Nissin Instant Noodles#84 of 85 in categoryRating 2/5

Nissin Geki Spicy Kimchi Korean Ramen Noodles

Red flags

Red flag: Contains TBHQ
Red flag: High sodium (1698mg per 100g)
Red flag: High saturated fat (9.8g)
Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base

Green flags

Nothing stands out in its favour.

Ingredients, decoded

23 listed

Noodles (80%): Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)
Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil)
Tapioca Starch
Iodised Salt
Acidity Regulators [INS 451(i) & INS 500(i)]
Turmeric Powder
Thickener (INS 412) & Antioxidant (INS 319)
Seasoning Mix (12.5%): Sugar
Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein Powder (Soya)
Soya Sauce Powder
Garlic Powder
Iodised Salt
Mixed Spices 4.5% (Red Chilli, Ginger, Cumin, Black Pepper, Turmeric & Coriander)
Acidity Regulators (INS 330 & INS 260)
Onion Powder
Flavour Enhancers (INS 631 & INS 627)
Natural Flavour
Red Chilli Flakes
Dehydrated Spring Onion
Tomato Powder
Oleoresin Capsicum & Anticaking Agent (INS 551)
Seasoning Oil (7.5%): Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein, Soya Bean Oil & Chilli Seed Oil)
Colour [INS 160c(i)] & Oleoresin Rosemary

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

EC4

Nutrition per 100 g

ENutritionCIngredients4Risk

VerdictPOOR

Energy493.4 kcal

Protein5.4 g

Carbohydrates66.5 g

Total sugars4.2 g

Added sugars4.2 g

Total fat22.1 g

Saturated fat9.8 g

Trans fat0.1 g

Cholesterol0.44 mg

Sodium1698 mg

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

Our take

CleanPlate review

Kimchi in the name, none in the pack

Nissin Geki Spicy Kimchi is a palm-fried maida noodle with a sweet chilli-garlic seasoning and a sachet of palmolein chilli oil. The ingredient list has no kimchi; the tang comes from acidity regulators.

CleanPlate scores it EC4. The E for nutrition reflects very little protein and no declared fibre or micronutrients. The C for ingredients reflects maida, palm oil in two places, TBHQ and flavour enhancers. The 4 for risk comes from very high sodium and saturated fat.

Claims vs reality

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

Product name
“Spicy Kimchi”
Be careful
No kimchi is listed. The flavour is sugar, soy, garlic, chilli and acetic and citric acid.

How EC4 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

Very low nutrient density

Protein: 5.4 g
Fibre: Not declared
Vitamins and minerals: None declared
Energy: 493 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

Mixed processing and additives

Base: Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
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

High risk

Added sugar: 4.2 g
Sodium: 1698 mg
Saturated fat: 9.8 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 (80%) are maida, palm oil, tapioca starch, salt, acidity regulators, turmeric, guar gum and TBHQ (319). The seasoning (12.5%) is sugar, hydrolysed soy protein, soya sauce powder, garlic, salt, spices (4.5%), acidity regulators, onion, enhancers 631 and 627, natural flavour, chilli flakes, spring onion and tomato. The oil sachet (7.5%) is palmolein, soybean and chilli seed oil with paprika colour.

Per 100 g: 493 kcal, 22.1 g fat of which 9.8 g saturated, 1698 mg sodium, 4.2 g added sugar and 5.4 g protein.

Ingredients to watch

SodiumConcern
1698 mg per 100 g; 1358 mg in one 80 g pack, 68% of the daily limit.
Saturated fatConcern
9.8 g per 100 g from a palm-fried noodle plus a palmolein oil sachet.
TBHQ (319)Concern
A synthetic antioxidant in the palm-fried noodle.
ProteinWorth watching
Only 5.4 g per 100 g.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Kimchi noodles are fermented and gut-friendly"

There is no kimchi here; the sour note is added acid.

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; very spicy
High blood pressureAvoid

Smarter ways to eat it

Add real kimchi

A spoon of real kimchi brings the flavour the name promises, so you can use less of the sachet.

Skip half the oil

The chilli oil sachet is 7.5% of the pack and mostly palmolein; use half.

Common questions

Is Nissin Geki Spicy Kimchi Korean Ramen Noodles healthy?

Nissin Geki Spicy Kimchi Korean Ramen Noodles scores EC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: Contains TBHQ; High sodium (1698mg per 100g); High saturated fat (9.8g); Refined flour (maida) base.

What does the EC4 score mean?

The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very 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 Spicy Kimchi Korean Ramen Noodles should I watch?

Noodles (80%): Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil) (Palm oil), Thickener (INS 412) & Antioxidant (INS 319) (TBHQ), Seasoning Oil (7.5%): 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.

Better Instant Noodles

All 85 →