Ramen shop by Beomeo Station, Daegu: mild Kara level 1 at Ryusenso

This time I visited Ryusenso Beomeo Branch (류센소 범어점) with my partner. I was hunting for good eats in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu and ended up at this Japanese-style ramen shop. I ordered the Ryusenso Kara level 1, and my partner picked the Ryusenso Ebi Miso. We also added Tori Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) as a side.

I usually can't handle spicy food, so I was a little nervous even about level 1, but it turned out milder than I expected. The broth wasn't greasy or very salty, which suited me perfectly.

One-line review: Ryusenso Kara level 1 was easy enough for even a spice wimp, and I loved that it wasn't greasy or strongly salty.

• Name: Ryusenso Beomeo Branch
• Address: 5 Dalgubeol-daero 496-gil, Suseong-gu, Daegu
• Hours: 11:30–21:00
• Parking: nearby public car parks

How does parking work at Ryusenso Beomeo Branch?

The shop has no car park of its own and points customers to nearby public lots instead. We came around 7pm and parked in front of the shop at the time. On weekday daytime or whenever parking is being enforced, though, it looks hard to find a spot. The shop suggests Beomeo Public Parking Lot, the roadside public parking, or the Suseong-gu Office car park.

A clean, Japanese-style interior

Inside, Ryusenso Beomeo Branch has the feel of a Japanese ramen shop, with blue walls and wood-tone furniture. As soon as I walked in, that distinctive ramen-shop atmosphere caught my eye. It was a neat, tidy interior.

There were long bar seats running beside the kitchen and tall chairs by the window. There were also seats lined up side by side along the wall, so the seating looked nicely varied.

Tableware and condiment containers were neatly arranged on the table, and the owner was friendly too. I love Japanese-style interiors, so the space suited my taste.

What we ordered at Ryusenso Beomeo Branch

We ordered three dishes in total: Ryusenso Kara, Ryusenso Ebi Miso and Tori Karaage. Each of us picked a different ramen, and we added the Japanese fried chicken as a side.

With everything on one table, the difference between the two ramens was obvious. My Kara had a reddish tint, while my partner's Ebi Miso was a milky cream color. The toppings differed too, and golden fried Tori Karaage sat alongside. It was a spread that let us see both ramens and the fried chicken at once.

Ryusenso Kara level 1: okay for spice wimps?

Ryusenso Kara is a Hakata-style ramen with extra spice, and you can adjust the heat by level. I ordered level 1, which is said to be about Shin Ramyun spiciness. I can't usually handle spicy food, so even level 1 worried me a bit, but it wasn't very spicy at all.

The broth had a moderate kick, but nothing too much to eat. What I especially liked was that the broth wasn't greasy. Ramen can feel heavy when the broth is oily or strongly seasoned, but this Ryusenso Kara had almost none of that. It wasn't salty either, so it suited my taste.

The bowl was topped with big slices of chashu (braised pork), a soft-boiled egg, scallions and mushrooms. The red broth with all those ingredients looked really appetizing.

Level 1 felt mild to me, so it could even be a bit more fiery. If a spice wimp like me wasn't overwhelmed, I'd say the adjustable heat is one of Ryusenso Kara's features.

Ryusenso Ebi Miso, the shrimp miso ramen: how does it taste?

My partner's Ryusenso Ebi Miso is a ramen made with shrimp broth and red miso. Unlike the Ryusenso Kara, it had a milky-colored broth. With its shrimp flavor, its personality was clearly different from my Kara.

The Ryusenso Ebi Miso came topped with chashu, a soft-boiled egg and a long piece of tempura. Same ramen category, but the broth color and toppings were different. I picked the spicy Kara and my partner picked the shrimp miso ramen, so we got to see two different ramens side by side.

Tori Karaage: how is it different from regular fried chicken?

The Tori Karaage at Ryusenso Beomeo Branch is Japanese-style fried chicken we ordered as a side. It was a little oilier than regular fried chicken and juicy inside. I assumed it would be similar to the chicken we usually eat in Korea, but it turned out a bit different. It had a texture of its own, unlike crispy Korean chicken.

The plate came with golden fried chicken and two sauces.

Compared with the chicken I usually eat, it was similar yet definitely different. It looks like familiar fried chicken, but the oilier, juicier texture made the difference memorable.

With two kinds of ramen plus a side, we got to enjoy several dishes in one meal. Comparing how the Tori Karaage differs from regular chicken was fun, too.

Ryusenso Beomeo Branch verdict: Kara level 2 next time

My favorite dish of this visit to Ryusenso Beomeo Branch was the Ryusenso Kara I ordered. Level 1 was easy enough for a spice wimp like me, and the broth wasn't greasy or very salty, so it suited my taste.

My partner's Ryusenso Ebi Miso was a milky-broth ramen with shrimp stock and red miso, and the Tori Karaage was oilier and juicier than regular fried chicken. I also liked the clean Japanese-style interior and the owner's friendly service.

Personally, next time I'd like to order the Ryusenso Kara again. Since level 1 wasn't very spicy, I plan to try level 2 then. That's the story of the two ramens and the Tori Karaage I ate at Ryusenso Beomeo Branch :)