Samyang Cream Carbonara Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon Instant Noodles Review
Having already tasted and reviewed Samyang’s Original Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon Carbonara, I found myself asking, “Why did Samyang even produce another carbonara flavored cup of noodles for the Buldalk series?” We already had carbonara, so do we even need cream carbonara? The easy answer to this question is, “Why not?” However, after a few seconds of thought, I guess the reason is because people wanted a milder carbonara that reduces the spiciness via cream dilution. Fortunately for those select people, that’s exactly what Samyang did with this cup of noodles. Unfortunately for those who requested this ramen, I hope you like carny cheese mixed with a flood of wholesome cow juice, because that’s what you’re getting! The dam has broken with these noodles, ladies and gentleman. Every man, woman, and child for themselves!
Flavor:
My biggest complaint is the issue that plagues most, if not all, of the Buldalk series of instant noodles. There’s a serious lack of ingredients in these noodles! While I guess the spiciness remains the series defining characteristic and Cream Carbonara is no exception, having a dried flakes packet for some extra texture and flavor would be nice.
In this cup of noodles, you’re only getting some noodles, sauce, and some sort of green flakes. I’m still not sure what the flakes are, but they look like tiny pieces of dried celery leaves? Not the most appealing or appetizing addition to a cup of noodles… You’re left with nothing to chew on, other than some slippery, baby food noodles.
The cream isn’t much better either. The fill line on the cup is adding way… too much water to the cream sauce. It’s not cream, but more like milk. It makes these noodles feel like eating a diluted bowl of carbonara. The next time you go out for some Italian Carbonara with your significant other, ask your server for a jug of water and proceed to dump it into your noodles, then you’ll know exactly how I feel about this ramen from Samyang.
Spiciness:
Once again, I had to update the Samyang ramen ranking with some new Scoville Heat Units (SHU) numbers for this ramen. It comes in at almost exactly 2,000 SHU, which puts it ever so slightly behind the Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon Carbonara. For most, 2,000 SHU is no laughing matter. These noodles are spicy enough to make you think someone turned on the heat. However, the spiciness is made manageable by the watery / milky cream that dilutes most of the intensity found in these noodles.
Smell:
There is a pronounced spiciness within the aroma of these instant noodles. It definitely smell spicier than the noodles actually taste. As you would guess, these noodles also smell nice and creamy, but it all comes with a hint of the carny cheese Samyang used in their previous noodles.
Noodles:
The same type of noodles used in the original Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon Carbonara. These noodles aren’t basic ramen noodles, but are slightly thicker and dense. The texture is soft with the ability to pick up the milky cream sauce rather well.
Overall:
Samyang Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon Cream Carbonara is a tasty, mild, and… milky cup of noodles. I could literally hear the screams of the terrified noodles drowning in “cream” sauce. They are a bit of a disappointing diluted mess, but it’s an easy fix at least. Make sure to use less water than instructed by the fill line in the cup.
Other than that, there’s nothing groundbreaking here. These noodles are milder than the other entries in the Buldalk series, so you can actually taste something. However, they are still missing the solid ingredients that give you something to chew on, instead of just to gum on. With a heavy heart, I have to say that these noodles are average at best. And, I freakin’ love all things cream!
So, do you like cream or milk with your coffee? I mean… ramen? Also, I’ve been wondering, do any of you feel the same about the Buldalk series not having any dried flakes / solid ingredients? Let me know down 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.
