Taste-Off: Ranking flavors of the ramen popularized by the Fire Noodle Challenge'

"But when restaurant ramen isn't possible, instant ramen can be a terrific second-best, especially if it includes top-notch noodles and flavorful broth. While not all packaged ramen brands hit that target, one that is all but guaranteed to please is Samyang Buldak, a Korean brand that was introduced in 2014. Bright, colorful packages picturing adorable cartoon chickens are filled with more than 20 inventive flavors, including Quattro Cheese, Tom Yum, Carbonara, Taco and more."

"The popularity of Buldak ramen has much to do with 2014's viral #FireNoodleChallenge on TikTok and YouTube that involved people posting their efforts to consume bowls spiked with the full packet of spicy paste. But now, 12 years later, Buldak is sold in 100 countries and is the most popular spicy instant ramen on the market. Buldak ramen can be found at nearly every grocery and market. Korean markets have the best selection, but even mainstream stores stock 2-3 kinds."

"While much of the flavor is tucked into the powder packs, every paste is different and most deliver a good dose of flavor along with the palate-quashing spice. The trick to enjoying these is to add enough paste to flavor the ramen, but not so much that it kills the other delicious flavors in the mix. Fans of the noodle brand share lots of hacks for taming the heat: adding cream, mayo or egg yolk; adding extra cheese; or even stirring in peanut butter."

Samyang Buldak is a Korean instant ramen brand introduced in 2014 that offers more than 20 inventive flavors. Bright, colorful packages feature cartoon chickens and flavors such as Quattro Cheese, Tom Yum, Carbonara and Taco. The brand gained widespread attention during the 2014 #FireNoodleChallenge and now sells in about 100 countries. Buldak ramen is labeled spicy and includes a spicy paste packet; all varieties use artificial chicken flavor. Many of the core flavors come from powdered seasoning, while the pastes vary in heat and complexity. Typical five-packs cost about $6–$10 and are widely available in grocery and Korean markets. Fans commonly modify the noodles with cream, cheese, egg yolk, mayo or peanut butter to mellow the spice.

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