Noodle Journey Episode 103: Pororo Cream Tteokbokki

This review is a bit of a departure. Rather than noodles, I’m trying an instant rice cake cup: Pororo Cream Tteokbokki. This licensed product, featuring the popular children’s character Pororo the penguin, appears to be marketed toward kids, but it works just as well as an accessible way for anyone to try tteokbokki. While the manufacturer is unclear to me (some online sources list Paldo, others MUKKO), I picked this up as an import from South Korea for $6. US shoppers can sometimes find these for $3–4 at Asian grocery stores or online.

The cup contains a bag of thick tubular rice cakes (tteok), a powdered cream sauce mix, and a cutesy little Pororo sticker. Sodium content is low for an instant product at just 553 mg, making it a relatively guilt-free option. The sauce includes cream, cheese, and parsley, and cooking is simple: add the rice cakes and sauce to the cup, fill with hot water to the line, and microwave for 90 seconds. My cup did boil over in the microwave, so covering it may be warranted even though it’s not specified.

Rice Cake Texture:
Chewy, al dente rice cakes with excellent bite and starchy satisfaction, surprisingly spot-on for a microwave preparation. If you’ve never had this before, it’s kind of like a big gnocchi.
• 10/10

Spiciness:
None at all, this is a spice-free cream sauce.
• 0/10

Overall:
A simple but enjoyable dish, with a decently thick sauce that clings well to the rice cakes. The cream and cheese taste natural, complemented by parsley and faint hints of onion or chive. It’s on the mild side in flavor, and could benefit from a pinch of salt or MSG, but it’s exactly as advertised: a basic, tasty, milgly sweet cream sauce with great texture. Downsides are the small portion and relatively high import price, but as a quick snack or light meal, it works well. A safe, beginner-friendly way to try tteokbokki.
• 7/10

Notes since filming:

In an unexpected twist, my kids ended up absolutely loving this variety after I filmed the review and I didn’t get to finish the cup myself. If you have kids, this might be a great way to introduce them to tteokbokki!

Also, I am acutely aware that I mispronounced this multiple times. It’s a tough one for me to get used to saying for some reason.