CU, Sinchon 'Choe-rutan Hangover Ramen' Exclusive Fedra Ramen Sale

CU's Fedora Ramen.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] CU has partnered with ‘Hwedra,’ a representative long-established restaurant in the Sinchon area, to exclusively sell the signature menu item ‘Choe-rutan Hangover Ramen’ as a cup noodle called ‘Hwedra Ramen (1,700 KRW)’.

According to CU on the 26th, Hwedra, which opened in 1973, has been consistently loved for nearly 50 years for its unchanging taste. With the rise of the retro trend, interest in long-established restaurants with traditional flavors has increased, attracting a wide range of generations from middle-aged office workers to young university students.

The Choe-rutan Hangover Ramen, which inspired Hwedra Ramen, is named for its intensely spicy flavor that can bring tears and a runny nose after just one bite. It is famous for its spicy yet refreshing broth made with clam stock, kimchi, bean sprouts, and Cheongyang chili peppers.

The Hwedra Ramen introduced by CU this time is developed with a hangover ramen concept, featuring addictive spicy broth and generous toppings.

To replicate the deep and rich flavor unique to Choe-rutan Hangover Ramen, CU devoted several months to product development based on the recipe directly handed down from Hwedra, and enhanced the product’s completeness through meticulous internal evaluations.

The product contains a powdered soup base made from Cheongyang chili peppers and a key secret ingredient, the kimchi bean sprout block. The kimchi and bean sprouts used as toppings are processed using a rapid drying method to minimize nutrient loss, preserving their crisp texture even when hot water is added.

In this way, CU is meeting customers’ needs for new food experiences by launching convenience store products that allow easy nationwide access to representative menus from famous restaurants.

In fact, the ready-to-eat series CU launched last month in collaboration with barbecue specialty restaurant Kkudang and fried omakase specialty restaurant Kushimasa attracted great attention on social media from the start, ranking 2nd in rice bowl sales and 4th in triangular kimbap sales last month.

CU plans to continuously expand its product lineup developed in collaboration with famous restaurants while promoting mutual growth with local small business owners by utilizing its approximately 16,000 stores nationwide.

Choi Jeongtae, MD of the Processed Food Team at BGF Retail, said, “The most important aspect when commercializing famous restaurant menus is to provide customers with a differentiated gourmet experience through high completeness.” He added, “CU will continue to develop products inspired by signature menus from distinctive restaurants across the country to ensure customers enjoy satisfying meals.”