We Tried This Best-Selling, Spicy Instant Ramen, and *WOW*
We’re no strangers to ramen. Between the budget-friendly noodle-slurping in college and the abundance of ramen bars popping up in major cities, it might be safe to say we’ve become downright obsessed. (And we’ve got a collection of Instagram posts to prove it!) So when we heard about Samyang 2X Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen ($9 / five packets), we knew we had to try it.
It’s packaged just like the ramen we knew and loved growing up, but upon reading the instructions, we were surprised to learn that the broth-y goodness we covet isn’t invited to *this* ramen party. Instead, you boil the noodles for five minutes, then discard all but eight spoonfuls of the cooking water (it doesn’t specify teaspoons or tablespoons, so we eyeballed eight tablespoons). Then, you’re to transfer the cooked noodles with the reserved water to a hot skillet, add the packet of spicy sauce, and stir-fry it for 30 seconds.
To serve, we garnished the noodles with the included packet of flakes, which is comprised of chopped nori and sesame seeds. We got a little fancy and added some scallions to the mix, because who doesn’t love scallions scattered over their ramen?
The spicy sauce is incredibly inviting at first glance. Its fiery red hue coats the noodles in the most perfect way, and you can’t help but stick your face into the rising steam to take a whiff. That’s when you realize you’re in for a shocker; it’s nearly a choking hazard. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve been known to drench our noodles in Sriracha and Sambal, so how bad could this be?
WELL. Let’s just say that two bites in, we were panting and running to the fridge for milk as our confidence crashed to the floor. We thought that mayyyybe the first few bites would be the worst of it and that it could only get easier, but we were wrong. Two more bites, and our faces started to leak like faucets as our lips went up in flames. (Or so it felt.) Not even gonna lie, we bailed for our own safety. As tasty as it was with its potent chili flavor, we couldn’t physically do it.
Do we recommend this stuff? Absolutely, but only if you’re the type to opt for the hottest options on the menu. If you’re not that into spicy foods, or if you’re like us and think you can handle spicy foods, take our advice and stick to Samyang’s not-so-spicy version. Your mouth will thank us.
Have you braved Samyang 2X Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen? Tweet us @BritandCo and let us know!
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(Photos via Dana Sandonato)
