Myojo Ippeichan Yakisoba Japanese Style Noodles.

Temporally skipping a couple i've eaten between this and the last one, mostly because it's just so damn good. So i bring you.... Myojo Ippeichan Yakisoba Japanese Style Noodles. (dramatic eh?)

Printed on a plastic wrapper, but thankfully instructions also on the lid.

So many packets, wow...

Put in dried veggies and boiling water, wait, then drain out the water through this handy drain that is actually quite sturdy. 

Put in powder stuff, liquid sauce, and drizzle the mustard mayo on the top. 

I was a bit worried about the mayo, and it being too strong or "odd", but it was perfect really, added just enough extra. The funny thing is, all i can ever think when i hear "mustard mayo" or similar is the video below. I do have to say though, this is one of my absolute faves, and it doesn't look like it in the photos, but it's substantial and filling in addition to be tasty. 

Nong Shim Big Bowl Udon

Been a while since i've done one of these, but feeling pretty down, can't sleep, and had a craving for them. So i bring you a late night bit of Nong Shim Big Bowl Udon.

Here with the plastic removed, as it glares just too much. Not the most in focus, but i am not exactly the most focused either. 

Dried powder put in, the larger parts (tofu i believe) are there in with the noodles already. There is also some seaweed, and other bits, veggies and such in there too. 

Pour in boiling water (days, or nights like this i'm glad i have one of those quick water boiling pitchers), wait four minutes (must be because they are udon, as the ramen ones take three minutes), stir and nom away. 

My opinion, this is awesome, i will definitely be getting multiples of these from United Noodles when go again. It becomes substantial when done, has a good flavor, and all around damn fine instant noodles. I know eating instant noodles isn't probably the best for you if you do it too much, but it's such a comfort food for me for some reason. Lately, that is just something i need, the little pleasures in life, to keep me going. 

Menraku Ramen Miso

Also eaten recently was Menraku Ramen Miso, and i have to say, so far my favorite, hands down. Also one with more pictures than normal.

Same as usual, package without wrapping. 

Peel back lid, take out two packages...

sprinkle powder base and dried veggies out on noodles. Pour boiling water and let sit for three minutes.

Squeeze out miso paste on soup (hard to explain what miso is like, but i love it)...

stir and eat. Nom, nom, nom. You can tell how the miso spreads out and flavors it, very good. 

Hands down so far, my favorite. I could live off this, well, mostly, but you get the idea. The noodles are good, and plentiful, a good amount of dried veggies, and the soup and miso are a great flavor. 

I've probably said it before, but i'm really seeing the difference between what we have as ramen and what you can get here. There is more than noodles and a small package of dry powder, in fact more noodles too. Granted, these are generally around $2 each here, probably less there, while our cheap ramen is like a pack of six or more for that price. That said, while the story of a student getting scurvy by only eating ramen is a myth, most of our ramen has had most nutrients fried out and the powder doesn't add much, so seeing ones like this with more actual "stuff" is good to see, although the sodium is probably a bit high. Oh well, got to live like a rock star, heh. ;)

Menraku Ramen Soy Sauce

A little behind here, been playing a bit of Final Fantasy XIV Online and backed up on actually posting these, heh.

One of my so far favorites, Menraku Ramen Soy Sauce flavor.

Package, without plastic wrap. 

Two packages inside, one with veggies and powder, the other one with a liquid.

Powder added, boiling water added after that, wait three minutes.

Squeeze liquid (concentrated soy sauce flavor i'm thinking), stir and eat. Nom, nom, nom. 

I am loving the styrofoam bowls, even though probably not as green of me to, it's nice not having to worry about too hot of hands or burnt fingers. (probably have to explain here, i have one of those water boiling appliances that heats up quick and hot. It does get hot, boiling actually.) I do love this one, pretty much one of my top ones. Yeah, i'm not the most eloquent right now, or ever really, but oh well. 

Bowl Noodles Rich & Savory, Chicken

This is another instant noodle review, because i live the life of a rock star, well not really, but i figured i'd do more before i eat them all. This is one of Bowl Noodles Rich and Savory, Chicken Flavor, got this at Econofoods here in town, not at United Noodles like most of them. Basically i was just getting other things and figured i'd pick up some different types to try.

Unopened, yep, that "soup booster" is between the plastic and the package proper. 

All but the booster go in with water, microwave for 3 minutes...

Add booster and stir when done, then eat. 

My judgement is that it's pretty average, or below. Nothing thrilling flavor wise, kind of like cheap chicken soup or something, and the noodles were very bland and a bit too soft. At least that was my feeling, but i've been eating firmer ones, so there is that. It wasn't horrible, just not too thrilling or something i'd go out of my way to eat again, unless i put some sriracha on it, which i seem to be doing for everything lately, but i'd like to keep the original flavor for these.

Food trip

Was craving Calpico, and decided to go over to United Noodle in Minneapolis. It's a good distance, close to 40 miles from here, but worth it. I only hoped that this time they had some, unlike last time i went where they only had a couple bottles left. As you can tell from the photo above, they did.

If only getting there had been so easy. I got lost due to construction and a simple wrong turn that led to lots of one way streets. Ended up getting onto this road that snaked along the river, thought i was never going to get off it, and kept not knowing where the hell i was. After a long, long while, i saw the street name that the place is on. So i quickly went on it, even though i wasn't sure if i was on the right side of the river or not. Several times the road ended at a T and i had to choose left or right, but in the end chose right. Got there in the end.

Was quite busy too, more than i've seen it before, not sure if it's because of time of day or what though. Surprised they rearranged the store too, i kept looking for the Japanese section, and eventually sound it, and purchased much. I picked up some C.C. Lemon, which is pretty famous for their Simpson's commercials in Japan. It's actually really good too. Nicely light carbonation, and very lemony, without being too lemony. Wish i had bought more, only got two bottles, one of which is hidden behind the Oi Ocha, which is also good. Basically a nice unsweetened green tea from Japan. So many beverages, but also a ton of food, which you can see pictures of on my flickr. Basically a crap ton of ramen, several different flavors, snacks like mochi and Pocky, and tons of instant curry which i end up craving over rice i make in my Zojirushi rice cooker.

Thrilling story eh? Yep. The more things change the more they stay the same. Been doing a lot of this kind of shopping and such to distract myself from how much i've been missing and thinking of Jodi, not sure what kicked off this time. Could be that's it National Suicide Prevention Week, that i've been watching movies that reminded me of her, or that i've got so much on my mind that just won't go away and she was the only one who seemed to honestly understand and not mock or judge me for talking about them. Heck, even therapists have tended to do not really listen. Any way, i miss my best friend and more, one of kind she was, and am just trying to keep it from getting worse. If that's possible.

The bunnies are awesome as usual, shedding like crazy though. As usual.

Myojo Soy Sauce Flavor

Second of the instant noodles, Myojo Kakesoba Desse Soy sauce flavor noodles. Same as last time, empty packet (one this time, dry powder) on noodles, add boiling water, wait, eat. Not the most exciting of the flavors, below the "hot" of last time, but still good. I do admit to being a fan of stronger flavors, and this was more mellow flavored, not bad, but mellow.

I just want to say here, that i hate that fake wood countertop i have. Ugh, so ugly.

Goku-uma Ramen Noodles, Hot Flavor

Out of boredom, confusion, curiosity, hunger, or whatever, i decided to keep track of and describe the ramen (and other instant noodles, but mostly ramen) i get, mostly at United Noodles in Minneapolis (which is an awesome Asian food grocery, if not a bit hard to find the first time you go).

First up is Goku-uma Ramen Noodles, Hot Flavor.

I had to get a kick out out of the "flavor" being "hot", but looking at the label it was actually kimchi flavored. I didn't get a good shot of it being "done", but it was pretty red like kimchi, so you'll have to use your imagination there. It's one of those instant ramen where you boil water, toss in the packets of powder flavor and dried veggies, pour in water, wait three minutes. Kind of nice when you are in a hurry (to get somewhere, or more often, just lazy and want food in you). It might be my imagination but there seemed to be more of it than what is in most instant ramen, but that could just be my imagination. I have to say, i love spicy food, and wasn't sure if it would be mild or wild, as everything i've learned has said that in general Japanese don't like spicy as much. Well, wow. My mouth was burning five minutes later. Awesome. It was hot, not so much in a painful way but a flavorful way. There was burning, but pleasant, for me at least. Yum. :)