Korean food has gained immense popularity among the food fanatics across the globe, especially after the Oscar domination by the movie Parasite. For ages, instant noodles are amongst the favorite go-to meals for people who are always on the run, specifically college students. Instant noodles are affordable and only require an electric kettle or a microwave for preparation. Due to their deliciously flavorsome taste and easy cooking, instant noodles are now irreplaceable on the kitchen shelves of many.
As a result of the pandemic, the demand for Korean instant ramen has been at an all-time high! The numbers, according to a report, go something like this – an increase of 29.3 percent on-year to a record high of $603.6 million in 2020. COVID-19 brought with it social distancing and quarantine making us all crave some comfort food – ramyeon or the instant ramen noodles from Korea!
The Emergence of a Scrumptious Meal
The instant noodles rose to fame about 60 years ago in Japan after the 2nd World War to feed the starving Japanese population. Firstly, these noodles were launched by Momofuku Ando under the label name ‘Chickin Ramen.’ Over the years, instant noodles came into the limelight globally and became one of the favorite comfort meals for people from all walks of life.
The Ever-Increasing Sales of Korean Instant Noodles amid the Coronavirus Pandemic
Nongshim, a food maker from South Korea, stated that the US sales for the Shin Ramyaun went up to $164 million during the first half of the year. The popularity of the noodle-making company also increased rapidly during the Coronavirus pandemic. Also, the sales for the Shin Ramyun at Walmart, Costco, and Amazon rose by 35, 51, and 79 percent, respectively.
The instant noodles by Shin Ramyun have begun to garner immense popularity in the mainstream retail segment of the US. The credit for his hugely goes to the establishment of a strong distribution network in the market. Also, Nongshim Ramen is considered to be amongst the preferable foreign food brands that are sold across the US.
Shin Ramyun witnessed an impressive growth of up to 25 percent in the first half of the year, with around $48 million in sales. On the other hand, Shin Ramyun Black also recorded noteworthy sales accounting for $13.5 million during the first half of the year, with an overall increase in growth by 49 percent. Also, its product was ranked first amongst the 11 others in the category of The Best Instant Noodles by Wirecutter, functioned by The New York Times.
The Top 10 South Korean Instant Noodles to Soothe your Taste Buds
There are diversified variants of delicious instant noodles available that are native to South Korea. You will find an impeccably delectable taste that is worth your every penny you spend on these noodles.
Just like any other country, there are some excellent options in the range of instant noodles that are native to South Korea. These noodles are manufactured in South Korea and are now easily accessible through international e-commerce websites such as Alibaba and Amazon.
There are hundreds of varieties of instant noodles that you can get your hands on. Here are the ten best South Korean instant noodles that you can easily buy online or from your local supermarket to satisfy your hunger pranks appetizingly straightaway.
Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black
These are thick Ramyun noodles with a spicy taste. It is like a traditional Korean ramyun with chunks of beef, vegetable flakes, and the ‘sul-long-tang’ broth base.
Paldo Cheese Noodles
Amazingly good instant noodles where the cheese intermingles with the spicy red broth and the noodles are thick and nice.
Ottogi Cheese Ramen
These cheesy noodles come with three seasoning packets – regular seasoning with vegetables, regular soup powder, and powdered cheese. You can make it in a cheesy variation, or you can make cheesy, spicy noodles if you like.
Paldo Rabokki Noodles
These noodles are a tasty representation of tteokbokki, a Korean dish of thick cylindrical rice tubes. They have a pleasant chewiness and a thick red sauce that is both spicy and sweet accompanies them.
Samyang Ramen Spicy Chicken Roasted Noodles
The noodles are thick, chewy, and delicious. Although, unlike traditional Korean noodles, the ramen broth comes with a chicken base. These noodles are referred to as buldak-bokkeum-myeon, commonly known as fire noodles in Korea. Its literal translation is accurate to its texture – stir-fried chicken noodles.
Samyang 2X Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen
It is a two times spicy variation of the original ramen, Samyang Ramen Spicy Chicken Roasted Noodles.
Nongshim Budae Jjigae Noodle Soup
It is instant ramen noodles with bits of processed meats and dried cabbage. The noodle soup combines South Korean flavors to give you tasty goodness. Budae Jjigae translates to ‘troop stew’ or army stew’ as it originated during the Korean War in the form of donated rations from US forces.
Ottogi Yeul Ramen Noodles Hot Pepper Flavor
This is a pack of ramen in a delicious spicy red pepper broth that packs punchy flavors with a combination of vegetables, green onions, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and cabbage. The Ottogi Yeul Ramen Noodles are thick, chewy, and soft.
Nongshim Chapagetti Noodle
It is a Fusion Style Chajang Noodle that takes on the form of spaghetti noodles in a Chinese black soybean sauce, “Chajang.” This is a tasty and sweet ramen dish that is made using a variety of spices that have been uniquely mixed with ingredients such as carrots, onions, ground beans, and other grains.
Nongshim Champong Noodle Soup Spicy Seafood Flavor
It is a seafood flavor spicy noodle soup. It imitates the beefiness of a Korean ramyun but without the beef. Instead of meat, it contains a seafood flavor that works well with the chewy ramyun noodle.
Since the release of Oscar-winning movie, Parasite, instant ramen has taken over YouTube searches about ‘how to ram-don‘ videos. It comes from a moment in the film when the rich housewife (Cho Yeo Jeong) interrupts a rainy drive home with her husband and two children to phone her newly-hired low-income housekeeper (Jang Hye Jin), instructing her to get a warming pot of “ram-don” going. The housekeeper, then asks, “What the hell is ‘ram-don’?” and just like that, this mystery dish comes up.
In videos, ‘ram-dom‘ is prepared using instant black bean ramen noodles from the South Korean brand Chapagetti and Neoguri’s spicy seafood-flavored Korean udon. It is combined in a broth made of boiling water and the contents of their accompanying seasoning packets, which is then topped with cubes of seared sirloin.
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