Samyang Korean Spicy Instant Ramen: Ranked by Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or were pleasantly whisked away by little green men within the last couple of years, Samyang Food’s Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (aka Hot Chicken Flavored Ramen) series of fiery noodles needs no introduction. However, in case you missed out, the craze all started with the release of the Original Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon way back in 2012 and the various combinations and permutations of exciting flavors have snowballed from there. Recent additions to the family are wild flavors like: Mala (a popular Sichuanese Street-Food), Meat Spaghetti, and even Carbonara. Not only have the range of flavors continued to diversify, but for the heat addicts out there (you know who you are…), the Scoville counts have skyrocketed as well.
Stomach ulcers aside, these tasty additions continue to dazzle within the instant noodle-loving communities around the world. The excitement compounded once again by a recent wave of Korean spicy noodle challenges on various social media services, these noodles are as hot as ever! Therefore, I have created this guide to rank each type of Hot Chicken Flavored Noodles by Scoville Heat Units (SHU) from least to greatest, so you can better enjoy the challenge of the current wave of Samyang Instant Noodles to your stomach’s discontent.
So, without further ado, let’s get into the 2020 Samyang ramen ranking!
#16.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Light)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): ~1,762
Information:
Offering up the same delicious Hot Chicken Flavored Ramen taste, Samyang Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Light), is 40% less in SHU than the original. I did do the math and I came up with something a bit different, but we’re just going to have to take Samyang’s word for it!
#15.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Jjolbokki)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): Unknown — Mild, Sweet Flavor
Information:
Unfortunately, as far as I know, this cup of noodles is only available in South Korea. Also, I couldn’t find any information online in Korea about the SHU of these noodles either. My best guess has these noodles placed fairly low on this list as Jjolbokki should offer a more mild flavor.
- **I will update this later if I can find any new information confirming the SHU.
#14.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Corn)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): Unknown
Information:
Unknown something with corn…(Not Available in Korea!)
I still need to get my hands on this pack of instant noodles by Samyang. Again, I couldn’t find any information about the SHU of these noodles. My best guess is that they will fall somewhere around this location, but I could be wrong! I would imagine that these Mexican food themed noodles will be quite a bit spicier than number eleven on this list. The corn flavor has me intrigued!
- **I will update this later if I can find any new information confirming the SHU.
#13.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Jjajang)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): ~2,000
Information:
This is Samyang’s fiery version of Jjajangmyeon (black bean paste noodles). Jjajangmyeon was originally a Chinese style of noodles that were brought to South Korea and turned into a fusion food. South Koreans love these noodles. You might have also heard of Nongshim’s Chapagetti. If you’ve tried these, then you might enjoy this spicier version of this type of instant noodles.
#12.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Cream Carbonara)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 2,000
Information:
Samyang’s second addition to their Carbonara line of Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon. Cream Carbonara Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon is one of the newest flavors to hit shelves this Fall 2020. It features a spice level that’s on the lower end of the spectrum, even lower than their original Carbonara noodles. The noodles are creamy or milky depending on how much water you put into them. I would suggest holding back on the recommended water a bit, but overall, it’s a tasty cup of noodles.
#11.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Meat Spaghetti)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 2,100
Information:
Samyang’s play on a more western style of noodles, the meat spaghetti version of these noodles incorporates ground meat and a slight tomato flavor to the original hot chicken flavored noodles to enhance the taste.
#10.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Carbonara)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 2,400
Information:
Another more westernized version of the hot chicken flavored ramen. These noodles are definitely one of my personal favorites. These instant noodles are spicy and provide a nice creamy flavor and texture. The cheesy and creamy goodness does manage to cut the spiciness a bit, at least at the subconscious level. However, the spice tends to build, so you’ll still be left with a bit of a fiery aftertaste. These are definitely one of my favorites on the list.
#9.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Cheese)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 2,755
Information:
The cheesy version of the original. These noodles have a wonderfully, cheesy flavor that does manage to cut a bit of the heat similar to the carbonara version. If you’re a fan of cheese, you’re sure to love this pack of instant ramen!
#8.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Curry)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 3,010
Information:
Quite possibly one of my favorite foods to eat on Planet Earth, Samyang has created a curry version of their famous noodles too. These noodles feature a slight curry flavor and texture that is a welcome change-up to the originals.
#7.) Jinro & Buldalk — Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Kimchi)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 4,000
Information:
This is a temporary collaboration between Jinro & Buldalk (Samyang). I have recently updated this list because of this release (as of October 2nd, 2020). It’s looking like Samyang’s plan for this entry into the Buldalk series is to continue producing the packaged version through the month of October and then start creating cups in November. I’m thinking the cups are going to stay and they are going to phase out the packages entirely. Either way, the wait is over!
The same great taste of the original Buldalk with some added kimchi. Fried kimchi is absolutely delicious and I’m glad they decided to incorporate more South Korean flavors and ingredients into their ramen line. The heat has been dialed back ever so slightly, but it’s still more than spicy enough. Personally, I find this version of Buldalk to be more delicious than just the plain ol’ original. If you’re looking for Buldalk, but with more flavor, you shouldn’t miss this one.
#6.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Mala)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 4,400
Information:
Another unique rendition of the original spicy noodles, Samyang’s Mala Hot Chicken Flavored Ramen is based on the wildly popular Chinese street food that originated in Sichuan. Samyang definitely capitalized on the wave of Mala noodles being offered in South Korea with this package of instant noodles. The flavor is very unique, so if you’re looking for a more adventurous taste, then I would pick these up.
#5.) Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Original)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 4,404
Information:
The original beast that ignited a new wave of spicy instant noodle offerings from ramen companies around the world. Samyang’s Original Hot Chicken Flavored Ramen has been the focus of countless blog articles, YouTube videos, and challenges all over the internet. They are deliciously spicy with their molten sauce and tasty chicken flavor. If you’re looking to test out the original boss-level noodles, grab a pack of these and enjoy the challenge with your friends.
#4.) Buldalk Bokkeum Tang Myeon
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 4,705
Information:
If you prefer a soup based cup of spicy noodles, these will be your top pick. These noodles come in just a tad bit spicier than the Original Hot Chicken Flavored Ramen, but are even more challenging because of the soup. Do you think you can pound these noodles and manage to drink every last drop of this volcanic soup?
#3.) Hek Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): ~10,000
Information:
Samyang decided to up the ante on the original noodles and produced this nuclear version of hot chicken flavored ramen. Same taste and flavor, but much, much more spicy.
#2.) Hek Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (2x Spicy)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): ~10,000 +
Information:
These limited edition noodles offered by Samyang are an upgraded version of the nuclear hot chicken flavored ramen that’s sure to decimate your taste buds. If you’re looking to drop several megatons of spiciness into your stomach, then look no further.
#1.) Buldalk Bibim Myeon (Dojeon)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 12,000 (Whole Sauce Pack)
Information:
Having tried these hellish instant noodles before, I can definitely say that these are a bit of a challenge. Coming in at a whopping 12,000 SHU. These noodles make #1 on the list for Samyang’s Hot Chicken Flavored Ramen. Dojeon (Challenge) is exactly what these noodles are… These noodles managed to zing my brain with the sheer spiciness and left my mouth and lips burning. Try these noodles only if you dare…
Future Flavors (Coming Soon)
Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (Tomato Pasta)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): Unknown
Information:
Unknown flavor with tomatoes
Hek Buldalk Bokkeum Myeon (3x Spicy)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): ~13,000
Information:
Unknown Flavor with Essence of Satan (*It’s sure to be crowned the new King upon release sometime in 2020.)
Thank you for reading and the support! So, what do you think about Samyang’s fiery noodles? Have you ever tried any of these? If so, which are you favorites?
Also, if you have any favorite types of ramen, foods, snacks, restaurants, products, or locations you would like to hear more about in South Korea, let me know in the comments. I’m always looking for new things to write about.
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.
