Noodle Journey Episode 31: Ottogi Jin Ramen (Mild)

In this review, I’m taking a look at a red chili soup from Ottogi, a brand I haven’t featured before despite their long history in the instant noodle world. This is their Jin Ramen Mild, which offers a more approachable alternative in terms of spice compared to things like Nongshim Shin Ramyun or Paldo Namja, but still belongs to the same family of savory Korean red chili broths.

I picked this up as part of a variety pack, but these are super easy to find in almost every Asian market, typically running under $10 for a four-pack. Each serving contains 1480mg of sodium.

Inside the pack, you get a block of standard Korean-style noodles, a flake packet with cabbage, green onion, carrot, mushroom, seaweed, and soy chunks, and a powdered soup base that includes oyster extract, meaning this is not vegetarian. Interestingly, the instructions here have you add the veggies to the water before it boils, which I’m assuming means they will impart a bit more flavor into the base.

Noodles:
These use potato starch like Paldo’s, giving them a nice chew. They’re not as thick or plump, but they hold up well and have a similar bounce to Nongshim’s.
• 8/10

Spiciness:
This is mild by Korean standards, but it’s not at all what most Americans would consider mild. There’s some heat to it despite the packaging saying “Mild,” but it’s closer to a jar of supermarket kimchi than anything intense.
• 3/10

Overall:
The broth is savory and comforting, with artificial beefiness, seaweed, and mushroom standing out the most. It’s well-balanced with just a touch of sweetness and garlic, and the flake packet adds some nice flavor and texture. It doesn’t compete with Namja or Shin Black in terms of depth or garlic punch, but it makes a solid entry-level option in this flavor category, especially if you’re looking to get into spicy foods. It’s a great pick for people who want the red chili profile without the heat.
• 7.5/10

Next time, I’ll try the spicy version to see how it stacks up.

Notes since filming:

As of early 2025, Ottogi has rebranded to Otoki and has reportedly changed the recipe in this flavor. That means this review is not reflective of the new recipe and so should only apply to the old recipe.