Brand: Nong Shim
Flavour: Kimchi Noodle Soup
Type: Instant
No. Of sachets: 2 – Dried Vegetables and soup sachet in green packet
Weight: 120g
Country: Korea
Comments: 420cal

The taste that promises warm familiarity and joy – that of kimchi, the fermented cabbage dish that is the national food of Korea, coupled with the noodles you seek and in a luscious soup. Basic goodness is hopefully assured. Conveniently this instant noodle brand, from self-proclaimed No.1 Brand Nong Shim, seeks to please with thoughtful ergonomic design of the product. Unless supplied with a vessel for consumption (such as the cup noodle or the incorrectly monikered pot noodle alongside other ramen that use other containers) the shape of your instant ramen can have geometrical implications.

For many brands the convenience in bulk packing results in square or rectangular dried noodle shaped portions which clearly makes the packaging and distribution much easier. For the end user, however, attempts at placing your rectangular dried noodles into a round bowl is not as intrinsically easy as having your ramen delivered in circular form – one that precisely fits the most appropriate eating vessel. And indeed Nong Shim Kimchi Noodle Soup noodles are conveniently round and hence ideal for your bowl.

But what of the taste? The supplied dried vegetables come in a standard sachet and are complemented by the pale red broth from the powder in the green sachet. Once the noodles are cooked they are generally of modest length (although some small mini-noodles tried escaping the chopsticks but this was inevitable given the dried noodle injury that occurs in transportation from factory to seller to you to bowl) that have good texture and consistency.

The broth is pleasant and distinctly kimchi flavoured, a great thing given that this is kimchi flavoured noodles. There is a decent hit of heat but those whose palette doesn’t favour spicy food can simply add to the already rather liquid recommended 550ml of boiling water without any harm to product or flavour, even giving you a touch more broth to the soup in the recipe. The final product is reliable and comforting. Just don’t expect any surprises.