#795: Master Kong Red Oil Dan Dan Noodles

Here’s another one that Bo H. sent me from China! Thanks again! So what are Dan Dan noodles? here’s what Wikipedia says:

Dandan noodles or Dandanmian (traditional Chinese: 擔擔麵, simplified Chinese: 担担面) is a classic dish originating from ChineseSichuan cuisine. It consists of a spicy sauce containing preserved vegetables (often including zha cai, 榨菜, lower enlarged mustard stems, or ya cai, 芽菜, upper mustard stems), chili oil, Sichuan pepper, minced pork, and scallions served over noodles.

Alrighty then, let’s give it a try!

I cut and pasted all the text from the lid and scanned it. Click to enlarge.

Hey – chopsticks!

Here’s the big packet of spicy paste.

That’s a lot of goopy stuff – looks spicy!

The vegetables.

Looks like a nice little bunch of veggies.

Then there’s this little pouch with little hard things in it…

I ate one and I think they get sprinkled on top at the end.

Finished. Interesting… This one was fun to try; I’m really looking forward to these Master Kong’s as they’re huge in China and these aren’t available around this neck of the woods, that’s for sure. The noodles aren’t bad, – there’s a lot of them too. The flavor is a little bit spicy and a bit greasy. The veggies are nice. The only problem here is it seems kind of bland to me. Could use a little more flavor I think. 2.75 out of 5.0 stars.UPC bar code 6903252084818 .

Here’s a Master Kong commercial

How to make DanDan noodles at home

#749: Top Ten: Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein (New Version)

We were at 99 Ranch Market yesterday and I noticed that Sapporo Ichiban Chow Mein has a new packaging. Wondering if it’s got a different flavor as well.

Okay so if you look at the serving size and everything from here and compare it to the old one here, there are definite difference in amount of fat, sodium and other things. Hmmm.

The noodle block – tight and kind of weighty – tasty raw too I might add!

Here’s the main seasoning packet.

Tasty stuff here!

Yeah! Green Laver is one of my all-time favorite seasoning additions!

Sprinkle it on at the very end and enjoy! It’s powdered seaweed.

Finished. Added a little beef lunch meat and some kizami shoga (pickled ginger). Well, The only difference I could detect was … Well, nothing really. This is incredibly nummy stuff! It didn’t seem to want to suck up all the liquid as fast as the old one, but after adding the main seasoning packet and giving it a stir and returning it to the stove for a minute or so it was all but absorbed. There’s a reason this is in the top ten list – it’s good – really good. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars – one of my all-time favorites! UPC bar code 076186000189 – get it here!

Vintage Sapporo Ichiban TV commercial

A quick segue from the Asian Pop explosion, here are some demented children in vintage advertising.

#709: Nissin Original Chow Mein Spicy Chicken Flavor

Here’s another Nissin – had to make something quick today – it’s my wife’s birthday! Happy birthday, Kitten!

Here’s the back.

Here’s what you see when you tear off the cellophane coverings. Notice in this one there asre three flavoring packs!

Here’s the powder seasoning.

Vegetables.

Liquid seasoning.

The noodle block – kind of like a little maze!

Finished. Sortry about the lack of seasoning pics – had to make this quick. I added a little stir fry veggies, turkey lunch meat and Ajishima Kim Chi furikake. The noodles were really good as they have been in these lately. The flavors were okay – could be slightly spicier but if you’re not into painfully hot, this is for you. 3.25 out of 5.0 stars. UPC barcode 070662087244 – get it here.

Nissin Chow Mein commercial.

Make some homemade style!

#704: Meet The Manufacturer – Nissin Original Chow Mein Chinese Chicken Vegetable Flavor

Here’s another chow mein – this time Chinese Chicken Vegetable!

Here’s the bottom of the package

…and the top underneath the plastic wrapping.

Here’s the noodle block – looks like it’d be hard to untangle…

Liquid seasoning.

Looks like oil and another flavoring going on.

Big packet of veggies.

Lots of nice colors.

Finished and unadulterated. Was easy to cook – I added a hint extra water too. The noodles were very nice here – a great firmness I enjoyed tremendously. The flavor was kind of a sesame oil with hints of chicken and an extremely light spiciness. The veggies are great – lots of them and that re-hydrate very nicely. Good stuff – 4.0 out of 5.0 stars! UPC barcode 070662087251 – get it here.

Nissin Chow Mein commercial.

Wow this is pretty insane!

#645: Nong Shim Oolongmen Cup Noodle Soup With Artificial Chicken Flavor

Chicken Oolongmen! WTF? I don’t know so here we go.

Side panels…

A single packet…

Hello veggies – wow this is a ton for a cup! I’m wondering how this will pan out…

The noodles are like a regular supermarket cup noodle, maybe slightly better. The broth is a little richer than your standard chicken cup, and the veggies – luxurious and ample all throughout the whole thing – even big chunks of mushrooms! For a chicken cup, this is about the best I’ve had. 3.75 out of 5.0 stars – pretty dang good! UPC barcode 031146001552 .

Heart Attack Ramen

Less Heart Attack Ramen