The Best Korean Ramyeon & Where To Get It

Looking for the best Korean ramyeon? You’ve come to the right place. Every time we head home to the US, my sisters inevitably ask my Korean husband to make them ramyeon at some point. It’s not that they can’t make it themselves, but some years ago they realized while watching him make it that they had just been boiling water and he actually made a meal.

Korean ramyeon, or Korean instant noodles, can actually really hit the spot… if you know the good ones to get and how to prepare them. Korean food has gained a ton of attention in recent years and Korean instant ramyeon has gained much of that attention.

I sat down with my husband to make a list of our favorite Korean ramyeon and the ones you need to try. Check out this guide to 13 Korean ramyeons you need to try:

• Ramyeon, Ramen, or Ramyun
• How To Prepare Ramyeon Like Koreans Do
• The Korean Ramyeon You Need To Try
  • 1 Nongshim Shin Ramyun (농심신라면)
  • 2 Ottogi Jin Ramen (오뚜기 진라면)
  • 3 Samyang Buldak Ramen (삼양불닭볶음면)
  • 4 Samyang Original Ramen (삼양 라면)
  • 5 Nongshim Chapagetti (농심 짜파게티)
  • 6 Nongshim K-Army Stew (농심 부대찌개)
  • 7 Nongshim Neoguri Spicy Seafood (Udon Noodles) (농심 너구리)
  • 8 Ottogi Sesame Ramen (오뚜기 참께라면)
  • 9 Paldo Bibim Men (팔도비빔면)
  • 10 Samyang Jjajang Buldak Ramen (삼양 짜장불닭음면)
  • 11 Nongshim Non-Frying Ramen (농심건면)
  • 12 Nongshim AnSung TangMyun (농심 안성탕면)
  • 13 Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup (농심순라면)
• Common Questions About Korean Instant Noodles

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Ramyeon, Ramen, or Ramyun

In the list below, you will find that various spellings are used. I’ve decided to spell each product the way the brand spells it on their own packaging so there isn’t confusion on the product. However, it’s important to know the difference. Generally, the word ramen refers to the Japanese dish and ramyeon or ramyun refers to the Korean dish. And while the spelling might make you think these two dishes are basically the same, they’re quite different which you’d find out if you went to try Japanese ramen.

Japanese ramen isn’t instant noodles and the soup dish takes much longer to prepare. Another key difference is in the taste. Japanese ramen doesn’t have the iconic spicy red pepper taste that a lot of Korean ramyeon is known for. Japanese ramen tends to be more brothy and Korean ramen tends to be higher in calories.

Clearly Korean ramyeon is quite distinctive and very different from Japanese ramen. That said, some companies have opted to spell their English names with ‘ramen’, ‘ramyeon’, or ‘ramyun’ because they get lumped together as ‘ramen’ abroad quite often. So, for this article, as I’ve said, if they’ve already chosen to spell it a certain way on their packaging, I stuck with that. In general though, I’ll use ‘ramyeon’ for this article. Now you know the difference between ramen and ramyeon. Right?

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How To Prepare Ramyeon Like Koreans Do

While ramyeon can be a quick meal and you can even get it and prepare it at convenience stores in Korea, there’s just a way that Koreans are able to make it a meal. No, it doesn’t miraculously become a health food, but my husband adds everything from vegetables to eggs and even cheese at times to make it sooooo much more that just the instant noodles and spices in the package.

What You Might Find Inside Of Your Ramyeon Packet:

• Freeze Dried Vegetables
• Freeze Dried Meat
• Flavor Packet
• Oil Packet

What You Need To Prepare Korean Instant Noodles:

• A Ramen Pot: You can absolutely prepare ramen in any pot you have under the stove, but the Korean ramen pots are iconic. If you know, you know.

What Koreans Commonly Add To Ramyeon:

• Egg: depending on the broth situation, you may add a raw egg straight into the cooking soup so it cooks with the noodles or you’ll need a hard boiled egg for the no-broth versions usually.
• Vegetables: leeks, carrots, cucumbers
• Kimchi: If not ON the ramyeon, it’s always on the side.
• Cheese: While I’m not usually an American cheese slice fan myself, that’s exactly what you need if you want to have the whole melted effect.
• Milk: Add a bit of milk if you’d like a creamier version of any of your ramyeons.
• Bacon OR Shrimp: Depends on what broth is. For seafood based, add some shrimp to amp it up. Otherwise, bacon on top is always a winner.

Cooking Pointers:

• Make sure you know if the ramyeon is to be enjoyed with or without broth. If it’s to be enjoyed with broth, make sure to know if it should be cold, like bibim myeon, or hot, like jjajangmyeon. If it’s cold, you need to rinse off the hot noodles asap when they’re ready.
• Slightly undercook your noodles when you’re preparing them. They will continue to cook in the hot broth after being removed from the stove so to have the best consistency, start enjoying them a bit earlier than you might think.

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The Korean Ramyeon You Need To Try

I want to say that there are sooooo many different kinds of Korean ramyeons to try. When I first asked my husband which ramyeon he would recommend, he gave me some clear answers which you’ll see below, but he also said that the companies are always coming out with new and different ramyeon options so this list is by no means exhaustive but it’s a good start to what you NEED to try for sure.

Additionally, if you’re not sure where to start, or just want a fun way to get ramyeon and other fun Korean snacks right to your door, check out Seoulbox which is a fun Korean snack subscription box which includes a fun ramyeon in each box. Use the code ‘SEOUL10’ for 10% off if you make a purchase.

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1 Nongshim Shin Ramyun (신라면)

Probably the most famous Korean ramyeon, we always have a few of these in our house at any one time and they always get packed when we go abroad too. Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun is well known around the world so it’s usually one of the easier ones to find in local markets and online. Though this isn’t considered one of the spiciest options to most Koreans, if you’ve never had it or aren’t used to Korean spices, it will be a bit spicy that first time. At least it was to me. But it has since grown on me.

This traditional Korean ramyeon has chunks of beef, vegetable flakes, and that delicious beef broth base. Shin Ramyun is available in two options; the well known red and the ‘premium’ black option. The premium one is quite a bit more expensive but has sacet of sulleong-tang soup base which makes the soup even more hearty. If you’re trying one for the first time, go red red red. Or maybe get both and compare.

Buy Shin Ramyun Now: On Amazon, On YamiBuy, On Coupang

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2 Ottogi Jin Ramen (오뚜기 진라면)

Another one that my husband always has stocked, Jin Ramen tastes very similar to Shin Ramyun except it has a more red pepper taste. This one also has some variety though the one with the blue is the more common one.

There is also a spicier red option. The broth for Jin Ramen is a beef and kimchi flavor so hits the spot when you’re missing Korea. In general, most people agree that Jin Ramen is relatively more mild than other ramyeon brands so it’s a good option for those that aren’t used to the spice and want an introduction.

Buy Jin Ramen Now: On Amazon, On Yamibuy, On Coupang

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3 Samyang Buldak Ramen (삼양불닭볶음면)

A ramyeon that became popular because of how spicy it is which then prompted the viral food challenge: Samyang fire noodle challenge. The ‘Korean Fire Noodles‘, also known as buldak-bokkeum-myeon actually isn’t a soup based ramen like the others on this list.

If you think you’re ready, get this with your friends and see who among you can finish an entire bowl of fiery noodles. It is now one of the top ramyeons in Korea. You’ll love it if you like that taste of a volcano in your  mouth.

This one also has two options; you can get the standard spicy option or the Samyang 2X Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor. HOT HOT HOT!

Buy Samyang Buldak Ramen Now: On Amazon, On Yamibuy, On Coupang

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4 Samyang Original Ramen (삼양 라면)

Released in 1963, this was the first original mild soup with chewy ramyeon. Though not the spiciest, it is nostalgic for many people. If you want to start with the original, start here and then try the rest. The broth of this one has a nice beef taste if you like that base. As a basic ramyeon, this is one you’ll definitely want to add an egg and a slice of cheese to. It’s a safe but delicious bet for the ramen shelf in the pantry.

Buy Samyang Original Ramen: On Amazon, On Yamibuy, On Coupang

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5 Nongshim Chapagetti (농심 짜파게티)

If you watched the Korean movie ‘Parasite’, then you probably recognize this one as it is one half of the Chapaguri/Jjapaguri recipe from the movie. This fusion style instant noodles with chajang sauce from Nongshim was questionable to me at first but my husband loves it.

This is a tasty sweet ramyeon dish and the ingredients include carrots, onions, ground beans, and other grains. You’ll tell this one apart by the distinct black sauce that tops the Korean-Chinese dish. It is also a ‘dry’ ramyeon or no-broth ramyeon.

Buy Chapagetti Now: On Amazon, On Yamibuy, On Coupang

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6 Nongshim K-Army Stew (농심 부대찌개)

The K-Army Stew has that budae jjigae taste people love and they’ve added chili beans to beef it up a bit. If you’re wondering why the moniker, budae jjigae was a dish originally created by using the surplus foods from the US military base after the Korean War.

It’s a soup that consists of ramyeon noodles (note that they are more starchy because of a potato starch addition so the noodles are more chewy), spam or ham or hot dogs, baked beans, American cheese, and whatever vegetables they could gather. If you’ve never had it, this would be one way to get introduced to the dish though you need to have it in person in Korea to really embrace it, I think.

Buy Nongshim’s K-Army Stew Now: On Amazon, On Coupang

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7 Nongshim Neoguri Spicy Seafood (Udon Noodles) (농심 너구리)

This is the other half of that recipe from the movie ‘Parasite’, Chapaguri/Jjapaguri. Debuted in 1982, Neoguri became popular specifically because of the thick udon-style noodles and a distinctive spicy seafood flavor.

It is one of Nongshim’s most popular products still today and is made with real seafood ingredients. If you’re looking for a thicker noodle option, this is the one you need to try. This one also comes in two options – a spicy seafood and a mild seafood.

Buy Nonshim’s Neoguri Spicy Seafood Ramyeon: On Amazon, On Yamibuy, On Coupang

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8 Ottogi Sesame Ramen (오뚜기 참께라면)

If you like that nutty sweet flavor of sesame seeds, then get ready to try this Korean ramyeon option. In our house, my husband tends to go for the spicier ramyeon options, while I go for the less spicy so the sesame option is a great one for me generally. Chamgae Ramen, or Sesame Ramen, is one of my favorites. It’s different from others in that it is an egg and sesame based option and it’s not spicy.

Buy Ottogi Sesame Ramen Now: On Amazon, On Yamibuy, On Coupang

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9 Paldo Bibim Myeon (팔도비빔면)

One of my absolute must haves, this is a no-broth instant noodle that has a gochujang, or spicy red pepper paste, sauce topping. You MUST add a hard boiled egg, cucumbers and carrots to this to enjoy. It really hits the spot in the summers.

When making this one, be sure to immediately remove from the hot water when it’s ready, and then rinse with cold water for the best chewy consistency. If you miss that step or speed, you’ll be sad.

Buy Paldo’s Bibimyeon Now: An Amazon, On Yamibuy, On Coupang

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10 Samyang Jjajang Buldak Ramen (삼양 짜장불닭음면)

Samyang has a whole range of their spicy chicken options and this is one of my favorites. Instead of the gochujang sauce, this one is topped with jjajang, or the black bean sauce. Still spicy spicy spicy like the other buldak range, but a different sauce option. Top this one with a fried egg for best results.

Buy Samyang Jjajang Buldak Ramen Now: On Amazon, On Yamibuy

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11 Nongshim Non-Frying Ramen (농심건면)

If you’re not sure what ‘non-frying’ means, in this case it means the noodles have been air-dried. Basically, ramyeon isn’t really great for the waistline. For people that are on calorie control or don’t want something too heavy, this is a great option. The calorie serving on these is just 350 kcal which is much lower than the normal ramyeons.

Buy Nongshim’s Non-Frying Ramen Now: On Amazon, On Coupang

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12 Nongshim AnSung TangMyun (농심 안성탕면)

One of my immediate favorites years and years ago,  Nongshim’s AnSung TangMyun is actually the 6th highest-selling ramyeon in Korea. It’s a bit milder than the super spicy ramyeons and has more of a miso flavor which is why I was drawn to it I think. It’s one of my comfort foods when we’re abroad at this point.

Buy Nongshim’s AnSung TangMyun Now: On Amazon, On Yamibuy, On Coupang

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13 Nongshim Soon Veggie Noodle Soup (농심순라면)

Though I’m not a vegan, I think it’s great that the ramyeon companies in Korea are coming up with ways to satisfy more people. This is Nongshim’s vegan friendly Korean ramyeon option. In Korean ‘soon’ means mild and that’s exactly what this ramyeon is. It’s mild and less savory than Nonshim’s meat version, but it is a nice vegetable broth base that isn’t too salty or spicy so it can suit a lot of tastebuds as well.

Buy Nongshim’s Soon Veggie Noodle Soup Now: On Amazon,  On Yamibuy, On Coupang

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Common Questions About Korean Instant Noodles

Where can I buy Korean Ramyeon?

You’d be surprised what you can find at your local grocery store these days. My first suggestion if you’re interested in trying Korean ramyeon would be to visit your local grocery store and see what they have in the ramyeon section.

We visited the Netherlands recently and saw a few of the options we listed above right at local favorite Albert Heijn. We also found a brand new to us called Kelly Loves that had some interesting looking ramyeons. We’ve also found a couple of these at Publix and Walmart in the US. Good luck shopping!

Is All Korean Ramyeon Spicy?

You might be surprised to find out that not all Korean ramyeon is spicy. Considering a ton of the viral challenges and trends that have gone around about ramyeon has been based on the spicy versions, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s all spicy. If you don’t do well with spice, not to worry. There are some options for you.

What Are The  Most Famous Korean Ramyeon Brands?

Samyang is one of the leading producers of Korean instant noodles in the country and the oldest. But you’ll also find a lot of Korean ramyeon from Ottogi, and Paldo, and Nongshim. The great thing about trying ramyeon is there are so many options. Have a party and do some taste tests.

Is Korean Ramyeon Halal?

More Korean brands have started to provide Halal options for consumers. However, it should be stated, that the same product in different countries may be different so make sure to look closely at the one you’re looking to purchase. If it is Halal, it will have the certification icon on the product.

Is Korean Ramyeon Vegan?

There are more options available these days for vegans or vegetarians when it comes to Korean instant noodles. Again, look closely at packaging, but all products that are vegan are labelled as such clearly. If it’s not labelled, don’t assume it’s vegan.

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