What comes to mind whenever you hear the word ramen? Is it Uncle Roger's offensive noodle reviews or the mouth-watering smell of your favourite instant noodle seasoning powder boiling in a bowl? Either way, you surely love ramen - or else you wouldn't be here for the yummy goods that I'm about to reveal to you.
What if I told you that you can find all your favourite ramen from around the world in one single store? I never thought I would live to witness a ramen paradise until I went to Bangkok and randomly discovered Good Noodle.
If you love ramen as much as I do, this is the place to be!
Behold! The world's most extensive ramen collection.
Before we jump right into the broth of Bangkok's newest sizzling eatery, let's take a quick look at the origins of ramen. How this amazing slurpy dish turned into practically a household convenient delicacy.
Where did Ramen originate from?
Although some believe that ramen originated in Japan, the Japanese have agreed with the fact that ramen arrived in their nation from China in the 1800s. But ramen made the hit in Korea - that's when we ramen lovers got to know these wonderful instant noodles that we so adore.
Now Chinese have been mastering noodle-making for centuries. Perhaps, even more than 3000 years. The history of Chinese ramen is a whole other study that I will not touch upon here. This is all about Good Noodle.
How good is Good Noodle Ramen, Bangkok?
Alright, let's get to the good parts. My husband and I happened to be in Bangkok last November and we were on a strictly experience-only hunt where we dedicated our entire holiday to trying out authentic Thai delicacies and adrenaline-pumping adventures (that's something I'd write about later on).
Then so randomly I stumbled upon this piece of information: World's biggest instant noodle store opened recently in Bangkok, selling over 70 types of noodles. As a fan of Korean ramen, I just couldn't miss this out. And I will never regret making the choice to find this hidden store.
Good Noodle is nestled among other stores in the basement of the Union Mall. It's easy to miss, so keep an eye out for the orange adverts leading toward a descending escalator.
Here's our first glimpse of the selection they've got.
The Wall Of Noodles
The famous wall of noodles is not as gigantic as TikTok portrayed it to be, but it surely is a unique concept to showcase the proud noodle heritage of the Eastern world. You must know that whatever is on the wall is not for sale.
Good Noodle is home to ramen from China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea and its own - Thailand. With prices as below as 10 baht per noodle, practically anyone can afford instant ramen.
How to make your noodle?
This was my favourite part. Just like you'd see in those Korean convenience store videos where you can make your instant noodles, Good Noodle allows you to make your own using their high-tech induction ramen maker.
At first,
You need to choose your preferred instant ramen from the shelves. If you're a heavy shopper, they'll offer you a basket to put everything in. Pretty convenient!
Noodle is not all they've got. What fascinated me was the selection of sides they had. From Kimichi to half-boiled eggs, string cheese and pickled radish, all those that you can find in Korean convenience stores, you can find it here. You can also find a variety of beverages and ice creams.
We tried Buldak 2X Spicy, and let me tell you, we were on fire! The hit beverage for us was the peach-flavoured sparkling water, it helped cool down the flames. Imagine the summer heat and exhaustion of walking down the streets in Bangkok and eating super spicy noodles, this sparkling water truly bestowed a wave of relaxation upon us.
We went a little crazy with the choices and bought a basket full of instant ramen flavours from different nations. We must tell you that Korean ones are somewhat more expensive than Thai brands. If you're in for the Thai Ramen experience, you may want to skip the Korean bunch.
Next,
You need to pay for your goods at the counter where depending on the type of ramen you've bought, you'll be given utensils and disposable bowls.
Time to cook them ramen!
Now you have to cook your instant ramen based on the given instructions using chopsticks. Familiarity with Korean convenience stores would be helpful in this situation as some instructions may not be in English.
Anyhow, in our case, there were some supportive staff ready to offer their help as soon as they saw us.
Just so you know, the spicy sauce that comes with your Buldak should be mixed after you've cooked your noodles. We missed the memo, nevertheless, the flavour was amazing!
Once the timer goes off in the cooker, you can take your bowl to a seat and enjoy. Make sure to only serve sides as much as you can eat to avoid wastage.
How to get to Union Mall?
Good Noodle is located in the basement of Union Mall, a somewhat mid-range shopper's stop where you can find many other eateries, as well as affordable clothing stores and more.
Unlike Siam Paragon and the other high-end malls in Bangkok, this place is worth visiting if you want an uninfluenced urban local experience.
If you have been to Thailand a couple of times and are familiar with trains, you would already know that it is quite easy to commute within Bangkok through the BTS (not your Korean boy band). The BTS Ha Yaek Lat Prao Station connects to the adjoining street of Union Mall, and so does the MRT Phahonyothin Station.
If you are a newbie traveller in Bangkok, you can always stick to a taxi as they are pretty affordable and reliable. Which taxi is the best option for your travels? Head over to our article on Choosing the right taxi in Bangkok.
Before we wind up;
We want you to experience Good Noodle just as same or even better than we did. Drop your comments below and we would gladly help clear your doubts.