Hey! Taesung here. (In Korea, guys call an older guy they’re close to ‘Hyung’. From now on, I’m your Hyung).
Today, I’m going to teach you about real Korean ‘spicy’.
When I lived in Venice, I’d always gift Shin Ramyun to my neighbors. And they would all tell me it was so spicy… they felt like their tongues were hitting the floor.
I grew up eating it, so I had no idea. Was that supposed to be spicy?
You see all those Buldak Challenges on YouTube, right? For us… that’s just a meal. It’s not a ‘challenge’.
Today, hyung will tell you about the real, hell-level challenges that Koreans actually do.
1. Buldak Ramen / Sauce: The ‘Beginner’s’ Challenge
Don’t get me wrong, Buldak is delicious.
We eat it for lunch, we eat it while drinking soju… it’s like a sandwich for us.
But it’s not spicy.
If you really want a challenge, look for the package that says ‘x2’. Now that’s a bit spicy.
Think of it as your ticket to the K-spicy world.
[WARNING] From this point on, you are entering the pro league.
Unfortunately, you can’t get these items on Amazon.
These are ‘challenge-only’ items that even Koreans order online
I’ll give you the Korean website links, so maybe you can try sending them an email? Who knows?
2. Silbi Kimchi
This is the kimchi that caused an uproar in Korea for its spice level.
Most people give up after one piece.
Ah, of course, hyung eats this wrapped around Buldak ramen.
My tongue has no senses, you see.
3. Songju Bul-Naengmyeon (‘Fire’ Cold Noodles)
Naengmyeon is a Korean summer delicacy of cold noodles in an icy broth.
I know from my time in Venice that the concept of eating cold noodles is foreign in itself.
But this isn’t just cold. It’s ‘Cold Hell.’
Even I have a hard time with this one. It’s fine while you’re eating it, but 10 minutes after you finish, a fiery pain begins to rise from your solar plexus. Have an ambulance on standby before you attempt this.
(Songju Bul-Naengmyeon Korean website)
4. Cheongju Michin-Mandu (‘Crazy’ Dumplings)
You all know mandu, right?
These are called ‘Crazy Dumplings‘ because you’ll say “This is crazy” after one bite from the spice.
The danger here is that they’re not just spicy; they’re incredibly delicious.
It hurts, but you can’t stop. This item is so popular it’s often sold out, even in Korea.
(Crazy Dumplings Korean website)
Final Word
I wrote this because all I see on YouTube is the Buldak Challenge.
Of course, it’ll be hard for you to get anything other than Buldak.
But I figured you might be curious, “What do Koreans with real spicy-pride use for a challenge?”
Try sending an email. “Hey, can you ship to Italy?” lol.
Well, hyung is out!
#KoreanSpicyChallenge #SpicyFoodChallenge #KFood #SilbiKimchi #BeyondBuldak #FoodChallenge #SpicyFood #KoreanFood #NotForBeginners #TeumsaeRamyun #AfterVenice
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.