Noodle Journey Episode 149: Samyang Sutah Ramen

Samyang Sutah Ramen is another product from Samyang that isn’t part of their Buldak line but still aims to satisfy fans of spicy Korean noodle soups. Before trying it, I tried to find out what “Sutah” means and couldn’t locate much official information beyond an old 2011 review on The Ramen Rater’s website. In that review’s comments, a reader explained that Sutah comes from Chinese characters meaning “hit by hands,” implying a handmade noodle style, though the noodles here are machine-made like most others. It seems Samyang is using the name to emphasize noodle quality rather than literal production methodology.

This is a fairly elusive product in the U.S. compared to Buldak, but it’s still available online. I found five-packs on Amazon for about $15, and it sometimes appears on sites like YamiBuy and RamenMall. The sodium content is high at 1,750 mg per serving. Inside are thick noodles made with wheat and potato starch that have a bumpier texture than Samyang’s standard ones. The soup powder contains soy sauce, sugar, MSG, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and chili. The flake packet includes carrots, chives, cabbage, and bok choy. Samyang’s site lists the product as 100% vegetarian, and it may be vegan as well, though labels should be double-checked.

When cooked, the noodles looked similar to other Korean instant soups, and the broth gave off a soy-forward chili aroma reminiscent of Shin Ramyun or Jin Ramyun.

Noodles:
Thick, chewy, and bouncy with a great texture. They’re slightly firmer than other Korean noodles at the four-minute cook time and have a subtle fried-oil aftertaste.
• 9/10

Spiciness:
Less spicy than Shin Ramyun but hotter than Jin Mild. A solid medium heat that causes a bit of sweat and a tingling mouthfeel.
• 4.5/10

Overall:
The broth tastes mainly like salt, soy, and light garlic. It’s decent but unremarkable, falling short of its competitors for me. It’s milder than Shin and thinner than Neoguri, lacking the punch of black pepper or chili depth that would make it stand out as something more unique. The flake packet is disappointing, with only a few carrot pieces and small green bits that barely register in the final bowl. Everything rehydrates fine, but there’s simply not enough of it. In the end, this is a generic but enjoyable Korean spicy beef-style ramen. It doesn’t offer anything new, but it’s perfectly serviceable. The noodles are the best feature, and the moderate spice might make it a good choice for those who find Shin too hot but still want that style of soup. It’s not exciting, but it’s fine for what it is.
• 6/10

Notes since filming:

I see people speak very highly of Sutah and wonder what I’m missing. Yeah, it’s alright, but it didn’t knock my socks off. Maybe a re-review is in order someday down the line.