Itaewon ramen shop for a weekday date: torched chashu at Okagura

I was hunting for a good ramen place in Itaewon and ended up at Okagura Ramen, which makes its noodles in-house. There were even autographs from celebrities hanging on the wall.

What is Okagura Ramen, and what did we order?

Okagura Ramen is a Japanese ramen shop with house-made noodles, about a 5-minute walk from Itaewon Station exit 4, near the Yongsan-gu Office. I went on a weekday evening with my girlfriend, and we ordered one basic tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen and one spicy umakara tonkotsu.

I'd been looking for a great Itaewon ramen spot and found Okagura Ramen, where you can try ramen made with house-made noodles! Both the rich broth and the spicy, kick-in-the-throat broth were so good. It was a hearty dinner in a Japanese ramen shop atmosphere, and I'll tell you all about it!

Okagura Ramen location and opening hours

Okagura Ramen is at 26 Itaewon-ro 14-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (1st floor), 382 m and about a 5-minute walk from Itaewon Station (Line 6) exit 4. It's open Tuesday to Sunday 11:20–21:30 (break time 15:30–17:00, last order 15:00 and 21:00), and on Monday it's lunch only, 11:20–15:30 (last order 15:00). There are no regular holidays.

Exterior: white sign and cloth curtain

You feel that Japanese ramen shop vibe right from the entrance. The white sign, cloth curtain and wooden deck stand out even in the alley, so it was easy to find.

Interior: wooden deck and chandelier

The inside is styled like a Japanese seating area and is very clean, and the wooden deck is especially pretty. Even the chandelier shows great interior sense 👍🏻👍🏻

Celebrity autographs at the counter

There were autographs by the counter. Apparently celebrities have visited this ramen place too, haha.

Open kitchen and noodle machine

In the middle of the shop you can watch the ramen being made up close, haha.

Seeing the noodle machine in the shop, you realize they pull their own noodles, so I was looking forward to the noodles most of all.

Atmosphere: soft lighting and window group seating

Overall the mood was relaxed, with soft lighting, and there was private group seating by the window. The owner was friendly too, so it felt like an easy, no-pressure place to eat ramen.

Okagura Ramen menu and prices

Okagura Ramen centers on tonkotsu ramen, with miso ramen, mazesoba (brothless mixed noodles), and bite-size gyoza (dumplings), plus beer, highballs, sours and sake.

For the ramen you can choose noodle firmness from firm, regular (chewy), or soft, and add toppings like chashu (braised pork), egg, and menma (bamboo shoots).

• Tonkotsu ramen ₩13,000
• Umakara tonkotsu ₩13,000
• Miso ramen ₩14,000
• Mazesoba ₩14,000

Here's what we ordered that day.

• Tonkotsu ramen, regular firmness ₩13,000
• Umakara tonkotsu, level 2 ₩13,000
• Extra chashu ₩2,500
• Extra egg ₩1,500

How do Okagura Ramen's tonkotsu and umakara tonkotsu taste?

Side dishes and table sauces

The default side dish is pickled radish (danmuji) with ginger, and if you'd like plain pickled radish you can ask to swap it.

On the table there's rayu (chili oil) sauce, motodare sauce, and shichimi (Japanese seven-spice).

There's also Japanese pepper, so you can adjust the broth to your own taste.

Warm oolong tea and water are set out separately too, which I loved, haha.

Tonkotsu ramen (₩13,000)

Okagura Ramen's tonkotsu ramen (₩13,000) is the basic bowl: rich pork bone broth with thin noodles, chashu, a soft-boiled egg, wood ear mushrooms and green onion. The broth is heavy, and that nutty pork-bone flavor hits you from the very first spoonful.

The noodles keep a chewy texture that goes well with the thick broth. Being able to pick the noodle firmness to my taste was really great!

Torch-seared chashu

The chashu at Okagura Ramen is torched on the surface to give it a smoky flame aroma. One bite and a faint smokiness comes first, and the meat goes down as soft as dongpayuk (braised pork belly). It's thick but not tough, so it was great together with the noodles.

Umakara tonkotsu level 2 with extra chashu and egg (₩17,000)

Okagura Ramen's umakara tonkotsu (₩13,000) is a spicy tonkotsu ramen with red rayu added to the pork bone broth for a sharp kick. That day I had level 2 with extra chashu and egg, so it came with three slices of chashu and three pieces of soft-boiled egg. The yolk was perfectly moist, and scooped up with the noodles it was twice as nutty!

If the basic tonkotsu is about enjoying the deep flavor of the broth itself, the umakara adds a spicy kick to that heavy broth, so even with the same base the difference was clear.

A spoonful of raw garlic, then rice in the broth

Partway through I added some raw garlic. The garlic aroma spread through the broth and made the flavor sharper.

At the end I brought over a bowl of rice, mixed it into the leftover broth, and cleaned out every last bit!

What to know before visiting Okagura Ramen

Ordering and payment

At Okagura Ramen you order with the QR code on the table and pay at the counter after your meal. The mazesoba takes about 15 minutes to prepare, so keep that in mind when ordering.

Seating and amenities

There are bar seats facing the kitchen, tables for 2 and 4, and group seating. Free Wi-Fi is available too.

Parking

Okagura Ramen has no parking lot of its own, and the nearest is the Yongsan-gu Office car park. It's within walking distance of Itaewon Station, so going by public transport is easier.

Opening hours

Tuesday to Sunday there's a break time from 15:30 to 17:00, and on Monday it's lunch only. Hours can change, so check once more before you go.

Tips for enjoying Okagura Ramen

Go for chewy noodles

If you like a chewy texture, start with regular (chewy). The noodles don't go soggy easily in the rich broth, so the texture lasted to the very end.

Add pepper, shichimi and garlic halfway

Taste the plain broth first, then add pepper and shichimi, and you'll clearly notice the difference.

Raw garlic is strong, so add it little by little.

Adjust the seasoning with table sauces

If you want it spicier, add a little rayu sauce, and if you want more seasoning, add a little motodare sauce. If there's broth left, finish by mixing in the free rice for a filling end!

Where to go on your Itaewon date after dinner

After the ramen, my girlfriend and I slowly wandered the streets near Itaewon Station. Okagura Ramen is close to the station, so it was nice to stroll after dinner.

Okagura Ramen FAQ

Is Okagura Ramen good for a date or dining alone?

The long bar seating facing the kitchen makes it easy to sit alone, and the 2-person tables and calm atmosphere make it good for a date too. There are also 4-person tables and group seating.

How is umakara tonkotsu different from tonkotsu ramen at Okagura Ramen?

The tonkotsu ramen lets you enjoy the rich, nutty flavor of the pork bone broth as it is. The umakara tonkotsu adds rayu to the same broth for a spicy kick, and you can choose the spice level.

Can you choose noodle firmness at Okagura Ramen?

Yes, you can choose from three levels: firm, regular (chewy), or soft. I had regular that day, and the chewy texture went well with the rich broth.

Is rice free at Okagura Ramen?

Rice is free. Mixing it into the leftover broth makes a hearty finish to the meal.

Does Okagura Ramen have parking?

There's no parking lot of its own. The nearest car park is the Yongsan-gu Office car park.

Final thoughts on Okagura Ramen

At Okagura Ramen I could enjoy noodles pulled in the shop, with a choice of firmness to suit my taste, and I liked having such a friendly owner. There was even candy at the end, which made it perfect. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great ramen place in Itaewon before or after a date.