AAPI’s Ramen-Eating Contest gets Heated

Photos courtesy of Isha Mindanao

Students rushed into the Atrium for AAPI (Asian American-Pacific Islander) club’s first ever Ramen Noodle Eating Contest after school on Tuesday, September 24. The stakes? High. The spice tolerance? Questionable. Here were the rules:

1. There are 10 rounds in total, each round increasing in spice.
2. Contestants have to eat a small cup of noodles with chopsticks; no forks are provided.
3. If a contestant drinks water, they’re eliminated from the contest.
4. The winner receives a t-shirt and a $50 Target gift card!

The contest started off with some information about ramen itself and the history behind it. The contestants would be quizzed on it later on in the competition. “The purpose is to show where ramen originated from, [as] I feel like it’s a really big misconception. I really like the educational aspect of [the contest],” AAPI Co-President Crystal Park, ‘25, said.

As the rounds went on, the 29 contestants stayed persistent, but as the noodles got heated, so did the atmosphere: contestants taking laps around the atrium, tearing up, regretting their decision of entering the competition.

Here is how contestants felt throughout the contest.

Pre-Contest
The contestants were overall excited and confident for what the contest would entail.

“I feel excited!” – Srikriti Mutyala, ‘25

“I have faith I am going to win because I am locked in!” – Jeremy Andrade, ’26

“I’m excited and I think it’s cool they’re doing an interactive event like this.” -Hannah Chen, ’26

“We are locked in, inexperienced, and excited!” – Aakash Rao, ‘25

“Being big-backed is a mentality not a physicality; I am a spice master!” – Dominic Kurek ’26

Round 1: Regular Shin
The atmosphere was full of optimism and excitement of how the rest of the contest would go. The contestants gladly ate the harmless ramen.

“It was easy and lightweight”- Ansari Kubanychbekov, ’25

“Not bad at all!”- Swara Gaikar, ‘25

Round 2:Sriracha
Some of the contestants’ low spice tolerance was exposed, but they continued on.

“It is spicy for me, [because] I have a low spice tolerance.” Ayushi Patel, ’26

“[Ayushi], this is only round 2!” Aashna Chandran, ‘26

Round 3: Gochujang
As the rounds continued on, the more excited and louder the contestants got.

“It tastes like fire taco bell sauce.” – Priyanka Patel, ‘25

*Screaming*- Diego Plaza, ‘25

“It was easy!” – Josh Aguilar, ’27

Round 4: Habanero Pepper Hot Sauce
There were mixed feelings about this round, but no one dropped out.

“Really good, nothing in my body, I’m chilling right now, everyone is in high [spirits], feeling the spice after round 4.”- Rao

“My head started hurting, I was about to drop out. I bench 235 though.” – Abbas Lokhandwala, ‘26

“Four letters: Light.”- James Healy, ’26

“Watch me get through round 10.” – Susan Liu, ‘25

“Feeling fantastic, I feel like I can make it to [round] 8.”- Arissa Patel, ‘27

Round 5: Sriracha Buldak
The lack-luster flavor caused the contestants to get pumped up for what was to come.

“This is really sour.” – Arianna Puskarz, ‘25

“[This was] not bad at all.” – Anishka Vora, ‘25

“This was my water.”- Arjun Wadhwa, ’25

“Not feeling the spice.” – Simran Grover, ’25

“Why is it not spicy???”- Ken Conocido, ’25

Round 6: Carbonara Buldak
The spice now began to kick in, chaos ensuing across the arena. Contestants were standing up at this point.

“Really sweet, [a] little spicy, not [too] spicy. It’s getting heated up!” – Rao

“[There was] more actual food [like carrots], the spice came in later.” – Kurek

“Easy Dub!”- Atharva Gaikar, ‘28

Round 7: Black Buldak
This was the loudest round yet. It seems the spice has given the contestants a wave of adrenaline.

“This one is actually really sweet.”- Rao

“Light work no reaction.”- Caemon Rabel, ‘25

“There ain’t no ramen in the world that can stop me!” – Plaza

Round 8: Red Buldak
24 people remain in the contest. This round was notorious for being brutal after 1-2 minutes.

“Cheers baby!” – Rao

“They need to taste test these because it’s not that bad.”- Kurek

“It kicks in after a minute or two.” – Grover

“I can run a marathon.” – Arissa Patel

“I love buldak, but I am suffering.” – Conocido

“It’s getting HOT!”- Raebel

“[It’s going] real great!” – Puskarz

“I need to take a walk.” – Vora

Round 9: Da Bomb
The atmosphere was loud. Contestants were still trying to recover from round 8, but this round only made things worse.

“LOCK IN LOCK IN!” – Rao

“[Lokhandwala] is going to throw up!” – Kurek [Lokhandwala did not throw up.]

“Nooooo!” – Contestants and spectators, as Lokhandwala downs a bottle of water, eliminating himself from the competition.

“I can’t talk.” – Lokhandwala

Round 10: Carolina Reapers Pepper
A round full of pride. Contestants lined up to finish the contest together, excited for some water.

“This round went way better than round 9. I think I was just numb to the spice at [this] point.”- Puskarz.

After the final round, the contestants were relieved that the pain was finally over, chugging down water.

AAPI members facilitated the entire contest, preparing and serving small cups of ramen and even taunting the contestants, saying, “Do you want some water?”. Here is what Technology and Media Department Chair and AAPI club sponsor Paul Kim and other AAPI club members had to say.

“This is the first trial to see how people would do with it. I am really happy with the turnout and how many people have lasted so far! It’s going great!” – Paul Kim, AAPI Sponsor.

“This is a great idea. AAPI should make this an annual thing!”- RJ Santos, ‘25

“I need to take a lap, but I’m having so much fun!” – Gabbi Zyung, ‘25

“Things are going really [well], but right now it’s kind of stressful.” – Abby Shim, ‘25

Despite the pain caused by the spice, contestants were supporting one another, laughing, and enjoying the contest. Healy and Conocido tied to be the winner and ended up splitting the prize; Conocido chose the t-shirt and Healy chose the gift card. This was an atmosphere unlike any other, slowly getting more exciting throughout each round. This was AAPI’s kickoff event of the year, and clearly it was a success. “I hope people will stay for AAPI!” exclaims Park.