Love Korean ramen? But if you like cooking less and eating more, here are the best Korean instant ramen and noodles that are super-easy to make and also very yummy!
Winter is coming and we certainly deserve some hot, spicy Korean ramen to warm us up. Korean Ramen is my favourite among all instant noodles because the spice levels are absolutely unmatched!
Check out the reviews of the best Korean instant ramen and noodles below:
Best Korean Instant Ramen: Quick Summary
| Best Korean Instant Ramen and Noodles | Price |
| New Samyang Ramen | 9.91 (Pack of 5) |
| Nongshim Shin Ramyun Noodle Soup | 38.00 (Pack of 20) |
| Soon Noodle Soup, Veggie | 20.16 (Pack of 10) |
| Paldo Fun & Yum Ilpoom Jjajangmen Noodles | 23.71 (Pack of 8) |
| Ottogi Jin Ramen Spicy | 9.83 (Pack of 5) |
| Samyang Carbo Spicy Chicken Fried Noodles | 11.99 (5 pack) |
| Paldo Hwa Ramyun | 50.98 (20 count) |
| Ottogi Jin Jjambbong Spicy Seafood Noodle | 21.00 (Pack of 4) |
| Cheese Spicy Hot Chicken Flavored Ramen Noodles | 24.99 (Pack of 5) |
What is the most popular ramen in Korea?
I have tried over 10 Korean instant ramen and noodles from multiple brands. Depending on the flavor, quality and quantity – the best Korean instant ramen and noodles was the Shin Ramyun by Nongshim is the best Korean instant ramen and noodles. And here’s why:
Shin Ramyun by Nongshim instant ramen noodles are spicy and a hot favourite for many across the world. This Korean instant noodles comes with a sachet of meat flavored broth mix and is cooked like a noodle soup. When cooked, the noodles and soft and chewy. The Shin Ramyun ramen noodles are packed with meat chunks and vegetable flakes.
Top Korean Instant Ramen and Noodles
Check out the detailed reviews of the best Korean instant ramen and noodles below!
Samyang Buldak Chicken Stir Fried Ramen
This is another Samyang brand noodle that has a spicy chicken flavor to it. To add extra kick and flavor to this already flavorful chicken ramen, this noodle comes with Korean black bean sauce.
This adds hints of sweetness and a tangy flavor to the ramen noodles. What’s special about this ramen noodle is that it gives an amazing, strong aroma that is identical to the noodles you’ll find in restaurants.
The noodles are long, curvy, and chewy which makes them flavorful and enjoyable to eat as well. The black bean sauce gives the noodles a dark color making them look very appetizing but beware, they’re quite spicy and you can start to feel the burn eventually.
Key Features:
- Stir-fried ramen noodles
- Has a thicky and chewy texture
- Has a black bean sauce flavor
- Sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors
- Has a spicy chicken flavor
- Contains 5 packs of noodles
Pros:
- A fusion of hot, spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors
- Ideal for spice lovers
Cons:
- Has artificial flavors
Samyang Fire Hot Curry Flavored Chicken Ramen Noodles
There’s no end to the colorful and flavorful portfolio of Samyang noodles. This one’s a hot curry chicken flavored noodles. For those who love the spicy chicken curry flavors and the hints of chili flavor, this one’s for you.
This ramen is not just extremely spicy but it also has a curry flavour which adds a strong kick to your taste buds. The noodles have a thick texture like spaghetti that’s good to chew on.
The hot chicken curry base of the noodles goes well with any veggies of your choice. You can add bite-size pieces of chicken to add to the flavor and grated cheese to elevate the entire meal. This can also help balance the spicy flavor to your preference as well.
Key Features:
- Stir-fried noodles
- Contains a hot curry chicken flavor base
- Thick spaghetti noodles
- Contains 5 noodle packs
Pros:
- Has a unique curry flavor
- Ideal for spice and curry lovers
Samyang Ramen Spicy Chicken Roasted Noodles
The first one on this list of best Korean instant ramen and noodles is the New Samyang Ramen. There is something different about the flavours in noodles with fried or roasted chicken, and New Samyang Ramen manages to bring us the exact taste of this dish.
The noodles with the chicken flavoured seasoning has a very spicy taste that can literally clear your sinuses, but surprisingly has sweet undertones as well. This blend keeps you craving for more and more cos as your tongue tastes the spice, the sweetness sets in putting out the fire!
The firm and smooth texture of the noodles makes this simply perfect.
Key Features:
- Firm noodles with a smooth texture
- Contains flavours of chicken, soy sauce, onion and capcisum
- Very spicy base with sweet tones
Pros:
- A super spicy dish with sweet undertones
Cons:
- Contains artificial flavours
Nongshim Shin Ramyun
Shin Ramyun by Nongshim another one of the best Korean instant ramen and noodles. One of the best-sellers across South Korea, this Korean instant ramen is imported into many parts of the world. If you are wondering what makes this such a favourite, you gotta try it.
And I’m sure you’ll be hooked. This is best enjoyed in the form of noodle soup as the heat of the spices warms you up. It comes in many flavors and they have real chunks of meat and veggies in a nice meaty broth.
Key Features:
- To be cooked as a noodle soup
- Comes with a meat flavoured broth
- Thick noodles
- Contains chunks of meat and vegetable flakes
- Hot and spicy taste
Pros:
- Has a hot soupy base
Cons:
- Spice levels can be too high to the extent where you may not be able to experience the other flavours
Soon Noodle Soup, Veggie
All the veggie lovers and vegetarians out there, best Korean instant ramen and noodles for you! The Veggie flavoured Soon Noodle Soup is deliciously satisfying. It comes in a flavour that is just mildly spicy, not the kind that burns you.
It contains flavours from real carrots, choy sum and shitake mushrooms, garlic, ginger and green onions that blend in for the tasty broth that warms you the instant it touches your tongue. You can add more mushrooms or vegetables finely chopped to make the dish more filling.
And, if the noodles aren’t spicy enough for you, simply add some green chilli sauce to up the levels!
Key Features:
- Vegetarian Korean Ramen
- Contains extracts of shitake mushrooms
- Contains powdered forms of ginger, garlic and green onions
- Has dehydrated carrots and choy sum
- Mildly spicy
Pros:
- Mildly spicy vegetarian noodles with real ingredients
Paldo Fun & Yum Ilpoom Jjajangmen Noodles
Here’s another one of veg options for the best Korean instant ramen and noodles. The Fun & Yum Ilpoom Jjajangmen Noodles is my pick for all you veggie lovers out there. These are also not very spicy and make a good choice if you like keeping your tongue safe.
What makes these noodles is the black bean sauce, something I haven’t come across many brands producing this for ramen. What makes it even better is that this is a versatile sauce and using this as a base, you can add any veggies, eggs or meat to it.
You can even more beans to make it more filling and convert it from a snack to a meal.
Key Features:
- Contains a noodle base with a black bean sauce
- Versatile sauce, can add any veggies or meat to this
- Mildly spicy
- Can add more spice to make it hotter
Pros:
- A good option for vegetarians
Ottogi Ramen
The next one on this list of best Korean instant ramen and noodles is the Ottogi’s Jin Ramen Spicy. This spicy instant noodle has a delicious beef broth blended with onions, garlic and mushroom extracts, spiced with peppers and chillies.
Easy to cook and even easier to enjoy, this is one of those ramens that will become your favourite during the monsoon. The texture of the noodles is also something that I have to mention. These are smoother and don’t get too mushy once cooked.
There are loads of vegetable flakes that get juicy once boiled. It’s also a good base to make cheesy noodles!
Key Features:
- Comes with a soupy base of beef broth
- Contains flavoring from mushroom extracts, onions and garlic
- Very Spicy
- Contains dehydrated vegetable flakes
Pros:
- Spicy but not to the extent where you cannot taste the other ingredients
Samyang Carbo Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen
Try the Samyang Carbo Spicy Chicken Fried Noodles and you will thank me! These are hands down some of the best Korean instant ramen and noodles I have ever tasted, and the credit goes to the yum chicken plus spice plus cheesy taste they have.
These noodles have quite a kick in them, the heat builds up slowly, and as it takes over, you will keep eating more and more. If you love the taste but want to reduce the heat level, add some grated cheddar cheese or some parmesan cheese to it.
Key Features:
- Comes with a soupy base of chicken
- Has cheese powder in the seasoning
- Quick and easy to make
- Very spicy
Pros:
- Meant for non vegetarian, spice lovers
Cons:
- The price is much higher than other instant ramen
Paldo Noodles
Paldo is a popular Korean instant noodles brand with many interesting flavours, and ranging from moderately spicy to “burn your tongue” hot spice levels.
One of the best Korean instant ramen and noodles, the Hwa Ramyun is for all those spice lovers out there, who simply cannot get enough of just any spicy dish.
These vegetarian noodles are to be cooked into a soup, and contain dried vegetables in the ingredients for real flavour. You can serve these with a couple of fried eggs to enhance the taste.
Key Features:
- To be cooked in a soupy noodle version
- Contains a soybean sauce base
- Very spicy taste
- Versatile sauce- can add more veggies or meats
- Contains dehydrated vegetables
Pros:
- A super spicy version for vegetarians
Ottogi Jin Jjambbong Spicy Seafood Noodle
Yummmm seafood! Just the thought of these Korean noodles is making my mouth water and my tummy rumble. This is one of the best Korean instant ramen and noodles for you if you love seafood flavors!
The Jin Jjambbong Spicy Seafood Noodle has a delicate flavour of shrimp, cuttlefish, cod, mussels, crab and much more in a spicy sauce to boggle your senses.
What I enjoy about these noodles is that, while the seafood flavour comes through, it is not overpowering. Ottogi is a leading brand in Korea for Ramen and has several flavours but this one tops the list, in my opinion.
Key Features:
- Contains extracts of shrimp, cuttlefish, mussels, crab and cod
- Contains kelp extracts and beef bone extracts for the flavouring in the sauce
- Has a spicy base
Pros:
- A good flavour to try for seafood lovers
Cheese Spicy Hot Chicken Flavored Ramen Noodles
The next one on this list of the best Korean instant ramen and noodles is a chicken and cheese flavoured instant noodle. YUM.
Try counting on your fingers the different flavours you can find in Korean Ramen, and I bet, you will run out of them on both your hands. This chicken flavoured ramen is crazy amazing with the unique blend of flavours – cheesy, spicy and it’s got chicken in it!
The Cheese Spicy Hot Chicken Flavoured noodles by Samyeng is something you simply have to try if you’re the kind who’s always looking for something out of the box. My suggestion- add a handful of grated cheese on top to make this better than it already is!
Key Features:
- Has a spicy base
- Contains cheese powder as one of the seasoning
- Easy to cook
- Contains chicken flavoured seasoning
Pros:
- A unique flavour to try
Korean Instant Ramen Noodles: FAQs
What is good Korean instant Ramen?
Good Korean instant Ramen is one that is easy to make and tastes good by itself, without the need to add on anything else to enhance the flavor.
What to add to Korean instant ramen?
The sky’s the limit when it comes to what you can top off your Korean instant ramen with. Start with simple veggies that you may have at home like carrots, green beans, brussel sprouts and green onions, and move on to Kimchi and a variety of mushrooms. Baked eggs are very popular in Korea, but if you can’t get some in your neighbourhood, substitute it with boiled eggs. If you want some crunch, add some crushed fried onion fritters. For meat lovers, chopped up sausages or spam, roasted in the oven or pan fried first is a great topping.
What is the best Korean ramen?
The best Korean ramen loved by Koreans and everyone around the globe is the Nongshim Shin Ramyun. They’re authentic Korean ramyun that has a spicy taste and a meat flavored soup broth. These ramen noodles come with a spicy meat flavored soup mix, vegetable flakes, and soft chewy noodles. It has a combination of flavors from spicy to sweet which adds extra kick to the ramen.
