Uijeongbu ramen with spicy garlic broth: Aori’s Whereabouts Unknown

Aori’s Whereabouts Unknown, found from Exit 4 of Uijeongbu Station

Aori’s Whereabouts Unknown Uijeongbu Branch, a great ramen spot near Uijeongbu Station, is a five-minute walk from Exit 4 of the station.

The bright sign was easy to spot even from afar~ Since the restaurant is on the second floor, I headed up the building stairs to get there.

A Japanese ramen-shop atmosphere with counter seats only

When I stepped inside,

There was a kiosk right by the entrance, with the seats beyond it. The slightly dim interior really made it feel like I had stepped into a local ramen shop in Japan.

All the seating was counter seating too, so it looked like an easy place for solo diners to visit without feeling awkward! I looked through the kiosk menu, debating what to order.

Ordering Aori Ramen and ₩3,500 fried sides

I debated between Aori Ramen and miso ramen, then ordered two bowls of their signature Aori Ramen (₩11,000), plus chicken karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken, ₩3,500) and fried eggplant meatball (₩3,500). After ordering, I took a seat wherever I liked.

There was a small locker above the seat for belongings, which made storing my things convenient. While waiting for the food, I read the secret recipe you can only taste at Aori, posted at the seat.

More than anything, I was looking forward to the Aori sauce. Japanese ramen can sometimes feel heavy because the broth is so rich, but this house-made chili oil sauce seemed like a great way to add heat without ruining the ramen’s flavor.

Pickled radish and water were self-service, so I filled up water at the self-service bar.

A rich, spicy broth finished with garlic and Aori sauce

As I passed the time, a staff member brought over the food.

I loved how neatly and cleanly the ramen arrived as a full set~ It was also nice that garlic and Aori sauce were served alongside it, so I could add as much as I wanted!

Before eating, I added garlic and Aori sauce to my taste, stirred it well, and tried the broth first.

The rich pork-broth base met the refreshing quality of garlic and the spicy kick of Aori sauce, making for a clean and delicious broth~

Then I tried the noodles. The thin noodles characteristic of ramen paired beautifully with the broth~ Maybe because they were thin, they were chewy yet soft, making them easy for anyone to enjoy.

Crispy fried eggplant meatballs and chicken karaage

Next, I tried the fried sides. The fried eggplant meatball was crisp outside and filled with moist pork, and it was even tastier than I expected~ The eggplant’s soft texture and the savory pork worked wonderfully together, while the crisp coating added a lovely textural contrast!

I then tried the chicken karaage. It too was crispy outside, while the chicken within was moist and tender~ It came in easy bite-size pieces, making it great to enjoy alongside the ramen between bites!

Both sides were ₩3,500, so I thought they were good additions when ramen alone feels a little lacking~ I finished a hearty meal, enjoying the ramen with those crispy fried sides!

If you want spicy Japanese ramen near Uijeongbu Station

From the moment I entered, the slightly dim atmosphere and counter-only seating made me feel as though I had visited a ramen shop in Japan~ Above all, every seat is a counter seat, so it was a comfortable place to come alone for a bowl of ramen!

The Aori Ramen I tried had a rich pork broth, and adding garlic and Aori sauce made it savory, spicy, and clean-tasting~ Since you can add Aori sauce to your preference, I think it would be especially nice for anyone who finds rich Japanese ramen a little greasy after a while!

The fried eggplant meatballs and chicken karaage I ordered alongside it were each an approachable ₩3,500, making them great sides to have with ramen!