Noodle Journey Episode 40: Samyang Buldak Corn Ramen

I’m diving into what might be the most polarizing Buldak variety: Corn. It’s drawn some harsh reactions online, which bumped it to the top of my curiosity list. I usually enjoy the Buldak product line for its spicy, flavorful reliability, but corn in Korean ramen? That’s new to me.

Pricing is consistent with other Buldak flavors: about $7–$11 for a five-pack depending on where you shop. Sodium clocks in at 1500mg (65% daily value), which is fairly reasonable for a Buldak product. Inside are the signature Carbonara-style flat noodles, a liquid packet, and a powder packet. Initially, I assumed the liquid packet was the usual base Buldak sauce, but it actually has a strong roasted corn flavor, so it’s unique to this variety. The powder packet leads with sugar as its first ingredient, clearly aiming to mimic corn sweetness, and includes corn powder, cheese, and spices. There’s no meat or seafood listed, so this appears to be vegetarian. Surprisingly, there’s no dehydrated corn at all – no garnish packet, no visible kernels, nothing. That feels like a missed opportunity given the theme.

Noodles:
These are the same extra chewy flat noodles from the carbonara variety, and they’re outstanding. Thick, springy, and perfect for clinging to creamy sauces. Still my favorite of the Buldak noodle types.
• 9/10

Spiciness:
Despite the corn branding, this does not hold back on the heat. It burns your lips, tongue, and throat with lingering intensity. The cheese and milk in the powder mellow it slightly, but not much. It’s not as brutal as the original spicy chicken, but it’s right on par with the Carbonara.
• 7/10

Overall:
This smells like burnt popcorn and tastes like Tex-Mex ramen mixed with corn chips, and I find the whole thing extremely unappealing even though I like popcorn and corn chips. The dominant flavors are roasted corn, tomato, and cumin, and apparently I don’t really want any of those in these noodles. There’s a little garlic and onion as well, and possibly oregano. The sauce is creamy, but the cheese notes are minimal. The overall profile leans heavily into sweet corn and Mexican spice, and while that’s interesting, it clashes with the Buldak base for me. Cumin is also one of my least favorite spices, so its abundance here is not for me. That said, I can see how someone who loves corn and doesn’t mind a Tex-Mex twist on their ramen might enjoy this. I personally wouldn’t buy it again. It’s maybe not the total disaster some made it out to be, but it’s just weird to me.
• 4/10

Notes since filming: The only Buldak flavor I ever threw in the trash after a couple bites (2x lasted a little longer than that before I tapped out). In the video, I even mentioned I thought I would finish it, but I just couldn’t. It wasn’t quite bad enough to make my bottom 5 list, but I didn’t think this was very good. The noodles in here are great, but that powdered pack of corn flavor is a true love-it-or-hate-it addition. There are some people who really enjoy this one and will pair it with fresh elote and cilantro, but I’m content never to eat this one again.