CU Cheat Key Real Cream Buldak Noodle Review [Korean Food]

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Korean convenience stores keep pushing cup noodles into bolder territory, and CU’s Cheat Key line is a good example. This is the second flavor in the series, the Real Cream Buldak. I’d been eager to try it ever since reviewing the Cheat Key Rich Shrimp Broth noodle that launched alongside it. Both share the same concept, a single kick with overwhelming flavor. True to its name, this one turned out to be unusual in both its makeup and its taste. So let’s dive right in.

Table of Contents

📋 At a Glance

Product: Cheat Key Real Cream Buldak
Brand/Store: CU
Price: 2,200 won (buy one get one free)
Calories: 505 kcal
Weight: 195g
Main components: Noodles, Cheat Key sauce, powder sachet, included shelf-stable milk
Verdict: ★4.0 — Real milk gives it standout creaminess, and it’s easy to enjoy even if you can’t handle heat.

CU Real Cream Buldak: Price and Highlights

CU has just rolled out its Cheat Key cup noodle lineup. As I mentioned with the Rich Shrimp Broth version reviewed earlier, these noodles are built around an unusually rich flavor front and center. Today’s pick is the second one, the Real Cream Buldak. Cream-buldak concepts like Carbo Buldak already exist, and plenty of similar products have come and gone. So what sets this one apart? Instead of milk powder, it uses actual milk. Pretty surprising, right? The price is 2,200 won, and if you time the buy-one-get-one-free promotion, you can grab it fairly cheap.

The total serving weighs 195g, with 505 kcal and roughly 55% of the daily recommended sodium. That’s not much different from other instant noodles in volume or calories. Looking at the ingredient list, real milk really does seem to be in there. Moreover, it isn’t just milk. Carbo powder and cream are mixed in too, which should push the flavor even higher.

Because of that, the cooking involves a few extra steps. You open the lid fully, pour milk and hot water up to the line, and microwave at 1000W for three minutes. Then you finish by stirring in the sauce and powder. There are two sauce packets, so be careful not to add them too early.

What’s Inside and How to Cook It

A Look at the Components

Let’s take a quick look at what’s inside. Once you open the package, there’s a paper cover tucked between the noodles and the sauce packets, and you simply toss it out. As the cooking steps suggested, you’ll find the Cheat Key sauce, a separate sauce, and the real milk.

There’s a sauce and a post-add powder in the mix. Honestly, since you add both after cooking and stir them in, the distinction hardly matters. One comes as a liquid type and the other as a powder type.

The milk sits in unusual packaging. Wondering whether it was truly milk, I checked, and the food type really is listed as milk. It uses shelf-stable milk, so storing it at room temperature is no problem. The carton even has an easy-cut design for effortless opening.

Cooking It Step by Step

Now let’s cook it exactly as instructed. First, add hot water and milk up to the line. The amount isn’t all that large, really. There’s no need to drain any water. I microwaved it right away at 1000W for three minutes.

Once the noodles are cooked through, just add the Cheat Key sauce and the powder, then stir well. At first it doesn’t seem to blend, but as it cools slightly it turns thick and dense. Already the nutty milk aroma with a hint of spice comes through, giving off a genuinely rich scent.

Here’s what the finished bowl looks like. Compared with similar products that used milk powder or carbo powder, it may not look all that different at a glance. Still, because real milk goes in, there’s a creaminess that photos just can’t capture.

Real Cream Buldak Taste Test

Now let’s dig in. The cream sauce is quite thick and dense, so I gave it another good stir before eating and took a big bite. As expected, the cream flavor was even richer than I’d imagined.

Carbo buldak menus tend to be broadly similar. That said, the heat here wasn’t as sharp as with other buldak products. A creamy sauce, a moderate kick, and the deep savory note that buldak sauce is known for came together into something quietly satisfying.

How It Differs from the Shrimp Broth Version

If the Cheat Key Rich Shrimp Broth was a version with the shrimp flavor cranked way up, this one is best seen as a version with the creaminess cranked up instead. Of course, everyone looks for something slightly different. Still, it isn’t a heat-forward cream buldak, so that’s worth keeping in mind.

Come to think of it, whether it’s a version with shelf-stable milk or one with milk powder, both deliver that nutty milk taste. However, the creaminess only real milk can produce is truly in a league of its own. On top of that, the sachet packs milk powder and carbo powder too, so the flavor comes alive even more.

This one also has plenty of that thick sauce. While you eat, keep stirring so the noodles soak up the sauce, and the flavor lands even richer. If you like, grab a gimbap or a triangle kimbap to enjoy alongside the sauce. It pairs surprisingly well.

Final Verdict

Personally, it was a pretty satisfying bowl. Even I, someone who struggles with spicy food, could enjoy it easily. Sure, the heat isn’t featherlight, and buldak is still buldak, but it felt lighter than the usual buldak. If you’re curious what a cream buldak made to fully showcase a rich cream sauce tastes like, this is well worth a try. And if you’re visiting Korea, you’ll find it at any CU location.

Spicy cream stir-fried noodle components

You can read more about CU rolling out its differentiated Cheat Key ramen brand, including the cream buldak made with a whole carton of milk, in this (Korean source) Electronic Times report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much does CU Cheat Key Real Cream Buldak cost?

It sells for 2,200 won. If you catch the buy-one-get-one-free promotion, it works out even cheaper. Each cup is 195g with 505 kcal.

Q. What does Real Cream Buldak taste like?

Rich, creamy, and only mildly spicy. The creamy sauce carries a moderate heat plus the savory depth of buldak sauce. Keep in mind it isn’t a heat-forward cream buldak.

Q. Does it really contain real milk?

Yes, a carton of shelf-stable milk comes included instead of milk powder. You add the real milk while cooking, and that is what makes the creaminess stand out.

Q. Is it okay for people who don’t like spicy food?

Even mild-heat eaters can enjoy it without much trouble. It’s lighter than most buldak products, so it suits anyone after a creamy take on the genre.

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