The Mark Hopkins Asian Noodle PageWith Assistance From Dr. E. Randall Bayless |
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On the quest for the perfect noodleClick on a photo for a larger picture. |
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 Maruchan Ramen Chicken Flavor Mark: This is probably the most common, and cheapest, of all. It's okay in a pinch, but it is basically noodles in some instant chicken broth. |
 Mr. Kon Spicy Pork Rib Mark: Comes with 3 flavor packets: 1 cellophane packet with dried veggies, 1 aluminum foil packet with some type of dried soup base, and 1 packet with an oily/spicy mixture in it. Smells great when it's all mixed together. |
 Nissin Chicken Chow Mein Mark: No broth at all. The noodles aren't bad, but kind of boring. Of course I could be wrong! See the "special guest review" at the bottom of the page. |
 Nong Shim Spicy Kal Bi Flavor Mark: This is my favorite so far. It actually does have the flavor of Korean barbecued ribs. Comes with 2 or 3 packets of stuff to add to the noodles. Lots of spicy broth. |
 Nong Shim Bowl Noodle Kim Chi Flavor Mark: This is my second favorite. It's spicy too! Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Great flavor. Spicy but
not too spicy - makes your nose run but doesn't melt your head.
Vermicelli-like noodles
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 UFO that's all I can make out Mark: It has a condiment package AND a semi-liquid sauce package. The bowl is kind of funky too. You put hot water in, let it sit, then pull back the top of the lid to reveal drain-holes for the water (which you then drain), then you add the sauce package and the condiment package. |
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Nong Shim Noodle Bowl Soup Spicy Shrimp Flavor Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Only a hint of the usual freeze-dried flavor that dissipated quickly as the spicy flavors took over. The shrimp bits taste surprisingly like cuttlefish with shrimp seasoning, but there were only 4 bits so who cares. The spicy seasoning is not overwhelming and makes the meal interesting. Noodles are bulkier that most noodle entrees and give the experience more of a full meal feel. A solid 4/5. |
 Nong Shim Shin Ramyun; Hot & Spicy Flavor Ramen Mark: It's spicy! I forgot to make note of the flavor packets but I think there were 2 of them. Nothing remarkable but it made me sweat while I was eating it; so it ain't all bad!! |
 Nong Shim Kim Chi Flavor Ramen Mark: This is good stuff! Comes with 2 flavor packets: 1 is dried veggies and the other is the soup base. It has a very nice kim chi flavor is is kind of spicy. I'll buy it again! Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Double thumbs up for Nong Shim Kim Chi Flavor Ramen! Sets the standard for beefy noodles and big servings. The Kim Chi flavors are subtle and the heat sneaks up on you. Needed 2 sodas to put out the fire. Awesome. |
 Samyang Kim Chi Flavor Ramen Mark: Comes with 2 flavor packets: 1 is dried veggies and the other is the soup base like the Nong Shim Kim Chi Flavor Ramen, but the flavor is a little weaker. I prefer the Nong Shim. |
 Nissin Chow Mein Garlic Shrimp Mark: Pretty interesting. Comes with a clear cellophane packet in which you can plainly see small, shrimp like objects! The taste is more fishy though; I expected a nice light shrimp flavor and this was more like Striped Bass or something. Not much broth either. All around I consider this one to be mediocre. |
 Maruchan Instant Lunch Shrimp Dr. E. Randall Bayless: The ingredient list includes shrimp. Me thinks they're AWOL. Tastes like a lot like Maruchan beef. |
 Maruchan Instant Lunch Chicken Flavor Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Noodles - OK. Veggies - OK. My tongue couldn't fight through the overwhelming salt to I pick up the chicken flavor. But it is 1-step prep! So try it, you might like it! Mark: Easy to fix and very handy. Good for an "emergency snack", or if you're too drunk to either leave the house or cook something substantial. |
 Maruchan Instant Lunch Roast Beef Flavor Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Ugh. What causes that peculiarly strong dehydrated/freeze-dried beef flavor? The noodles are good - just eat it when you have a cold. Mark: Easy to fix and very handy. Good for an "emergency snack", or if you're too drunk to either leave the house or cook something substantial. |
 Nissin "Cup Noodles" Shrimp Dr. E. Randall Bayless: The ingredient list says that this
contains 'real' freeze-dried shrimp. I couldn't find one. Some veggies in
there. The noodles are really good! |
 Nissin "Cup Noodles" Chicken Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Real veggies! but still crunchy after recommended cooking time. Not a ton of flavor. Nothing interesting. Just eh. |
 Maruchan Lime and Shrimp |
 Boss Noodle - Pork Mark: These are pretty good but not really impressive in any way. Regular ramen noodles in a broth that could be pork flavored, or beef, or maybe chicken. A bit bland compared to some of the other offerings but still pretty good. Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Great Thai noodles with spice sachet that includes mild garlic flavor and leeks. |
 Lucky Me - La Paz Batchoy Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Not bad, liked the crackers packed with it. Mark: Tried it, I think I liked it ... but I was too drunk too remember the details. I should ALWAYS carry a notepad with me. |
 Nong Shim - Spicy Chicken Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Nong Shim means Always Good in Korean! Manly sized noodles and broth that numbs the lips and stings the nostrils. Not sure what 'fishcake' is, but who cares, it tastes great. Mark: Nice and spicy! I don't read the ingredients like my associate Dr. Bayless, but these are tasty and fast! |
 UFO Big Dr. E. Randall Bayless: An eating adventure - No English instructions and no fill line. I dumped the 2 packets of ?? into the soup - hope I was supposed to eat it! Large portion of lo mein like noodles, mild flavor, slight scent of ginger and green leafy vegetables. Tasty. Mark: After reading the email below (Special Guest Review - by Meng Huo) I decided I was preparing these incorrectly. After following the Yakisoba method of preparing them, which makes them pretty much "brothless", I decided that I really like these. I rate them in my top 3 favorite noodles!! |
 Maruchan Instant Lunch Hot & Spicy Beef Flavor Mark: Of all of the Maruchan Instant Lunch noodles I've tried this is my favorite. Probably because it's so nice and spicy. Even though it is quite spicy the flavor is well balanced, and like all of the "noodles-in-a-cup" dishes, it is ready in no time. Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Wow That's a spicy noodle I couldn't breath!! Like to tell you how it tastes, but my tongue was numb and eyes were watering. User Beware! Fix it in the bowl it comes in. More of a dry noodle than a soup. |
 Nissin Teriyaki Beef Chow Mein Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Microwaves in it's own container - always a Plus Understandable instructions. Mild teriyaki flavor is wonderful and ingredients include larger-than-average noodles, carrots, green onions and shitake mushrooms. |
 Nissin Chicken Mushroom - Special Guest Review - Donald V. Arvin: If you're a horse lover, you'll enjoy these noodles. The salty mushroom flavoring reminds me of an old, sweaty, leather saddle. Boil up a little hot water, and you've got yourself a convenient meal for a quick lunch break back of the stables. |
 Maruchan Ramen Oriental Flavor - Special Guest Review - Wes Stone: Oriental flavor, that says it all. I eat these almost everyday for lunch and wouldn't consider any other flavor 'cause it wouldn't be Oriental, and that's what Ramen Noodles are all about. I mean, you don't see Cincinnati flavor do you? |
 Maruchan Ramen Chili Flavor Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Boring. Not really hot. Generally Tasteless. Maybe I made it wrong. |
 Maruchan Ramen Creamy Chicken Flavor |
 Dongwon Ramyunudon Unfried Noodles - Spicy Flavor Mark: Possibly my new favorite! Soft noodles in a little bag, with a couple of flavor packets. Noodles have a good consistency and the broth is nice and spicy! Dr. E. Randall Bayless: I'm not sure what I just ate - dried seaweed and bulgogi extract? - and there were zero instructions so I'm not sure about my prep. None-the-less, the flavor and texture were great (must have been the bulgogi). Just spicy enough. |
 Nong Shim Shin Ramyun; Hot & Spicy Flavor Ramen LARGE Size See: Nong Shim Shin Ramyun; Hot & Spicy Flavor Ramen listed above; this is the same, only bigger! Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Hot and spicy for sure. Familiar and enjoyable numb lips feeling. Good flavor and texture. Tastes like other Nong Shim Hot & Spicy dishes - always good! |
 Nong Shim - Udon Noodle Soup Mark: Not bad but a little on the lackluster side for flavor, even with the "red pepper packet" added to the broth. Muti-step preparation list had me ready for something a bit more remarkable. But just getting back from Thailand, I guess I'm kind of a "noodle snob" now. Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Not too spicy, even with the somewhat ominous looking pepper packet. Huge portion - maybe it was a family size. The thick noodles are soft in the packet, the broth is fantastic as is most Nong Shim, and the directions were unexpectedly understandable. Comes with a big bowl. |
 Maruchan Yakisoba - Chicken Flavor |
 Maruchan Yakisoba - Teriyaki Flavor Mark: Man, this stuff is GOOD! Following the directions I got a great bowl of noodles (no broth) that had an excellent flavor. Pretty mild compared to the usual extra-spicy that I like; I'll be buying more of these!
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 Nong Shim Hot and Spicy/Picante Flavor Mark: Good and spicy! Nice broth that just about took my breath away when I first sampled it ... but I like it spicy! |
 Sun Voi - Chicken Flavor (Pho Ga)
Dr. E. Randall Bayless: They say that everything tastes like
chicken, so that would seem to make it an easy flavor, but this didn't
taste like any chicken I've ever had. There was no ingredients list and
orange fish-egg like additive made me a little nervous too. |
 Sun Voi - Cambodian Style Flavor (Hu Tieu Nam Vang) Mark: The rice noodles are soft and delicate. The broth is also kind of delicate and nondescript. Not really a favorite, but nothing to complain about either. There is also a little fold-up plastic fork enclosed that's kind of cool! |
 Sun Voi - Beef Flavor (Pho Bo) Dr. E. Randall Bayless: Easy. Folding spork is amazing. Two spice packets. I'm still trying to cultivate a taste for these ultra-thin rice noodles and unique flavor.It's either interestingly new or subliminally nasty. Slightly spicy. Comes with a cup. |
 Sun Voi - Vegetarian Flavor (Mien Chay) Bean Threads |
 Paldo - Stir-Fried Kimchee Mark: This is REALLY good! There is a packet of real kim chi inside the bag. Adding this makes these noodles nice and spicy!! |
 Thai Kitchen - Garlic and Vegetable |
 Thai Kitchen - Lemongrass and Chili - Special Guest Review - Jennifer Buttz: These noodles were horrible! They tasted as bad as they smelled, which reminded me of seaweed. Horrible, just horrible! |
 Thai Kitchen - Thai Ginger |
 Thai Kitchen - Bangkok Curry Mark: These are pretty good! Nice coconut curry flavor. A little spicy but not too much. Not a bad noodle experience at all! |
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- Special Guest Review - (from email) Subject: corrections to your noodle page Meng Huo |
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