thank Courtnay N. of Canada and Mari S. of Tennessee! Tan tan men is more widely known as dandanmian. It heralds from China and is named after a pole street vendors would use to carry their wares. It’s usually a spicy broth with oil and minced pork affair.  After some research, I figured out who the woman on the lid is. She’s part of AKB48 – here’s what Wikipedia says about them: ...see full post

#1184: Sapporo Ichiban Pokemon Shoyu Ramen

Here’s another one from the folks at Record China news in Japan – thank you! My son is a really big fan of Pokemon. He’s got every one’s name, what they evolve into and all Pokemon lore stuffed in that PokeDex brain of his! If any of you reading have kids that like Pokemon, you know of what I speak. Well, I’ve wanted to get some Pokemon noodles for him and this is the first! I know there are more out there and hopefully I’ll find them sooner or later! Let’s check it out! ...see full post