Noodle Journey Episode 72: Paldo Bul Nak

I’m reviewing my first octopus-flavored product: Paldo Bul Nak. Not to be confused with Samyang’s Buldak, this Korean noodle combines a buldak-style sweet and spicy sauce with actual powdered octopus. And yes, it’s real octopus, not just flavoring. In Korean, “bul” means fire and “nakji” means octopus, so this is literally “hot octopus.” Expect heat.

This product is a bit hard to find at the time of review. I originally got it in a mega pack from the now-defunct Cokoyam. Yamibuy has a stock page, so I would check there first if you want to buy this. You may also spot it at your local Asian grocery store for around $11–$13 per four-pack. Amazon lists it for much higher, and there’s a cup version if you want to try it without committing to a multipack. With only 770mg of sodium, this is shockingly low compared to most instant noodles. Inside the pack, you’ll find wavy Paldo noodles, a liquid sauce with chili, MSG, sugar, and vegetable extract (plus the octopus powder), and a big flake pack full of cabbage, green onion, and more chili.

Noodles:
These seem to be Paldo’s usual wavy soup noodles, but in a stir-fry format. They’re fortified with potato starch and seasoned with onion powder and alkaline salts. Cooked up, they’re chewy, sturdy, and hold the sauce well. A great match for the sauce.
• 9/10

Spiciness:
Much hotter than I expected. I assumed this would be medium heat with a sweet chili kick, but it hits with full-on sinus-clearing spice. I’d say it’s right in line with Samyang’s regular Buldak, which is a high bar. Not for the faint of heart.
• 8/10

Overall:
This tastes like actual octopus, no false advertising here. You get a mild, slightly sweet, slightly sour fishiness that pairs nicely with the sweet-spicy sauce. Add in onion, garlic, soy sauce, and those dried veggie flakes and it’s a full-bodied seafood stir-fry experience. The flavor is smoky, peppery, and a little sweet with a definite seafood-forward profile. If you already enjoy octopus, this is a standout. But if you don’t like the flavor of seafood, particularly mollusks, you’ll want to steer clear. I’m impressed with how well the flavors work together, and the portion size is satisfying. I’d definitely buy this again, and I’m curious if the cup version tastes any different.
• 9/10

Notes since filming:

This is a criminally underrated flavor that I feel gets overlooked because people think it’s a Samyang Buldak knockoff. It’s not; it’s its own thing and it is terrifically spicy and flavorful.