If you have been seeing people in Korea eating icy cold Buldak noodles this summer, you are probably looking at Buldak Naengmyeon. It is spicy, cold, chewy, refreshing, and honestly one of the most perfect Korean summer food trends for people who love Buldak.
The idea is simple: take Buldak ramen, make the noodles cold, mix them with the spicy Buldak sauce, then add cold naengmyeon broth and ice. After that, you top it with cucumber, boiled egg, and the sesame-seaweed topping from the original Buldak packet.
It feels like a summer upgrade to regular Buldak. You still get the spicy sauce, but the cold broth makes it feel more refreshing and easier to crave when the weather is hot.
You might also like:
Read: Best Korean Convenience Store Snacks Tourists Should Try →
1. What Is Buldak Naengmyeon?
♡ Spicy Buldak ramen meets icy Korean naengmyeon broth
Buldak Naengmyeon is a viral Korean summer noodle trend made by turning spicy Buldak ramen into an ice-cold noodle dish. Instead of eating the noodles hot and dry like regular Buldak, people boil the noodles, rinse them in cold water, mix them with Buldak sauce, and then add chilled naengmyeon broth with ice. The result is spicy, cold, tangy, chewy, and refreshing at the same time. It feels like the perfect summer version of Buldak because you still get the spicy flavor, but the icy broth makes it feel lighter and more addictive.
Helpful picks for food photos and summer days:
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
2. Why Is Buldak Naengmyeon Going Viral in Korea?
♡ It is spicy, icy, cheap, easy, and perfect for summer
The reason Buldak Naengmyeon is going viral is simple: it looks fun, sounds intense, and is easy to make at home. Korea gets extremely hot and humid in the summer, so cold noodles already make sense. But adding Buldak makes the dish feel more exciting, more internet-friendly, and more Gen Z. It is the kind of recipe people want to film because the steps are satisfying: cold water rinse, icy broth, spicy sauce, cucumber, egg, and that final Buldak topping packet. It is also cheaper than going out for naengmyeon, which makes it even more shareable.
Helpful picks for food photos and summer days:
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
3. What You Need to Make Buldak Naengmyeon
♡ One Buldak packet, cold naengmyeon broth, ice, and simple toppings
For the basic version, you need one packet of original Buldak ramen, one packet or bottle of naengmyeon broth, ice or frozen naengmyeon broth slush, cucumber, boiled egg, and the Buldak topping packet with sesame seeds and seaweed flakes. You can also add a few drops of vinegar and a small amount of yellow mustard sauce, the kind people often eat with naengmyeon. The ingredients are simple, but the combination makes the dish feel like a spicy Korean convenience store summer hack.
Helpful picks for food photos and summer days:
ROUND LAB Birch Juice Sunscreen →
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
4. How to Make Buldak Naengmyeon
♡ Boil, rinse, mix, chill, top, and enjoy
Start by boiling the Buldak noodles until they are cooked. Strain the noodles, then rinse them really well under cold water so they become chewy, cold, and less sticky. Put the cold noodles into a bowl or pot, add the Buldak sauce, and mix until the noodles are evenly coated. Then pour in cold naengmyeon broth and add naengmyeon ice or regular ice. Top with cucumber, boiled egg, and the Buldak sesame seaweed topping packet. If you want extra naengmyeon flavor, add about three drops of vinegar and a tiny bit of yellow mustard sauce. Mix gently and enjoy it while it is still icy.
Helpful picks for food photos and summer days:
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
5. Best Toppings for Buldak Naengmyeon
♡ Cucumber, egg, seaweed flakes, sesame seeds, and crunchy extras
The classic toppings are cucumber, boiled egg, sesame seeds, and seaweed flakes from the original Buldak packet. Cucumber makes the dish feel fresher, the egg balances the spice, and the topping packet adds that familiar Buldak flavor. You can also add shredded lettuce, pear slices, radish, green onion, or extra ice if you want it colder. Some people add meat, dumplings, or convenience store sides, but honestly the simple version is already good because the spicy sauce and icy broth are the main point.
Helpful picks for food photos and summer days:
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
6. Is Buldak Naengmyeon Spicy?
♡ Yes, but the cold broth makes the heat feel different
Buldak Naengmyeon is still spicy because you are using Buldak sauce, but the cold broth and ice make the spice feel different from regular hot Buldak. It feels more refreshing at first, then the spice builds up. If you are sensitive to spice, start with half of the Buldak sauce and add more after tasting. If you love spicy food, use the full sauce packet and add extra mustard or vinegar for a sharper naengmyeon-style flavor. The best part is that you can control the spice level pretty easily.
Helpful picks for food photos and summer days:
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
7. What Does Buldak Naengmyeon Taste Like?
♡ Spicy, cold, tangy, chewy, and strangely refreshing
The taste is a mix of spicy Buldak sauce, cold savory-sour naengmyeon broth, chewy noodles, crunchy cucumber, and creamy egg. It sounds a little chaotic, but that is why people are curious about it. The cold broth makes the Buldak sauce feel less heavy, while the sauce makes the naengmyeon broth feel more exciting. It is not exactly ramen and not exactly traditional naengmyeon. It is more like a spicy summer noodle hack that tastes like something you would crave during a heat wave.
Helpful picks for food photos and summer days:
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
8. Is Buldak Naengmyeon Worth Trying?
♡ If you like Buldak, cold noodles, or Korean food trends, yes
Buldak Naengmyeon is worth trying if you like spicy Korean food, viral convenience store recipes, or summer noodle dishes. It is not a traditional dish in the serious sense, but it is exactly the kind of playful food trend that makes Korean food culture so fun online. It is easy to make, easy to customize, and perfect for hot weather. If you already love Buldak, this is probably one of the most refreshing ways to eat it during summer.
Helpful picks for food photos and summer days:
ROUND LAB Birch Juice Sunscreen →
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
Easy Buldak Naengmyeon Recipe
This is the simple version of the viral cold Buldak noodle trend. Adjust the sauce depending on your spice level.
Ingredients
1 packet original Buldak ramen, 1 cold naengmyeon broth packet, ice or naengmyeon ice, cucumber, 1 boiled egg, Buldak topping packet, optional vinegar, and optional yellow naengmyeon mustard.
Steps
1. Boil the Buldak noodles until cooked.
2. Strain the noodles.
3. Rinse the noodles under cold water until they feel chilled and chewy.
4. Put the noodles into a bowl or pot.
5. Add the Buldak sauce and mix well.
6. Pour in cold naengmyeon broth.
7. Add naengmyeon ice or regular ice.
8. Add cucumber, boiled egg, and the sesame-seaweed topping packet.
9. Optional: add 3 drops of vinegar and a tiny bit of yellow mustard sauce.
10. Mix gently and eat while it is still ice cold.
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
What I Would Use to Film Buldak Naengmyeon
Buldak Naengmyeon is very visual, so it is perfect for short-form food content. These are the simple things I would use for recipe videos, noodle shots, food photos, and Korean summer content.
Shop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ Use my Olive Young code SEOUL724 for discounts.
My Buldak Naengmyeon Tip
The most important step is rinsing the noodles really well with cold water. This makes the noodles chewier, colder, and much better for the icy broth. I would also start with less Buldak sauce if you are not used to spice, then add more after tasting.
For the most refreshing version, use very cold naengmyeon broth, plenty of ice, thin cucumber slices, and a boiled egg. The vinegar and yellow mustard are optional, but they make it taste more like actual naengmyeon.
Shop My Seoul Café KitShop through my Amazon links to check the latest price and deals ♡ As an Amazon Associate, The Seoul Edit earns from qualifying purchases.
Want More Korean Food Trend Guides?
Join the list for viral Korean food trends, Seoul café finds, K-beauty picks, Pinterest-friendly guides, and cute internet finds.
Final Thoughts
Buldak Naengmyeon is going viral because it is exactly what people want in summer: cold, spicy, easy, cheap, and fun to make. It takes a familiar Korean instant noodle and turns it into something that feels refreshing enough for hot weather.
It is not traditional naengmyeon, and it is not regular Buldak. It is somewhere in between: a spicy cold noodle hack that feels made for Korean SNS, TikTok, convenience store cravings, and summer nights at home.
If you like Buldak, cold noodles, or viral Korean food trends, this is definitely one to try before summer ends.
