Noodle Journey Episode 108: Nongshim Doong Ji Naengmyeon with Gochujang Sauce

I’m back with the second half of Nongshim’s Doong Ji Naengmyeon line, this time swapping out the chilled beef broth for a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. Fans of the channel might recognize this pairing from my review of Nongshim’s Guksu Soba in Episode 85, where I loved the sauce, and from the previous review’s naengmyeon noodles, which I mostly liked. Given that history, I’m expecting a solid showing here. Naengmyeon is a cold noodle dish made with ultra-thin brown noodles, while this gochujang sauce is a sweet and spicy blend built on red pepper paste and other savory elements.

This variety is available in the US at Walmart and many Asian grocery stores, with a three-pack costing about $6 at the time of this review. A single pack is considered one serving, unlike the double-portion beef broth version. Sodium clocks in at 1,050 milligrams, which isn’t bad, and sugar sits at a hefty 20 grams, accounting for the “sweet” half of the sweet-and-spicy profile. Inside the pack are wheat, buckwheat, and potato starch noodles, a seasoning flake packet with cucumber and radish, and a pouch of the gochujang sauce, identical in composition to the one in the Guksu Soba. No water mixing is required this time, making prep more straightforward.

Noodles:
These are the same naengmyeon noodles from the beef broth version – firm, thin, and slightly nutty, but also slippery and prone to clumping even with constant stirring during cooking. They’re a little tricky to coat evenly with sauce, but the chew and flavor are still enjoyable.

• 7/10

Spiciness:
Matching the Guksu Soba version, this sits at a moderate spice level. It’s not blistering, but it’s definitely not for spice-averse eaters. The heat works well in a chilled preparation, though those who dislike cold-and-spicy dishes might be put off.

• 5/10

Overall:
This is a strong entry in the cold noodle category, with the sauce doing most of the heavy lifting. The blend of sweet, spicy, and sour flavors, bolstered by chili pepper, mustard, and apple concentrate, plays nicely against the chewy, nutty noodles. Compared to the beef broth variety, the flavor is more approachable and doesn’t turn one-note halfway through. The flake packet adds some pleasant crunch from radish and cucumber, the latter carrying an almost pickled quality that complements the sauce. While I slightly prefer the soba version for its more familiar noodle texture, this is still a refreshing, flavorful summer option worth seeking out if your local store carries it.

• 8/10