Nongshim Shrimp Cup Noodles Review: A Mild Korean Ramen

A familiar cup ramen in Korea

Walk into a convenience store, supermarket, or tiny neighborhood shop in Korea and you are likely to spot Nongshim’s small shrimp-flavored cup noodles. The Korean name, Saeutang (seh-oo-tahng), refers to shrimp soup. It is one of those everyday products I see almost as often as Shin Ramyun.

Korean convenience stores seem to have new cup noodles every time I visit. Many cost more and promise extra toppings, but I am not always convinced they taste better. To me, the appeal of instant ramen is still a quick, affordable meal.

Shin Ramyun is the Nongshim cup nearly everyone in Korea knows. This smaller shrimp cup is less famous, yet it quietly stays on the shelf year after year. You do not see much fuss around it; it is simply always there.

What is inside this shrimp ramen cup?

Under the lid are a compact noodle cake, a few dried toppings, and seasoning. Do not expect the deep flavor of a restaurant seafood soup. The shrimp note is lighter than that.

Still, the little dried shrimp pieces make it taste different from an ordinary cup of Korean noodles. The seafood flavor is gentle rather than overpowering, which makes this an easy cup to enjoy.

I get the impression there are fewer dried shrimp flakes than there used to be. Maybe rising food costs are part of the reason.

Price and taste

I remember paying about ₩500–700 for this small cup at a Korean convenience store. Now it costs well over ₩1,000 where I shop. Given the portion size, it no longer feels especially cheap.

Once prepared, the broth has a subtle shrimp flavor. It is not very spicy or aggressively seasoned; I find it pleasantly clean and refreshing.

Look closely at the last photo and you can see just how tiny one of the dried shrimp pieces is.

I do not eat this cup often, but I still reach for it now and then. If you are curious about Korean ramen and want a mild shrimp-flavored cup noodle, this familiar Nongshim option is an approachable place to start.