Jin Ramen is one of Korea's longest-running instant noodle brands, and one of the easiest to cook well. A pack takes a few minutes. The difference between a flat bowl and a good one comes down to timing and two or three add-ins.
Here is what Jin Ramen is, how the spicy one tastes, and how to cook it.
What Jin Ramen is
Ottogi launched Jin Ramen in 1988. Korean business press describes it as the company's flagship ramen and one of the country's best-known noodle products. It comes in two versions, mild and spicy, and the packaging uses colour to tell them apart: red for spicy, blue for mild.
In 2022 Ottogi named BTS member Jin as the face of the brand. The Korea JoongAng Daily covered the announcement.
What the spicy one tastes like
Jin Ramen Spicy gives you chewy wheat noodles in a red broth built on garlic, black pepper and chilli, with dried vegetables in the pack. It is hotter than it looks.
It is also salty. A single pack carries a lot of sodium, and most of that is in the broth. Leave some behind if you want to go easier.
How to cook Jin Ramen
Korean instant ramyeon is cooked in a pot, not a mug, and the method is simple:
- Bring about 550 to 600 ml of water to a boil.
- Add the noodles, the soup powder and the dried vegetable flakes.
- Boil for about four minutes, turning the noodles once so they cook evenly. Cook a little less if you like a firmer bite.
- Turn off the heat and eat straight from the pot, or pour into a bowl. Noodles keep softening as they sit.
Pull the noodles off a minute early if you plan to add something. They keep cooking in the broth.
Four add-ins that change a bowl
- An egg. Crack it in during the last minute and leave it alone so it poaches, as the cooking site Maangchi explains in her ramyeon method.
- Spring onion. Sliced thin, stirred in after the heat is off.
- Kimchi on the side. The sour crunch cuts through the salt.
- Rice in the leftover broth. A small spoon of rice turns the last of the soup into a second course.
Is Jin Ramen vegetarian?
No. The soup base contains tuna extract, so it is a fish product. It also contains wheat and soy. If you are cooking for other people, check the full ingredients and allergens for the pack you are serving.
Ramyeon is a snack too
Koreans do not keep ramyeon for dinner. It fills the gap after a study session or a late night, which is why the word ganshik, food between meals, fits it so well. Korea's first instant ramyeon went on sale in 1963. We covered that history and the numbers in our Ganshik post.
Where Jin Ramen sits in our Korean box
A pack of Jin Ramen Spicy sits in the Korean Snack Box alongside sweet and crunchy snacks. It is the one item that needs a pot, so plan a proper sitting for it. The full ingredient and allergen list for every item is on the product page, and the Ganshik: Korea page shows the rest of the month.
New to the category? Our guide to Korean snacks to try first puts ramyeon in context.
Questions about Jin Ramen
Is Jin Ramen mild or spicy? Both versions exist. Spicy is the red pack, mild is the blue pack.
How much water does Jin Ramen need? Around 550 to 600 ml for one pack. Use less water for a thicker, saltier broth.
Can I eat Jin Ramen without cooking it? It is a soup noodle, so boil it. It is the one item in our box that needs a pot.
Where can I buy Jin Ramen in the UAE? One option is the Korean Snack Box, which delivers free across the UAE. Message us by email or WhatsApp if you have a question first.
Boil it, add an egg, and taste the broth before you add anything else.
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