Time to dive into the one that started it all: Samyang’s original Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen, the pack that kicked off a thousand spicy noodle challenges and an entire subculture of people shoving noodles into their tear-stained faces for the enjoyment of others. I’m not here for the Internet clout, just a proper review of a famously spicy stir-fried noodle. I’ve already tried the Carbonara version and loved it, so it was time to see how the base flavor holds up without the creamy powdered cheese to tone it down.
Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 16: Samyang Buldak Hot Chicken RamenI picked up this pack as part of a multipack online, but you can usually find it at any Asian grocery store or supermarket. It clocks in at 1280mg of sodium (not bad, all things considered), and while it’s technically vegetarian, there’s some ambiguity about egg content in the artificial chicken flavoring, so proceed with caution if that’s a concern. Inside you get a wavy noodle block (not the flat style from Carbonara), a liquid sauce packet, and a flake pack with sesame seeds and seaweed.
Noodles:
Thick, springy, and hold up well to stir-frying. Not quite as chewy or satisfying as the Carbonara version, but still a strong showing.
• 8/10
Spiciness:
This hits hard. It’s definitely the same fire level as the Carbonara (which makes sense because it’s the same sauce packet as far as I can tell), but without the cheese to cushion the blow. If you like extremely spicy food, you can probably handle it, but make no mistake, it burns.
• 8/10
Overall:
This is a fantastic stir-fry noodle with flavor to back up the heat. There’s depth here: soy, garlic, onion, some sweetness, and even a subtle curry note like in the Carbonara version, just possibly a bit smokier this time. The flake pack, which I initially dismissed, adds a nice crunch and some umami that rounds everything out. While I personally prefer the cheesy richness of the Carbonara, this original version is still a rock-solid option, especially if you want something spicy, flavorful, and easy to build on. Add veggies, egg, or protein and you’ve got a great, fiery hot meal.
• 8/10
Notes since filming: One of my few regrets on this channel was not reviewing this one in episode 5 instead of the Carbonara flavor. As weird as it might sound, I think trying this base flavor of Buldak first would’ve given me a better context for trying Carbonara, seeing as I was surprised about the smoky curry flavors that are present in a lot of Buldak sauce packets. I liked this one and I acknowledge its important role in noodle history, but I haven’t purchased it since this review because I love some of the other variant flavors more.
