Tag Archives: snack

#2895: Fox D.J. Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Snack

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#2895: Fox D.J. Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Snack

Found this one up at China World in Richmond, BC. This one’s confusing as it seems to say it’s a rice cake snack, however it has flour. It doesn’t say whether it’s rice flour or wheat flour. Anyways, I thought this was relevant since it was next to ramen snacks. Let’s take a look!

Fox D.J. Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Snack – South Korea

#2895: Fox D.J. Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Snack

The import/distributor sticker (click to enlarge).

#2895: Fox D.J. Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Snack

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, open bag. Insert hand. Grip one or more snacks. Place in primary face hole. Masticate. Finally, salivate, swallow, and enjoy!

#2895: Fox D.J. Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Snack

Interestingly shaped pieces.

#2895: Fox D.J. Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Snack

Finished (click to enlarge). The shape is interesting which gives a nice mouthfeel. The crunch is very strong and they require a little bit of extra chew to crunch them – they’re kind of hard. The flavor is a spicy and sweet one which is reminiscent of spicy tteokbokki sauce. Not bad. As a snack, I give it 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8809413880122.

Cooking Korean Food With Maangchi – Books 1&2: From Youtube To Your Kitchen

This is super tasty stuff – definitely should try it!

#2783: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Hot Chicken Flavor Squid

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#2783: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Hot Chicken Flavor Squid

What we have here is a squid snack – what’s that you ask? Well, they dehydrate squid somehow and seasoning it. I read once there was a a package of this kind of thing that said ‘chewing gum of Asians. Here’s some background on this from Wikipedia –

Dried shredded squid is a dried, shredded, seasoned, seafood product, made from squid or cuttlefish, commonly found in coastal Asian countries, Russia, and Hawaii. The snack is also referred to as dried shredded cuttlefish.

Historically, squid is common in Pacific coastal regions of East Asia and Southeast Asia. After the packaged form began shipping to English-speaking regions, the Japanese word surume and yóu yú sī in Chinese for this form of seafood was translated as “dried shredded squid” and imprinted on packages. The snack was popularized, sold, and consumed regularly in Hong Kong during the 1970s. Shredded squid began being sold in Macau as an addition to their almond biscuit. In China, it is usually considered to be a light snack, sold in bags in many department stores in major cities. In Japan, dried shredded squid is popularly served as an otsumami (snack consumed while drinking alcohol). In Korean cuisine, dried shredded squid is eaten as anju (food to eat while drinking) and as banchan (small side dishes), such as the dish ojingeochae bokkeum, which is made by stir-frying dried shredded squid seasoned with a mixture of gochujang (chili pepper paste), garlics, and mullyeot (corn syrup-like condiment).[1] In Singapore, it was also popular amongst the older generation when it was sold in a Mama shop. It was marketed as the Chewing gum of the Orientals by the food manufacturing company Ken Ken, during the chewing gum ban in Singapore.[2]

Alright – let’s give it a try!

Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Hot Chicken Flavor Squid – South Korea

#2783: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Hot Chicken Flavor Squid

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Contains squid. To prepare, open the package, pull out a piece and put in your mouth. Finally, chew and enjoy!

#2783: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Hot Chicken Flavor Squid

Here’s a single piece.

#2783: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Hot Chicken Flavor Squid

Finished (click to enlarge). Indeed, this is very chewy. It has a strong and spicy flavor of Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun. The squid as you chew imparts its own flavor – which is good. Also, although chewy and dehydrated it isn’t overly dry. For a snack I give this 3.75 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8801073910140.

#2783: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Hot Chicken Flavor Squid

Samyang Spicy Chicken Flavored Dried S q u i d  Seafood Snack / Beer Snack / Buldak / 1pack 40g (Pack of 10)

Here’s how to make seasoned shredded s q u i d snack at home!

#2750: Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yum Goong Flavour Potato Chips

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#2750: Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yum Goong Flavour Potato Chips

You may recall I reviewed some Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yum chips a while back – those were from Singapore while these are from Hong Kong. Here’s a little about tom yum from Wikipedia –

Tom yum or tom yam (UK: /ˌtɒm ˈjæm/ or /ˌtɒm ˈjʌm/; US: /ˌtɑːm ˈjɑːm/;[2] Thai: ต้มยำ, rtgs: tom yam, pronounced [tôm jām] (About this sound listen)) is a type of hot and sour Thai soup,[2] usually cooked with shrimp (prawn).[3] Tom yum has its origin in Thailand. In recent years,[when?] tom yam has been popularised around the world.

The words “tom yam” are derived from two Thai words. Tom refers to the boiling process, while yam refers to a Thai spicy and sour salad. Indeed, tom yum is characterised by its distinct hot and sour flavours, with fragrant spices and herbs generously used in the broth. The basic broth is made of stock and fresh ingredients such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice, fish sauce, and crushed chili peppers.

Commercial tom yum paste is made by crushing all the herb ingredients and stir frying in oil. Seasoning and other preservative ingredients are then added. The paste is bottled or packaged and sold around the world. Tom yum flavored with the paste may have different characteristics from that made with fresh herb ingredients. The soup often includes meats such as chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp.

The 1997 Financial Crisis in Asia, which started in Thailand, is sometimes referred to as the “Tom Yam Kung Crisis”.[4]

Alright – let’s delve into some spicy potato chips!

Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yum Goong Flavour Potato Chips – Hong Kong

#2750: Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yum Goong Flavour Potato Chips

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Contains crustacean. To prepare, open bag. Withdraw one or more potato chips. Add to primary facial opening (i.e. mouth). Finally, masticate, repeat, and enjoy!

#2750: Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yum Goong Flavour Potato Chips

A small and round chip.

Finished (click to enlarge). Added a little spring onion. The chips are crisp. They have a ridged surface and a slight curve. They definitely taste like tom yum – spicy and lemongrassy… Works surprisingly well on as potato chip. For a snack, an easy 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 4897053640156.

#2750: Nissin Cup Noodles Tom Yum Goong Flavour Potato Chips

A Concise History of Hong Kong (Critical Issues in World and International History)

We try 7 varieties of potato chips from Hong Kong in this video!

#2706: GGE Ramen Snack Tempura Flavor

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#2706: GGE Ramen Snack Tempura Flavor

Went to the new Daiso over in Lynnwood, Washington this weekend. I used to get lots of neat bowls from there but unfortunately, those days are over. This was one of the larger Daiso places I’ve seen but unfortunately, they had the crummiest selection of bowls. Makes me bummed out as they had super awesome ones in the past.

Anyways they had a lot of GGE snacks which kind of surprised me as these aren’t Japanese but Taiwanese. Hmm. Anyways, let’s give this one a try.

GGE Ramen Snack Tempura Flavor – Taiwan

#2706: GGE Ramen Snack Tempura Flavor

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. TO prepare, open bag, grab content, place in the primary facial hole. Finally, masticate, salivate and ingest!

#2706: GGE Ramen Snack Tempura Flavor

Interesting – short little strips of three noodles.

#2706: GGE Ramen Snack Tempura Flavor

Finished (click to enlarge). The little strips are literally three noodles wide and about an inch or two at most in length. They have a very agreeable crunch and mouthfeel. What I like as well is the flavor – kind of a sweetness to it that’s very addictive. Very. Addictive. For a snack, I give this one 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 074410679460.

#2706: GGE Ramen Snack Tempura Flavor

GGE Noodle Snack 2.82 oz per Pack (2 Pack) (Tempura)

Well this is odd

Happy Bithday Miri! Repost: #2330: Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor

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So I did this review the morning that my daughter Miriam was born one year ago today. Happy Birthday, Miri! I thought I’s repost it with a little update.

#2330: Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - noodle snack

As I’ve said in the past, I’m usually about 50 or so reviews ahead of myself. Well, today is the actual day our daughter Miriam will be born and by the time this comes out she’ll be close to two months old. Wow! It’s early in the morning – although it’s just a few hours away. Really excited! This one seemed interesting enough for a day of birth – Mexican pizza from Taiwan? I think a fiesta is in order; although I wish these were called Little Princess – but hey look at the title I think that works at least a little! Let’s check it out!

Update – Actually, she was two months old 2 days ago! I’ve added a few pictures from the day she was born in with this one. She’s really small – she was 6lbs 1oz. It’s funny; Miles is a big kid and 18 months old and took him ages to be able to balance and hold his huge noggin up which Miri was able to just after a few weeks.

Around 7am, the in-laws showed up and everybody piled in the car. Andy and Miles went over the their Aunt’s while we proceeded to the hospital. It was a cold morning and it was snowing – about as lightly snowing as possible, but snowing nonetheless.

We were scheduled for 1030am and by 11am we were holding our new little baby Miriam. Like I said she’s tiny – two months after being born, she’s still wearing newborn clothes. She likes to be held constantly which I’m okay with – she’s pretty darn cute.

But she’s happy (when fed) and healthy. I pout the video at the bottom of when she was born. Oh yeah – so I stayed in the hospital with Kit and Miri of course after she was born. The second day after getting a visit from Kit’s folks and Andy and Miles, I started feeling funny. Turns out the Norovirus has been going around and I’m in a hospital – the best place to catch something like that. Barfing and everything else you can imagine. Got a lift home and was quarantined for the next 48 hours.

Unfortunately, Kit’s mom and dad and folks at her aunt’s house got it too – evil stuff! But yeah I had to stay away from everybody for 2 whole days. Pretty boring hanging out in the bedroom for that long. I watched all three Smokey And The Bandit movies. Anyways, it lasted about 24 hours and went away. Well, let’s get started with this review!

Update 12/17/2017: Well, as I said in the beginning, Miriam is now a whole year old! She’s a funny little girl – quick to smile and laugh but also quick to get grumpy at times. She’s had a pretty tough go with teething – unlike Miles who got through it pretty fast.

It’s fascinating to watch her grow and interact with her broth Miles who’s knee-deep in the terrible twos. It’s funny; she’s very little and Miles is very big for his age. He is very picky about food, however she will eat anything you put in front of her. My favorite sound I get to hear is when they’re laughing and playing together – it’s definitely music to my soul. It’s not always that way with them, but they’re growing up and learning all the time. Happy birthday to you, Miri! We love you so much!

Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor – Taiwan

#2330: Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - noodle snack

Here’s the back of the big package (click to enlarge). The big package contains about 20 little packages.

#2330: Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - noodle snack

To prepare, open and enjoy!

#2330: Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - noodle snack

One of the little packages.

#2330: Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - noodle snack

Here’s the back of one of the individual package (click to enlarge).

#2330: Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - noodle snack

Little dry bits of seasoned noodle.

#2330: Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - noodle snack

Finished (click to enlarge). The noodles are nice – lightly crunchy with a kind of cheese and tomato taste. There’s also a little heat there; very little. For a snack, this one gets 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 4710008213529.

#2330: Ve Wong Little Prince(ss) Brand Snack Noodles Artificial Mexican Pizza Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - noodle snack

Ve Wong Little Princess Brand Snack Noodles, Bacon Flavor, 10.50oz(20 Small Bags)(pack of 2) by Ve Wong

Miles and Miriam playing from a couple of weeks ago

#2577: Wei Lih GGE Ramen Snack Tomato Flavor

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#2577: Wei Lih GGE Ramen Snack Tomato Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack - good good eat

I’ve tried a lot of these instant noodle snacks from GGE (aka Everybody Loves Good Good Eat). They come in little cubes, loose noodle style, round little cylinders and these strips. Let’s bust open this bag of GGE ramen snack and see what’s going on inside!

Wei Lih GGE Ramen Snack Tomato Flavor – Taiwan

#2577: Wei Lih GGE Ramen Snack Tomato Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack - good good eat

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, open bag, select one or more pieces. Open main facial opening (mouth). Place inside hole and close. Using teeth, provide an opening and closing action to allow internal processing. Finally, swallow and enjoy!

#2577: Wei Lih GGE Ramen Snack Tomato Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack - good good eat

Here’s one of the pieces.

#2577: Wei Lih GGE Ramen Snack Tomato Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack - good good eat

Finished (click to enlarge). The strips are pretty good – very crunchy. The tomato flavor is nice – a little more true to the taste of a tomato than you would find in western varieties I should think. They however aren’t my favorite. For a snack, I give these 2.75 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 074410679484.

#2577: Wei Lih GGE Ramen Snack Tomato Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack - good good eat

GGE Noodle Snack 2.82 oz per Pack (2 Pack) (T o m a t o)

Instant noodles and baseball – awesome

#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor

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#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack

Last moth I was looking for a specific variety at a local Korean grocery called Boo Han Market in Edmonds, Washington. Much to my chagrin, they have changed their instant noodle section! It used to be way in the back and kind of lackluster. Now it’s right up front and they’ve got an even better selection than before. That’s where I found this interesting instant noodle snack.

First, chilli cheese crunchy instant noodles sounds pretty good – but coming from South Korea? Hey – why not. What I find actually quite odd is how our little Mexican friend above looks as though he has an angry look on his face while he wields the pepper issuing from his crotch. It reminds me of an album cover – well, I’ll just show you.

#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack

See what I mean? Shaft’s got his whacking stick at the ready. I tell you what though – this is a pretty badass album. In fact, I’ll see if I can find it on YouTube and slap it in at the bottom. Perhaps the movie – it’s a good movie too. Anyways, let’s check out this South Korean chilli cheese flavor instant noodle snack!

Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor – South Korea

#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack

The distribution/import sticker (click to enlarge).

#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free from the sticker, but check for yourself. To prepare, set bag on table and smash a few times with your fist. Take out seasoning sachet and sprinkle into pack. Shake, shake, shake. Finally, open bag and enjoy like a bag of chips!

#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack

The noodle block.

#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack

A sachet of seasoning.

#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack

The chilli cheese powder.

#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack

Finished (click to enlarge). The noodle chunks are nice and crunchy and very snackable. Indeed, they aren’t too hard that they’ll break your teeth by any means. The taste is a spicy chilli cheese – certainly that pepper he’s angrily wielding is a sign he means business. Pretty good stuff. For an instant noodle snack, I’ll give this one 4.25 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8801045560519.

#2474: Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu Noodle Snack Chilli Cheese Flavor - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - instant noodle snack

Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu 1BOX(40EA) (Chili Cheese)

Here’s the trailer…

…and here’s the soundtrack.

#2472: Wei Lih GGE Noodle Snack Wheat Crackers Seaweed Flavor

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#2472: Wei Lih GGE Wheat Crackers Seaweed Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Okay so first off, what’s GGE? Well, it stands for Good Good Eat. I’ve reviewed other varieties that were simnply called ‘Everybody Loves Good Good Eat.’ The little girl with the big hair is usually on the packaging (I think she’s the mascot) and usually has a somewhat happy expression, although I have seen her looking wistful or depressed at times.

I saw seaweed flavored everything on my trip to Taiwan. A lot of people would say ‘that makes sense – a lot of fishing, Asian people, you know.’ Well, I grew up on an island where fishing and seafood were king. What’s more, there’s an island across from Anacortes called Guemes island. A decade or two back a big brouhaha was made over a company that was going to bring seaweed farming to the north side of Guemest.

Surprisingly, people had a fit. I remember slogans like ‘wrap your sushi in lettuce’ started going around. Silliness. People get angry over things so easily – esdpecially things they don’t understand. Indeed, these stunk of racial overtones I find to be very ugly. Don’t know if they ever ended up having seaweed farming in the area, but one thing’s for sure – there’s a lot of seaweed and kelp around there. Anyways – let’s check out this instant noodle snack from Taiwan!

Wei Lih GGE Wheat Crackers Seaweed Flavor – Taiwan

#2472: Wei Lih GGE Wheat Crackers Seaweed Flavor - Taiwan - 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, open bag. Finally, eat!

#2472: Wei Lih GGE Wheat Crackers Seaweed Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Here is a trifecta of the snacks. Indeed, they are small, cylindrical bite-size pieces.

#2472: Wei Lih GGE Wheat Crackers Seaweed Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Finished (click to enlarge). First off, these have a very nice crunch to them without being hard. They’re crispy and very ‘poppable’ due to their size. As for the flavor, they are salty with a seaweed taste and a little sweetness as well. If you like seaweed and crunchy stuff, this should be up your alley. For a snack, I’ll give this 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 074410732004.

#2472: Wei Lih GGE Wheat Crackers Seaweed Flavor - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

GGE Noodle Snack 2.82 oz per Pack (2 Pack) (S e a w e e d)

A TV spot for these snacks.

#2421: Uni-President Baseball Snack Noodle

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#2421: Uni-President Baseball Snack Noodle - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Here’s one I picked up at 7-Eleven in Taipei, Taiwan in November of 2016. So snack noodles are popular in Taiwan – very popular! They eat them kind of like westerners eat potato chips (I should note that chips are also popular in Taiwan as well).

Also popular is baseball. I’m a San Francisco Giants fan. You might ask ‘but hey, you live in Washington – why aren’t you a Seattle Mariners fan?’ Well, I used to be. For years. But they never got anywhere or did anything. When I met my wife, I found out she’s a San Francisco Giants fan. I hadn’t followed baseball in a couple years so thought hey I’ll check them out. I found they’re pretty awesome and in that first year of following them, they won the World Series. Two years later they did it again, and two years after that as well. So yeah – I’m a convert! What’s kind of sad around here is that all people seem to care about is the Seattle Seahawks. It’s pretty insane; they’ve got to be making a ton of money on the licensing of official gear – everything is plastered in the crap. I hate football, so it’s annoying. Opening day is coming soon, thank god. Let’s check out this instant snack noodle from Uni-President of Taiwan!

Uni-President Baseball Snack Noodle – Taiwan

#2421: Uni-President Baseball Snack Noodle - Taiwan - 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, hit the bag a few times to break up the noodle block into snack size pieces. Open the bag and add in the seasoning sachet contents. Hold bag shut and shake. Open and enjoy straight out of the bag as a snack!

#2421: Uni-President Baseball Snack Noodle - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

The noodle block.

#2421: Uni-President Baseball Snack Noodle - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

The seasoning sachet.

#2421: Uni-President Baseball Snack Noodle - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

A light powder with fleck of herbs.

#2421: Uni-President Baseball Snack Noodle - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

Finished (click to enlarge). Added some Chex Mix and cashews (both of which I saw in Taiwan by the way). The noodles have a nice crunch to them – not too hard at all, but light and brittle. You’re not going to break your teeth on these. The flavor is a kind of salty and peppery taste. It’s great stuff. For a snack noodle, I’m giving it 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.  EAN bar code 4710088410214.

#2421: Uni-President Baseball Snack Noodle - Taiwan - The Ramen Rater - instant noodles

B a s e b a l l: A Film by Ken Burns (Includes The Tenth Inning)

Baseballs big in Taiwan and looks awesome – they got the heart for the game.

The Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun

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Samyang Foods Carbe Buldak Bokkeummyun

THE RAMEN RATER SPICY PACK! CHECK IT OUT HERE!

I started doing top ten lists over 5 years ago. So one list that’s been increasingly popular over the years has been The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time series. Debate over which is hotter than the other has been going on for a very long time. Finally, one thing’s for sure, South Korean varieties dominate this list.

The Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun

One variety that has captivated the world is Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun. The ‘Fire Noodle Challenge’ is something of legend; people will try to eat a bowl of the spicy noodles as fast as they can and then (usually in a YouTube video), the reaction to the heat is seen, ranging from silence to screaming, calmness to dripping sweat. 

The viral mania of this challenge has finally prompted me to release a special series on the varieties and some info on them you might not know. I have included a boatload of information in this post – check out the video as well as all the information below it!

  • UPDATE: 12/21/2018 – Added new 10,000SHU Hek Buldak Bokkeummyun & Buldak Bokkeummyun Gyoza Dumplings
  • UPDATE: 4/1/2018 – Added Jjang Buldak Bokkeummyun and Squid Snack
  • UPDATE: 1/8/2018 – Added Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyun
  • UPDATE – 12.18.2017 – Mala is NOT 4x Spicy  !!
  • UPDATE – 09.07.2017 – Added Buldak Bokkeummyun Mala variety

Video Presentation

This is a presentation I’ve made including lots of informational as well as me taking down a bowl of the 2x Spicy noodles.

Varieties

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen / 불닭볶음면 / Buldak Bokkueummyun / Launch 2012.4.16 / SHU 4,404

The original ‘Fire Noodle.’ This comes in packs, bowls and cups. The bowls are commonly used in the popular YouTube ‘Fire Noodle Challenge’ videos. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Cheese / 치즈불닭볶음면 / Cheese Buldak Bokkueummyun Launch 2016.3 / SHU 2,323

Significantly less fiery than the original Buldak Bokkeummyun, the cheese version includes a sachet of cheese powder. Available in pack, cup and bowl. Originally was sold in packs with a black background, however people mistook it for the original version. A more ‘cheese colored’ background was then chosen. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Stew Type / 불닭볶음탕면 / Buldak Bokkueumtangmyun Launch 2016.8 / SHU 4,705

The ‘Stew Type’ has (you guessed it) broth. These are available in packs and bowls. I have seen many people make the original variety incorrectly and enjoy it as a soup, but this one is meant to have a broth. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Cool/Ice Type / 쿨불닭볶음면 / Cool/Ice Buldak Bokkueummyun Launch 2016.8 / SHU 4,404

I believe this is only available in packs. Originally called ‘Cool,’ the folks at Samyang decided it might be a good idea to market it as ‘Ice’ outside of South Korea so nobody got confused. Full review

2X Spicy HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen / 핵불닭볶음면 / Hack Buldak Bokkueummyun / Launch 2016.1 / SHU 8,808

A double-spicy version of original Buldak Bokkeummyun. These are available in packs and bowls. They mention that they are a ‘limited edition,’ but I couldn’t find out when they would be discontinued. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Curry / 커리불닭볶음면 / Curry Buldak Bokkueummyun   Launch 2016.12 / SHU 3,810

The most recent (as of this guide’s release) is Curry. It is available in packs and bowls. Less spicy than the original Buldak Bokkeummyun, it has a nice curry flavor to it. Full review

MALA BULDAK BOKKEUMMYEON (HOT CHICKEN FLAVOR RAMEN MALA) 

Mala Buldak Bokkeummyun is NOT 4x Spicy !!

SPECIAL STATEMENT AS OF 12/19/2017: It has come to my attention that many places/people are under the impression that this variety is considered to be ‘Samyang Foods 4x Spicy Buldak Bokkeummyun.’ This is definitely NOT the case. Original Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun is 4,404SHU, 2x Spicy is 8,706SHU. I have been informed by Samyang Foods that Samyang Foods Mala Buldak Bokkeummyun is 2,700SHU – which is far less spicy than the original Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun. Sellers claiming this product as Samyang Foods 4x Spicy Buldak Bokkeummyun – this is misleading and untrue. I’ve mentioned in the past that I would love to try a Samyang Foods 4x Spicy Buldak Bokkeummyun, however NO SUCH PRODUCT EXISTS at the time of this update.
This is a differentiated ‘Mala(numbing and spicy)’ flavor of BULDAK BOKKEUMMYEON(HOT CHICKEN FLAVOR RAMEN).
It features a spicy numbing stir-fry noodle with Chinese ‘Mala’ sauce.
It’s a combination of numbing spicy taste and the original flavor of Hot Chicken. This one has some spiciness from Sichuan pepper to appeal to Chinese tastes. Full review

 

Carbo HOT Chicken Flavor / Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyun ‘ SHU 2,600 * Launched December 2017

Carbo is a variety celebrating the billionth serving of Buldak Bokkeummyun sold. At first, the thought crossed my mind that Carbo was referring to lower carbs; a health conscious version perhaps. This is actually short for carbonara. I asked the company about whether is contained pork or was HALAL. As of January 8th, 2018, it is not HALAL certified but will be soon. Also, neither this nor any of the Buldak Bokkeummyun range contains pork or pork products as mentioned by the company. Full review here

Jjajang HOT Chicken Flavor / Jjajang Buldak Bokkeummyun – SHU 1,920 * Launched March 2018

Jjajang debuted March of 2018. It is on the lower end of the spectrum as far as spiciness goes in the Buldak Bokkeummyun series, however it has a very good flavor. Jjajang is a spicy black bean sauce and this one also includes vegetables such as peas. Here’s the full review and a mukbang video.

Korean Updated 2X Spicy HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen / 핵불닭볶음면 / Hack Buldak Bokkueummyun / Launch 2018.12 / SHU 10,000

Recently I saw something about a new Buldak Bokkeummyun in the Korean Samyang Foods instagram. I asked about it and was told it was just coming back. What? Well, the 2x was advertised as for a ‘limited time’ and apparently, it was in South Korea. They brough it back December 3rd, 2018 – however this time it’s 10,000 SHU. This link will take you to the review which contains unboxing, cooking, mukbang, and a special holiday recipe.

SNACKS

Hot Chicken Ramen Snack / 부셔먹는 라면스낵불닭 / Busyeomeongneun Ramyeonseunaek
Buldak / Launch 2016.6

Snack noodles in South Korea are very popular. These are crushed while still in the bag and then the sachet is taken out and sprinkled into the bag. The bag is closed and then you shake it to disperse the flavor. Alternately, there is a cooking instruction on the package as well. Full review

ZZALDDUCK SNACK / 짤떡 / Zzaldduck / Launch 2014.12

These are short tubes with a crunchy texture. They have a sweet and spicy character to them much like a very light Buldak Bokkeummyun seasoning. They resemble macaroni or penne pasta. Full review

Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Hot Chicken Flavor Squid

Dried squid is a popular Asian snack and this variety packs the heat of original Buldak Bokkeummyun. Here’s the full review.

Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Hot Chicken Flavor Gyoza Dumpling

U heard about this one and was very interested. I found out it was available north of the border in Canada. We go there pretty often, but it took searching on four trips to find it. These are frozen section spicy little dumplings full of Buldak Bokkeummyun spiciness and flavor. They pretty good and I did this review where I paired them with the Stew Type – check it out!

 

Correct Preparation Of Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun

1) Put the noodles and flakes into 600ml boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.
2) Please remove the water from noodles (reserve 8 spoons of water (120ml = 15ml * 8 or 1/2 cup)) and put liquid soup Into noodles, stir-fry 30 seconds.
3) Add flakes, stir well, and serve.

Interview

I was fortunate to be able to interview Amelia Kwak / Overseas sales support team / Brand manager on the subject of Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun line of products.

THE RAMEN RATER> How did you originally come to decide to produce a super spicy instant noodle?

SAMYANG FOODS> Kim Jung-Su, the president of our company, noticed people crowded in a restaurant which served spicy chickens and had an idea to develop a new stir-type of instant noodle. Our marketing and R&D team tried more than 1,200 spicy chicken dishes and 2 tons of spicy sauce to find deliciously spicy tastes. We finally discovered the best portion of spicy sauce and launched ‘Buldak Bokkeummyun’.

TRR> What about the risks in producing a product that many will not be able to handle due to spicy level?

SAMYANG FOODS> Actually, Koreans like spicy tastes so we thought there’s customer needs of spicy ramen so we thought many people like it. However, overseas consumers can’t eat spicy food well, thus we were a little worried about it. Despite of that problem, overseas people also like Buldak. In my opinion, they seem to enjoy the challenge and relieve their stress when they try it.

TRR> What does Buldak Bokkeummyun mean; what is Korean spicy chicken like?

SAMYANG FOODS> It means a Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen. ‘Bulkdak’ means spicy chicken and ‘Bokkeummyun’ means stirred type of noodles. Korean spicy chicken is literally spicy chicken. In Korea, many restaurants usually cook it with very hot flavor adding red pepper, which is more spicy than general Korean food. So, it is hard to eat even for Korean. We added noodle on hot chicken flavor, so we could make characteristic noodle.

TRR> How did the Fire Noodle Challenge originate?

SAMYANG FOODS> Due to extremely spicy taste, Buldak Bokkeummyun mania were formed at first. Then, diverse recipe has been introduced by them, and spread through some Social Network Service channel especially on YOUTUBE. Also, extremely spicy taste has been issued by the public. Based on this issue, people are still challenging to eat it worldwide.

TRR> Did you expect the level of popularity of this super spicy product?

SAMYANG FOODS> We strongly believed the success of “Buldak Bokkuemmyun” because there had been no this kind of stirred type of instant noodles until 2012. We thought many people who like spicy tastes would be addicted to that tastes as our product is characterized in deliciously spicy.

TRR> How do you measure the SHU – is there a special test and how is the number calculated?

SAMYANG FOODS> SHU is a measurement of the spicy heat of chili peppers. Our R&D center analyzes the component of capsaicin and dehydrocapsaicin which cause spicy tastes in liquid soup. Then, we calculate SHU by standard equation.

TRR> Can you detail exactly how you figure out the SHU a little more? Is spectrometry used? What is the standard formula you mentioned?

SAMYANG FOODS> As I told you, SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) is a measurement of the spicy heat of chili peppers. First, we measure the concentration of capsaicin and dehydrocapsacin by using the HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). Then, we measure scoville heat units by using the equation below. (Although there is no official rule of calculating SHU, we have used the equation which is generally used.)

SHU = ( Dehydrocapsacin conc. X 0.82 + Capsacin conc. ) X 16
※ Concentration unit = μg/g

TRR> The chicken character has changed from it’s original look. Does the chicken have a name and can you tell a little more about the mascot?
SAMYANG FOODS> Name: HOCHI
Birthday : April 13
Character

  • Addicted to spicy taste.
  • Full of confidence and motivation, but whimsical
    Features:
  • Having the worst fashion sense and dreaming of being a food stylist.
  • A poorly proportioned body
  • Poor at housekeeping
  • Can eat five packs of HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen at a time.

TRR> There have been a lot of people cooking the original Buldak Bokkeummyun with soup instead of as a dry stir noodle. What are the official cooking instructions for cooking the original Buldak Bokkeummyun on the package (for those who can’t read Korea)?

SAMYANG FOODS> Dry stir noodle type is our official cooking instruction
Below is our instruction appeared in our packing material.

1) Put the noodles and flakes into 600ml boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.
2) Please remove the water from noodles(remain 8 spoon of water) and put liquid soup Into noodles, stir-fry 30 seconds.
3) Add flakes, stir well, and serve.

TRR> Exactly how many mL 8 spoons of water are?

SAMYANG FOODS> 8 table spoon of water would be approximately 120ml. (15ml per spoon)

TRR> Other than the container, is there a difference between the pack version and the bowl versions?

SAMYANG FOODS> There is little differences in ingredients because we tried best to minimize those differences. However, you can notice small differences because of cooking method. In a case of bowl type, Stir time is skipped so it’s more spicy than pack version. Actually, noodles release starch during stir time so, spicy taste is relatively relived

TRR> Are there new Buldak Bokkeummyun varieties coming soon? Can you share what they might be?

SAMYANG FOODS> We have launched new Buldak Bokkeummyun series. One is Curry Buldak Bokkeummyun (HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Curry) and other is Hack Buldak Bokkeummyun (2X spicy Hot Chicken flavor Ramen).

Curry Buldak : In curry Bulkdak, taste of curry and original Buldak have been well balanced. However, it is only for foreign consumers, not be sold in Korea yet.

Hack Buldak : Hack Buldak’s SHU is twice as spicy in comparison to buldak. It is a limited edition so we recommend you to try it. I guess it is the most spicy instant noodle in the world.

THE RAMEN RATER> Thank you for giving my readers the opportunity to find out more about the Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun range!

Nomenclature/Translation/Timeline

Ther Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun

This list (click to enlarge) was supplied by Samyang Foods.

Mascot

Name: HOCHI (click image to enlarge)
Birthday : April 13
Character

  • Addicted to spicy taste.
  • Full of confidence and motivation, but whimsical
    Features:
  • Having the worst fashion sense and dreaming of being a food stylist.
  • A poorly proportioned body
  • Poor at housekeeping
  • Can eat five packs of HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen at a time.

I want to thank all the great people at Samyang Foods to make this special feature possible, especially Amelia, Taehoon and Joey who helped with making this special series possible. They sent samples and answered so many questions I’ve posed to them kindly.

I also want to thank Colin, a reader from Massachusetts who originally sent me the Ice Type for review, 1theKorea, an eBay seller who was very helpful in sourcing varieties and helping greatly. Moreover, you can find many South Korean instant varieties in his store. Anders and Ji-Min, readers from South Korea for sending some great varieties. Finally, I would like to thank my son Andreas for being so adventurous at the age of 11 to try the 2x spicy. Indeed, spicy food has never been his thing and he ate a big bite and survived! You can see part of the video with us trying the Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun 2x Spicy in the end credits of the above video and our full video in the Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun 2x Spicy review.

#2370: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Zzaldduck Snack

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#2370: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Zzaldduck Snack - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - 짤떡

Part Of The Ramen Rater’s Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods’ Buldak Bokkeummyun

ZZALDDUCK SNACK / 짤떡 / Zzaldduck / Launch 2014.12

Well, today is my birthday and I’m up at 5am getting this post ready. Actually it’s 6am now – I’ve been getting all my ducks in a row (actually chickens har har) in order to post The Ramen Rater’s Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods’ Buldak Bokkeummyun. It’s a total of 9 posts including the guide itself that I’m putting up today. A lot of work, that’s for sure and I’m rushing to get it up.

This one is a snack variety. I would liken these to noodles – kind of like hollow tteokbokki in a way. Almost like a short and wider penne pasta. Let’s check out these crunchy little things!

Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Zzaldduck Snack – South Korea

#2370: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Zzaldduck Snack - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - 짤떡

Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, simply open the bag and eat. There’s no stirring – just enjoy!

#2370: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Zzaldduck Snack - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - 짤떡

A close up of the little pieces.

#2370: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Zzaldduck Snack - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - 짤떡

Miles has really liked these spicy bites!

#2370: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Zzaldduck Snack - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - 짤떡

Finished (click to enlarge). Okay so since these are a snack and no preparation is required, you just open the bag and dig in. The pieces are short and hollow. They have a nice crunch to them. Indeed, they do have a flavor reminiscent of buldak bokkeummyun – a very sweet initial taste then a bit of spiciness. For a snack, I’ll give these 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8801073310735.

#2370: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Zzaldduck Snack - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - 짤떡

Samyang Popeye 72g x 8

A YouTube video about Zzaldduck!

#2366: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Snack Noodle

Comments

#2424: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Snack Noodle - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant Noodles

Part Of The Ramen Rater’s Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods’ Buldak Bokkeummyun

Hot Chicken Ramen Snack / 부셔먹는 라면스낵불닭 / Busyeomeongneun Ramyeonseunaek
Buldak / Launch 2016.6

I’ve reviewed a lot of snack noodles in my day and still delight in the comments I get about them. I get people telling me about smashing domestic US varieties, sprinkling the seasoning on them and eating them raw; kind of like they’ve uncovered something fascinating, new and innovative. Unfortunately – I have to break it to y’all, but this isn’t anything new. Moreover, varieties designed and sold in South Korea to be smashed and sprinkled and enjoyed have been around for a long time.

Snack noodles come in all shapes and sizes – pulverized pre-seasoned noodles that are formed into crunchy little short cylindrical thing are popular. Samyang makes one called Star Popeye, which are crunchy bits of ramyun noodles along with little star shaped bits of sugary rock candy. There’s even a company that puts instant noodles into chocolate!  I’ve even come out with a Top Ten List just for snack noodles. Today, it’s a spicy snack noodle – I mean check that that angry chicken and tell me it’s going to taste like candy. Moreover, not only can this one can be smashed and sprinkled then shaken but it can also be cooked. Let’s check it out!

Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Curry Snack Noodle – South Korea

#2424: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Snack Noodle - 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, break up instant noodle block by squishing bag. Carefully open and add in contents of sachet. Close bag and shake. Alternate cooking method: add noodle block to 150ml boiling water in a saucepan and stir until water is mostly absorbed and noodles are cooked. Add in sachet. Finally, stir and enjoy!

#2424: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Snack Noodle - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant Noodles

The noodle block.

#2424: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Snack Noodle - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant Noodles

The dry base sachet.

#2424: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Snack Noodle - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant Noodles

Has a kind of curry scent.

Finished (click to enlarge). The snack version. Added salt and pepper cashews. I usually will review an instant noodle one way or the other as mentioned on the package, but this one I thought deserved both ways, so here’s the snack version first. The noodles are crunchy and thin – you’re probably not going to break your teeth on them which is definitely a good thing! The flavor is awesome – a sweet and spicy kind of curry hit to it. A very addictive bowl here – can’t leave it alone! 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.

Finished (click to enlarge). The cooked version. Added fried egg, Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, fried chicken, chilli oil and chilli powder. The noodles are nice – definitely Korean but much thinner – and they were really great! Like a sweet and spicy curry . I could eat this for days! 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 88012073340060.

#2424: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun Snack Noodle - South Korea - The Ramen Rater - Instant Noodles

Hot Chicken Ramen Snacks 3.17 Oz (90g)x3

A video from Samyang Foods about spicy stuff!