NissinInstant Noodles#64 of 85 in categoryRating 2.3/5

Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Chicken Cup Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains TBHQ
  • Red flag: High added sugar (10g per 100g)
  • Red flag: High sodium (1585.7mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (8.1g)

Green flags

  • Green flag: High protein (11.1g per 100g)

Ingredients, decoded

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

DC4

Nutrition per 100 g
DNutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictPOOR
Energy458.6 kcal
Protein11.1 g
Carbohydrates62.8 g
Total sugars10 g
Added sugars10 g
Total fat16.8 g
Saturated fat8.1 g
Trans fat0.1 g
Cholesterol0.1 mg
Sodium1585.7 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Real chicken bits, but sugar and salt lead

Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Chicken is a cup of palm-fried maida noodles with a garnish of dried chicken, chilli and spring onion, a seasoning of sugar, flavourings, garlic and chicken powder, and a palmolein chilli-oil sachet.

CleanPlate scores it DC4. The D for nutrition reflects modest protein and no declared fibre. The C for ingredients reflects maida, palm oil, TBHQ and enhancers, with a small penalty because the chicken share is undeclared and minor. The 4 for risk comes from very high sodium, saturated fat and added sugar.

Claims vs reality

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

  • Product name

    “Korean Chicken”

    Partly true

    Real dried chicken is listed, but as part of a 4.66% garnish and as a powder in the seasoning, after sugar and flavourings.

How DC4 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
D

Low nutrient density

Protein
11.1 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
459 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 & Garnish: Refined Wh...
Main fat
Edible Vegetable Oil
Sweeteners
Seasoning Mix: Su...
Additives
7
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
10 g
Sodium
1585.7 mg
Saturated fat
8.1 g
Trans fat
0.1 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 and garnish (84.29%) are maida, palm oil, tapioca starch, dried chicken, chilli and spring onion (4.66%), salt, guar gum and gum arabic, acidity regulators, turmeric and TBHQ. The seasoning (9.29%) is sugar, nature-identical flavours, hydrolysed soy protein, garlic, salt, chicken powder, onion, yeast extract, spices (3.09%), sesame, enhancers, oleoresin capsicum, citric acid, paprika colour, palm fat, anticaking agent, milk solids and palm and coconut oil. The oil (6.43%) is palmolein, soybean and chilli seed oil.

Per 100 g: 459 kcal, 16.8 g fat of which 8.1 g saturated, 1586 mg sodium, 10 g added sugar and 11.1 g protein.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1586 mg per 100 g; 1110 mg in one 70 g cup, 55% of the daily limit.

  • Added sugarWorth watching

    10 g per 100 g; sugar leads the seasoning.

  • Saturated fatConcern

    8.1 g per 100 g.

  • TBHQ (319)Concern

    A synthetic antioxidant in the palm-fried noodle.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Chicken noodles are a protein meal"

At 11 g per 100 g, protein is under 10% of the calories; the chicken is a garnish.

Myth: "MSG is what makes instant noodles unhealthy"

Flavour enhancers are not the main issue at food levels. The salt, the palm-fried refined flour and the lack of fibre matter far more.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsRarely
  • ChildrenRarely
  • High blood pressureAvoid

Smarter ways to eat it

Add real chicken

Leftover shredded chicken and half the seasoning turns the cup into a better meal.

Use half the sachet

Season the rest with fresh garlic, chilli, onion and a squeeze of lemon. The flavour stays; a large share of the sodium goes.

Common questions

Is Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Chicken Cup Noodles healthy?

Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Chicken Cup Noodles scores DC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: Contains TBHQ; High added sugar (10g per 100g); High sodium (1585.7mg per 100g); High saturated fat (8.1g). On the plus side: High protein (11.1g per 100g).

What does the DC4 score mean?

The first letter (D) grades nutritional value: low 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 Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Chicken Cup Noodles should I watch?

Noodles & Garnish (84.29%): Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil) (Palm oil), Turmeric Powder & Antioxidant (INS 319) (TBHQ), Milk Solids & Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil & Coconut Oil) (Palm oil), Seasoning Oil (6.43%): Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein, Soya Bean Oil & Chilli Seed Oil) (Palmolein).

Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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