Brandwave

Nongshim vs Samyang:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Samyang had more branded searches than Nongshim among instant noodle brands in New Zealand. Samyang had about 8,280 branded searches, while Nongshim had 4,240. Samyang made up 36.4% of all instant noodle brand searches we track, and Nongshim accounted for 18.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about instant noodle brands, Nongshim and Samyang each appeared in four of the five answers. Nongshim was mentioned before Samyang in four out of five answers.

Among instant noodle brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Samyang, about 2 searches for every 1 for Nongshim

Samyang 8.3K searchesNongshim 4.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

Nongshim in 4 of 5Samyang in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Nongshim, named ahead of Samyang in 4 of 5 answers

Nongshim first in 4Samyang first in 1

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Top instant noodle brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Nongshim and Samyang were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Nongshim was listed before Samyang in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Indomie1st
  2. Nongshim2nd
  3. Samyang3rd
  4. Ottogi4th
  5. Maggi5th
  6. Nissin6th
  7. Wai Wai–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Indomie5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Samyang4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Nongshim4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Maggi3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Nissin3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ottogi2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Wai Wai0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about instant noodle brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Nongshim or Samyang more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Nongshim and Samyang by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven instant noodle brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Nongshim and Samyang among instant noodle brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Samyang, Nongshim. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSamyangIndomieNongshimMaggiNissinOttogiWai Wai
Oct 202538.6%19.3%19.5%16.8%2.4%1.9%1.6%
Nov 202539.3%20.7%18.8%16%2.3%1.6%1.4%
Dec 202535.8%22.2%21.4%14.9%2.4%1.4%2%
Jan 202635%20.9%21.5%16.9%2.6%1.5%1.5%
Feb 202636.8%22.6%18%16%2.7%1.9%2%
Mar 202631.5%24.4%21.6%15.7%2.8%2.1%1.9%
Apr 202633.4%22.9%20.7%16.3%2.8%1.9%2%
May 202630.9%23.3%20.8%17.1%3.8%2.2%1.8%
Jun 202631.1%22.8%21.6%17.2%3.4%2.2%1.6%
Jul 202632.9%20.2%22.3%16.2%3.6%3.2%1.6%
Aug 202633.6%20.7%21.2%16.8%3.6%2.4%1.7%
Sep 202636.4%23.1%18.7%15.7%2.5%2%1.7%

How has the Nongshim and Samyang comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Samyang was ahead of Nongshim in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nongshim’s share of searches among instant noodle brands in New Zealand moved from 19.5% to 18.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.3K to 4.2K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Samyang’s share of searches among instant noodle brands in New Zealand moved from 38.6% to 36.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.4K to 8.3K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand instant noodle brands in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Indomie overtook Nongshim to rank 2nd among instant noodle brands in New Zealand, with 23.1% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Samyang gained share of searches among instant noodle brands in New Zealand, from 33.6% to 36.4%.

  3. In September 2026, Nongshim lost share of searches among instant noodle brands in New Zealand, from 21.2% to 18.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

17 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nongshim’s and Samyang’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Nongshim

12 branded search terms

  • nongshim
  • nongshim bowl noodle
  • nongshim chapagetti
  • nongshim onion rings
  • nongshim ramen
  • nongshim ramyun
  • noodle nongshim
  • ramen shin ramyun
  • shin ramyun
  • shin ramyun cup
  • shin ramyun kimchi
  • shin ramyun noodles

Samyang

5 branded search terms

  • buldak
  • buldak noodles
  • samyang buldak
  • samyang noodles
  • samyang ramen

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among instant noodle brands

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