When you work full-time and live a busy lifestyle, you don’t want to be spending hours of your free time cooking in the kitchen every night of the week.
You would rather have a quick, easy meal option that is fuss-free for a night after a long, hard day when all you want to do is relax.
Instant Jajangmyeon black bean noodles(Korean black bean noodles) can be a real time-saver at mealtimes. With the same taste as the real deal made at a fraction of the time it would take to cook from scratch, these instant noodles (udon noodle) are essential for your cupboard!
As people's lives get busier, the demand for easy-to-prepare meals has increased. Instant Jajangmyeon satisfies both the craving for delicious Korean flavors and the need for a quick meal option. These instant noodles can be conveniently found in local supermarkets or online stores, making them readily accessible to anybody looking for an easy yet satisfying dinner option.
With an array of instant Jajangmyeon black bean noodles on the market, it can be tricky to pick the most delicious choice for your recipe!
So how can you avoid trying the low-quality instant jajangmyeonnoodle when fresh noodles aren't available for your favorite Korean dish?
We’ve done all the hard work for you and compiled a list of our top picks of instant jajangmyeon to save you from any disappointment!
Relax in knowing that time-consuming meal times will be a thing of the past once you’ve got a stash of instant jajangmyeon noodles (black beannoodle made from black bean paste) in your pantry at your disposal, giving you more time to kick back and unwind after a busy day at work.
Samyang Bulldark Spicy Chicken Roasted Noodles are packed with flavor, combining a blend of spices that will leave your mouth watering.
Has a Scoville rating of about 8000 units for that authentic taste.
Smooth noodle texture is perfect for a spicy snack or meal!
Comes in a value pack of 5.
Pros:
Great timesaver - easy to cook in 4-5 minutes.
Delicious, spicy flavor authentic to the real thing!
Rich and natural-tasting sauce that is mouth-wateringly appetizing!
Cons:
A few customers found the noodles were a little spicier than expected, warning others that the spice was quite apparent in this particular packet of noodles.
Ottogi Jjajang Noodles contain a unique blend of flavors for an realistic dining experience.
These instant noodles are packed with the traditional taste of jajangmyeon.
The sauce isn’t spicy, so can be enjoyed by all your friends and family including children.
The wide form noodles Ottogi uses results in a structurally dense noodle, resulting in a good chew.
Have a delicious bowl of noodles under 10 minutes to either have on its own or to add to your favourite meats and vegetables.
Pros:
Not spicy: suitable to be used as a delicious meal for the whole family, including little ones!
Easy to follow instructions and quick to cook so is a perfect option for when you are in a rush.
Black bean sauce is made with vegetables and does not contain any hidden ingredients or nasties.
Cons:
A few customers found the sauce slightly saltier than they were expecting, which is something to keep in mind when you’re feeding your family, particularly children.
Buyer’s Guide
With so many different instant jajangmyeon noodles to choose from, it can be difficult to decide on the best one for you.
When deciding which instant jajangmyeon black bean noodles to buy there are some factors to weigh up.
However, we have found that it largely comes down to taste and spice ranges, particularly if you struggle with spicier foods!
It can be hard to put your finger on what to avoid when choosing a packet of instant jajangmyeon noodles, but don’t worry - we’ve got you covered.
We’ve produced a list of important points to think about when choosing which instant noodles to go for. Check them out below!
Taste
Usually instant jajangmyeon black bean noodles are mouth-wateringly tasty and should combine a mixture of flavors that are deep, salty and sweet all together and that brings out umami.
You should ensure that the noodles that you choose contain the black bean sauce, as that is what gives instant jajangmyeon noodles the authentic taste you could expect in a Korean restaurant.
The taste of noodles are also largely influenced by the spices that they contain, as noted below.
So if you’re not good with spicy foods, consider buying a packet of noodles that are milder so your disliking for spice does not interfere with the taste of the jajangmyeon noodles!
Spice Ranges
Whether you love or hate spicy food, jajangmyeon noodles are so popular that there are multiple options on the market for you to trial.
Jajangmyeon noodles are not traditionally spicy, however, there are definitely some spicier options out there if you’re feeling adventurous!
The delicious blend of flavors can occasionally lend itself to heat, as a good spice kick can often cut through and lift greasy noodles.
Although this is a huge selling factor for some people, always be sure to check the packet for ingredients and for information on a scoville scale to be safe.
Spice ranges do tend to differ from brand to brand so it’s always worth considering who you are cooking for and how well they handle spice.
After all, if you’re cooking for the whole family, it’s much better to be safe than sorry than to have an upset household!
Texture
The texture of jajangmyeon noodles does tend to vary depending on the brand, however, the noodles should retain a good bite as you’re eating them and not feel too starchy.
Without being too chewy, the noodles should have a somewhat bouncy texture and melt in your mouth with the delicious black bean sauce.
As noodles are high in carbohydrates anyway, they naturally should be filling and sometimes quite heavy.
However, if the noodles feel stodgy, you may have cooked them for too long or they may be a lower quality noodle, which is worth noting for future reference.
Preparation
A huge bonus for instant noodles is how little time they take to cook. As a result, an important thing to think about when buying instant noodles is preparation.
The likelihood is that you’re buying instant noodles for a quicker alternative if you live a busy lifestyle, so preparation time is worth noting if you know you’re going to be in a rush.
Instant noodles preparation time can differ from brand to brand, so always make sure you check how long the noodles need to be cooked for before buying. Instant noodles should be ready as quickly as they claim to: in an instant!
Additives
When choosing a packet of instant jajangmyeon noodles we recommend that you check the ingredients list for any nasty surprises.
This is especially important if you plan to be cooking for your family, but most significantly children, as they are often more sensitive to high volumes of sugar.
Some instant noodle packets contain ingredients that in large quantities are not particularly healthy for you, such as MSG, artificial flavorings and high levels of sugar.
Although these ingredients can add a lot of flavor to a dish and increase their deliciousness, it is always good to be mindful of the ingredients you are ingesting as these two should not be consumed in high volumes on a regular basis.
To avoid any nasties, be sure to read the additives before you buy to make sure you are happy before clicking ‘go to check out’.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are instant jajangmyeon noodles healthy?
Instant jajangmyeon noodles may be delicious and flavorful, but they may not always be the healthiest option.
This is due to the fact that the blend of flavors comes from ingredients such as bean paste, lard, rice wine, chicken stock and cornstarch. There is a vegan jajangmyeon. Our understanding is that it uses a cornstarch slurry with oyster sauce.
As a result, it is to be expected that these noodles have a higher calorie count from the carbs and fats that it contains as a dish.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t satiate your craving for them! With any high-carb, high-fat foods, there is always a way to make eating them manageable within your diet.
As a result, it is possible to eat instant jajangmyeon noodles and still maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
Like many foods, noodles are absolutely fine to eat in moderation and make a wonderful mid-week treat when you feel uninspired or don’t have the time to cook. So go ahead and enjoy a bowl of instant noodles!
Are instant jajangmyeon noodles spicy?
Traditionally, jajangmyeon noodles (or Korean black noodles) are a sweet and savory dish that contain a blend of spices that are non-spicy so it’s usually a pretty safe option if you have kids or just don’t enjoy spicy cuisine!
However, the jajangmyeon sauce does vary, so it entirely depends on the brand that you decide to buy. Some use pork belly, chunjang sauce, mushroom, soybean sprouts, pickled radish, green onion, shiitake mushroom, potato, cabbage, or sesame oil, chicken broth.
Korean jajangmyeon is delicious. Jajang sauce makes it a great Korean noodledish. Korean black bean paste makes all the difference. Throw in some zucchini or julienned cucumber and you have a meal.
The ingredients are usually a good indication to see whether the noodles are spicy, so always check the back of a packet of noodles and scan the ingredients list. Korean instant noodles or Korean ramen are amazing. It's much different than traditional ramen. Noodle lovers rejoice!
When in doubt, check out the reviews of the product. If spice has been used heavily or a noodle tastes too spicy, it can disrupt the flavor notes.
If this is the case, it is likely that someone would have left a review telling you that it was too spicy for them! Be sure to check if you have any doubts about the noodles you are purchasing.
Is jajangmyeon popular in Korea?
Yes! Jajangmyeon is a Chinese cuisine adapted to the Korean style, and is served in the majority of Chinese restaurants in South Korea and has increasingly risen in popularity, becoming a favorite dish amongst Koreans and has started gaining interest online too!
Over the years it has increased in popularity on social media platforms such as YouTube. Many Korean YouTubers eat jajangmyeon noodles in their mukbang videos, eating shows and competitions, adding to their sensationalism.
This new craze of eating on YouTube has widened the demand for multiple cuisines, and is giving rise to jajangmyeon noodles in other countries as people are more curious than ever to try them! Some consider them the best instant ramen noodles.
I enjoy Korean instant ramen (or cup noodle) with a little soy sauce. A ramen bowl with shirataki noodles is also nice. Spicy ramen in broth with chicken flavor is one of my favorite things. Though the chickenflavor and shrimp flavor is also good on fried noodles.
I'm still trying to get used to kimchi ramen in fish sauce. Korean noodles are different chewy noodles. Try a fried egg and bok choy with your next order.
Instant Jajangmyeon Black Bean Noodles: 5 Best Picks
These options are sure to be a hit. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
![[OTTOGI] BEIJING JJAJANG RAMEN 5 Pack, Stir Fried Black Bean Flavor, Korean style instant noodle, Jjajang Noodle, Jjajangmyeon, (135g / 4.76 Oz)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZgjD3HCEL.jpg)
