Nongshim, a South Korean food company, released a new instant ramen product called “Shin Ramyun Toomba” in October 2024. Since its release, it has been gaining popularity and appears to be contributing to Nongshim’s sales growth.
Let’s delve into what Shin Ramyun Toomba is and why it’s so popular.
Koreans’ Love for Toowoomba Pasta
At Outback Steakhouse restaurants in Korea, Toowoomba pasta is a beloved dish. Toowoomba pasta is a creamy spaghetti dish with a spicy kick from chili and savory flavors from chicken stock.
Koreans have consistently enjoyed this dish tailored to their taste buds, and they’ve started to incorporate the flavors of Toowoomba pasta into other culinary creations, such as Toowoomba tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and Toowoomba ramen.
Shin Ramyun Toomba
Inspired by the trending recipes on Korean social media for Toowoomba pasta using Shin Ramyun as a base, Nongshim launched Shin Ramyun Toomba.
Although the reason behind the name change from “Toowoomba” to “Toomba” remains unclear, the product captures the essence of Toowoomba pasta with its spicy chili flavor and creamy cheese taste.
Shin Ramyun Toomba Big Bowl
Shin Ramyun Tumba was released in both a regular packet and a cup noodle version.
I tried the Shin Ramyun Tumba Big Bowl.
The calorie count is 500kcal, which isn’t particularly low.
The chili and cheese images printed on the container seem to accurately represent the characteristics of Shin Ramyun Tumba.
The spice packet on the left is the “pre-spice powder” and contains the spicy flavor, while the spice packet on the right is the “post-spice powder” and contains the rich cheesy flavor.
Here are the cooking instructions:
- Add the pre-spice powder to the cup.
- Pour boiling water up to the line inside the container.
- Microwave for 2 minutes (2 minutes 40 seconds for 700W microwaves).
- Sprinkle the post-spice powder on top.
- Stir well and enjoy.
The Taste of Shin Ramyun Toomba
It does evoke the feeling of the Toowoomba pasta you can get at Outback Steakhouse. I think they’ve achieved a certain level of replication. The spicy flavor and the rich, thick cheesiness are well-expressed, creating a truly impressive taste. I can’t say this flavor combination is mild, so it might be hard to eat frequently.
However, if I am craving that instant or MSG flavor, I think I’ll find myself wanting it from time to time. This kind of taste seems to be the reason for its popularity in Korea.
Shin Ramyun Toomba Going Global
It appears that Shin Ramyun Toomba will soon be available overseas.
Though Shin Ramyun is known for its spiciness, the strong cheese flavor in this version masks the heat somewhat.
If you happen to spot Shin Ramyun Toomba on the shelves, I recommend giving it a try.
