Tag: south korea

#5408: Good Seoul Topokki Original – South Korea

#5408: Good Seoul Topokki Original - South Korea

This is the first of a lot of tteokbokki varieties I’ll be reviewing from Good Seoul. This product is made in South Korea and at this point distributed in the GCC and soon Europe. That’s great – everyone need tteokbokki in their life I swear! This came out of a big box of varieties they sent from Dubai! Let’s give it a try! ...see full post

#5403: GS25 Jumbo Omori Kimchi Stew Ramyun – South Korea

#5150: GS25 Jumbo Omori Kimchi Stew Ramyun - South Korea

We’re back at it with another massive Korean mukbang fest. I found this at a store called GMart in Lynnwood, Washington for $20. By the way, no, I’m not eating this whole thing, that’s for sure – it requires 2,2L of boiling water. That’s insane. I don’t advise sucking down this whole thing – 3440kCal, 14,960mg of sodium. I watched a guy eat the whole thing on YouTube along with a Korean beer and some crunchy squid. If you get one, share it with friends is my advice. Regardless, this should be fun – I mean, it’s a lot of noodles. ...see full post

#5377: Samyang Foods Samyang Ramen Non-Soggy Noodles – United States

Samyang Foods Samyang Ramen Nong-Soggy Noodles - United States

They had a sale at HMart of this variety and it was $4. I’ve had it many times and love this stuff – but this is a little different. It’s got a little yellow triangle, mentioning ‘non-soggy noodles.’ Generally, ramyeon that is cooked isn’t soggy or spongy. Is the noodle different from previous versions? The sale kind of seems to me that it might be. This is an export version for the US market. Let’s cook it up. ...see full post

#5361: Chil Kab Instant Hot & Sweet Topokki With Chewy Noodle – South Korea

#5361: Chil Kab Instant Hot & Sweet Topokki With Chewy Noodle - South Korea

Found this one that demands refrigeration at HMarr recently. Rapokki! Well, tteokbokki and chewy noodle… A troublesome thing happened though – the sticker on the side was very stuck and since refrigerated, the paper wasn’t compliant. Got that sticker halfway off and then r-r-rip! So apologies for that on the pic of the side panels. Anyways, let’s give it a try! ...see full post

#5354: Paldo Delicious Green Tea Noodle – United States

#5354: Paldo Delicious Green Tea Noodle - United States

So as I type this, it’s Cinco De Mayo. My eyes are watery and I’m sneezing. Really allergied out. This variety was chatted about with friends in the Section 42 mod group – the admins for Ramen Junkies. I decided I’d re-review it; new package, over ten years… Last time, it made my bottom ten. Oh wow – more than ten years – it was review 161! So that’s 15 years ago. Sheesh!  This one’s made in South Korea and packaged for US sale. Let’s give it another try – maybe I’ll like it now? ...see full post

Good Seoul Sends Topokki & Rapokki!

I was recently contacted by Good Seoul – makers of some really great rice cake topokki and rapokki! Topokki (tteokbokki) is rice flour cylinders that have a soft and chewy texture. Alone, they’re really not tasty, but paired with sauce they’re quite addictive. Rapokki is when you have these and introduce wheat noodles as well, making for a dual-textured experience. You can find their facebook here. I’ve done a few reviews so there’s some images in the video – check it out! ...see full post

#5260: Samyang Cootiq Truffle Pasta – South Korea

#5260: Samyang Cootiq Truffle Pasta - South Korea

Big thanks to Noodle Journey for this one! My God – what a past few weeks. We’ve gone through some seasonal colds, holidays, ice, snow, snow days… I have been stuck at home, so I’ve been reviewing – a LOT! Just want to go outside and walk around but it’s been hell getting to be able to. Yesterday was a snow day and it melted a lot – this morning it got into the mid 20s – so all that melt has turned into ice. Bah. It’s not permanent – it’s not like, forever, though… ...see full post

#5236: Ajumma Republic XL Ramen Real Spicy Kimchi Only For Mukbang Challengers- South Korea

#5236: Ajumma Republic XL Ramen Real Spicy Kimchi Only For Mukbang Challengers- South Korea

Big thanks to James from Lakeside, California for sending this one along! Well, this is the third review I’m doing today- a day full of so much ‘ugh’ that I would’ve expected it was Friday the 13th… First, I lost a sachet for a variety I was reviewing. Next, I decided to review this one while my kids are home sick – they like to chide eachother repeatedly and get ridiculous which isn’t helpful to my train of thought. Third, once this was done as I was making the kids their lunch, a jar of toothpicks fell and went everywhere. Hopefully this gets everything out of the universe’s system. Anyways, let’s cook up this massive tray of noodles! ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Bottom Ten Worst Instant Noodles Of All Time 2025 Edition

The Ramen Rater's Bottom Ten Worst Instant Noodles Of All Time 2025 Edition

Since 2013, I’ve been compiling an annual list of the varieties I’ve not liked. Well, beyond not liked – abhorred, found wretched, disgusting; not palatable. I’ve dedicated this year’s edition in memory of my good friend Jamie who truly reveled in how bad noodle varieties could be and had a shortlist of terms they would use that were clear indicators of how bad they were probably going to be; such terms as ‘inspired, authentic, and the like. These usually meant that they were anything but. You’ll find that terminology running rampant in here. This list is current up to review 5150. I should note that these are my opinions and so if you like these or manufacture these, keep that in mind. Let’s now peruse The Ramen Rater’s Bottom Ten Worst Instant Noodles Of All Time 2025 Edition. ...see full post

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2025 Edition

The Ramen Rater's Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2025 Edition

The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2025 Edition is an annual list of my favorite instant noodles that I’ve reviewed. This last year, I’ve kit some milestones I’m rather proud of, Toward the end of last year, I published by 5000th review. That’s a lot of instant noodle to try throughout the years! With my 500th review, I did a documentary as well as a behind the scenes – check those out to find out about me and what I do here. This list is based of reviews up to #5160. If you are a manufacturer or simply want to see me try a variety I’ve not, please reach out – always happy to try something new. I would also like to mention this list is dedicated to my friend Jamie Burridge, who passed earlier this year. With that, let us look at The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Instant Noodles Of All Time 2025 Edition. ...see full post

#5164: O’Food Garlic Tteokbokki – United States

#5164: O'Food Garlic Tteokbokki - United States

Thank you to James from Lakeside, California for sending this along! He also sent a bulgogi sauce version but my wife absconded with it – and I let her. I generally don’t get anything noodle related that she’s all over so I figured that’s fair. Tteokbokki and rice cakes in a tubular shape, usually with a lot of tasty sauce and other toppings. It’s freaking wonderful. This one comes with two servings. Let’s give it a try! ...see full post

#5139: Ajumma Republic XL Ramen Hot & Spicy Only For Mukbang Challengers – South Korea

#5139: Ajumma Republic XL Ramen Hot & Spicy Only For Mukbang Challengers - South Korea

A big thank you to James from Lakeside, California for surprising me a while back with this extra huge instant noodle tray. It’s like four full sized packs of noodles. Will I eat the whole thing? Yeah, I don’t think so. Anything that requires almost a liter and half or water to steep it is going to be pretty crazy. This one was going to me a contender for review #5000. Let’s gie it a try! ...see full post

#5094: Samyang Buldak Tom Yum Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen – United States

#5094: Samyang Buldak Tom Yum Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen - United States

A big thanks to Daniel over at www.exoticnoods.com for sending this one! I’ve been wanting to try it and mukbang it up for a while now (mukbang vid at bottom of the page), and here it is. I love tom yum. I’m curious though as the Buldak base has the heat, but it also imparts some sweetness as well. Interesting. I guess the correct route is to give it a try. ...see full post

#5088: Ottogi Snack Shop Noodle Tteok-bokki – South Korea

#5088: Ottogi Snack Shop Noodle Tteok-bokki - South Korea

Well, it’s Tuesday and Kamala Harris just announced Tim Walz as her running mate. I’m guessing you know how it pans out for them at this point, but for me it is August 6th. This one sounds good – tteokbokki is a rich cake in tube form. When prepared, they’re chewy and usually paired with a spicy and sweet sauce. This one is also including noodle, so this is ‘rabokki.’ Let’s cook this huge pack. ...see full post

#5058: Surasang ’88 Seoul Jjang Topokki – South Korea

#5058: Surasang '88 Seoul Jjang Topokki - South Korea

Big thanks to James from Lakeside, CA for sending this along. I have to say, I don’t understand what jjajang has to do with Italian influence. Chapagetti, Chacharoni – and this guy. Jjajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodle) is a fusion of Chinese and South Korean cuisine. I will say the chef is kinda funny insofar that if his moustache was larger, he could be dastardly twisting it like a bad guy in an old cartoon. Nothing bad about topokki though – let’s give it a try! ...see full post

#5049: Surasang ’88 Seoul Topokki Rice Cake With Hot Sauce – South Korea

#5049: Surasang '88 Seoul Topokki Rice Cake With Hot Sauce - South Korea

Another one sent by James of Lakeside, CA – thanks again! Nope – no noodles here, but definitely something you’ll find on shelves next to instant ramyun bowls, that’s for sure. tteokbokki are tubes of rice cake which are soft and chewy – and in this one they’re in a spicy, sweet sauce. Let’s check it out and give it a try! ...see full post

#4990: Samyang Foods Buldak Jalapeno Cheese – South Korea

#4990: Samyang Foods Buldak Jalapeno Cheese - South Korea

Well, well – another spicy challenge! This one was sent to me by Pher Engi from Australia – thank you very much! Is it me or does it seem like Samyang has a thing for Mexican flavors? Habanero Lime, Quattro – now this. I mean, it lends itself well insofar as spicy variants go. Samyang has done a lot of spicy flavors, so I think they’re having trouble finding new ideas? Maybe… I will say jalapeno cheese is definitely a flavor I enjoy a lot. Let’s give it a try – mukbang below. ...see full post

#4930: Ottogi Yeul Ramen – South Korea

#4930: Ottogi Yeul Ramen - South Korea

I think I’ve mentioned recently being almost out of instant noodle varieties to review. Well, I went to HMart today. It’s a Monday. That doesn’t usually happen as it’s probably a two hour or more walk each way. Anyways, I went with my wife, the lovely Kit. See, she got a tooth pulled that was giving her trouble on Friday. Then she had to go back because they missed a couple bits on Saturday. It’s been pure hell for her. Today, we went back to the dentist to look – was worried about dry socket (nope) and infection (nope) – but they gave her more meds and other stuff so hoping that helps. Anyways, got to spend the day with her as she works in a call center and talking on the phone all day when you have trouble opening your mouth as it hurts… This is one that should hurt pretty good – I’ve been wanting to do this spicy one for quite a long time. Well, let’s give it a go! ...see full post