4 Recommended Spicy Korean Ramens

1. Tteomsae Ramen

Tteomsae Ramen is a famous spicy ramen. It is said to have originated from a ramen specialty store called 'Myeongdong Ppalgyetteok'. Paldo reportedly commercialized the 'Ppalgyetteok' menu sold at that store into a packaged ramen product. It seems to be the first ramen that comes to mind when thinking of 'spicy ramen', and its Scoville scale is a whopping 9,413. Considering that Buldak Bokkeummyeon has a Scoville scale of around 4,400, it's hard to imagine just how spicy Tteomsae Ramen is...

In 2022, an even spicier version of the ramen called 'Tteomsae Ramen Geukhan Cheheom' (Tteomsae Ramen Extreme Experience) was released. This ramen has a Scoville scale of 15,000. If you search YouTube, you'll find many videos of foreigners taking on this ramen to experience the spiciness of Korean food.

If you're curious about the spiciness of Korean food, you might want to try Tteomsae Ramen. It's also recommended for those who find Buldak Bokkeummyeon to be no longer spicy enough.

• Total net weight 120g, 495kcal
• 5 packs for 4,840 won
  
  

2. Yeol Ramen

Yeol Ramen has a Scoville scale of 5,000, which is also higher than Buldak Bokkeummyeon. But why does it feel less spicy than Buldak Bokkeummyeon? I think it might be due to the difference between a soup ramen and a stir-fried ramen. With soup ramen, you can just eat the noodles and avoid the spicy broth, but with stir-fried ramen, the soup is fully absorbed into the noodles, making it feel spicier. Anyway, a popular recipe for mitigating the spiciness of Yeol Ramen involves adding soft tofu. You first boil the soup and tofu together, then add the noodles. This makes the ramen less spicy due to the tofu. Adding sliced green onions gives it a similar taste to soft tofu stew. Yeol Ramen tends to be more affordable than other ramens, which is probably why it's so popular.

• Total net weight 120g, 510kcal
• 5 packs for 3,580 won
  
  

3. Ma Yeol Ramen

Ma Yeol Ramen, the ramen that actor Hwang Jung-min deliciously promotes on TV. Ma Yeol Ramen is another series of Yeol Ramen, with an even stronger spicy flavor than Yeol Ramen. When I tried it, it definitely felt more intense on my lips and tongue compared to Yeol Ramen. The 'Ma' in 'Ma Yeol Ramen' stands for 'garlic' (마늘). It seems that the spiciness comes from the 'Mablok' (마블럭) containing garlic ingredients. I recommend Ma Yeol Ramen to those who have already adapted to the spiciness of Yeol Ramen. However, it's a relatively new product, so it's a bit more expensive, which is a downside.

• Total net weight 120g, 510kcal
• 4 packs for 4,980 won
  
  

4. Ramen Hanggeurut (Spicy and Rich Flavor)

The spicy version of 'Ramen Hanggeurut' from Nobrand, 'Ramen Hanggeurut Spicy and Rich Flavor'. One characteristic is the strong spicy smell that hits you as soon as you open the soup packet. While it might not be as widely known as other ramens, I believe it can compete with other products in terms of spiciness. I think anyone who loves spicy and salty flavors will find it incredibly delicious. In line with Nobrand's nature of offering affordable products, this ramen is also available at a great price. A pack of 5 costs around 2,000 won, meaning you can enjoy a bowl of ramen for just 536 won, which is a huge advantage.

• Total net weight 115g, 490kcal
• 5 packs for 2,680 won