Cheffin Instant Noodles#8 of 89 in categoryRating 3.3/5

Cheffin Spicy Kimchi Flavoured Instant Noodles Kit

Red flags

Red flag: High sodium (1451.5mg per 100g)
Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin

Green flags

Nothing stands out in its favour.

Ingredients, decoded

24 listed

Ready Noodles: Water
Whole Wheat Semolina
Iodized Salt
Refined Sunflower Oil
Flavour Enhancer (INS 635)
Rosemary Extract
Kimchi Style Sauce: Water
Cabbage (29%)
Tomato Paste
Kimchi Seasoning (6%) (Salt, Flavouring Substances, Maltodextrin, Vegetables, Soy Sauce Powder, Spices & Condiments, Sugar, Acidity Regulators (INS 330, INS 296), Flavour Enhancers (INS 627, INS 631), HVP, Anticaking Agent (INS 551), Stabilizer (INS 415))
Apple Cider Vinegar
Spices
Fermented Sugar
Refined Sunflower Oil
Iodized Salt
Sugar
Garlic
Sesame Seeds
Corn Starch
Soy Sauce
Yeast Extract
Flavour Enhancer (INS 635)
Thickener (INS 412)
Acidity Regulator (INS 260)

ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CB3

Nutrition per 100 g

CNutritionBIngredients3Risk

VerdictGOOD

Energy159 kcal

Protein4.6 g

Carbohydrates26.5 g

Total sugars4.7 g

Added sugars2.3 g

Dietary fibre1 g

Total fat3.8 g

Saturated fat0.62 g

Trans fat0.02 g

Cholesterol0 mg

Sodium1451.5 mg

Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Real cabbage, low fat, more than a day's salt

Cheffin Spicy Kimchi is a ready-to-eat kit: 100 g of cooked whole-wheat semolina noodles and a 70 g kimchi-style sauce that is 29% cabbage, with tomato, apple cider vinegar, garlic, sesame and a kimchi seasoning of salt, flavourings and enhancers.

CleanPlate scores it CB3. The C for nutrition reflects modest protein in a lower-calorie wet food. The B for ingredients reflects real cabbage, tomato and vinegar, held back by flavourings and enhancers. The 3 for risk reflects very low fat and sugar, but the sodium is very high.

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

Product name
“Spicy Kimchi Flavoured”
Be careful
The name says flavoured: the sauce has real cabbage (29%), vinegar and garlic, but no fermented kimchi.
On the pack
“No Palm Oil, No Preservatives”
Holds
Sunflower oil only; no preservatives listed.

How CB3 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →

01 Nutritional valueA to E

Adequate nutrient density

Protein: 4.6 g
Fibre: 1 g
Vitamins and minerals: None declared
Energy: 159 kcal

Scored on eight nutrients (protein, fibre, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, D and zinc), per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E

Good, few concerning additives

Base: Ready Noodles: Water
Main fat: Refined Sunflower Oil
Sweeteners: 3 types
Additives: 7
Flagged: Maltodextrin

Scored on six things: base processing, fat quality, sweeteners, additives, colours and flavours.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5

Moderate risk

Added sugar: 2.3 g
Sodium: 1451.5 mg
Saturated fat: 0.62 g
Trans fat: 0.02 g

Scored on added sugar, sodium and saturated fat, with a penalty for trans fat.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

The noodles are water, whole wheat semolina, sunflower oil, salt, enhancer 635 and rosemary. The sauce is water, cabbage (29%), tomato paste, a kimchi seasoning (6%: salt, flavourings, maltodextrin, vegetables, soy sauce powder, spices, sugar, acids, enhancers 627 and 631, hydrolysed protein, anticaking agent and xanthan), apple cider vinegar, spices, fermented sugar, sunflower oil, salt, sugar, garlic, sesame, corn starch, soy sauce, yeast extract, 635, guar gum and acetic acid.

Per 100 g: 159 kcal, 3.8 g fat, 0.6 g saturated, 1452 mg sodium, 2.3 g added sugar, 4.6 g protein and 1 g fibre.

Ingredients to watch

SodiumConcern
1452 mg per 100 g; 2468 mg in one 170 g kit, 123% of the daily limit.
EnhancersWorth watching
Three flavour enhancers and flavourings in the sauce.
Low fatFine
0.6 g saturated fat per 100 g.
Real cabbageFine
29% of the sauce.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Kimchi noodles are probiotic"

The sauce is kimchi-style, not fermented kimchi.

Myth: "MSG is what makes instant noodles unhealthy"

Flavour enhancers are not the main issue at food levels. The salt matters far more.

How often, and how

Healthy adultsOccasionally; use part of the sauce
ChildrenOccasionally, half a kit
High blood pressureAvoid

Smarter ways to eat it

Use two-thirds of the sauce

Add fresh cabbage, spring onion and tofu to stretch it.

Add real kimchi

A spoon of fermented kimchi adds the flavour and lets you use less sauce.

Common questions

Is Cheffin Spicy Kimchi Flavoured Instant Noodles Kit healthy?

Cheffin Spicy Kimchi Flavoured Instant Noodles Kit scores CB3 (Good) on CleanPlate, which makes it a reasonable choice with a trade-off or two worth knowing about. The main concerns are: High sodium (1451.5mg per 100g); Contains Maltodextrin.

What does the CB3 score mean?

The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate nutrient density. The second letter (B) grades ingredient and label integrity: good, few concerning additives. The number (3) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): moderate risk.

Which ingredients in Cheffin Spicy Kimchi Flavoured Instant Noodles Kit should I watch?

Kimchi Seasoning (6%) (Salt, Flavouring Substances, Maltodextrin, Vegetables, Soy Sauce Powder, Spices & Condiments, Sugar, Acidity Regulators (INS 330, INS 296), Flavour Enhancers (INS 627, INS 631), HVP, Anticaking Agent (INS 551), Stabilizer (INS 415)) (Maltodextrin).

Last reviewed September 29, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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