Nongshim Shin Ramyun Kimchi Noodles
Red flags
- −Red flag: High sodium (1800mg per 100g)
- −Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin
Green flags
- +Green flag: Source of protein (9.6g)
Ingredients, decoded
3 listed- Noodles (Refined wheat flour, Potato starch, Palm oil, Salt, Seasoning (yeast extract, soy sauce, garlic, maltodextrin), Mineral salts (INS339iii, INS452i, INS500ii), Green tea extract, Colour (INS101))
- Soup Base (Seasoning (maltodextrin, hydrolyzed vegetable protein [contains soy, refined wheat, salt, yeast extract], soybean, refined wheat flour, salt, colour [INS150c], soy oil), Salt, Sugar, Flavour enhancer (INS627, INS631), Spices (maltodextrin, garlic, glucose, black pepper, red pepper), Onion, Vegetable powders (corn), Acidity regulator (INS330), Thickener (INS412), Colour (INS150c))
- Flakes (Dried kimchi flake (cabbage (30.6%), garlic (1.96%), onion, salt, maltodextrin, ginger), Bok choy, Carrot, Green onion)
Our take
CleanPlate reviewSpicy kimchi noodles with very high sodium
Shin Ramyun Kimchi is a 120 g pack of fried wheat noodles with a soup base and a flake sachet of dried kimchi, garlic, onion, bok choy and carrot. You cook it in about 500 ml of water.
CleanPlate scores it EC4. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g; its 9.6 g of protein earns no credit because it is under 2.75 g per 100 kcal. The C for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by noodles, seasoning and sugar), with additives that cost points: caramel colour, sodium phosphates, polyphosphates and riboflavin. The 4 for risk comes mainly from sodium (1800 mg per 100 g) and calories (427 kcal per 100 g).
How EC4 breaks down
Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- 9.6 g
- Fibre
- Not declared
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 427 kcal
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.
Mixed processing and additives
- Base
- Noodles, Mineral salts, Green...
- Main fat
- Noodles, Mineral salts,...
- Sweeteners
- 3 types
- Additives
- 5
- Flagged
- Maltodextrin
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
High risk
- Total sugar
- 4.9 g
- Sodium
- 1800 mg
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
A closer look
Does the label add up?
Noodles, soup base and flakes are listed as three sections; only the kimchi flake shares (cabbage 30.6%, garlic 1.96%) are printed.
Per 100 g: 427 kcal, 13 g fat, 4.9 g sugar, 9.6 g protein, 1800 mg sodium. The panel prints per 100 g only and has no saturated fat, trans fat or added sugar line. The earlier read from a promo card (433 kcal, saturated fat 6.6 g) was replaced by this panel (427 kcal). Net 120 g.
Ingredients to watch
- SodiumConcern
1,800 mg per 100 g is three times the high line of 600 mg.
- AdditivesWorth watching
Ammonia caramel, phosphates and three flavour enhancers add up to a heavy label cost.
- Palm oilWorth watching
The noodles are fried in palm oil and the panel prints no saturated fat line.
- Kimchi flakeFine
Cabbage is 30.6% of the dried flake sachet.
Common misconceptions
Myth: "Korean ramyun is healthier than other instant noodles"
The panel is close to any fried instant noodle: 427 kcal and 1,800 mg sodium per 100 g.
Myth: "Skipping the seasoning is enough"
Part of the salt is in the noodles, but leaving out some of the soup base does cut the sodium you drink.
How often, and how
- Healthy adultsOccasionally
- ChildrenRarely
- Diabetes or prediabetesLimit
Smarter ways to eat it
Use half the soup base
Most of the sodium sits in the soup base.
Add an egg and vegetables
They bring protein and fibre the noodles lack.
Common questions
Is Nongshim Shin Ramyun Kimchi Noodles healthy?
Nongshim Shin Ramyun Kimchi Noodles scores EC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High sodium (1800mg per 100g); Contains Maltodextrin. On the plus side: Source of protein (9.6g).
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 Nongshim Shin Ramyun Kimchi Noodles should I watch?
Noodles (Refined wheat flour, Potato starch, Palm oil, Salt, Seasoning (yeast extract, soy sauce, garlic, maltodextrin), Mineral salts (INS339iii, INS452i, INS500ii), Green tea extract, Colour (INS101)) (Maltodextrin), Soup Base (Seasoning (maltodextrin, hydrolyzed vegetable protein [contains soy, refined wheat, salt, yeast extract], soybean, refined wheat flour, salt, colour [INS150c], soy oil), Salt, Sugar, Flavour enhancer (INS627, INS631), Spices (maltodextrin, garlic, glucose, black pepper, red pepper), Onion, Vegetable powders (corn), Acidity regulator (INS330), Thickener (INS412), Colour (INS150c)) (Maltodextrin), Flakes (Dried kimchi flake (cabbage (30.6%), garlic (1.96%), onion, salt, maltodextrin, ginger), Bok choy, Carrot, Green onion) (Maltodextrin).
Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.
Better Instant Noodles
All 107 →- Slurrp Farm Mild Masala Millet Hakka Noodles
- −Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin
- +Green flag: Source of protein (9.3g)
- Slurrp Farm Mild Masala Millet Noodles
- +Green flag: Source of protein (10.6g)
- +Green flag: High fibre (10.5g)
- Slurrp Farm Classic Masala Foxtail Millet Noodles
- +Green flag: Source of protein (10.6g)
- +Green flag: High fibre (10.5g)
- Slurrp Farm Classic Masala Millet Hakka Noodles
- −Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin
- +Green flag: Source of protein (9.3g)