Trying Korea’s Spiciest Curry: Uchino Curry Death Level 4 vs. Dindin Donkatsu!

For those who crave the ultimate spicy food challenge, South Korea is a veritable playground. Famous for its fiery dishes, I, like many spice enthusiasts, was intrigued by the legendary spice levels of Korean cuisine. Months ago, I dared to conquer two of the most notorious dishes: Shindangdong Ddeokbokki and Shingildong Spicy Jjampong. These experiences, captured in a video that garnered over 10,000 views, pushed my limits to the extreme. As someone who isn’t naturally accustomed to intense heat, the aftereffects were… memorable, to say the least, leaving me with flu-like symptoms the next day. I truly believed these were the pinnacle of Korean spiciness.

Discovering Uchino Curry: The “Death Flavor” Challenge

However, I recently learned about a contender rumored to be even spicier – Uchino Curry in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, known for its “death flavor” curry. Adding fuel to the fire, I discovered that even Solbi, a Korean celebrity renowned for her spice tolerance and dubbed a ‘spicy food master,’ claimed Uchino Curry to be the spiciest dish she’d ever encountered. She nonchalantly consumed dishes like Dindin Donkatsu, dismissing it as “sweet,” but Uchino Curry was the first to bring tears to her eyes and make her visibly struggle. This was the same Dindin Donkatsu that many consider unbearably spicy! If someone who eats Dindin Donkatsu like it’s a regular Kim Bap Cheon Guk (Korean fast food chain) special mentions Uchino Curry being spicy, my curiosity was piqued. How intense could it possibly be?

Despite my aversion to extreme spiciness, my adventurous spirit and YouTube commitments spurred me to take on the challenge. I had to see if Uchino Curry truly lived up to its reputation as potentially surpassing even Dindin Donkatsu in sheer heat.

Facing the Death Curry: Level 4 at Uchino Curry

Uchino Curry offers four levels of spiciness, culminating in Level 4, aptly named “Death Flavor.” This level is rumored to be even spicier than Dindin Donkatsu. Naturally, I opted for Level 4. Uchino Curry has a “challenge time” between 2 PM and 3 PM daily. If you can finish Level 4 within 20 minutes during this hour, your meal is free, and you earn bragging rights. Unfortunately, I arrived around 1 PM, missing the challenge window. But honestly, the thought of a challenge didn’t even cross my mind. My primary goal was simply to experience the infamous Level 4.

The First Bite and the Heat Onslaught

When the Level 4 curry arrived, the aroma wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy, which was slightly misleading. I took my first bite, intending to “calm my stomach” as Koreans often say before a spicy meal.

Whoa.

Uchino Curry’s Level 4 lived up to the hype. The spiciness was intense, undeniably surpassing 엽기떡볶이 (Yeopgi Tteokbokki) by at least tenfold. It was without a doubt the spiciest curry I had ever tasted. But the crucial question remained: was it spicier than Dindin Donkatsu?

Uchino Curry vs. Dindin Donkatsu: The Ultimate Spicy Showdown

From the very first bite, it became clear. While Uchino Curry was undeniably fiery, it didn’t quite reach the same level of agonizing heat as Dindin Donkatsu or Shingildong Spicy Jjampong. Dindin Donkatsu remained the undisputed champion of spiciness in my book. In fact, Dindin Donkatsu was significantly spicier. If Dindin Donkatsu is akin to nuclear fire noodles ( 핵불닭볶음면 ), then Uchino Curry Level 4 is more like regular fire noodles ( 불닭볶음면 ) – spicy, but not in the same league.

While the video might portray me struggling with the spice, remember that I am naturally sensitive to heat. During my Dindin Donkatsu and Shingildong Spicy Jjampong challenges, I needed a whole liter of milk to survive. With Uchino Curry, a small carton of milk (450ml, although I forgot to buy it initially) was sufficient, and surprisingly, I even managed to keep eating, driven by a sense of not wanting to waste food. This is something I couldn’t even fathom with Dindin Donkatsu or Shingildong Spicy Jjampong, where abandoning the meal was the only option.

Final Verdict: Spicy, But Not the Spiciest

Uchino Curry’s “Death Flavor” is undoubtedly incredibly spicy, and perhaps the spiciest curry in Korea. However, when compared to the absolute titans of Korean spiciness like Dindin Donkatsu and Shingildong Spicy Jjampong, it falls slightly short. If Dindin Donkatsu is a fiery inferno, Uchino Curry is more like a very intense chili fire. It’s definitely not to be underestimated, but those who regularly enjoy moderately spicy dishes like stir-fried spicy squid will likely find Uchino Curry manageable, perhaps even comparable to a very spicy instant ramen.

So, while Uchino Curry is certainly worth trying for spice lovers seeking a challenge, Dindin Donkatsu still reigns supreme as the king of Korean spicy dishes, at least in my personal, very sensitive spice-o-meter!

Restaurant Information:

• Restaurant Name: Uchino Curry (우치노 카레)
• Location: Sinsa-dong, Seoul, South Korea
• Rating: Known for extremely spicy curry (“Death Flavor” level 4)