This is a dry ramen - you drain the water and add two packets, sauce and oil. I’ve heard great things about this brand and these did not disappoint - noodle texture was excellent with great chew and the sauce was delicious, if a tad sweet for my taste. Not too hot but a very pleasant spicy tingle. I would add vegetables and maybe a scrambled egg to cut the sweetness slightly next time. I probably would not add crab or shrimp, as counterintuitive as that sounds, because the sweetness could be too much. They are much more expensive than your average instant noodle at around $4 per pack, but a nice treat and still a relatively cheap meal.
I don’t eat these much anymore, but I do prefer the Japanese varieties over the chicken/beef ones common here in the states. Ironically, these taste the best when they come around as a mid-flight snack on a plane right to or from Asia. I’m always excited that I know I’m getting something I will at least enjoy eating on a plane.
Tried the A-Sha Dan Dan noodles tonight - very tasty. A yay for sure, though not spicy enough for my liking. Easily remedied with some chili crisp. These are a similar flavor profile but MUCH better than the Trader Joe’s spicy sesame squiggly noodles.
Not sure why I hadn’t tried this one before, as it is a standard on Costco’s shelves - perhaps because I prefer a spicy ramen, and I didn’t notice until today that this one comes with a packet of spicy sauce.
I tasted it without the spicy packet (good - thin yet springy noodles, rich porky flavor, slightly creamy texture), with the spicy packet (even better and richer, but still quite mild for my palate), with a little cayenne added (desired spice level reached), and finally with a tiny splash of Chinese black vinegar added (Nirvana). This will be a regular in my lineup. Love the slivers of garlic in the dried vegetable mix. Not the cheapest option around at $12.79 for 6 bowls, but well worth the minor splurge. I have eaten lesser tonkatsu ramen that I paid $20+ per bowl for in restaurants many times.
For some reason, theose Tonkotsu ones didn’t hit the spot for me. They’re not bad and I like the large size which can tide me over on a busy with day before I get dinner. My BIL loves them though.
A big YAY for these hard to find (for me) Cung Dinh Pho Hanoi noodles.
Spotted them on sale at a local Hmart and gave it a go. Have been sorely disappointed by most instant pho and this one surprised me. This has a really tasty broth that actually is more reminiscent of authentic pho broth than any brand I’ve tried. I dislike the Snapdragon (Costco brand) and most others like Vifon and Oh Ricey were big MEHs.
You still miss all the toppings you get with real pho, but at least the soup was good.
Big beefy flavor and excellent spicy kick in the broth. The noodles are also excellent - thick and chewy, and they hold up well as you eat (as opposed to some brands where the noodles get very soft if they sit in the broth too long). The dried vegetable packet could be more generous but that’s a minor quibble. 100% will buy again.
Yay for Nongshim Ansung Beef & Fermented Bean flavors ramyun. It’s salty and a little spicy with a bit of doenjang flavor and dehydrated mushrooms. 540 calories per package.
