For those who love watching Korean dramas, what is the one thing that makes you salivate (except drool-worthy actor and actresses, of course)? You guessed that right! It's their food - ramen, in particular? But wait a second. Do we need to visit Korea every time we crave their delicious noodles? Ideally yes but realistically, no? Not to worry, you can satisfy your K-cravings with this list of halal Korean instant noodles you have to try in our very own home countries!
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Note: All the Instant Korean Noodles in this list have been certified Halal by the Korea Muslim Federation Halal Committee or JAKIM unless otherwise stated.
P.S. You can get most of the Korean Noodles brands in any grocery stores in Malaysia such as Giant, Tesco and Jaya Grocer as well as Fairprice, Sheng Siong, and 7-11 outlets in Singapore. You can also buy them online on Instagram (when you search for your preferred noodles), especially for Indonesians.
Best halal Korean instant noodles in Singapore and Malaysia
1. Mamee Daebak Spicy Fried Chicken Dry Noodle
If you're not sure if you can take the heat of the ghost pepper, there's still the Daebak Spicy Fried Chicken Noodles to try! These noodles are meant to be dry, making them the perfect snack for slurping down when you're craving a quick snack. Those who've tried it have compared the taste to Samyang's Buldak Chicken - but without being overwhelmingly spicy! ? Still, it's popular even in Korea - Super Junior member Heechul even mentioned it during a TV show!
2. Mamee Daebak Spicy Kimchi Noodle
Credit: @zareena_ariffin on Instagram
The last flavour in the Daebak line is the Spicy Kimchi Noodle, which can be compared to Nongshim's Shin Ramyun or most other kimchi-flavoured instant noodles on the market. Like the Spicy Fried Chicken, it retains that mouth-tingling spiciness without being too pedas to handle.
Kimchi is one of the classic flavours when it comes to Korean-style instant noodles - and Daebak's delivers the taste perfectly! The gochujang used in this is what gives it a slightly sweet flavour. ?
3. Samyang Hot Extremely Spicy Chicken Flavour Stir-Fried Noodles
Credit: @yang_yangg on Instagram
The number one instant Korean Noodles you can get practically everywhere now would be Samyang Spicy Korean Noodles! If you have not tried one, there's no reason to wait anymore ? Samyang Korean Noodles started out with only the spicy flavour being Halal, but good news! The noodles come in a wide variety of flavours now ?
4. Samyang 2X Spicy Hot Chicken Flavour Ramen
Credit: @goodie_foodie_food on Instagram
Claiming to be twice as spicy as the Samyang Korean Noodles, this one will guarantee you’ll become a fire-breathing dragon like the dragon in Games of Thrones ? I mean, the only thing you'll be burning while eating this is your tongue! But if you feel like you’re up for a challenge, this spicier edition will definitely rock your taste buds. You have been warned!
5. Samyang Hot Chicken Flavour Ramen Stew Type
The packaging may look similar to Samyang 2X Spicy above, but the Samyang Hot Chicken Flavour Ramen Stew Type is perfect for instant noodle lovers who can't part ways from a heartwarming soup!
Credit: @shikinn_ismaill on Instagram
Just like the other Samyang flavours, it's described as spicy and flavourful. Plus, it comes with springy noodles for a satisfying slurp! Since every bowl of noodles tastes better with an egg, don't think twice about going extra!
6. Samyang Cheese Hot Chicken Flavour Ramen
Samyang's cheesy ramen flavour combines both our favourites - ramen and cheese! What more can you ask for, really? Some food lovers even add more cheese to their noodles. Talk about going the extra mile! At first, I wasn’t too sure how the spiciness and salty flavour of cheese would taste when mixed together but I was pleasantly surprised! You have to give this a try ?
7. Samyang Curry Hot Chicken Flavour Ramen
If you’re a curry lover, this is perfect for you! It retains Samyang's delicious hot chicken flavour but with the added curry kick. It is the fusion that adds complexity to the overall taste of the ramen. This one's a tad spicier than the normal Samyang though. Don't say we didn't warn you! ?
8. Samyang Su Tah Ramen
Samyang's version of Su Tah Ramen consists of chewy noodles that taste like hand-kneaded noodles! Like the other noodles in the Samyang range, it is also spicy so prepare a carton of milk before digging into this one! This might look like the typical Samyang noodles, but you'll taste the difference in the noodles once you’ve tried it! Prepare yourself for possible second servings ?
9. Samyang Kimchi Ramen
Credit: @newrulekpop94 on Instagram
Next up on the Samyang line is Ramen Kimchi. As the name suggests, it is, of course, Kimchi flavoured. This is probably the closest an instant noodle can get to authentic Korean Kimchi ? If you’re a really big fan of the spicy pickled cabbage, you can even buy tubs of kimchi nowadays at the grocery store to pair it with your ramen! While you're at it, you might as well eat like a Korean through and through.
10. Samyang Yukgaejang Hot Mushroom Flavour
Credit: @jastip_cincai on Instagram
On a cold and rainy night, there's nothing like a bowl of Samyang Yukgaejang to keep us warm. Also known as spicy beef soup in Korean, the Yukgaejang version will hit the right spot with its delicate taste of shredded beef. Similar to most instant noodles, it's generally served plain. Besides jazzing up your bowl of late-night snack, toss a bit of scallion and beef slices and it'll taste a notch better. It always does ? Website
11. Samyang Carbo Hot Chicken Flavour Ramen
Anyone else initially thought the 'carbo' in Samyang Carbo Hot Chicken Flavour Ramen meant carbohydrate? Okay, maybe it's just us. Thankfully, we were wrong because they were talking about cream carbonara! ? A fresh spin from their popular range of spicy ramen, it was described as a mixture of sweet, spicy and creamy. It does make you curious enough to try, doesn't it? Add some mushrooms and seafood, and you pretty much have something delectable to eat while staying up for midnight football.
12. Samyang Jjajang Hot Chicken Flavour Ramen (Korean Black Bean Sauce)
Samyang Jjajang Hot Chicken Flavour comes highly recommended by one of our readers! Comes with a small packet of Korean black bean sauce powder, mix it well and you'll get a shiny and delicious coat of the famous jjajang! While most of us would enjoy Samyang Jjajang as it is, we recommend topping up your noodles with a runny egg or seaweed for something extra. Just try not to wake your parents up with your loud slurping ?
13. Samyang Bulgogi Ramen
If you're craving stir-fried noodles, you can definitely give Samyang's Bulgogi Ramen a try! The bulgogi seasoning has a similar smokey and savoury flavour, similar to what you would expect from barbecue flavour. Following their serving suggestion and top it off with crunchy vegetables and beef slices.
14. Samyang Jjajang Ramen
Jjajangmyeon is pretty famous in Korean drama series and reality shows. If you're curious to know how it tastes like, buy a packet of Samyang's Jjajang Ramen. Described as Chinese-style Korean noodles, it's coated with black bean sauce that's said to be both sweet and savoury.
15. Nongshim Shin Ramyun
Another favourite brand is Nongshim Shin Ramyun. The brand's Korean noodles are also spicy and a worthy challenger of the Samyang line. So be prepared for some heat on your taste buds! ?
#HHWT Tip: There’s a number of different packaging for Nongshim Shin Ramyun, which are imported by many countries, including the USA, China and Hong Kong. So be sure to check that the version you’re buying has the Halal symbol, like in the first image!
16. Nongshim Kimchi Ramyun
Another long-time favourite, the Kimchi Ramyun may seem similar to Shin Ramyun at first but there’s a stronger taste of kimchi in the stock. Kimchi is one of Korea's most popular products, and we can vouch that it tastes amazing in instant noodle form too! To really get the full taste of the ramyun, add some store-bought cabbage or radish kimchi as your toppings to bring out that sourness! If it seems too sour, add in a dash of sugar and some spring onions to balance it out.
17. Nongshim Neoguri Spicy Seafood Udon
Neoguri has actually been around since 1982, and now there’s a halal-certified version too (certified by Indonesia's Majelis Ulama Indonesia)! It’s unique from Nongshin’s other products as the udon noodles are thicker and chewier than their usual ramen, hence the 'udon' label. ? However, the seafood-type base makes it a delicious meal - add in some prawns or squid and you’ve got supper settled! It even comes with adorable racoon-shaped fishcakes that are the brand's mascot!
18. Nongshim Soon Veggie Ramyun Gourmet Mild Noodle Soup
It's about time that we see a vegan-friendly instant noodle in our local supermarkets. Nongshim Soon Veggie Ramyun is perfect for anyone who prefers their late-night snack minus the meaty flavours.
Credit: @maymphim on Instagram
Nongshim Soon Veggie Ramyun has bits and pieces of dehydrated choy sum and carrots as well as powdered garlic, ginger and green onion. Despite the mild spiciness, this ramen is said to have a deep brothy flavour. So you should definitely give this vegan-friendly noodles a try!
19. Samyang Hot Pepper Jjajang Ramen
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Samyang’s Hot Pepper Jjajang is a spicy, sweet, and savory charcoal grilled delight. It mixes the strong spiciness of Cheongyang Gochu (Korean Green Chili Peppers) and a unique jjajang flavor with a hint of seafood. The natural spiciness is definitely doesn't completely destroy your tastebuds, rather you're able to savour each delicious bite with pure joy. We have a new favourite jjajang to add to our noodle list!
20. Samyang Hot Pepper Jjamppong
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Pepper seems to be making a strong foothold in the ramen business, and we're all for it! Samyang’s Hot Pepper Jjamppong is as delicious as it is spicy. The kitty here may look harmless and expressionless, but we promise you the spice level is far from keeping you looking calm, when you're burning inside! Don't worry, it's a tasty, still-want-to-eat-more kind of spice. These noodles hit hard with their additional dried Cheongyang Gochu flakes and seafood flavor.
21. Nongshim Chapagetti Noodle
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The Nongshim Chapagetti Noodle is Nongshim's instant version of jjajangmyeon (Or chajang ramyun) made with a thicker 'spaghetti' like noodle that'll soak up all the goodness of its roasted black bean sauce. The result? You'll be slurping them all in one go!
We hope you're excited about your ramen chase now! If you visit any store in Malaysia or even Singapore, make your way to the aisle dedicated to deliciously tempting instant Korean noodles to see what's in store! Be sure to check whether they have the Halal certification label and you’ll be on your way to Korean noodles heaven ?