This instant noodle dish, jjapaguri (or ram-don), from the movie Parasite is getting highly popular all over the world. It’s easy to make at home and quite delicious!
I know I’m a little late to the Jjapaguri (or Chapaguri, 짜파구리) party. After seeing it in the movie Parasite (Gisaengchung, 기생충), I became curious about reactions to this steak version of the popular instant noodles. Lo and behold, it took Korea by storm in 2019 since the release of the movie. And it’s rapidly spreading to the rest of the world. So, let’s jump on the Jjapaguri bandwagon and try making it!
Movie Parasite and Jjapaguri (Ram-don)
Parasite (2019) became the first Korean film to win the Cannes Palme d’Or. The film won the Golden Globe Best Foreign Language Film. It also became the first non-English film to win the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
I can’t wait to find out next Sunday what happens with the film’s six nominations at the Academy Awards. Go Parasite!
UPDATE OSCARS 2020: Parasite wins Best picture, Best Director, Best International Feature Film, and Best Original Screenplay.
The movie tells the story of two families — the rich and the poor. As a class subtext, this cheap instant noodle dish gets upgraded with expensive beef, Hanwoo (한우). It refers to a breed of small cattle native to Korea. Hanwoo beef is considered premium quality and very expensive. In the movie, the rich mom asked the housekeeper to make Jjapaguri with Hanwoo for her son, although the subtitles simply called it sirloin. She ended up eating the dish alone, which was served in a high-end china (Juliska), at her big wooden dining table.
What is jjapaguri?
Jjapaguri is a dish created by consumers by combining two highly popular instant noodle brands —Chapagetti (짜파게티) and Neoguri (너구리). Actually, its popularity started in 2013 when this brilliant combination of two distinct noodles was featured in a Korean TV show.
Chapagetti is an instant noodle version of the popular Korean-Chinese noodle dish, jajangmyeon (also spelled jjajangmyeon or chajangmyeon). Interestingly, while there’s nothing Italian about it, the company came up with the name “chapagetti” which is a portmanteau of the words, chajang (blackbean sauce) and spaghetti.
Neoguri, on the other hand, is a spicy seafood flavored instant noodle soup with thick and chewy udon-style noodles. According to Korean news media, Neoguri is Bong Jun Ho’s favorite instant noodle brand.
The combined dish is instant jajangmyeon with a spicy kick and extra flavor from the Neoguri soup base.
Apparently, the translators of the movie couldn’t translate Jjapaguri into something non-Korean speaking audience could relate, so they called it “ram-don” in the subtitles from the words “ramen” and “udon.”
How to make jjapaguri (ram-don) with steak
Here, I used the recipe on the Korean website of the company that makes these instant noodles, and simply added some beef as the movie showed.
The beef actually adds a nice twist to the dish while making it more substantial. I tried to stay true to the movie, short of using Hanwoo quality beef, but you can, of course, add any protein you like.
Simply cook the noodles with the veggie flakes from the packets, and drain the noodles, reserving the water. Return the noodles back to the pot, and add a cup of the reserved water and the sauce mix. Stir the noodles well until the sauce is well distributed and slightly thickens, about a minute. Stir in the cooked steak and the oil from Chapagetti.
The company website says to use the entire packet of the Chapagetti sauce and ⅗ of the Neoguri spicy sauce. Adjust to your taste. It also suggests a fried egg or cucumber slices as optional toppings.
Watch how to make it!
Have you tried this jjapaguri recipe? Please rate the recipe below and leave a comment! Stay in touch by following me onYouTube,Pinterest,Twitter,Facebook, andInstagram.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces tender beef (such as sirloin, ribeye, NY strip)
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or other cooking oil
- 2 garlic cloves, roughly crushed - optional
- 1 pack Chapagetti (짜파게티)
- 1 pack Neoguri (너구리)
Instructions
- Cut the beef into bite size pieces and generously sprinkle with salt and pepper. At this point, start boiling 4 cups of water in a medium size pot.
- Heat a pan with a tablespoon of olive oil or other cooking oil. Add the meat, and cook until the bottoms are nicely seared. Turn them over, and add the optional garlic. Cook/brown all sides to the slightly less than desired doneness.
- When water boils, add the noodles and the vegetable mix from the packets and continue boiling for about 3 minutes. The noodles should be al dente at this point because they will be cooked again.
- Transfer the noodles with a strainer to the pan with the steak, reserving the water. Pour a cup of the reserved water over the noodles. Turn the heat to medium. Add the entire packet of the Chapagetti sauce and ⅗ of the Neoguri sauce (or to taste).
- Stir everything well until the sauce is evenly distributed and slightly thickens, about a minute. Add more reserved water if needed. Turn the heat off.
- Stir in the oil from Chapagetti. Serve with pickled radish or kimchi.
Jeannie K says
This was so easy and delicious! I made it exactly as written except cut back on the spicy packet more. I had a question about portions though…I made this for 2 people using the 2 packs of noodles but is there a way to cut the portion in half since I’m usually cooking for just myself? Or can half the cooked portion be saved for the day after without becoming too gummy? Thank you for this yummy recipe!
Hyosun says
Glad this turned out well for you! Simply use a half of everything, e.g., 1/2 pack of each noodle type. I do that sometimes when I eat alone. I wouldn’t recommend saving cooked noodles.
holly says
Thank you for this quick recipe – followed your video and it turned out great!
Rae says
I live in Korea, my Neoguri comes with a piece of kelp. Do I use it or just throw it out?
Hyosun says
Use it when you boil the noodles. It will add umami to the dish!
Lauren says
Hello! Thanks for the fabulous video. I’m planning on making this tonight! I was wondering if you could sub chicken for steak?
Hyosun says
Of course! It’ll just be a little different. Enjoy!
L. Engelhart says
The movie Parasite deserved all the nominations and prizes.
The recipe also is really delicious ❤️
Hyosun says
Yup it did! And thank you!
Fariba says
I am from Iran and realy wanted to try this famouse food in movie parasite meanwhile if I find these noodels many thanks for your lovely recipies
Steven says
This was absolutely delicious, thanks for the simple recipe!
MLisa Kelley says
Hi Hyosun,
I would love to re-create this dish for my family, but I have a shellfish allergy and it is my understanding that one of these flavor packets contains shellfish. Could you suggest a seasoning substitute?
Hyosun says
Hi MLisa! If you have any other spicy instant ramen noodle soup you can have, use the seasoning mix from that. Not sure if this helps, but I can’t think of anything else at this point. Sorry!
Pauline Stavaris says
Coconut aminos and Worcestershire are your closest things that can mimic the taste and umami of fish sauce (that’s made of shell fish) also Tamari (different type of soy sauce). I find that a combo of coconut aminos and worcestershire sauce (2:1 ratio) works best. Hope that helps.
Pamela Ryba says
A little anchovy paste is my go to to replace shellfish…just a dab give great flavor. If you buy a brand that is marked Kosher and it will guarantee there are no shellfish ingredients in it.
Mick Buckley says
Hi Hyosun, I cant seem to find Chapagetti anywhere, will Chacharoni work instead?
Hyosun says
Yes it will. Enjoy!
civichief says
I watched the movie in German and did not know what „Lam Dong“ could be.
Now I know by a teisted Google search, thank you.
I enjoy your website a lot since my parents passed away, because as a kid I did not pay attention to the creation of Korean dishes – I did not even remember most of the names of the dishes, just German descriptions
Hyosun says
Oh that’s interesting! I wonder how it’s translated in different languages. Thanks for sharing your personal stories!
Jeremy says
Added peas while noodles are cooking
Green onions on top when serving
Hyosun says
I bet it was beautiful!
Malica M. says
Thank you for the recipe. Finally found Chapagetti, people probably hoarding it. We loved it 😋
Excited to try out your other recipes.
Taina Telfort says
Do I have to use the chapagetti noodles in this recipe? It’s hard to find this type of noodle at the grocery stores since of the virus .
Hyosun says
For this dish, you’ll need some sort of instant jajangmyeon noodles. Hope things get better soon.
Denny Li says
Thanks so much for this! I saw the movie and thought she was just eating a dry style instant ramen – like the Paldo brand Bul Nak ramen I love- with some beef. No idea it was a combo of 2 different instant ramen! I’ve had Neoguri ramen and like it, but have never found Chapagetti enticing enough to try. Now I can’t wait to go buy both so I can taste this!
Nicole says
Does this taste like seafood at all? I don’t like seafood
Hyosun says
I don’t think it does. No prominent seafood flavors.
Angela says
Can’t wait to try this!
Can you substitute the Neoguri for Shin Ramyun or other spicy instant noodles?
Hyosun says
Yes, you can. Thicker noodles are better if you have a choice. Enjoy!
Darren says
Excellent! So easy to make.
Do not overcook your meat. The directions do say to cook it to slightly less than your desired doneness, but it will continue to cook if you leave it in the pan while waiting for the noodles to boil, and will cook even more when you add the hot noodles. To avoid over-cooking your meat and making it too chewy, you may want to take it out of the pan after cooking, then adding it back in after adding the noodles and soup mix.
Hyosun says
Yes, that will help! Thanks.
Veronica says
Done! Easy and the best new to my taste. Thanks for the recipe.
Hyosun says
Great! You’re welcome! Glad you tried it.
Clara says
I will try it. Just for curiosity although dislike both these flavours. I actually like cooking the dishes from scratch but since my other Korean friends are doing it… just for curiosity.
But honestly though, I prefer your jajjamgmyeon noodles recipes. And make your haemul jeongol too. Those recipes are delicious thank you so much for them.
Mstjan says
Dear Hyosum,
Thank you very much for sharing your recipes! I missed Korea a lot. The food is amazingly delicious and nutritious, except for the Instant noodles…., but when hungry and not much time for cooking it helps!
Gamzahamnida!
May Lani