Samyang is really embracing the Mexican-Korean fusion trend lately. In the past, we’ve seen the brand release flavors like Corn, Habanero Lime, and Taco. Now, the company has finally released a flavor that many viewers have been asking me to review: Samyang Buldak Birria Spicy Ramen. If you aren’t familiar with birria, it is a Mexican stew traditionally made with goat and slowly simmered in a rich consommé broth, though more commonly (especially in the US), it is often made with beef or sometimes chicken. While birria tacos have been around for a long time, birria went viral in the last few years because of people making “birria ramen” by mixing the meat and consommé with ramen noodles. I live near a phenomenal Asian-Mexican fusion restaurant, and I thought the Tapatio Birria Ramen was excellent, so I have a bit of a bias and high expectations for how an instant version should taste.
The Verdict:
| Product: | Samyang Buldak Birria Spicy Ramen |
| Origin: | South Korea (Export to the USA) |
| Noodle Quality: | 8/10 |
| Spice Level: | 6.5/10 |
| Overall Score: | 7/10 |
A lot of people have had a difficult time finding these noodles. Currently, in the USA, Samyang Buldak Birria Spicy Ramen appears to only be available in grocery stores owned by Albertsons, such as Safeway, Vons, Acme, and Jewel-Osco. I paid $10 for a five-pack at my local Acme, though they do go on sale fairly regularly. As with many Buldak flavors in the US, it is entirely possible these will show up in Walmart, Target, or Asian grocery stores eventually, but for now, my detective work says Albertsons stores are the only ones carrying these right now (February, 2026).
Inside the pack, you’ll find rounded, thick wheat and tapioca starch noodles, a liquid sauce packet, and a powder packet. The ingredients include sugar, salt, soy sauce, onion, tomato, garlic, MSG, and a blend of red pepper and habanero pepper. It also features lime, artificial coriander flavor, and both artificial chicken and beef flavors. Notably, this product contains high fructose corn syrup, has 1,560mg of sodium, and includes 7g of added sugar per pack. This appears to be vegan, but check for yourself if that is a dietary restriction for you.
Once the noodles are drained and the sauce and powder are stirred in, the aroma is quite a hybrid. It doesn’t smell like a standard Buldak, nor does it smell exactly like taco seasoning. It has an improved scent compared to the previous Taco flavor, with a heavy emphasis on garlic, cumin, and a savory, herby spice profile.
Noodles:
The noodles are the typical hearty texture that Buldak is known for. They provided a great chew that was very satisfying, especially compared to the bowl noodles in Buldak Sweet I tried recently. They held up well to the sauce without becoming mushy.
• 8/10
Spiciness:
I was worried the brand might play it safe for the American audience, but this has a good kick to it. It is definitely hotter than the Taco or Cream Carbonara varieties. While it isn’t quite as hot as the original Buldak, my tongue was burning and my lips were tingling throughout the review.
• 6.5/10
Overall:
The flavor of Samyang Buldak Birria Spicy Ramen is quite nuanced, even if it doesn’t quite hit the earth-shattering levels of amazingness I was hoping for. The sauce leans heavily into a zesty tomato profile with a Mexican spice blend that includes cumin, oregano, and a hint of something warm like cinnamon. While it is a good attempt at fusion, I found that it lacked the deep, soulful beef flavor of a restaurant-quality birria. One disappointment is the total lack of dried flakes or toppings, which could have really elevated the bowl with some cilantro or onion. It is a solid, unique entry in the product line that works better than the Taco flavor, but it is ultimately a flavor that I think would have functioned better as a soup rather than a dry noodle dish. Still pretty flavorful, and a valiant effort by Samyang.
• 7/10
