The chicken noodle soup of South Korean instant noodles. Nongshim’s Kimchi Ramen is a classic staple found in any Korean pantry. Subtly flavored with kimchi and mildly spicy for even the most sensitive of palates. This cup of noodles can be enjoyed by nearly everyone. Unless you hate the flavor of kimchi or are keeping an eye on your sodium levels, these noodles should be on reserve for when you need something salty to ease an upset stomach or just a bit of heat to clear those nasal passages.
Flavor:
I’m not denying that I’m a huge fan of cousin kimchi. It’s such a powerhouse in the culinary world with its gut-friendly goodness and satisfying flavor when paired with bland substances. I’m not sure if the freeze-dried version of kimchi offers the same gut health benefits, but it still has that same kickin’ kimchi flavor. The kimchi flavor is prominent in this cup, as is the abundance of sodium. Did I mention that I’m also a big fan of salt? Salt just has that tasty salty flavor, you know? The soup was a salt-lickin’ joy to drink up after finishing the noodles.
Spiciness:
These noodles aren’t absolutely devoid of spice, so if your palate can’t handle even the slightest bit of heat, you should probably look elsewhere. These noodles are more of an everyday noodle to me in terms of spice. Sometimes you crave that endorphin hit you receive from some of the spicier variations of instant ramen and later pay the price when you’re glued to the seat the following day. Rest assured, these noodles won’t have that effect.
Smell:
The smell is distinctly kimchi mixed with the traditional instant ramen smell we all love. Not much else to say really…
Texture:
What I really like about these noodles is that they keep their hull-integrity well. Unlike some of the other instant noodles that I’ve tried, these didn’t turn into some viscous creature from outer space. They stayed nice and firm until I managed to finish the entire cup.
The absence of meat in this cup of noodles was also rather pleasant. I’m certainly not a fan of eating meat at every meal for several reasons, but there was something nice about not having “what typically appears to be meat” in this ramen. The texture brought into play by the kimchi was more than satisfying enough.
Overall Impression:
As a Midwestern-raised American, I find the bubbliness of a Coke with some ice chips and some saltine crackers soothing to my belly during flu season. I totally get why many Koreans reach for certain types of instant ramen or porridge when they aren’t feeling well. The saltiness is just so soothing and easy to eat when you’re having trouble keeping food down in the first place. So, why not try some of these kimchi-flavored noodles next time you’re in need of some tasty relief?
I hope you found this review helpful when deciding which instant noodles try. What do you reach for when you’re not feeling well? Are Coke and ice chips an American thing or are they strictly Midwestern? Let me know in the comments below!
