Noodle Journey Episode 42: Nongshim Angry Chapaguri

Today I’m trying out the Korean import of Nongshim’s Angry Chapaguri Bowl, a product that blends two existing Nongshim classics: Chapagetti, their mild black bean noodle, and Neoguri, their spicy seafood udon. This mashup has gained global popularity thanks to its appearance in Parasite and seems to be a staple in Korean instant noodle culture, often referred to Ram-don. While the original hack required mixing the two packs, this pre-packaged version offers a more convenient alternative, with an increased spice level (hence the “Angry”).

I paid $2.99 for this bowl at H Mart, which only had the Korean import version of the Angry variety in stock. There’s also a milder version and a pack-style version available in some stores and online. A handy tip for identifying which version you’re getting: if the raccoon mascot on the front has flaming eyeballs, it’s the Angry one. This bowl contains 1230mg of sodium, which is much less than the nearly 3000mg you’d get from combining the original two products yourself.

Inside the bowl is a round block of standard Nongshim noodles, not the thick udon-style from the standalone Neoguri packs. There’s a powdered soup base, a seasoned oil packet with an easy-tear notch (a welcome feature), and a generous amount of dried toppings. These include rehydrated seaweed, small diced carrots, textured vegetable protein that mimics beef, and adorable raccoon face fish cakes. The packaging is entirely in Korean, so I have to rely on the accuracy of Google Lens to verify the full ingredient list’s animal content, but seafood extracts are likely present based on the flavor so this is most likely not vegetarian.

Noodles:
This is Nongshim’s classic noodle: plump, chewy, and consistently reliable. It’s not the udon-style Neoguri noodle but still holds up perfectly in this bowl. No surprises here.
• 8/10

Spiciness:
Definitely spicier than regular Neoguri, though not in the same league as the upper echelons of Samyang’s Buldak series. The broth already had some spice before I added the oil, which ended up adding some good heat and depth. It’s a bold step up from the original combo but nothing I couldn’t handle.
• 7/10

Overall:
This is exactly what you’d expect from a Chapaguri blend, especially if you’ve made it at home before. It’s the black bean richness from Chapagetti with the seafood-infused sweet, savory flavors from Neoguri. Between the two, I’d say the black bean sauce is the more dominant flavor, but the seafood and heat still come through enough to round things out. The broth reduces into more of a stew-like sauce, which works great with the included mix-ins. The raccoon fish cakes are a fun touch, the seaweed and carrots add some umami and sweetness, and the fake beef bits are surprisingly convincing. It’s a satisfying, flavorful bowl that improves on the homemade hack by cutting the sodium and amping up the spice.
• 8.5/10

If you’re a fan of either Chapagetti or Neoguri, this is worth picking up. It’s far more convenient than mixing them yourself, and the spice level adds an enjoyable kick. If you’re spice-averse, keep an eye out for the non-Angry version.