Noodle Journey Episode 61: Samyang Buldak Cheese Ramen

I’m diving back into Samyang’s Buldak product line to try their Cheese variety, one of the more popular Korean instant noodle flavors around. This sets the stage for my next review of the newer Quattro Cheese version in the next review, so I can directly compare the two. Cheese in Korean noodles remains a polarizing topic, but I’m firmly on the pro-cheese side.

These are widely available in both packet and bowl form, and they’re affordable—about $2 for a single pack, $7–10 for a five-pack, or $3 for the bowl version. You can find them online or at most Asian grocery stores. The ingredients include a typical Buldak sauce packet and a powdered cheese packet, which contains mozzarella, cheddar, cream powder, yeast, and whey. It’s very similar to the Carbonara variety I reviewed way back when. This version drops the parsley and adds seaweed and sesame seeds. At 1,440mg of sodium, it’s relatively modest for Buldak. I believe this may be vegetarian, but double-check to be sure.

Noodles:
These are the classic Buldak noodles: thick, chewy, and bouncy with excellent texture. They soak up sauce well and always hit the mark for me.
• 8/10

Spiciness:
Despite the cheese, this is almost as punishingly hot as the original Buldak Hot Chicken. I expected something milder, more like the Carbonara, but that creamy buffer just isn’t here. It’s maybe slightly less spicy than the original, but not by much.
• 7.5/10

Overall:
This isn’t a cheese bomb, but rather more like a gentle suggestion of cheese folded into the already delicious base Buldak sauce. The flavor retains its sweet, smoky, spicy profile, enhanced just a bit by some extra umami from the cheese powder. I’m honestly a little disappointed that it’s not cheesier, but I still like the way it tastes, so I can’t in good conscience dock points for it not aligning with my personal expectations. Seaweed and sesame seeds add some nice texture and flavor when you come across them. I still prefer the Carbonara variety for its extra creaminess, but this sits comfortably between that and the original in terms of flavor depth for me.
• 8.5/10

This wasn’t what I expected. I really thought it would be heavier on the cheese, but it still delivers a tasty, slightly enhanced take on a flavor I already love. I’ll be reviewing the Quattro Cheese flavor next, which I suspect will be closer to the cheesy indulgence I envisioned. Let me know your thoughts on cheese in ramen and whether this one met your expectations.