I Tried Buldak’s Instant Tteokbokki (Original & Carbonara)—Here’s the Verdict

Buldak makes some of the best ramyeon (instant Korean noodles) available in the U.S. and they’ve gained a serious cult following because of them. But that’s certainly not all that Buldak makes. I’m a little bit obsessed with their ramyeon-flavored chips. And I have been desperately trying to find their frozen dumplings so I can try them for myself. They also offer instant tteokbokki, which may not be new (it launched in 2024), it is new to me. And we just managed to score both flavors at our local H-Mart.

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What is tteokbokki? If you’re not famils, tteokbokki is a Korean dish of chewy, cylindrical rice cakes, usually served in a thick, spicy sauce laced with gochujang. I love tteokbokki. I’m a big fan of the chewy but not sticky texture of the rice cakes. But I don’t get to have it often enough. Buldak’s single-serving instant tteokbokki could change that…if it’s any good.

I cooked up both flavors of Buldak tteokbokki—Original and Carbonara—to find out.

Buldak Spicy Tteokbokki!

Buldak Spicy Tteokbokki Original

Instacart

Pros: The rice cakes cook to a perfect consistency. They’re soft and chewy without being gummy. And this dish is spicy. In fact, I would advise against breathing in the steam. That’s how spicy it is. I also appreciate that every bowl comes with its own collapsible spork-ish utensil for eating the tteokbokki. Cute!

Cons: I’m used to tteokbokki coming in a thick sauce that really coats the rice cakes. But both the Original and the Carbonara are super brothy. I thought I had followed the directions incorrectly, but Reddit agrees with me. These tteokbokki are just really brothy. It doesn’t totally satisfy my tteokbokki craving. And I wish the broth had a bit more flavor aside from “spicy.”

Rating:

6.5/10

Sporks

Buldak Spicy Tteokbokki!

Buldak Spicy Tteokbokki Carbonara

Instacart

Pros: It’s certainly a unique flavor! And I’m sure that sweet-tomato-y-spicy-cheesy flavor has its fans.

Cons: The brothiness of the Carbonara tteokbokki is offputting. It’s very odd to have a thin but milky “sauce.” It’s kind of like brothy, spicy Kraft Mac & Cheese powder. And it’s difficult to really incorporate all the chunky cheesy bits. Perhaps if it was a thicker sauce, I’d be more into it (and some fans do recommend cutting back on water and adding cream instead). But, as is, I really couldn’t have more than two bites.

Rating:

3/10

Sporks

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.