Buldak noodles: what they are, how spicy they are and how to cook them

Buldak is a Korean instant noodle with a very spicy chicken flavour, made by Samyang. The Korean name means "fire chicken" (bul is fire, dak is chicken). The pack usually carries the English name Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen. Unlike ordinary instant noodle soup, buldak is cooked without broth: the noodles are mixed with a thick, spicy sauce.

What buldak is

Buldak is a Korean dish: pieces of chicken in a very spicy, slightly sweet chilli sauce. The instant noodle puts this taste into a pack. It is a thick, chewy wheat noodle with a sachet of dark red sauce, and in many versions a second sachet of topping, for example sesame and dried seaweed.

The noodles became known around the world through online challenges in which people try to finish a whole portion. Today they are an ordinary product on the Asian food shelf, and many people eat them simply because they like spicy food. In Poland you may hear the plural "buldaki".

How spicy is buldak

Buldak is clearly hotter than typical instant noodles and than most chilli sauces on a supermarket shelf. For someone who does not eat spicy food, the full sachet is often too hot. For a chilli lover it is a strong, pleasant burn that builds with every bite.

The range has many versions with different heat and flavours. Some are milder, for example the cheese version, and some are hotter than the original, often marked "2x spicy" on the pack. If you are new to it, choose the cheese version or use only part of the sauce from the original pack.

How to cook buldak

The method on the pack is simple. It usually goes like this:

1. Bring about half a litre of water to the boil.
2. Add the noodles and cook for about 5 minutes, until soft.
3. Pour off the water, leaving a few tablespoons in the pan.
4. Add the sauce from the sachet and stir over low heat for about half a minute, until the sauce coats the noodles.
5. Put the noodles on a plate and sprinkle with the topping from the second sachet.

Times and the amount of water can differ between versions, so always check the instructions on your pack.

How to make buldak milder

Chilli heat is easiest to balance with fat, dairy and sugar. Ways that work:

• use only half of the sauce sachet;
• stir in a slice of cheese or a spoonful of mayonnaise;
• top it with a fried or soft-boiled egg;
• drink milk with it, not water;
• add vegetables, for example sweetcorn, cucumber or cabbage.

If you do not want to add anything, choose the ready-made cheese version.

Where to buy buldak in Poland

Little India sells buldak as a Cheese Hot Chicken Ramen 700 g multipack, the hotter 2x Spicy Hot Chicken Ramen 700 g and a single Cheese Hot Chicken Ramen 140 g pack. Other Korean products are in the Korean products category. Little India has shops in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Gdańsk and ships orders across Poland.

If you like spicy food, read our comparison of hot sauces: Sriracha, Tabasco and others.