Mokdong ramen restaurant with a mild, less-salty broth: Gyedan Ramen

Once the weather starts turning chilly, all I can think about is a hot bowl of soup. This time I wanted a rich bowl of ramen, so I headed to Gyedan Ramen Mokdong Branch. Instead of recreating the strong, salty punch of authentic Japanese ramen, this place serves it up a little milder and tuned to Korean tastes.

It's located on the basement floor of the SBS building and is open from 11am to 9pm.

Inside Gyedan Ramen Mokdong Branch: solo seats and the room

Being tucked in the basement of the SBS building, Gyedan Ramen Mokdong Branch is a place you can visit alone without feeling awkward. Ramen shops get a lot of solo diners, so the atmosphere really matters — and Gyedan Ramen seems set up so anyone can enjoy a bowl comfortably, any time.

They especially emphasize keeping the place clean 365 days a year, right there in the store info. Since it's a space where you're eating, I liked that they're clearly paying attention to that basic stuff consistently.

It also seemed like a solid pick if you're looking for a solo-dining spot in Mokdong for a simple meal alone, or a light meal for two.

We ordered the signature Gyedan Ramen along with the Motsu Ramen, which comes with savory pork intestines.

Don't miss their tips for eating Gyedan Ramen the tastiest way!

How salty is the broth at Gyedan Ramen?

Gyedan Ramen aims to be a bowl anyone can enjoy comfortably. With Japanese-style ramen, some people find the broth so rich and salty that the first few bites are great, but finishing the whole bowl feels like a lot.

Gyedan Ramen apparently leans away from the intense, rich, salty flavor of authentic Japanese ramen, offering something a bit milder and more suited to Korean palates instead.

So even people who usually find Japanese-style ramen too salty might find it a fairly comfortable one to try.

Gyedan Ramen, eaten plain first

First up was the signature Gyedan Ramen, the dish that shares its name with the restaurant. When your ramen arrives, I'd recommend tasting the broth on its own first before adding anything to it.

The first way to eat it, as Gyedan Ramen suggests, is simply to enjoy it as it comes out. Taking a sip of the broth first, I could taste a rich flavor, but it wasn't the kind of ramen where the saltiness of an authentic Japanese bowl hits you all at once.

Eating the noodles and broth together, neither one overpowered the other, which made for a really easy bowl to finish. Adding the toppings on top one by one as I went also changed up the texture a little each time, which I liked.

Once you've enjoyed the basic ramen for a while, it's time to switch things up a little! At Gyedan Ramen, you can use their spicy secret sauce to try the second flavor.

Motsu ramen with rich, savoury pork intestines

The distinctive savory flavor of pork intestines went really well with the hot broth — a menu worth picking if you're a fan of pork intestines or motsunabe.

The chashu was thick and had a really nice texture too — adding the toppings on top one by one as I went also changed up the texture a little each time, which I liked.

The noodles never got soggy, and slurping them down was genuinely delicious, haha.

Taking a bite of noodles followed by a piece of pork intestine added a chewy texture that gave it a distinctly different appeal from the basic Gyedan Ramen.

If you want something clean and true to the basics, go for Gyedan Ramen — if you prefer something a bit more savory and rich, Motsu Ramen is a good pick.

When you want ramen in Mokdong, Seoul

Overall, Gyedan Ramen seems like a great fit for anyone looking for a milder alternative to overly strong, salty Japanese-style ramen.

From the signature Gyedan Ramen to the Motsu Ramen with its savory pork intestine flavor, each menu item has its own appeal, so it was fun choosing based on what I felt like eating.

If you're craving warm broth on a chilly day, or looking for a Mokdong ramen restaurant you can visit comfortably on your own for a solo meal, or just a good Mokdong restaurant in general, I'd recommend grabbing a hot bowl of ramen at Gyedan Ramen Mokdong Branch :)