How long should kimchi be soaked in ramen? The pork bone flavor paired with a hint of spice makes you want to take bite after bite.

▲ The creatively designed NAGIQ offers unique limited-edition items. The moment you walk in, you’ll notice the carefully arranged seating that’s slightly closer together than usual.

Text and photos byXiongmao Rudy


Xiongmao, who has visited the Ximen branch before, actually had some thoughts about NAGIQ's limited-edition offerings. While the regular menu items are already quite satisfying, what truly left an impression this time was the limited-edition king kimchi ramen (which changes periodically). Of course, before introducing the limited king, let me first tell you that NAGIQ also has several standard menu options—vegetarian, spicy, classic, and seafood. However, the ones that can be enjoyed year-round are just the basics. There are also seasonal limited editions that vary depending on the time of year.

The most important reason for the visit was, of course, their limited-edition king kimchi ramen (which is not available all the time). But before diving into the limited king, let me introduce the standard menu options at NAGIQ. They include vegetarian, spicy, classic, and seafood flavors. Of course, the standard options are delicious enough to enjoy any time of the year, but they also offer different limited-edition flavors depending on the season and time of year.
Walking into the Zhongxiao branch, the space isn’t very large, and the bar stools are placed slightly closer together than usual.


Right at the entrance by the cashier, there’s a sign for the limited-edition king kimchi ramen (you still get a small free packet if you visit now), and it’s only available from December 16, 2013, to January 16, 2014!!


On the other side, there are long bench-style seats.


Xiong, Mao, and our friend Johnson Wang were seated at the very back. That’s when we realized that NAGIQ was almost fully booked.

Each seat has a curtain, and behind it are written descriptions of various past menu items.


Alright, now onto the menu. As Xiong mentioned earlier, NAGIQ’s menu mainly features vegetarian, spicy, classic, and seafood flavors.

The ordering process here is similar to that at Ramen House—you mark your preferences on a sheet. You can choose your preferred flavor, whether you want the broth thick or light, how much garlic you’d like, the type of pork slices, and even the side dishes or spice level. You can also adjust the thickness and firmness of the noodles based on your taste.

Since there were five of us dining together that day, we ordered two bowls of the limited-edition king kimchi ramen (260 NTD each), plus one bowl each of the Black King, Red King, and Emerald King (230 NTD each), and one bowl of the signature Pork King (200 NTD).


Then, we added two servings of fist dumplings (5 pieces per serving, 120 NTD each).


We thought that would be enough, but we ended up adding two more bowls of pork rice (60 NTD each).

After asking the staff, we learned that the kimchi in the king kimchi ramen is specially made for NAGIQ’s limited edition. (Now you can also buy a small pack separately, or you can just add extra spice if you prefer.)

And here it is—the star of the show, the limited-edition king kimchi ramen (260 NTD).


The kimchi on top is eye-catching, but the broth is equally impressive.

It’s primarily based on the Pork King broth, with crushed kimchi, tomato puree, and other ingredients mixed in. The rich pork bone flavor paired with a touch of spice makes you want to take another sip (followed by a sip of cold water... though Taiwanese ramen shops don’t seem to offer it in winter).


And underneath, there are large slices of pork, making it a perfect trio of flavors—soup, kimchi, and pork in every bite!!


The pork slices are thin but flavorful, and they don’t fall apart easily (the texture is quite firm). Paired with the rich kimchi broth, the mild yet not overpowering flavor strikes a good balance.

As for the noodles, the thick ones (fettuccine-style) aren’t overly chewy, but they still have a satisfying texture.


The thin noodles have a delicate, elegant aroma. For the king kimchi ramen, the thick noodles might be a better choice.


As the weather gets colder, a hot bowl of ramen paired with a KIRIN beer is simply refreshing (but remember, no drinking if you’re driving or riding—moderation is key!!).


Watching my friends slurp up the noodles, I went for another bottle... (I was just too happy).


After finishing the king kimchi ramen, Xiong and Mao actually felt hungrier. So next came the pork rice (60 NTD), which isn’t a large portion but is cute and compact (time for another bottle). The chopped pork on top, paired with a mustard-flavored mayo to cut through the greasiness, and the fluffy white rice had Xiong finishing the bowl in no time (Mao’s voice: “He ate my portion!”). But Mao thought the Taiwanese-style pork rice suited her taste better...


And of course, we couldn’t miss NAGIQ’s signature snack, the fist dumplings (5 pieces, 120 NTD). The slightly charred pan-fried dumplings look more like meatballs than traditional dumplings.


The wrapper is quite crispy, and inside, there’s a rich leek flavor. Paired with a tangy sauce, it’s a great way to adjust the overall taste.


By the middle to later part of the meal, everyone was ready for a change of flavor. Xiong just went ahead and ate the free garlic cloves whole, while Miao still preferred to mash them into a paste using a garlic press, planning to add it to her ramen later!!


Finally, here are the four basic types of ramen!! At the very front is Tonkotsu King (200 NTD, per bowl), then barely visible on the right is Black King (230 NTD, per bowl), at the very back is Green King (230 NTD, per bowl), and on the left is Red King (230 NTD, per bowl).


First, let’s try the Green King (230 NTD, per bowl)! Overall, the concept of Green King is like a ramen version of pesto pasta, with the cheese powder on top making the flavor even more intense.

Xiong personally prefers it with pork belly, as the texture is heartier and more substantial.


Red King (230 NTD, per bowl) is Xiong’s personal favorite Nagi flavor, because you can adjust the spiciness yourself (the egg part is an extra order, so it’s not included in the original configuration—each Red King and Black King had half an egg). Basically, there are five levels of spiciness to choose from. For those who prefer mild spice, it’s recommended not to go beyond level two.