Noodle Journey Episode 110: Momofuku Sweet & Spicy Noodles

After an insanely long wait for new flavors, today’s review is one of the two new flavors (as of August 2023) from Momofuku’s instant noodle lineup: Sweet & Spicy. Unlike their earlier offerings, which mostly leaned on soy and sesame profiles, this one brings a gochujang-style sauce that promises a balanced kick with some sweetness. The noodles are still made by A-Sha, so I’m already expecting top-notch texture, but we’re finally at a point where Momofuku is making their own sauce instead of repackaging an existing recipe from A-Sha. This feels like a smart pivot for Momofuku, moving into something with a different flavor profile and a fuller sauce compared to their original three flavors.

This vegan-friendly variety is currently available online for around $13 for a five-pack, with retail availability likely to follow. Inside each packet are flat, air-dried wheat noodles (wheat flour, water, salt) and a single sauce pouch built around Korean-style chili paste. The ingredient list calls out chili, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, miso, rice vinegar, and Shaoxing wine. Per serving, sodium comes in at 990 milligrams and sugar at 8 grams. Preparation is straightforward: boil the noodles, drain, and toss with the sauce, and there’s enough in the pouch to coat the noodles evenly without leaving a puddle behind.

Noodles:
A-Sha’s noodles are once again the highlight of this bag. They’re springy, chewy, and nicely al dente when cooked to the recommended time. Their mild wheat flavor is truly satisfying to me.

• 10/10

Spiciness:
Despite the “spicy” label, I think this sits in a pretty approachable range. The heat is quick, mild, and gone before you know it, more at a buffalo-wing level than anything that will challenge serious spice fans. Chili crisp or extra flakes would be easy ways to dial it up. If you’ve had a typical gochujang sauce before, you know what to expect here.

• 3/10

Overall:
This flavor is a welcome break from Momofuku’s soy- and sesame-heavy earlier entries. The gochujang-style sauce offers a well-balanced combination of salty, lightly sweet, and mildly peppery, with a pleasant tang from vinegar and Shaoxing wine. Garlic plays a supporting role without overpowering, and the light sesame oil content helps give the sauce a little bit of oily texture that I appreciated. On the downside, as is typical of Momofuku (and A-Sha largely), the packet is just noodles and sauce with no garnish or crunch element, which makes it an ideal blank canvas for extras like scallions, cucumber, fried egg, tofu, or sesame seeds. The price is on par with Momofuku’s other offerings, which means you’re paying for quality noodles and a solid sauce base rather than a fully dressed meal. If you liked the concept of Tingly Chili but wanted a sweeter, more chili-forward profile, this is a good one to grab.

• 8/10