Noodle Journey Episode 92: Samyang Buldak Stew Ramen

This review looks at Samyang Buldak Stew Type, one of the few variations designed to deliver the brand’s signature flavor in soup form. I’ve seen people dilute regular Buldak sauces with water to create soup, which isn’t a great idea – just spreads the spice around and weakens the flavor. Be warned that the packaging is kinda similar to the standard original Hot Chicken pack but has a “Stew Type” logo, so be sure you’re buying the right one.

This is widely available online and at Asian grocers, and also comes in a bowl form in some regions. The sodium content is high at 1,870 mg (around 81 % of the recommended daily intake). Inside you get the typical Buldak flat-style noodle block, a liquid soup base, and a powder/flake packet. The liquid packet is similar to the base Buldak sauce we’ve seen before, but I noticed no curry powder is listed in the ingredients, opting for a more typical soup blend of soy sauce, red pepper, and artificial chicken seasoning. The powder packet contains some thickening agents like potato starch and egg white, along with chives, sesame seeds, seaweed, red pepper, and sugar. This is not vegetarian like some of the other Buldak varieties because the noodles themselves, according to the ingredients list, contain seafood extract.

Noodles:
The noodles have an excellent bite and hold up well in the broth. They’re the same flat-style noodle as what you’d find in Buldak Carbonara.

• 9/10

Spiciness:
Although this is still a Buldak product, the stew feels milder than the stir‑fry varieties. The heat is there but for me felt tempered by the broth. Others have reported having a much hotter experience with this than I did (and I used the right measurements when preparing), so just be warned of that.
• 6/10

Overall:
I was impressed by the sweet‑and‑spicy complexity of the broth and the satisfying chew of the noodles, but this leans a bit more into the savory direction than normal Buldak flavors, especially with a nice amount of garlic in here. From a flavor perspective, this isn’t so far off from other products like Nongshim Shin or Paldo Namja. The stew is somewhat thicker than a standard soup and feels like a proper meal. The flakes were more generous than other Buldak varieties this time around too – lots of great texture and flavor from the sesame seeds and chives. This may not replace classics like Shin Ramyun for you, but I found it to be an excellent spicy soup experience. If you’re curious about Buldak in soup form, skip the DIY hacks and pick up this Stew flavor.
• 9/10

Notes since filming:

I may have objectively gotten the spice score wrong on this one, but I spoke to my own experience. I didn’t find this one as terribly spicy as some other Buldak varieties, and yet according to other anecdotes and even the official Buldak Scoville chart, this one is supposed to be spicier than the original Hot Chicken flavor. So fair warning that while I didn’t personally think it was at that level, you may feel differently if you buy this one. And you should buy this one, because it’s really good.