Paldo Korean Noodle U-Dong Flavor

Made By:  Paldo Co. Ltd. [Korea]
Preparation:  Stovetop & Range
545 calories (2284kJ) per package

Sold online at AsianFoodGrocer

Our next selection from the latest Ramen Box is this Korean take on a Japanese Udon soup.  I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about trying this one:  I love the traditional Japanese mentsuyu flavor as in Nong Shim's Japanese-Style Udon, Maruchan's Akai Kitsune Udon/Midori no Tanuki Tensoba, and others.  However, I've complained quite recently about the apparent Korean penchant for dousing things in chilies until they drown the other flavors.  The Ramen Box pamphlet does say this one is "Mild," though, so I will be cautiously optimistic--even though that cartoon chef is back, and even brought a strange little sidekick with him this time.

Inside the package, we find a packet of powdered Soup Base, a packet of "Frying Soup Base" which appears to be our dried veggie mix along with some little rice crackers, and a block of thick round noodles.  Preparation is standard for Korean noodles:  We bring 550cc of water to a boil, add the contents of the packets to the water, and then simmer the noodles in the broth for 4 minutes.  Just that easy, it is ready to serve!  I do notice the relative lack of angry red color in the broth, which helps me maintain my optimism.

And my optimism is rewarded; these are pretty good!  The broth does have (as advertised) a mild chili heat, but it doesn't overpower the broth, which has a nice light soy-mirin-seafood flavor.  It does seem like a lighter-flavored version of the mentsuyu, more along the lines of the Okinawa Soba we just had than some of the others mentioned above.  While the noodles can't really compare to fresh-packed udon, they do stay nicely firm and have a good flavor.  Even toward the end of the bowl, although the chili heat did build a little, it was at a nice level compared to the rest of the flavors in the bowl.
I would definitely have this one again! :D

(I still don't trust that little chef mascot, though.  In the immortal words of a former US president: "Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.")

Paldo Cheese Ramyun

Made By:  Paldo Co. Ltd. [Korea]
Required to Prepare:  Saucepan & Range
480 calories per package

Available online via Amazon.com

Continuing the trek through the May 2015 Ramen Box, we have this Cheese Ramyun from Paldo.  The idea of cheese ramen sounds a bit odd at first, but I don't know why it would be that much different than some other kind of cheese soup (like that awesome broccoli and cheese soup from Panera Bread).  Also, we had a good experience from the domestic Cheddar Cheese Chow Noodles, so I don't know why a 'soup' version of cheese ramen woudn't work just as well.

The contents of the package are very typical of any other Korean Ramyun, with the addition of a third packet containing "Cheese Powder."  Preparation is also very typical; we boil 550ml of water, add the dry veggies and soup base, and cook for four minutes.  The soup base itself has a reddish color not unlike the other 'hot-spicy' flavor Korean products; for the sake of science, I decide to taste the broth before adding the Cheese Powder, and it is definitely a milder version of Shin Ramyun et al--very similar to the Jin Ramen Mild that also came in this month's box.  The cheese powder seems to be the same stuff that comes in a box of macaroni and cheese, and is a bit clumpy at first, but eventually I get it stirred in, at which point the noodles are ready to serve!

The cheese is not actually the primary flavor of the broth, but (especially judging from the before/after tasting) it does change the complexion of the flavor quite a bit; there is a creaminess and tanginess that is added, which both counters a bit of the spiciness and seems to allow different sub-flavors to come out.  I should at least mention the noodles and vegetables, even though they are pretty much the same as in all the other Korean ramen products I've been having; the noodles are firm and flavorful, and the veggies are the usual green onion/carrot/cabbage blend.

I liked this one quite a bit as well!  I'm enjoying the more balanced flavors that I've been experiencing with the products that came in this Ramen Box; this one has the creaminess that I enjoy when I add an egg to a Korean 'hot' ramyun, but as a different variation with the extra tanginess that comes from the cheese--it's actually somewhere in between the egg and my sweetie's idea of adding sour cream to Shin Ramyun.  My opinion of Korean ramen has gone up after trying these products; I don't think I had realized there was this much variety.  I could see myself getting this one again as well! :)

Soup it Up:  The Ramen Box pamphlet suggests toppings of chopped green onions, egg, and additional cheese in the form of a slice of American.  We tried the extra cheese and green onions, along with some leftover roast ham. The extra cheese was a definite upgrade for me, taking it from a sort-of-creamy Korean-spice-flavored noodle to a sort-of-spicy cheese-flavored noodle, closer to my original expectations.  The extra green onion played nicely with the onion/garlic in the soup base, and the ham fit in perfectly because of course it did.  Ham and Cheese is a classic for a reason, right?

My sweetie did mention that she thought a soft egg could have gone well also--further experiments will clearly be necessary. ^_^

Paldo Kokomen (Spicy Chicken Flavor)

Made By:  PalDo Co. Ltd. [Korea]
Required to Prepare:  Saucepan & Range
510 calories per package

Available online via Amazon.com

Next up from the May 2015 Ramen Box is Paldo's Kokomen spicy chicken soup!  The package describes it as "Clean Spicy," and according to the Ramen Box pamphlet, this should be a Korean 'Ramyun' version of a classic chicken noodle soup.  I'm anxious to give it a try!

The package doesn't have any big surprises inside; there is a very typical block of round-style Korean ramen noodles, and the standard two packets of add-ins (one powder, one veggie flake).  Interestingly, though, the ingredients list for the vegetable packet includes chicken breast and egg flake; I don't see much visual evidence of the chicken breast although I do see some tiny yellow rectangles that are probably the eggs I was looking for.  I also can't help noticing the little caricature chef near the instructions; after a cursory search, I'm assuming this is a likeness of the Korean comedian Kyung-Kyu Lee, who (according to an Amazon reviewer) developed these noodles as part of a ramen competition show.  Anyway, normal preparation instructions for a Korean noodle:  Boil 500ml of water, add everything, and cook for 4 minutes, at which point we have...

...this bowl of appetizing-looking noodles!  The broth is somewhat clear, and I can easily see the green onion pieces as well as both green and red pepper rings.  There are also a couple of little square shavings that may or may not be the mentioned chicken breast, and some longer rectangles that are probably the egg--neither one seem to contribute anything, visually, texturally, or otherwise.
The broth has a really nice flavor; the "Clean Spicy" descriptor from the package is actually a really good description.  It is a very clean, almost western-style chicken broth, accented by a very fresh-tasting pepper flavor--more than just the heat, you can taste the green accents, it reminds me of the flavor of fresh jalapeño.  While the heat level is assertive, it is definitely not overpowering, and interestingly, the heat doesn't seem to 'build' as I eat more of it.  The noodles are typical and average for Korean noodles, which is to say there is definitely nothing wrong with them; they are pleasantly firm and pick up the flavor of the soup well.

I have to say, this may be my new favorite Korean-style noodle of all time (sorry, 'Black'); I enjoy how the heat in these are a fresher, brighter flavor than simply adding a big scoop of chili powder, and how it manages to complement rather than overpower the lighter, more delicate flavors in the soup.  I could be wrong, but I am even thinking these could be a great "under-the-weather" choice--it has all the 'comfort food' quality of old-fashioned chicken soup, along with some crisp, clean pepper heat to help open up the sinuses.

Not that I would wait until I was sick to have this again; I will definitely be buying more of these.  :D

Paldo Green Tea Chlorella Noodles

Made By:  Korea Yakult Co. Ltd (Korea)
Required to Prepare:  Saucepan & Range, 550cc water
510 calories per package (?)*

(Available online through Amazon.com)

It's noodle time again!  This morning I'm going to get adventurous and try these Green Tea Chlorella noodles I picked up at Uwajimaya Bellevue last time I was there.  For the uneducated (like myself before I looked it up on Wikipedia), chlorella is a type of edible algae that was originally discovered as an inexpensive protein source and has more recently gotten a following as a "superfood."  I'm actually not that concerned about the health merits of chlorella--I'm interested to find out how it tastes when you make noodles with it!

Inside the package we find our block of green-tinted noodles, along with two packets--one with dried veggie bits, and the other with a powdered soup base that has an aroma of dashi [fish & seaweed] stock.  We bring our 550cc (around 20 oz.) of water to a boil, add our soup base packets and noodles, and cook for four minutes, and then our soup is ready to serve!

The finished soup does look a bit strange, with the green-tinged noodles in the brownish-colored broth.  Despite the unusual appearance of the noodles, their flavor is fairly unremarkable; it may be that chlorella is a bit like tofu where it doesn't have a significant flavor of its own when you cook with it.  The texture is quite nice though; the noodles are firm, just a shade softer than al dente, and not sticky or slippery.  The veggies seem content to avoid the spotlight; there are bits of kombu seaweed, some green onion, and a couple of chile-pepper rings, none of which stand out either positively or negatively.  The broth is a fairly typical Japanese-style dashi broth, which I happen to love--it's very similar to the flavor of the broth in the Nong Shim Japanese-Style Udon.  If there is a 'green tea' flavor element present, it's very subtle to the point of being totally overpowered by the dashi flavor.

In other words, despite the odd appearance, the flavor of the soup is actually quite tame, though not in a bad way.  If you enjoy Japanese-style ramen soup, I'd recommend this one as a worthy option in the category!  And who knows, that green stuff might end up being good for us. :D

*:  According to the nutrition information, there are 510 calories in half the package.  I'm convinced this is a typo, though, because the entire package is only 120 grams, and 8-1/2 calories per gram of food seems rather implausible.

Paldo Yukejang Hot & Spicy Noodle

Made By:  Paldo (Korea)
Tools Required:  Hot Water, Spoon & Chopsticks
Light Meal Size (390 calories per package)
Rating:  ^_^

(Available online through Amazon.com)

I am finally back and reviewing some new noodles today!  These are a Korean import, but I was able to find them at the local Top Foods here in Woodinville--yay for convenient shopping!  (I do so need to get back to an Asian grocery soon.)  Anyway, let's get right to the review, shall we?

Inside the bowl is a disk of fairly thin ramen-style noodles, as well as two seasoning packets, labelled "Vegetable Soup" and "Powder Soup".  {Note:  Later purchases of this have had the contents of the "Vegetable Soup" packet loose in the bowl instead, so don't think there is something wrong if you only get one packet.}  The dried veggie packet includes the usual suspects--green onion, dehydrated carrots, peppers--but also some little square sheets that remind me of tamago.  The powder soup is the deep red chili-powder color that is to be expected in a Hot & Spicy soup.  Preparation is simple; we just empty the packets into the bowl, fill with boiling water, and wait three minutes.  Upon removing the lid, we are greeted by a pleasant spicy soy aroma.  Time to eat!

The noodles have a very unique flavor and texture!  They are soft but not mushy; I thought the mouthfeel of these was very enjoyable.  It was enough to make me go look at the ingredient list, where I found that the noodles are made with potato starch as well as flour.  I approve!  I would say the broth is moderately spicy; the heat is present but it doesn't overpower the other flavors, which make for a nice, clean-tasting shoyu broth.  Unfortunately the little egg squares (or whatever they are supposed to be) didn't end up contributing that much, but I don't suppose that's a real disappointment if the overall product is good.

I was actually very impressed with this product!  I might even keep an eye on the ingredient lists for other products that include a potato-starch noodle like this one, they were that good.  They were not that expensive, for a bowl noodle, either.  I will definitely be buying more of these!  ^_^

Paldo Seafood Flavor Korean Noodle

Made by:  Paldo (Korea)

Tools Required:  Water, Saucepan & Range, Bowl, Spoon & Chopsticks (or Fork)
Meal Size (490 calories per package)

Rating:  0_0

(available online through Amazon.com)

Today I'm going to be trying a Seafood flavor noodle from Paldo.  This will be my first time trying one of Paldo's products, so it should be interesting!  It even scores some extra bonus points before I ever open the package with the cute Super Happy Chef mascot.  (Hey, I like cute stuff, what can I say?)

Upon opening the wrapper, we discover a large brick of thick, round, yellow-colored noodles (is it colored noodle week on Ramen Butterfly or something?) along with a foil packet of powdered "Soup Base" and a clear packet of dried goodies labelled "Vegetable Soup Base".  I see some things that look like seafood bits in there too, so the "vegetable" label seems odd, but they had to distinguish them somehow, I suppose.  We are supposed to boil either 550cc (ml) or 2-3/4 cups of water, add the noodles and soup base, and simmer for four minutes.  2-3/4 cups sounds like a lot (which it is--that's 650ml), so I decide to go with the 550ml measurement, which is more like 2-1/3 cups.  Anyway, four minutes after we finish doing unit conversions, it is time to eat!

Hmmm... you know, judging from the aroma and from the bright orange-red color of the broth, I am wondering if there is something the package forgot to tell me about these noodles.  My first sip of the broth confirms my suspicion--these are actually fairly spicy!  Probably not quite as hot as a Shin Ramyun (which I am planning to review sometime) but I think it is the spiciest thing I have reviewed so far.  I happen to like it, but it is not what I was expecting at all based on the package.  I mean, look at all that cool blue color!  What about the cute, innocent-looking mascot?  That'll teach me to trust a cartoon chef.  Anyway, the texture of the noodles is nice; they are more like a thick spaghetti rather than the "typical" ramen texture.  I can pick up a nice shrimp-and-surimi seafood flavor, which isn't quite overpowered by the chili powder, but almost. The serving size is quite filling, too.

The final word?  I am actually a bit torn on how to rate these.  On the one hand, I enjoyed these and I wouldn't turn down the chance to eat them again, so I would normally give them a happy face.  However, my biggest impression came from the fact that there is no mention anywhere on the package that these are a spicy flavor. (Okay, so there is the ingredient list that shows "red pepper" as the third ingredient in the seasoning powder right behind salt and MSG, but who looks at that while they're shopping?)   I don't mind heat, but some warning would be nice for the people who do.  So as a public service announcement, these get a rating of "surprised face." 0_0