Cycle 15 – Item 109

23 (Tue) April 2024

Cup Noodles Seafood Flavor

2.0

at home

-Changgok, Sujeong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea-

solo

I was very pleasantly surprised to find NISSIN Cup Noodles on the shelf at our local convenience store – as far as I can recall, the first time encountering a Japanese packaged noodle product in a mainstream retail setting.  Which seems impossible, given Japan’s close proximity and Koreans’ general appreciation for Japanese food.  So maybe it’s intentional, say, due to a restrictive trade policy (I think that’s why Japanese cigarettes are not sold in Korea; though Japanese beer is ubiquitous).  In any case, I look forward to even more Japanese products being introduced to the local market – Sapporo Ichiban (see generally 10.137 Sapporo Ichiban Shoyu Ramen – Deluxe), baby!

At times, I prefer Japanese instant ramen for the mild/gentle flavor; by contrast, Korean instant ramyeon tends to be spicy, which can be welcome when I need a boost, or when I’m hungover, but not when I just want a light snack.

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)