Nongshim Spicy & Creamy Toomba Stir Fry Noodles

Nongshim Spicy & Creamy Toomba Stir Fry Noodles feels like Nongshim’s direct answer to Samyang’s Buldak lineup, specifically the Carbonara. It’s been all over the internet, so I was excited to try it. They come with both a powder and a sauce packet. No broth. Just noodles coated in a creamy spicy sauce.

Produced in the United States by Nongshim America, Inc.

What’s in the Package

Inside the packaging, you’ll find a round block of fried wheat noodles designed for a stir-fry texture. There are two sachets for the sauce, a large silver powder mix packet and a red liquid sauce packet with the Shin heat. Unlike the soup versions, this variety does not include a separate vegetable flake packet.

How to Cook Nongshim Spicy & Creamy Toomba Stir Fry Noodles

1. Bring 500ml (about 2 cups) of water to a boil and add the noodle block.
2. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Drain the water.
4. Stir in the liquid sauce and the powder mix until the noodles are evenly coated in a creamy, glossy sauce, and serve. (The pack also gives a no-drain method: 300ml of water, 3½ minutes, stirring frequently, then stir in the sauce and powder off the heat.)

How Does It Taste

It smells very cheesy the second you open it. American cheesy. It tastes like almost fettuccine alfredo. Like Fazoli’s. It’s more creamy than cheesy, it’s rich, and it isn’t sweet like Buldak.

James and I agreed on the spice for this one. It’s a comfortable heat. The noodles are thin and wavy.

How Does It Compare

This is the direct comparison to Samyang Buldak Carbonara. The big difference is the Toomba isn’t as sweet. If you’ve tried Buldak Carbonara and found it too sweet, try this one. If you love the Buldak sweetness, you might miss it here. It’s a good answer to Samyang.

How to Level Up Nongshim Spicy & Creamy Toomba Stir Fry Noodles

Add sliced hot dogs, pan-fried so they get a little crunch. Napa kimchi would be really good in this too. It’s so rich it needs something sour, so pickled jalapeños or anything pickled works.

Final Verdict

I like this one a lot. It tastes like really bad fettuccine alfredo, but in a good way, and it isn’t sweet like Buldak. It’s a good answer to Samyang. If you like the Buldak Carbonara idea but not the sweetness, this is your bowl.