Noodle Journey Episode 146: Nongshim Kimchi Noodle Soup

After a surprisingly decent experience with Mike’s Mighty Good Kimchi Ramen, I wanted to see what a company that actually makes decent noodles could do with the same concept. Nongshim Kimchi Noodle Soup seems like the perfect follow-up, since I’ve already made it clear how much I love both kimchi and Nongshim’s products in general. This one feels like a natural fit with their other products.

I picked mine up from YamiBuy for around $7 for a four-pack, though prices can range from $5 to $8 depending on the retailer. Nongshim’s lineup of various kimchi flavors is a bit confusing, with several similar products out there: the Kimchi Bowl Noodle (same broth, thinner noodles), the vegan Soon Kimchi, and even an older Oolongmen Kimchi Cup that may or may not still exist. The sodium on this version is steep at 1,030mg per serving, two servings per pack, totaling 2,070mg or about 90% of your daily intake. It comes with a soup powder and flake packet, and while the front says “seasoned with real kimchi,” there’s no pouch of fermented cabbage here. The flake packet contains dried kimchi, and the broth powder includes anchovy and beef extract, making it unsuitable for vegetarians or pescatarians.

When prepared, the broth looked thick and stew-like with visible kimchi flakes throughout. The smell was unmistakably Nongshim – oily, beefy, and spicy – with that familiar Shin-style aroma underneath.

Noodles:
These are classic Nongshim noodles: plump, chewy, and satisfying. I’ve given their base noodles an 8/10 since Episode 1, and that still stands here.
• 8/10

Spiciness:
Comfortably medium. It’s got an expected spicy kick from kimchi but doesn’t go overboard.
• 5/10

Overall:
The broth has a solid mix of salt, garlic, chili pepper, and fish flavor, giving it that spicy-sour-umami balance that defines kimchi. It doesn’t taste as fermented as the liquid from a jar of real kimchi, but it hits most of the right notes. The beef and anchovy extracts add depth, and the mild seafood undertone gives it a Neoguri-like flavor more than a Shin-style one. The kimchi cabbage flakes are small but authentic enough, with a good crunch and real kimchi flavor when rehydrated, though the color is drab and the quantity is a little lacking for my tastes. What holds this one back is the lack of variety in its flakes; there’s no onion, carrot, or mushroom to add some additional textures, and I think the kimchi flavor that could stand to be a little stronger. It almost feels like Nongshim is playing it safe here for an American palate. Still, putting the authenticity of the broth flavor aside, it’s an enjoyable, balanced soup that mostly captures the core of what kimchi ramen should be. Fans of Shin or Neoguri will feel right at home here, and it’s one I’d buy again and use some fresh kimchi from my fridge to elevate it.
• 7/10