The only Korean food I have ever tried is the famous Korean ramen ,you know, the ones that come in those cute cups you see in convenience stores, the type where all you need to do is pour in boiled water, add the seasoning, cover it for a few minutes, and boom, your food is ready. I had always seen them in movies and K-dramas, and I used to wonder if they actually tasted as good as they looked on screen.
So one day, I decided to try it, i got one of those cup ramen packs, boiled water, and opened up the seasoning sachets, the smell alone was already different from what I am used to with our Nigerian noodles, it had this rich, almost spicy aroma that made me curious, I let it sit for a few minutes, and when I finally opened it, the steam that came out felt like I was about to taste something straight from a K-drama kitchen.
But then, here is where things got interesting, as I was eating, I noticed there was something ball-like in the ramen, i honestly don’t know what it was supposed to be ,maybe fish ball? Meatball? Vegetable ball? Whatever it was, I just did not like it, I tried to eat one, but the taste just didn’t sit well with me, so I quietly picked them all out and put them aside, I guess that is the Nigerian in me saying, “If you don’t like it, remove it and enjoy the rest.”
Now, the ramen itself? Delicious! The texture was nothing like our regular noodles here in Nigeria. It was softer, thicker, and had this chewy feel that made me want to keep slurping, and the seasoning? Oh, it was on another level, Spicy, yeah but not too much at all , flavorful but not overwhelming, it had a nice balance that made the whole thing enjoyable.
I think what I loved the most about it was how comforting it just felt, You know those kind of meals that will make you want to just sit back and watch a movie, and just forget about your life’s problems for a while? that is how the ramen felt for me, It was so warm, tasty, and just very perfect for that particular moment.
After that experience, I told myself I’d definitely try more Korean food. I see so many dishes online, from kimchi to bibimbap , and they all look so colorful and appetizing, I am really curious to know how different they taste from our Nigerian meals.
For now, though, Korean ramen will always have a special place in my food memory, even with those mystery “balls” I didn’t like, the whole experience was worth it, and who knows? Maybe the next time I try it, I might actually like them.
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