From Fusia, the makers of the previously-reviewed Kung Pao Noodle Bowl, along with every other Asian-inspired dish from Aldi, comes their Sesame Teriyaki Noodle Bowl.  How does it stack up?  Let’s get right down to it.

I was a little nervous about the “teriyaki” in the title, because teriyaki is not a flavor I tend to enjoy all that much; a hesitation brought about by the teriyaki stir fry my mom used to make when I was a kid growing up.  Like the stir fry, I expected this to be overly salty, with a heavy “soy” flavor; imagine my surprise when I discovered that it’s actually sweet!  I found it to be a pleasant sweetness, but that might not tell you anything, because as anyone who reads this blog knows, I have a palate that heavily favors sweet things.  For a second opinion, I asked my wife what she thought…and she agreed with me that the sauce was absolutely delicious.  So see?  It’s not just me after all!

For those that might be put off by the spiciness of the Kung Pao bowl (it is relatively mild, but there are those that don’t like heat, or shouldn’t eat it), this is definitely an almost-equally delicious alternative.  While I did find the Kung Pao to have a more “complex” flavor (at least as far as microwavable bowls of noodles are concerned), this has a great balance of sweet, with a noticeable tinge of teriyaki that is oh so edible.  Along a packet of dried vegetables (which I’m always a sucker for), it also comes with a packet of sesame seeds, which are apparently tossed in for an added touch of “authenticity”…while they obviously don’t add much (if anything) in the way of flavor, they do add some nice texture in what is an otherwise slimy bowl of noodles.

Overall: 8/10.  While I don’t find it to be quite as addicting as the Kung Pao version, Fusia’s Sesame Teriyaki Noodle Bowl is still a great alternative.  Unlike the Kung Pao sauce, this has no spice-kick whatsoever; instead this sauce is sweet, which goes along with the noodles well.  As with the Kung Pao, there is a packet of dried vegetables, but this one also adds sesame seeds, apparently for some added “authenticity”.  It adds nothing in the way of flavor, but it’s still a nice touch.  For the ridiculous price of $1.69, and including everything you need to enjoy it (including a small fork!), this is perfect for lunches, or for just a mid-day snack.  A must-try.