Ramyeon (Korean ramen)

라면 Ramyeon

Instant noodles boiled in a spicy red broth, often eaten at snack bars as a quick meal.

At a glance

Fact	Details
Main ingredients	Instant fried wheat noodles, spicy soup powder, dried vegetable flakes
How it's served	Hot in a bowl or small pot, often with an egg, and kimchi on the side
Spice level	Medium — Clearly spicy. You'll want water nearby.
Diet	Contains pork · Contains beef — Pork is a standard ingredient. Beef or beef stock is a standard ingredient.
Allergens	Wheat · Soy
Ask about	Soup powder may contain egg, milk, fish or shellfish; an egg is often added.
On the menu	라면 (Ramyeon)
Also called	ramyun · ramen · Korean ramen · instant noodles
Region	Nationwide

Based on the usual recipe. Restaurants vary, so always tell the staff.

Start with the noodles
The noodles soften quickly in the hot soup, so eat them first. Use chopsticks for the noodles and a spoon for the soup.
Cool them on the lid
If it comes in a small pot, lift some noodles onto the pot lid to cool them. This is a common habit in Korea.
Add kimchi and rice
Take a bite of kimchi between mouthfuls. Some people also order a bowl of rice to put in the leftover soup.

Order it as 라면. It comes as a single bowl, so one person can order it alone.

Instant noodles were first developed in Japan, where they were made from the late 1950s. Production in Korea began in 1963.

Sources: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (encykorea.aks.ac.kr)

Usually not. Soup powders vary by brand and often contain beef, pork or seafood extracts, so ask the restaurant if you avoid them.

Medium. The standard red soup is clearly spicy, so keep water nearby.

In Korea, ramyeon usually means instant noodles in a spicy soup. Japanese ramen is usually made with fresh noodles and a long-simmered broth.