Tasting Paldo Volcano Spicy Chicken Noodles

Today I'm trying Paldo's Volcano Spicy Chicken Noodles. It's labeled as being "Crazy Hot! Hot Spicy". It's rated #9 on the spiciest prepackaged ramens of all time by The Ramen Rater. 

I generally followed the package instructions, cooking it in 2 1/2 cups of boiling water for 3:00, then drained most of the water off. I did not do the stir-fry step. 

The noodles were fairly thick, very chewy, very tasty by themselves. It comes with two packets, one that had seaweed and sesame seeds, and one that was the chili sauce. I added both, gave it a stir, and let it sit a minute or so. 

I found the actual flavor to be a nondescript "meaty". It's labeled as chicken but I didn't see any actual chicken in the ingredients - rather, there was yeast extract, MSG, and artificial beef and chicken flavor. Heat-wise, it did have a bit of a punch, though I'm not sure I'd consider it to be spicy enough to be the 9th hottest of the several thousand the Ramen Rater has tried. The heat lingers - I waited about 4 min after the first bite and I could still feel it. The heat seems to build, too - I finished the bowl about 5 min ago and not only can I still feel the heat in my mouth, but my lips are slightly tingly in a way that evokes both heat and numbness. 

This one runs 520 calories and 1,263 mg of sodium. 

Verdict: I bought this as a 4-pack and will happily consume all 4 of them. That said, I may try a mukbang with the 3 remaining chili sauce packets in one bowl of noodles and save the other two for some other treatment. 

Taste: 8/10

Heat: 9/10

Tasting Tapatio Ramen Noodle Soup

 Today I'm trying Tapatio Ramen Noodle Soup. Saw this at the local Walmart and thought it might be interesting - I love hot sauce and I love ramen, so why not try the combination? Tapatio is not a super-spicy hot sauce - along the lines of a Tabasco or sriracha. 

Followed the directions using boiling water and let sit for 3 min. The noodles were still a bit more al dente than I generally go for so I let it sit another minute or so. 

The flavor is tough to describe. I didn't really get any flavor from it other than a very mild protein flavor - I had to check the ingredients to see that it includes beef and vegetable stock and MSG. The heat was there if you have a very sensitive palate, but as I noted, Tapatio isn't noted for scorching heat. Overall I'd say the flavor was pleasant. 

I didn't have anything to stir into it so I ate it as is, but it would have been significantly improved I think with a bit of meat, maybe some lime juice and cilantro. 

440 calories as packaged, and 1540 mg of sodium. 

Verdict: It was OK, but that's it. 

Taste: B

Heat: D

Tasting Nissin's Hot & Spicy Blazing Hot Flavor Noodles

 

Today I'm trying Nissin's Hot & Spicy Blazing Hot Noodles. Like the previous one, it's a big serving and presented the same way. I cooked it in a bit more water and for 3:00 per package directions. Noodles were nice and chewy and held up well. 

I tried it without the chili sauce first. Flavor was fairly bland, and while there was a slight bit of heat, i.e. hotter than plain or teriyaki, but no real bite, there was not much flavor other than that slight piquancy. 

I opened the chili sauce and there was no particular aroma to it. Added it to the noodles and again, it added a bit of heat and not much flavor. It certainly was unworthy of the term "Blazing Hot". As with the previous tasting, I added a bit of leftover pork and maybe 1/2 tsp of sesame oil and it was OK. 

Only(!) 420 calories as packaged, and 1300 mg of sodium. 

Verdict: It was OK, but that's it. 

Taste: B-

Heat: B-