Koka Spicy Sesame Noodles

Koka is a Singaporean brand with a solid reputation in the instant noodle space and the Spicy Sesame variety is one of their more distinctive offerings. It’s vegetarian-friendly and non-fried, which already puts it in a specific lane. The sesame smell when you open the package is strong and immediate.

Produced in Singapore.

What’s in the Package

Inside the Koka Spicy Sesame package, you will find a square block of non-fried, light-colored wheat noodles. There’s also a packet of dehydrated vegetables, a dual-chamber packet containing the seasoning powder, and seasoning oil.

How to Prepare It

1. Bring 500ml of water to a boil. Note: This is 100ml more than the package calls for. From our experience, this extra water brings the saltiness into better balance.
2. Add the noodles and the dehydrated vegetables sachet. Cook for 2.5 minutes.
3. While the noodles cook, empty the seasoning powder and seasoning oil into your serving bowl.
4. Pour the noodles and water into the bowl, stirring well.

How Does It Taste

The flavor hits in quick succession, the salt, spice, and sesame. And it delivers exactly what the name promises. The sesame is front and center and the spice follows closely behind. At a 2 out of 5 the heat builds pleasantly without becoming overwhelming. It’s a punchy combination that works well together.

The saltiness is the main thing to manage. We thought it was on the stronger side and at the recommended water level it can help it from being too salty. The extra 100ml of water is the adjustment that gets it where it should be.

The non-fried noodles are thin and wavy and they held up better than expected. Non-fried noodles at this thickness can go soft quickly but these kept a nice chew throughout the bowl.

How Does It Compare

The Koka brand is already represented on the site with the Koka Pepper Crab Noodles, which also leads with a bold flavor and a non-fried noodle format. The Pepper Crab has more complexity in the broth. The Spicy Sesame is more direct and one-note but it executes that one note well.

Both share the same noodle quality advantage that comes from the non-fried format. If you liked the Pepper Crab this is worth trying for a different flavor direction from the same brand.

How to Level It Up

Boiled cabbage cooked directly in with the noodles is the move that addresses the saltiness most effectively. The sweetness will help soften the salt. Add some plain, unseasoned chicken, a raw egg yolk dropped into the hot broth or a fried egg on top.

Final Verdict

The Koka Spicy Sesame Noodles is a well-executed bowl that delivers on its flavor promise. Use more water than instructed, boil some cabbage in with the noodles, and add an egg and this becomes a complete and enjoyable bowl.

How do I rate my ramen? Check out the Ramen Rating Guide.