The Buldak releases just never seem to stop! Samyang Buldak Truffle Spicy Ramen is a brand-new US release that started rolling out to Walmart stores shortly before I filmed this review. It sells for $7.48 per five-pack, although it may not have reached every local Walmart yet. Samyang has been dropping new Buldak flavors without much fanfare lately, which feels a little strange for one of the biggest instant noodle product lines in the world. I have no idea whether this will eventually show up in other supermarket chains or Asian grocery stores, so check around if it interests you.
The Verdict:
| Product: | Samyang Buldak Truffle Spicy Ramen |
| Origin: | South Korea (Export to the USA) |
| Noodle Quality: | 9/10 |
| Spice Level: | 6/10 |
| Overall Score: | 5.5/10 |
I don’t think this product needs much explanation – this looks like a medium-spiced Buldak sauce with truffle oil. And when I say truffle oil, I mean the grocery-store kind that replicates part of the chemical composition of truffle flavor rather than something made from a significant amount of actual truffle. That’s a topic much bigger than I have time for on this site, but you can find other YouTubers or food sites that talk about truffle oil if you really want to do a deep dive.
Full disclosure of my biases: I like the taste of fake truffle oil in finite amounts. I know it is a polarizing ingredient, but I will occasionally indulge if a restaurant offers truffle fries or something similar. If my food is absolutely drowning in it, or there are no other flavors balancing it out, that is when it crosses the line for me.
Inside the eye-catching gold-trimmed pack are Samyang’s flat-style Buldak noodles, which are my preferred of the two styles they make, along with a Buldak truffle sauce packet, a truffle oil packet, and flakes. The noodles use the typical wheat flour, palm oil, and potato starch combination. The label does not specify exactly which ingredients belong to the sauce and which belong to the oil, but all told there is shiitake mushroom extract, salt, sugar, soybean oil, MSG, soy sauce, garlic, chili pepper, artificial chicken flavor, and other spices. Most interestingly, it lists both natural and artificial truffle flavor. I would not expect a significant amount of real truffle here, because this would be a much more expensive product if it contained that. The flakes are soy protein seasoned with more artificial truffle flavor. From what I can tell based on the ingredients, this appears to be vegan, but please check for yourself if you are vegan. The entire pack contains 1490mg of sodium and 5g of added sugar.
One preparation detail is worth watching: the flakes do not go into the boiling water. They are saved until the end as a garnish. After assembling, the sauce smelled like standard Buldak sauce with no obvious truffle essence. The flakes had a strong fake-truffle aroma and looked more like little artificial beef chunks than the sliced truffles pictured on the package, along with an herb that looked like parsley. The separate truffle oil was unmistakable, and its aroma really bloomed when it hit the hot noodles. If you already know that you dislike fake truffle oil, there is probably no reason for you to buy this unless you absolutely have to try every Buldak flavor.
Noodles:
These are the flat-style noodles found in Buldak Carbonara, Cream Carbonara, Tom Yum, and some other flavors, rather than the rounder or more squared-off style used for Original, 2X, Rosé, and others. I like both noodle styles, but I prefer the texture and shape of this flatter style. They had a great chew after cooking for four and a half minutes.
- 9/10
Spiciness:
Samyang gives this a 3 out of 5 on the package’s spice meter. Converting that to my 10-point scale should put it at about a 6, and that is pretty accurate. It is around the heat level of Shin Ramyun, although the heat lingers a little, probably because the oil spreads it around your mouth.
- 6/10
Overall:
How much do I like Buldak sauce with fake truffle oil added to it? That is what this comes down to, and I do not think the flavors are very complementary. Standard Buldak sauce is sweet and savory with light smoky notes and plenty of chili. The truffle oil clashes with that rather than balancing or complementing it. The crunchy bits are fine. They look like tiny pieces of soy protein, add a nice texture, and soften into something a little chewier as they sit in the hot noodles. I also like the light herbal element from the parsley. But the entire thing is not cohesive. Buldak sauce does not need truffle oil, and truffle oil does not need Buldak sauce. It is not bad exactly, but I am not enthusiastic about eating it. I initially considered a 5, but the flatter noodles earn it an extra half point.
- 5.5/10
Final Thoughts
How good or terrible you think this is will depend on how much you like truffle oil. If you are a truffle oil fanatic and use it regularly in your cooking, maybe this will appeal to you. If you already know you hate truffle oil, this will not make you a convert. It is always nice to see Samyang try something new, and I think this flavor combination will work for some people, but it does not work for me. If you buy it and are not impressed, do not say I did not warn you.
Continuing the Journey:
- For a very different take on truffle-flavored instant noodles, see Nissin Cup Noodle Chicken Supreme Sauce Truffle.
- For another aromatic Buldak with mushrooms and soy-protein pieces, try Samyang Buldak Mala Ramen.
- For a more successful unconventional Buldak flavor, check out Samyang Buldak Basil Cream Udon.
