We Taste-Tested 8 Popular Korean Instant Noodles And Here's What We Think
We're giving you our uncensored opinion so you can save on time, cash and pantry space!
The surge in popularity of K-Dramas partnered with all the time in the world for many a kitchen experiment during quarantine has created the perfect storm for food adventures just like this, and we at Metro.Style are making the most of it!
In case you missed our previous K-Drama-influenced food experiments, you should know that we tried Erwan Huessaff's Crash Landing on You-inspired fried chicken recipe, recreated two dishes from It's Okay To Not Be Okay, walked you through how to make the steak ramdon in the film Parasite, and even rounded up 10 Korean groceries that will deliver authentic Korean goodies for your pantry. This time, however, we're moving away from the gourmet to zero in on a quarantine favorite that even the most inexperienced cook can make and not mess up—instant noodles!
There are tons of instant noodle brands to choose from, but the best definitely have to be the ones from Korea. With grocery shelves stocked to the brim with familiar packets in red, orange, and yellow, we decided to save you precious time by rounding up eight of the best Korean instant noodle brands we found. And, we're giving you a little preview of each one so you know what to expect.
If you were hoping to emerge from quarantine an instant noodle connoisseur, you've come to the right place. Check out the gallery below to see which brands we loved most, as well as how to elevate the humble instant noodle for your next at-home Korean feast!
(Ed's note: we understand that people can experience flavors in different ways, so if you find yourself disagreeing with one or more of our conclusions, that's all right! In the end, what matters is to find the instant noodles that you will really enjoy).
Noodle Me Up, Baby
Noodle Me Up, Baby
Nongshim Gourmet Spicy Shin Ramyun
The most ubiquitous brand out there, you'll struggle to NOT find Shin Ramyun in the supermarkets, convenience stores, and Korean groceries. Think of it as an entry point into the spicy-tastic world of Korean instant noodles. Shin Ramyun is obviously spicy (as in, careful when you breathe in mid-slurp because you don't want your airways to suffer from a beating kind of spicy), and certainly more flavorful (i.e.: not sad and diluted) than other brands. However, it is a tad bit saltier than usual, which is why we highly recommend the addition of an egg (or even two) and, if you're feeling extra fancy, a cheese square. These will temper its spice and elevate your enjoyment. No matter how you choose to prepare your Shin Ramyun, with or without extra ingredients, there's no way you can go wrong. It's definitely the mother of all Korean instant noodles and best of all, a pack is good enough to share with a friend. (Tip: Shin Ramyun also comes in a "Black" variety. The pack contains an extra packet of powdered beef stock to give it a richer flavor that's much closer to that of freshly made ramen).
Paldo Cheese Ramyun
It’s likely you’ve had ramen with a milky, creamy base, but have you tried one that tastes like sweet mozzarella turned into a broth? It's a little odd, we know, but that's exactly what Paldo Cheese Ramyun tastes like—it’s definitely made for the playful palate! This one is a novelty, and not your run-of-the-mill instant noodles. It combines cheesy tanginess with mild spice, and makes a memorable snacking experience. We don’t know yet if we’ll stock this one in our pantry, but we can imagine days when we'll have a very specific craving for this particular ramyun. One pack is just right for a single serving, and if you want to throw in some fresh ingredients, may we suggest some spring onions and chicken strips?
Nongshim Beef Bulgogi Fried Noodle
Not a ramyun, because it's a dry noodle dish, but this is one is definitely worth including in our list—it’s one our absolute favorites! If it weren't for the signature wavy shape that characterizes all instant noodles, you would never know that Nongshim Beef Bulgogi came from a plastic packet. It’s described by its manufacturer as a "traditional" taste of Korea's sweet bulgogi. We find it delicious; it dances between umami and sweet and leaves no trace of artificial flavoring (read: you wouldn't say that it's just a mixture of preservatives and salt masquerading as "flavor"). We're especially into the sauce; most instant dry noodle sauces are sticky and almost clumpy and paste-like in consistency (hello, balls of MSG that weren't properly dissolved!), but you'll find that Nongshim Beef Bulgogi's sauce adheres nicely to its noodles and spreads evenly without fuss. It's good enough enough to eat on its own, but on days when you're feeling extra indulgent, use two packs and mix in freshly chopped crunchy veggies, a sprinkle of sesame seeds (or oil!), and beef strips. You'll end up with a bowl of japchae-like noodles that you won't want to share.
Nongshim Chapaghetti With Roasted Chajang Sauce
Sadly, Nongshim missed the mark with this one. Chapaghetti is exactly what it calls itself: a spaghetti that's also a japchae, but without the tomato sauce or sesame base. Instead, it drowns a smaller-than-usual serving of dry noodles in chanjang sauce, a black bean base originally from China and imported by Korea in the 1800s. Its back story is more palatable than the the dish itself, and we blame this on too many crossovers going on in one small dish. Aside from the flavors being too confusing to identify, the chanjang sauce itself is subpar. It tastes more burnt than roasted, and the sweetness comes as an afterthought (it's also not at all spicy). Given that this dry noodle famously associated with the ramdon in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite," we expected so much more! But perhaps it's just be a matter of taste. Try it once, and see if it's something that deserves a repurchase.
Nongshim Shin Ramyun Kimchi
This is the fourth Nongshim product on our list, and it sits right between our favorite ramyun (ranked earlier on this list), and our least favorite chapaghetti. It has everything we love about the no-fail Shin Ramyun—the spicy kick, chewy noodles, and rich flavor. But it's got a little sourness to it, too. It's easy for the distinguishable fermented, vinegar-y kimchi taste to get lost in a sea of spiciness, but Nongshim manages to make room for both and doesn't let its hotter flavor overwhelm everything else. This Kimchi variety does, however, have a milder flavor than the classic Shin Ramen and has a noticeably more watery base, so those looking to break into a sweat from merciless spice won't find that experience here. It's the perfect choice for those who can't handle scalding spice but still want to relish Korean food. Throw in some mushrooms, leeks, carrot, and tofu, and you'll make the most out of its broth.
Nongshim Neoguri Spicy Seafood Udon Noodles
Here's another gold star for us! You won't have to use your imagination to identify the seafood flavors because they're definitely there. This udon noodle soup from Nongshim is a welcome medley of pleasant shrimp and squid flavor sans the saltiness often used to mask artificial flavors. The spiciness is there, but it comes second. We also noticed how this particular brand doesn't have a big "umay" problem; you can finish the soup up to very last spoonful and still find that it tastes just as good as your first sip. It's more filling than the rest of the noodles on this list, which means you can share. Try this with a side dish of your favorite fried fare (calamari, yes please!), and you'll be more than good to go.
Ottogi Jin Ramen
This is the most underwhelming instant noodle soup we tasted. Too salty, and tastes like it was definitely manufactured in a plant, Ottogi Jin Ramen is everything your mom warned you about instant noodles: it's bad for you, is tasteless, and the paper packet that its dried veggies comes in is probably the most "natural" thing about it. It really doesn't have much going for it, and for some reason, its noodles and broth don't even look like they come together to make one dish; the noodles have a starchy taste to them that makes it feel like you're unwillingly feasting on soggy bread soaked in chili oil diluted with tap water. Save your money and your pantry space.
Samyang Ramen
It's a tie! Between the popular Shin Ramyun and this under-the-radar find, they both deserve to share top billing. You’ll find that this one packs a punch in the most original way. It's strange to think of instant noodles reminding you of barbecue, but Samyang Ramen does exactly that. It's surprisingly aromatic, but more importantly, follows that up with yumminess that lives up to its appetite-stimulating first whiff. Our favorite part about Samyang Ramen is how its noodles don't depend on the broth to give them life; flavorful on their own but made better by a well-balanced sweet, smoky, spicy broth. Nothing is overwhelming about this noodle brand, and it's also not a one-note snack. We imagine that it tastes different, too, depending on what add-ons you choose to top it with. Our recommendation? BBQ chicken or pork strips, of course! Another option is to serve it with a full course of samgyupsal —you can already imagine all the flavors building upon each other and getting more and more intense with each bite. How do you say no to that?
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