The Ultimate Korean Ramen Guide (Cup Noodles)
Walking into a Korean convenience store is an extremely stimulating experience.
First, there’s a relieving rush of air conditioning, the greeting of familiar universal products like Powerade and Oreos, and suddenly thousands of plastic packages covered in Hangeul lettering and cutesy cartoon animal characters.
To grab a quick lunch, one might be overwhelmed by the rows and rows of various flavored ramen on the shelves.
With so many flavors of ramen, it can be difficult to navigate the differences between them. Use this “The Ultimate Korean Ramen Guide” to navigate the ramen madness and find the right flavor for you – just select any category and become an expert in Korean ramen.
Choose from these 10 categories:
| Kimchi | Beef | Chicken | Seafood | Vegetarian |
| Cheese | Mild | Spicy | Ddok Bokki | Jjajangmyun |
Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom for Ramen Tips.
1. Kimchi
Kimchi Myeon (김치면) (Ottugi 오뚜기)
If you love the spiciness of Korean kimchi, this is your flavor. The little bit of kimchi inside the seasoning really tingle the taste buds.
*Vegetarian
Kimchi (NongShim 농심)
Love the spiciness of kimchi but don’t want soggy kimchi pieces in your ramen? This is an excellent choice of thin noodles in a spicy, flavor-filled broth.
*Vegetarian
2. Beef
Yuk Gae Jang 육개장 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
For the meat-lovers out there, enjoy this spicy broth with little pieces of dehydrated meat.
*Spicy
Yuk Gae Jang 육개장 (NongShim농심)
These noodles are similar to egg noodles, and are flavored by a popular Korean soup called Yuk Gae Jang which is traditionally made with beef, scallions, and bean sprouts for a refreshing flavor.
*Mild
Snack Myeon 스낵면 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
This is stereotypical ramen: chewy noodles and a salty flavored broth. If you are in a hurry, choose this. Because it only take 2 minutes to prepare!
*Quick
Jin Ramen 진라면 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
Packed with beef flavor (literally the flavor packet is bigger than the most of ramen), enjoy this mild broth and thin chewy noodles.
*Mild
3. Seafood
O Jing Eo Jjam Bbong 오징어짬뽕 (NongShim 농심)
With just a hint of spice in the broth, enjoy bits of dried squid in this cup.
*Slightly spicy
Nagasaki Jjam Bbong 나가사끼 짬뽕 (SamYang)
Similar to a stew with oyster flavor, this has a light and refreshing seafood broth.
Jin Jjam Bbong 진짬뽕 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
A seafood party in your mouth, this sauce hits you with the smell and taste of the sea.
*Spicy
Saeutangmyeon 새우탕면 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
With a heavy emphasize on shrimp, this broth smells and tastes like shrimp and even includes tiny pink shrimp.
*shrimp shrimp shrimp
Hae Mul Wang Cub 해물왕컵 (Paldo)
A mild/spicy broth with a strong seafood taste, this is the typical Korean seafood flavor.
*Some Spicy
Jjamppong Seafood Noodle 불짬뽕 (Paldo)
Bits of vegetables and seafood with a spicy flavor!
*Spicy
Red Nagasaki Jjampong (SamYang)
This seafood ramen is similar to most. But if it’s your favorite, be sure to try the spicy version.
*original or spicy
4. Jjajangmyun
Kog Jjajang Bokki 콕짜장볶이 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
Made from thick soybean paste, this sauce is most mild one. The thin, curly and chewy noodles make this an easy-to-eat dish.
*Mild
Jin Jjajang Ramen 진짜장 (Ottugi오뚜기)
If you love the flavor of soy sauce, this will be your favorite. With thin, knife cut noodles and a thick soy based sauce it is a winner in the jjajamyun category.
*Mild
Jjapaghetti 짜파게티 (NongShim 농심)
This sauce has a dry texture with original traditional noodles, but still rich with flavor.
*mild
Jja Wang 짜왕 (NongShim 농심)
Thicker noodles and salty flavor- comes with some vegetables.
*mild
5. Vegetarian
Kog Ramen Bokki 콕라면 볶이 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
Thin noodles and thick sauce bring the sweet ddeokbokki flavor to your mouth.
*Sweet, Vegetarian
6. Cheese
Cheese Bokki 치즈볶이 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
Similar to microwave mac and cheese, this is only cheese and noodles. Instead of broth, enjoy a thicker cheese sauce.
7. Mild
Matshinun Ramen 맛있는 라면 (SamYang)
Literally translated to “tastes good” ramen, has small pieces of vegetables and a refreshing taste.
*Veggie
Mupama 무파마 (NongShim 농심)
This is called “radish & green onion,” and has radish, green onion, and a garlic flavors in its broth.
*Veggie
8. Spicy
Now time for the hot stuff.
Yeol 열(Ottugi 오뚜기)
Translated into “fever”, this flavor is sure to raise your internal temperature. Enjoy the beef bits as well.
*Beef & Spicy
Jin Ramen (Hot) 진라면 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
This is a basic spicy beef broth, with thin chewy noodles.
*Beef
Buldalgbokk Eummyeon 불닭볶음면 (SamYang)
This is spicy! Prepared differently, pour out the water completely and put in the spicy sauce packet.
Shin Ramen 신라면 (NongShim 농심)
This is Korean classic! With thicker noodles and chili powder broth, this is the traditional taste of Korean ramen.
9. Ddok Bokki
Yeol DdeokBokki 열떡볶이면 (Ottugi 오뚜기)
Half noodles and half ddeokbokki, this sweet and spicy cup is for those who wants to try something new!
*Sweet, Vegetarian
Ramen Tips
- Put hot water into the cup
Korean convenient stores provide hot water, so you can prepare and dine on your ramen at the store.
- Close lid with chopsticks
Use an unbroken pair of chopsticks to fasten the lid to cup after pouring in hot water. Slide chopsticks over the opening tab and cup.
- Pop holes on lid and pour water out (only when the lid has holes)
Forget about trying to keep all your noodles in the cup yourself, just pop out the holes in the paper lid and drain the water.
- Use the plastic lid of the ramen cup as a mini bowl
If the ramen is too hot, fold the circular lid into a cone to hold some of the noodles and broth.
*Reference: 10 Magazine (Link)