Ottogi’s instant answer to the ludicrously famous and mightily delicious Vietnamese Pho enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. It just makes sense that Ottogi decided to create some of their own instant Vietnamese noodles, because they’re loved by so many. Ottogi’s GaePHOdong Salguksu is a near perfect copy, for better or for worse. I actually love the fact that I can have near restaurant quality flavor pho so readily accessible and easily prepared in just a few simple steps. If you’re trying to social distance or aren’t allowed to head to restaurants in your country quite yet, these literally might be a life saving cup of instant noodles.
Flavor:
An authentic Vietnamese Pho bursting with cilantro flavor. The broth is sour, peppery, and just a bit spicy. It has a generous amount of meat and vegetables too. I can clearly distinguish the cabbage, onion, cilantro, and red chili pepper slices floating happily in the broth. Not only do these flavor elements exist visually, but they have a pronounced flavor that adds to the complexity of the cup of noodles. I would be hard-pressed to be able to distinguish this cup of noodles from a Vietnamese pho that came straight out of the kitchen. The flavor is a near perfect match. The only flavor that I felt was missing was a squeeze of citrus juice.
Spiciness:
Surprisingly, these instant noodles were a bit spicier than I was expecting. There was a kick of red chili pepper that made my mouth tingle ever so slightly. It’s an enjoyable level of spiciness that lends a hand in rounding out the flavor complexity. This, plus a dash of black pepper made this cup an enjoyable one.
Smell:
This instant pho has a very strong cilantro fragrance to it. So, if you’re averse to either the flavor or the smell of cilantro, these noodles won’t be for you. Other than that, these noodles smell identically to any of the authentic pho I have eaten.
Noodles:
Just like the name of this cup of noodles suggests, the noodles are made from rice and not wheat. Salguksu is the Korean word for rice noodles, which is featured straight in the name of these noodles by Ottogi. What I really liked about these particular rice noodles were that they had varying widths, but maintained their thickness throughout. This had a major impact on how well these noodles were able to pick up the broth and transfer their deliciousness directly into my mouth. The cook on the noodles was also excellent. Their texture was slick and buttery smooth.
Overall:
My mind has officially been blown with these noodles. They are astonishingly authentic and fresh tasting. These just might be the perfect substitute for visiting a Vietnamese restaurant. I can’t think of a better product for the times, to be honest! These noodles are such a success for so closely imitating pho. They are absolutely delicious, inexpensive, and best of all, deeply infused with that dreamy cilantro flavor.
So, what’s been your go to snack since the outbreak of COVID-19? Have you been crushing noodles like myself? Let me know in the comments!
If you’re interested in hearing more about instant ramen, check out my on-going series, Noodle Story: An Exploration of Korean Instant Noodles, here on Medium.
Note: This article may contain affiliate links that support the author’s ramen purchases for these how-to guides and reviews.
