Best Creamy Spicy Korean Ramen | Shin Ramyun Toomba Review
Hello! This is Hi-JSB.
Welcome to all my Korean friends who love the vibrant daily life in Korea, and to friends from around the world discovering Korea's charm one step at a time.
While wondering what moments foreign friends enjoy most in Korea, I naturally thought of ramen - something inseparable from Korean culture. So I've decided to introduce Korea's unique ramen varieties one by one.
The first star is Shin Ramyun Toomba, currently the hottest instant noodle in Korea.
Finding Shin Ramyun Toomba at a Convenience Store
When you first encounter Shin Ramyun Toomba at a convenience store ramen section, it feels familiar yet somehow different.
The beige package immediately catches your eye on the shelf. The price tag shows 1,500 won (about $1.10 USD / $1.70 AUD / £0.85 GBP). It's 137g with 590kcal. Among all the red packages of other ramen, the soft cream color definitely stands out.
Travel Hack: The Magic of Korean Convenience Stores
When traveling, many accommodations don't have a stove or don't allow cooking. Does that mean you have to give up on packet ramen?
Not at all. And here's where Korea gets interesting.
Here's something that might surprise visitors from Western countries: Korean convenience stores are completely different from what you're used to back home. They're not just places to grab snacks and drinks - they're mini food courts equipped with microwaves, hot water dispensers, and eating areas with tables and chairs.
This means you can buy a packet of ramen, cook it right there in the store, and enjoy a hot meal anytime - even at 3 AM. It's one of the most convenient (and budget-friendly) ways to eat in Korea.
These stores sell microwave-safe disposable bowls for just 500 won (about $0.35 USD / $0.55 AUD / £0.30 GBP). It says "Microwave Instant Ramen Bowl" on it. Grab one along with Shin Ramyun Toomba at 1,500 won, and you've got a complete hot meal for only 2,000 won (about $1.45 USD / $2.25 AUD / £1.15 GBP). That's cheaper than a cup of coffee at Starbucks!
Shin Ramyun Toomba Package Overview
Now let's take a closer look at the Shin Ramyun Toomba package.
The package features the familiar Shin Ramyun red triangle and bold '辛' logo, but next to it on a soft beige background, you'll see "Spicy Creamy Toomba" written.
The bold red of Shin Ramyun and the soft cream color of Toomba coexisting in one package seems to preview the flavor itself. The meeting of spicy and creamy - the anticipation builds just from the packaging.
In the upper right corner, you'll notice the Nongshim 60th Anniversary logo. Since 1965, Nongshim has been part of Korea's ramen history, and this product represents 60 years of expertise in a new creation.
What Exactly is Toomba?
For those unfamiliar with the name "Toomba," let me explain briefly.
Toomba pasta originally started at Olive Garden, an Italian-American restaurant chain in the US. It's a pasta with cream sauce, smoked tomatoes, garlic, and a hint of spice. When it came to Korea, it became hugely popular - almost every cafe and restaurant added "Toomba Pasta" to their menu.
Nongshim didn't miss this trend and combined Korea's iconic Shin Ramyun with Toomba's creamy flavor. The result? It sold out immediately after launch due to overwhelming demand.
What's Inside the Package
Let's start cooking. What's inside the package?
The contents are simple: noodles, liquid sauce, and powder soup. Just three things.
In the black microwave bowl are Shin Ramyun's signature thick noodles. They're slightly more yellowish than regular ramen, and they look beautiful once mixed with the cream sauce.
Liquid Sauce: The Heart of the Spice
This is the liquid sauce in an orange (beige) packet. It says "Liquid Sauce" on it, with a chili pepper icon and "Shake well!" instruction in the upper left.
This sauce is the heart of the spicy flavor, based on gochujang, a fermented Korean red pepper paste. If you've never tried it, imagine a thick, slightly sweet chili paste with deep umami flavor - it's less sharp than sriracha and more complex than regular chili sauce. It's the backbone of many Korean dishes and gives this ramen its signature "Korean spicy" taste that's addictive rather than just hot.
This sauce plays a crucial role in cutting through the cream's richness later, so don't hold back - use all of it.
Powder Soup: The Secret to Creaminess
This is the powder soup in a silver packet. This is the secret weapon that transforms Shin Ramyun Toomba into something pasta-like.
The white powder contains concentrated cream richness and cheese flavor. Sprinkle this over the noodles mixed with liquid sauce, then mix - and you get that thick, rich cream pasta texture.
The combination of these two sauces is the key. The spiciness of the liquid sauce and the creaminess of the powder must meet to create the true "Shin Ramyun Toomba" taste.
How to Cook: Water Control is the Key to Thick Sauce
Looking at the cooking instructions on the back of the package, you'll see that water control is the key to this ramen.
When cooking in a pot, boil 600ml of water, add the noodles, and cook for 4 minutes 30 seconds.
Here's where it gets different from Western pasta: don't drain all the water. Leave about 8 spoonfuls - roughly 3-4 tablespoons, or just enough to barely cover the bottom of the bowl. This isn't random; this small amount of starchy water mixes with the sauce powder to create that thick, creamy coating that clings to every noodle strand.
Think of it like making Italian pasta where you save some pasta water to help the sauce emulsify - same concept here. Too much water and your sauce becomes soupy; too little and the noodles turn sticky and clumpy. Eight spoonfuls is the sweet spot.
Even Easier with a Microwave
If you're using a microwave-safe bowl, here's how to do it.
Many Korean accommodations - from hotels to guesthouses and Airbnbs - have water dispensers (called "정수기" in Korean) that provide both cold and hot water instantly. If you see a machine with blue and red buttons near the kitchen area, that's it. The red button gives you near-boiling water, perfect for ramen.
I used this hot water directly, which significantly cuts down microwave time. Pour hot water over the noodles and microwave for about 3 minutes - the noodles will be perfectly cooked.
"What if my accommodation doesn't have a water dispenser?"
No problem! Here are your options:
- Use cold water: Just add 30-50 seconds to the microwave time
- Use the convenience store: Most Korean convenience stores have hot water dispensers you can use for free
- Use an electric kettle: Common in most accommodations worldwide
Any of these methods will work perfectly fine.
3 Minutes in the Microwave
Put it in the microwave and set 3 minutes.
3 minutes is enough. With hot water, this timing ...