Surprised by a 9,500 Won Dubai Chewy Cookie... Is That Really Somyeon Noodles Inside?

Suspicions of Using Somyeon Noodles Instead of Kadaif, the Original Ingredient
Criticism Spreads: "Disclosure Is Necessary When Substitute Ingredients Are Used"

Recently, controversy has arisen over the popular dessert "Dubai Chewy Cookie" as some consumers have raised suspicions that certain stores are using somyeon noodles instead of kadaif, the ingredient widely known to be used in the product. Consumer reviews have spread rapidly online, leading to criticism regarding product quality and disclosure of ingredients.

The appearance of Dubai chewy cookies, presumed to be made with somyeon noodles, which are currently controversial online. X

"This Doesn't Have the Kadaif Texture"... Allegations of Somyeon Noodle Use

The controversy began on January 11, when a consumer posted a review on a delivery app and shared a post on an online community. The consumer uploaded a cross-sectional photo of the "Dubai Chewy Cookie" ordered from a specific store, along with a post titled, "Why did you put somyeon noodles in a cookie that costs 9,500 won?" The post was shared via social networking services (SNS) and surpassed 1.06 million views within a single day.

The Dubai Chewy Cookie is a dessert that originated in Korea, inspired by the "Dubai Chocolate" trend of 2024. The typical method involves mixing kadaif (thin Middle Eastern noodles), the core ingredient of Dubai Chocolate, with pistachio cream to make the filling, then wrapping it in a cocoa-powdered marshmallow and shaping it into a ball.

The problem was that the product the consumer received looked very different from a typical Dubai Chewy Cookie. Based on the photos, the reviewer claimed, "Instead of kadaif, there was an ingredient that looked like somyeon noodles." The reviewer also stated, "There was no mention of somyeon noodles in the product description or list of ingredients," and added, "Even just by looking at it, it had the appearance of somyeon noodles and could hardly be considered kadaif."

Complaints were raised not only about the appearance but also the texture. The reviewer explained, "It didn't have the signature crispy texture of kadaif, but instead felt hard and coarse." However, the reviewer did not request a refund, but left a review suggesting, "The contents in the published photo and the cookie I actually received looked different."

"If Substitute Ingredients Are Used, Disclosure Is Necessary"-Consumer Criticism Spreads

However, the seller reportedly responded with a brief reply unrelated to the review itself, saying only, "Thank you for leaving a nice review."

Afterward, similar criticisms appeared in reviews from other consumers who claimed to have purchased from the same store. These reviews included comments such as, "It was hard to detect the unique texture or flavor of kadaif," and "The presence of marshmallow or pistachio cream was weak."

Along with the quality controversy, complaints about the price were also raised. Consumers responded that "the quality does not meet expectations for a price over 9,000 won."

Netizens who saw the post pointed out the obligation to disclose, saying, "If substitute ingredients were used, this should have been clearly stated in the product name or description." Some also argued, "If the ingredients have changed, the price should be adjusted accordingly."