New Momofuku Collab With Sun Noodle Is So Hot

David Chang’s noodle bar on New York City’s Lower East Side helped launch a ramen revolution in this country when it debuted in 2004. Now, thanks to Sun Noodle, there’s a fiery new reason to slurp Momofuku-style using limited edition meal kits. Bonus!  A portion of all product sales will be donated to the Asian American Justice Center.

A long-term relationship

Sun Noodle and Momofuku go way back, almost to the beginning of the ramen revolution that began when then-unknown David Chang opened the first humble noodle bar.

“Sun Noodle has been our noodle supplier of choice since the early days of Momofuku and now we’re joining forces to bring restaurant-inspired ramen to home cooks across the country,” Marguerite Mariscal, CEO of Momofuku, said in a news release.

The toothsome barley noodles made with grain from upstate New York helped the Honolulu-based company stand out among discerning chefs. Chef Masaharu Morimoto is also a fan.

Since its was founded in 1981 by Hidehito Uki, Sun Noodle has experienced explosive growth. It now has factories in Honolulu, Rancho Dominguez, Calif., and Carlstadt, N.J., producing more than 100 different retail products for supermarkets across the country. Sun has also expanded its outreach to chefs, with the latest Momofuku-inspired collaboration offering its highest profile yet in the retail space.

Even in those early days of that humble-shop-turned-megahit, Chang insisted that he wasn’t taking the traditional Japanese route in making ramen. The native of Virginia’s Korean roots shine brightly throughout the menu then and now in this latest project.

Not your typical ramen

The new Spicy Korean Ramen kit contains two portions of Sun Noodle’s Momofuku-exclusive barley ramen noodles and a sauce packet that features Momofuku’s signature flavors. This fiery creation is built on a base of gochujang, a Korean chili pasta which delivers a complex, smoky-sweet punch. Head’s up: It truly delivers the heat.

It’s not a soup-y dish, though, more like the consistency of pad Thai. Home cooks are encouraged to embellish those spicy noodles with classic toppings like a poached egg, shiitake mushrooms, steamed spinach and pickled cucumbers. Or, for those who want to go in a different direction, the possibilities are seemingly endless.

The Spicy Korean Ramen kit will be available online to customers in the continental United States from April 4-10 and at select Whole Foods Markets in Arizona, Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Southern California, starting the week of April 12. A four-pack with eight servings is $47 online.

For more DIY inspiration, check out David Chang’s series on YouTube featuring his new lineup of seasoned salts:

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