Have you ever tried chapagetti?
If not, then you’re probably wondering what the taste is like…
…let me tell you that it’s quite bitter. But if it’s bitter, why do so many people like chapatti and why is it so popular?
If you like black bean sauce, then you probably like chapagetti. For most people, it’s a hit or miss, but let me show you how to make it taste better (if you don’t like it already).
In short: Chapagetti tastes like instant noodles with black bean sauce. It’s a bit sweet and bitter. If I had to describe the taste it would be like the taste of sweet onions, and the bitterness of early harvested carrots.
That doesn’t sound very appetizing right…
Let’s dive deeper into why chapagetti is so better and how to make it taste better.
Why Is Chapagetti So Bitter?
The main reason why chapagetti is better is because of the black bean sauce. Black bean sauce in general tends to be quite bitter.
This is why most people don’t like it. Even though chapagetti is still one of the most popular dishes in South Korea, most people consider it to be delicious.
If you can’t handle the bitterness try following this tip here below.
Pro Tip: add some sugar to the chapagetti to counter the bitter taste.
Keep in mind that it might be bitter because of the brand you bought. There are many chapagetti brands out there and almost all of them taste different. There’s no one type of flavor that suits everyone.
Therefore, I always recommend buying multiple chapagetti noodles to see which one you like the best. The most popular chapagetti is from Nongshim. This brand sells all types of noodles anything from spicy to mild noodles.
How To Make Chapagetti Taste Better
Ways To Cook Chapagetti
There are different ways to cooking chapagetti, while most people boil it in instant water and eat it right out of the bowl. There are other ways to cook chapagetti.
You can stir-fry the noodles, and add different kinds of meat or vegetables. Depending on your personal preference of course.
Besides cooking instant chapagetti, you should consider making the black bean sauce yourself from scratch. This tastes 5x better than instant chapagetti.
Also making the thick noodles yourself is fun to do and healthier in general. You only need:
- Black Bean Paste
- Noodles
- Spices
- Water
Now, this isn’t considered chapagetti but rather jajangmyeon. The difference between jajangmyeon and chapagetti is that one is instant and the other one is homemade.
Both are delicious, but jajangmyeon in general is way better. The majority of people in South Korea eat jajangmyeon over chapagetti all day.
Locals only eat chapagetti when they’re either short on time or are too lazy.
But since home delivery in Seoul has become so easy, almost everyone orders jajangmyeon these days.
Should You Make It Spicy?
There has been this trend going around for years. Which is mixing:
- Chapagetti and Neoguri Spicy
These 2 flavors combined will enhance the flavor, making it less bitter.
And it also adds a bit of spiciness to the chapagetti. Even though this isn’t as popular in Seoul, many people do this overseas.
So, if you haven’t tried this already, make sure to give it a go.
Chapagetti vs. Jajangmyeon
Chapagetti is instant noodles that originate from the brand Nongshim. While Jajangmyeon has a very long history, which is basically black bean noodles that originate from China.
When people refer to jajangmyeon in Korea, the people tend to see it as a Chinese dish. If you’ve ever been to Seoul, you’ll see that most Chinese restaurants sell jajangmyeon.
Traditional Korean restaurants don’t seem to sell Jajangmyeon. Every time I went to the Myeon-dong market in Seoul I didn’t see any traditional Korean restaurants selling this.
These Korean restaurants tend to sell foods like Bibimbap or Tteokbokki.
Chapagetti Flavor
Personally, I would rate chapagetti an 8/10 in terms of flavor. But when you look at the convenience you get from buying chapagetti it’s outstanding.
Within a few minutes, your meal is ready to go, and if you add some pickled radish on the sides it’s even better.
If you didn’t know this already, Koreans tend to always have side dishes while eating their meal. Think about:
- Kimchi
- Cucumber
- Seaweed
These are just a few sides they have, and eating it with chapagetti really enhances the flavor. Make sure you give this a go, I’d highly recommend it.
Jajangmyeon Flavor
On the other hand, we have jajangmyeon, which is my favorite. I rate this a 9/10 because it tastes amazing and is quite easy to make.
Sadly, it does require some time to make the black bean sauce yourself. In total it would take me about 10 to 15 minutes to make the jajangmyeon.
While chapagetti is done in minutes.
Now, that doesn’t mean that I always go for the chapagetti, since it’s also less healthy. Making fresh noodles instead of instant noodles is always better.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re using lots of oil or seasoning powder.
Fresh is always and will always be better than instant noodles. So, if you have the time to make jajangmyeon yourself, give it a go, you won’t be disappointed.
Final Verdict: Worth Trying?
After all, chapagetti is definitely worth trying. Mixing it with Neoguri spicy noodles from Nongshim enhances the flavor, which makes it even better. So, if you’re running short on time and want something quick that’s also delicious, then chapagetti is the way to go.
