Ching's SecretInstant Noodles#33 of 85 in categoryRating 2.7/5

Ching's Secret Kimchi Korean Ramen Soupy Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains TBHQ
  • Red flag: High sodium (1534.8mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (7g)
  • Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (7.9g)

Ingredients, decoded

28 listed
  • Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)
  • Thickeners (INS 1420, INS 508)
  • Refined Palm Oil (Antioxidant (INS 319))
  • Wheat Gluten (Antioxidant (INS 1102))
  • Iodised Salt
  • Texturizer (INS 451(i))
  • Acidity Regulator (INS 501(i))
  • Raising Agent (INS 500(ii))
  • Seasoning Mix: Iodised Salt
  • Sugar
  • Dehydrated Vegetable (14.5%) [Cabbage (7%), Carrot, Capsicum]
  • Dehydrated Garlic
  • Dehydrated Onion
  • Yeast Extract
  • Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein
  • Fermented Soya Sauce Powder
  • Natural and Nature Identical Flavouring Substances
  • Tomato Powder
  • Chilli (2%)
  • Dehydrated Herb
  • Maltodextrin
  • Vinegar Powder
  • Acidity Regulator (INS 330)
  • Flavour Enhancers (INS 627, INS 631)
  • Anticaking Agents (INS 551, INS 341 (iii))
  • Refined Palm Oil
  • Mushroom Powder (1%)
  • Antioxidant (INS 319)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CC4

Nutrition per 100 g
CNutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy438.4 kcal
Protein7.9 g
Carbohydrates67 g
Total sugars4.1 g
Added sugars2.3 g
Dietary fibre2.9 g
Total fat15.4 g
Saturated fat7 g
Trans fat0 g
Sodium1534.8 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Kimchi ramen with dried cabbage and vinegar powder

Ching's Secret Kimchi Korean Ramen is a palm-fried maida noodle with a soup seasoning led by salt and sugar, dried cabbage, carrot and capsicum (14.5% of the mix), garlic, onion, yeast extract and a little chilli, with vinegar powder, enhancers and TBHQ. No kimchi is listed.

CleanPlate scores it CC4. The C for nutrition reflects modest protein and a little fibre. The C for ingredients reflects maida, palm oil, TBHQ and ten additives, helped by real vegetables and no colour. The 4 for risk comes from very high sodium.

Claims vs reality

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

  • Product name

    “Kimchi”

    Be careful

    No kimchi is listed; the kimchi note comes from dried cabbage (7% of the seasoning), vinegar powder and chilli.

How CC4 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
C

Adequate nutrient density

Protein
7.9 g
Fibre
2.9 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
438 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
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
Main fat
Refined Palm Oil)
Sweeteners
Sugar, Maltodextrin
Additives
10
Flagged
4 ingredients

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

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
2.3 g
Sodium
1534.8 mg
Saturated fat
7 g
Trans fat
0 g

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

A closer look

Does the label add up?

The noodle is maida, thickeners, palm oil with TBHQ, gluten, salt, a phosphate, acidity regulator and raising agent. The seasoning is salt, sugar, dried cabbage, carrot and capsicum (14.5%), garlic, onion, yeast extract, hydrolysed protein, soya sauce powder, flavourings, tomato, chilli (2%), herbs, maltodextrin, vinegar powder, citric acid, enhancers 627 and 631, anticaking agents, palm oil, mushroom powder and TBHQ.

Per 100 g: 438 kcal, 15.5 g fat of which 7 g saturated, 1535 mg sodium, 2.3 g added sugar, 7.9 g protein and 2.9 g fibre.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1535 mg per 100 g; 1719 mg in one 112 g pack, 86% of the daily limit.

  • TBHQ (319)Concern

    In the noodle oil and the seasoning.

  • Saturated fatWorth watching

    7 g per 100 g from palm oil.

  • Real vegetablesFine

    14.5% of the seasoning.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Kimchi ramen is fermented"

There is no kimchi here; the sour note is vinegar powder.

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 adultsRarely; leave some broth
  • ChildrenRarely
  • High blood pressureAvoid

Smarter ways to eat it

Add real kimchi

A spoon of fermented kimchi gives the real flavour so you can use half the sachet.

Leave the broth

Most of the salt is in the soup.

Common questions

Is Ching's Secret Kimchi Korean Ramen Soupy Noodles healthy?

Ching's Secret Kimchi Korean Ramen Soupy Noodles scores CC4 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: Contains TBHQ; High sodium (1534.8mg per 100g); High saturated fat (7g); Refined flour (maida) base. On the plus side: Source of protein (7.9g).

What does the CC4 score mean?

The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Ching's Secret Kimchi Korean Ramen Soupy Noodles should I watch?

Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Refined Palm Oil (Antioxidant (INS 319)) (TBHQ), Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Refined Palm Oil (Palm oil), Antioxidant (INS 319) (TBHQ).

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

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