Tag Archives: kizami

#661: Yamamoto Ponpoko Tempura Soba

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Hey it’s tempura time with the ponpoko! I think if you don’t know about Ponpoko or Tanuku, you should check out this review before reading any further. I’m curious how this soba will be – direct from Japan!

So when I bought the Japanese bowls I’ve been reviewing lately, I went and used the UPC codes on them to identify them – they had literally no English and the label on the bottom was very light on the details. I decided to write on the bottom of a couple the names of them. Well, here’s one of them and with a little Photoshop magic, it’s at least somewhat readable!

One single packet of seasoning!

Here’s the seasoning atop the noodle block – buckwheat noodles!

Here’s the tempura disc – should be good! Haven’t had bad tempura yet.

Here’s the finished product (click image to enlarge). I added one fried egg with a dash of pepper, a little kizami shoga (pickled ginger), a little sliced turkey breast and some sushi nori (seaweed). First off, the noodles are wonderful – they are of a very nice quality and very tasty. The broth is equally if not more enjoyable with a slightly sweet taste that is uber slurpable. The tempura adds a tasty crunch to everything! All said and done, this was very nice to eat – I loved it. 4.25 out of 5.0 stars – worth finding! 4979397370026 .

This is awesome – didn’t expect to find a local video about this, but this is close to where I grew up!

The Y3K kit from 12 years ago…

#646: Yamamoto Shoyu Flavor Ramen

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Today seemed like a good day for as fancy Japanese bowl of noodles.

Here’s what was on the bottom of the bowl…

Here’s what was on the side of the bowl! Click to enlarge.

One single packet – I somehow expected multiple packets.

A lot of interesting stuff in the packet.

Click image to enlarge. I thought it’d be good in a regular bowl. I added two fried eggs, some Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning, some Kizami Shoga (pickled ginger), some fried shallot and a little ham. Wow – this is good stuff! Shoyu is soy sauce, by the way. The noodles are pretty decent. The broth is nice and tasty – lots of flavor. The veggies were very ample and enjoyable. I loved it! 4.25 out of 5.0 stars! UPC barcode 4979397770017 .

How to make shoyu ramen

I don’t like anything to be floating around me in the tub.

#636: Yamamori Tom Yam Ramen Pork Flavor(Tomyankun Ramen Porkfu)

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After tasting those last two earlier, I was ready to have something that looked really good – and here it is! Tom Yam noodles, made in Thailand and from Japan!

Here’s the back of the packaging (click image to enlarge). I boiled an egg in with the noodles last time, but today I thought a couple fried eggs would go nicely.

Some noodles – look pretty standard. They had a little flavor.

Powder on the left and seasoned oil on the right.

As above, seasoning on the left and seasoned oil on the right. A lot of powder here!

Click image to enlarge. Alrighty it’s done woo hoo! I made two eggs with a little Cavender’s All-Purpose Greek seasoning. I also added some Kizami Shoga (pickled ginger) and finally, some fried shallots – this time some fresh ones (thanks Greg B.!).  The noodles were perfect – reminiscent of the kind you’d find in Momofuku Ando‘s flagship Chikin ramen from 1958, just an exponentially milder taste. The broth is spicy and full of citrus. It’s perfect pork tom yam flavor – loved it. 4.75 out of 5.0 stars – wonderful! UPC barcode 4903101701356 .

A Thai Food Expo interview of Yamamori.

#622: Daikoku My Friend Vic Tanuki Udon Big Bowl

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You might be viewing this website today because of the article they did about me in The Everett Herald – or not! Either way, I thought I’d break out something I found last week that I’m really stoked on. This is a bowl I got at Uwajimaya, a Japanese grocery in Seattle (there’s one in Bellevue, too).

If you’re new to noodles, let’s start with the name here. Tanuki? Well, you’re going to find this really bizarre – just have a look at this. I’ve noticed that when tanuki is mentioned, there’s going to be some tempura involved. Udon? It’s a thick, wider gauge noodle.  My Friend Vic? You got me – maybe y ou know him?

Click image to enlarge. When stuff like this ends up in stores here in the United States, they have to conform to our requirements as far as the nutrition facts labels and ingredients lists. What can be tough is deciphering the actual name of the instant noodle bowl (I don’t speak Japanese). Google to the rescue! If you take all the digits on the barcode from the label and enter it into Google, you’ll end up with a ton of links to Japanese online groceries – click Translate on the result and after clicking on a few of them, you can get the idea of what the noodles are titled.

Two packets here – powdered on the left and the tempura on the right. Nice to see there’s some seaweed included!

I like my tempura crunchy, so I leave it to the side for now. Here’s the noodles and powdered seasoning awaiting the water. Just like you’d expect, you fill it up to the line and cover it. I use an old yearbook – not mine – from 1987 I found at the Goodwill Outlet in Seattle.

Holy cow this looks awesome (click image to enlarge)! I added a fried egg and put a little Krazy Mixed Up Salt on top. I also added a little bit of Kizami Shoga, which is pickled ginger – not the kind you find with sushi that’s sweet but the sharp flavored kind. Let’s start with the noodles. They came out really nicely – they’re broad and thick – very tasty! Not very chewy, but not spongy. The broth is very tasty – salty, yes, but not ‘table salty.’ The good shoyu (soy sauce) flavor comes through. Then the tempura: crunchy and tasty – the seaweed is nice too! I really enjoyed this one a lot – Highly recommended! 4.75 out of 5.0 stars!

Here’s a vid of someone making what you’d find if you ordered tanuki udon in a Japanese restaurant.

Earlier this year, I was invited down to KIRO News/Radio 97.3FM and was interviewed by Rachel Belle!

#351: Nissin Top Ramen Picante Beef Flavor Ramen Noodle Soup

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So today I opted for something different from Nissin – Top Ramen Picante Beef. Kind of funny; why don’t they make a teriyaki beef or a stir fry flavor over here? Anyways, here we go…

A single packet of flavor – rather non descript too.

Dark and slightly chunky powder.

Click image to enlarge. Added one hard boiled egg (sliced) and some kizami shoga (pickled ginger).  The noodles are your standard Top Ramen noodles. Tasty, industrial strength and relaxingly expected. The flavor was a little spicy actually and I enjoyed that. 3.0 out of 5.0 stars. Get it here. UPC bar code 070662010129.

For those keen on regurgitation, here’s some soup.

 

#347: Sunny Maid Mi Chay Vegetarian Ramen

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So this has been one I’ve been curious about for a while. It’s lurked in my ramen box, quietly asking me to try it from time to time. I heeded its call, and tonight gave it the trappings of a fine bowl of noodles.

The shiny packet contained vegetables and seasoning powder. After adding the spices, I tend to give the inside of the powder packet a quick lick to get a taste. Well, I wasn’t too enthused. This was nasty. Like socks.

Vegetables on the left and seasoning oil on the right. You can see the powder intermingled with the veggies.

Click image to enlarge. So on this one I added two fried eggs, a small baked chicken breast, Huy Fong Sriracha hot sauce, kizami shoga pickled ginger and fried shallots. A pinch of ‘Krazy Mixed Up Salt‘ atop the eggs.

SoI sampled the noodles and broth before the additions. It wasn’t my favorite whatsoever. The noodles were fine but the flavors were horrible. Almost a hint of dirt I would say. Just not my style whatsoever… 1.75 out of 5.0 stars. Get it here.

So here’s a guy making ramen and then adding vegetables.

STAR TREK FARTS RULE!!!

#343: Super Bihun Goreng Instant Fried Rice Noodles

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This is definitely the most unique of all the packages of noodles I have ever found. Let’s get started.

Just under where it says Super, notice the little logo? It looks like a falling bomb! I don’t know what else it could be considered to be – so to start off with, that’s pretty awesome. The red banner going across exclaims “Instant Bihun Lezaaat!”  I thought this was weirdness, but I figured I’d better get digging. Google Translate says Bihun means Angerl Hair and didn’t come up with anything for lezaaat, but lezat means delicious.

Okay now in the image of the food, I gotta say that a chicken drumstick chucked in the middle of noodles is something I find most weird.

Finally, bottom right – Ekstra Minyak Bawang – translates to extra garlic oil.

These look really familiar – like the Mi Goreng by Indomie. These also come from Indonesia so I’d imagine that’s why. From right to left, garlic seasoned oil, sweet soy sauce and chili sauce.

Here’s the bomb – I mean the bumbu – I mean the sauce – I mean the powdered seasoning…

I thought a pic of the noodles would be good since they are a little interesting. Also, this is a drain thing – you drain the noodles.

After draining you put them in a bowl that has the seasonings and stir. Clockwise from top: powdered seasoning, garlic oil, sweet soy sauce and chili sauce.

Click image to enlarge. Bam. Two fried eggs, a little fried shallot and some kizami shoga – pickled ginger. This was really really good stuff! It reminded me of some of Indomie’s things – the Mi Goreng line for sure. I liked the noodles and the seasonings were very nice too. Altogether, this was a very enjoyable and satisfying breakfast. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.

Here’s how to make it homemade!

#340: Shirakiku Tokusen Shoyu Ramen Japanese Style Noodle

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Always nice to see a bag of noodles that I’ve only seen previously in five packs. I don’t like buying five packs period. Doesn’t matter if they are super cheap – I only want to eat one, review it and then move on. So let’s see how this goes.

One packet.

The powder set the stage for the next phase: 2 eggs that have been boiled with the noodles, some kizami shoga and some fried shallot.

Click image to enlarge. I like how this one came out – like food porn. Anyways, Yes I give this one a thumbs up – the noodles are nice and the broth tasty. Once all this other stuff was added, it was a festival of tastiness. 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.

Mr Rogers defends PBS to the US Senate

#339: Payless Xtra Big Chilimansi Pancit Canton

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So I’ve been waiting for a good time to try this stuff and today seemed the right time. My 5 year old stuck his headf in the ramen box and picked it out for me. I have so many and its so hard to pick that I often ask family to pick the one I’m going to have – and usually after they pick once or twice I agree to the one the pick the third time.

So the last one I had by Payless was their ‘original’ flavor pancit canton.  Pancit means noodles in the Philippines – they were introduced by the Chinese way way back. I am pretty sure that’s why they’re pancit canton – Canton is a province of China – Cantonese etc… I have a packet which I have been challenged to try but yet to called Pancit Shanghai. There are others like pancit palabok and bihon, but so far I really really like the pancit canton.

Then there’s the chilimansi aspect. Basically it means hot pepper and lime flavor. Now, on with the review!

Three packets of power! The first is a seasoned oil, then a dark soy sauce I think, then a packet with dry powder within.

Ah that looks quite nice! This stuff is prepared identically to a couple of my favorites – Indomie’s Mi Goreng varieties and Special versions. Cook the noodles, drain and stir in a bowl that you’ve put all the flavorings in. If you make this with some broth, it will taste really wrong – strange how water would do that, but trust me – you don’t want to skip the drainage step.

Click here to enlarge. I added two fried eggs, some Kizami Shoga [pickled ginger], fried shallots and a little sriracha sauce. The noodles were awesome and very tasty! A bit of chili flavor, a bit citrus. Kind of sweet and salty too. Everything played off of eachother and it was like listening to some groovy funky music but it was going from the bowl into my facehole, getting chewed and into the great oblivious beyond that is my digestive system. Good good stuff – stuff of poetry and philosophy. 4.5 out of 5/.0 stars. Get some and eat it!

Tagalog’s an interesting language – how it goes from something that sounds so foreign and then bam – english! Pretty cool.

Here’s some of the kind of stuff I’ve been diggin on lately. Lots of 60’s/70’s synthesizer music too – in fact my collection is just too big.

#300: Wu-Mu Steam Spinach Ramen With Onion Flavor

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Okay and here we go with review #300! It’s really getting hard to find ones I haven’t sampled and reviewed yet so if anyone would like to send me some that would be really much appreciated! So here’s #300, spinach onion time!

This pack actually contains four servings. I like how the silver ones say soup bag in English and the seasoned oil says nothing in English. I also like the fact that this packaging doesn’t tell you how much water to use. I figured draining the water off was the best bet.

Kinda green going on – spinach’ll do that!

Seasoning powder and seasoned oil.

Click image to enlarge. I added two fried eggs, some kizami shoga [pickled ginger] and fried shallots. I must say I am thoroughly impressed with this one – wow. The noodles are broad and the perfect texture. The seasonings are exactly what they purport to be and brilliantly done. Adding egg and ginger compliments the dish quite nice, and the shallot just makes sense. Altogether, I think this goes up there in the hallowed ranks of the almighty five stars. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. Get it here.

To make things more awesome, here’s the commercial for this product! It’s the one all the way on the left.

Here’s another.

Re-Review: Indomie Mi Goreng Rasa Ayam Panggang Jumbo Barbecue Chicken Flavour Fried Instant Noodles

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So I got a message this morning from a gentleman in Denmark who thought that Indomie’s special fried curly noodles were some of the best stuff he’s ever had. I must agree! Coincidentally, I found a pack of this stuff sitting in the cupboard and thought that the barbecue chicken flavor really could use a re-review. So come on and follow me on a journey into the world of tasty noodles!

Okay – from left to right: powder, veggies, seasoned oil, chili sauce (manis pedas) and sweet soy sauce (kecap manis).

Here’s everything but the veggies sitting in a bowl.

Here are the veggies sitting atop the block awaiting a bath in boiling water.

Click image to enlarge. Added one jumbo fried egg with a soft yolk, some pink pickled ginger (kizami shoga) and some fried shallots. This is absolutely divine. I love giving this stuff 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. It just works so well and tastes so good. I recommend it to everyone everywhere –  especially with the egg! I found a place online to get it but it’s the non-jumbo size packs. They’re here.

Just to remind, I’m giving this 5.0 out of 5.0 – this is one of the best all time noodles I’ve ever tasted. Get it here.

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Wow – looks like you can get free recipes if you send a letter for them in Jakarta, Indonesia. Might be worth a try!

#243: Myojo Udon Hot & Spicy Flavor Japanese Style Noodles With Soup Base

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So time for new noodles! Here’s some!

One packet of seasoning as per usual with Myojo’s fresh udon packs…

The powder awaits embellishment.

Click image to enlarge. Fried egg, kizami shoga and fried shallots were added. Ohhh this was good stuff! The udon is so nice and chewy and fresh, and the eggs and kizami shoga and shallots crazy it up a notch. As far as the hot and spicy, it’s there but not explosive. Thia was excellent! 4.5 out of 5.0 stars! You can find it here.