Noodle Journey Episode 73: Paldo Kokomen

I’m checking out a somewhat different flavor from Paldo with this Kokomen, a clean and spicy chicken noodle soup that’s a little more interesting than your average chicken broth. I don’t usually go out of my way to review plain chicken soups, because they tend to be a bit boring, but this one has an interesting backstory and flavor profile. Kokomen was the result of an amateur cooking contest in South Korea back in 2011, and the recipe became so popular that Paldo turned it into an instant noodle product.

This is widely available in multiple formats, including a cup and a bowl, and you can usually find it for around $11 for a five-pack at HMart or your local Asian grocery store. I’ve even spotted it at Walmart. Inside the pack, you get a square noodle block that looks to be Paldo’s standard formulation, not the thinner one used in their Gomtang. That’s a slight surprise since the official description for this product hinted at a unique noodle, but that is not the case here. The broth base contains artificial chicken flavor, onion, vegetable extract, and a heavy hit of powdered pepper, while the flake packet includes green onion, carrot, red pepper, and soy flakes shaped like chicken bits. Some older versions of the export pack allegedly included real dehydrated chicken in the broth, but mine did not. At 1,950mg of sodium, it’s quite salty, just as you’d expect from a chicken soup.

Noodles:
These are thick, chewy, and very satisfying. It’s Paldo’s go-to noodle recipe, and I love them, but oddly enough, I think thinner noodles might have paired better with this particular broth. Even so, they’re excellent and provide a solid base for the soup.
• 9/10

Spiciness:
This one’s a gentle surprise. It says “spicy” on the label, but the heat is middle-of-the-road, enough to let you know it’s there without overwhelming you. Unlike the last review’s Bul Nak, which blasted my sinuses, this keeps things tolerable and flavorful.
• 4/10

Overall:
This is a salty, onion-forward chicken broth with a sharp pepper flavor, almost like a fruity chili such as jalapeño or serrano. There’s no artificial capsaicin bite here, just a clean, peppery brightness that’s genuinely unique for a chicken soup. The soy-based “chicken” pieces are impressively convincing and add texture and visual variety to the bowl. I do wish this version had real chicken for depth and authenticity, but even with the artificial base, it’s a winner. I don’t usually crave chicken ramen, but I’d absolutely buy this again.
• 9/10

This is one of the more interesting chicken ramen varieties I’ve had, and it’s a great option for anyone who enjoys peppery spice but doesn’t want to suffer through a mouth-scorcher. Absolutely worth a try.

Notes since filming:

Definitely a contender for the best chicken noodle soup out there. If Shin Gold isn’t to your liking and you want a spicy chicken broth, give this one a chance instead!

I mentioned it in the video but it bears repeating: the version I reviewed stated that the chicken flavoring was artificial, however it appears that some varieties of this do contain actual chicken broth (through a convoluted process in which chicken is imported into South Korea from the USA, manufactured into its final form in South Korea, then exported back out again). Check the ingredients label for yourself in person if you do not want to consume actual chicken broth.