Iced matcha and an extra egg at an Eunpyeong ramen shop: Oreno Ramen

Today I'm bringing you a review of Oreno Ramen, a ramen spot near Saejeol Station. Turns out this is the first and only ramen restaurant in Korea listed in the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand.

To cut to the chase — it was genuinely a work of art. One bite and I understood why it's Michelin-listed. If you're hunting for a great ramen place or a good Eunpyeong-gu restaurant, I hope this honest review helps.

Where to sit at Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong: bar seats or tables

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong has an open-kitchen layout, so you can see straight into the kitchen — it gave me confidence in how the ingredients are handled. There are bar seats where you watch the cooking happen right in front of you, and face-to-face tables too, so solo diners and families can pick whatever suits them. The whole space felt bright and clean, which made even the wait feel pleasant.

Two bowls on the menu, tori paitan and karai paitan — chashu sold out

Ordering is simple via kiosk, and since there are only two menu items, there's barely any time spent deciding, which I appreciated. Tori paitan is the mild one and karai paitan is the spicy one. There were two chashu add-ons available, but sadly both were sold out during our visit, which was a real bummer. I figured they keep the menu this simple because they're that confident in it.

What still sticks with me is that the ramen was delicious, but the staff were unbelievably kind — almost to the point of 'is this level of friendliness even allowed' haha. A good-looking guy with a warm face who was also this kind — I bet women line up for this place.

Free refills of noodles, rice and broth, plus kimchi and pickles

The moment we sat down, right there on the table was the notice that noodles, rice, and broth are all unlimited refills. You can eat until you're full without any hesitation, and it really lived up to the 'great ramen place' reputation. They keep bringing kimchi and pickles on request too, so there's never a moment where it feels too rich.

The iced matcha looked light but had a surprisingly strong aroma — it tasted just like the matcha I had in Japan.

We ordered one spicy and one non-spicy, and to make up for the missing chashu, we each added an extra soft-boiled egg. If the chashu had been available, I don't think we would have added the eggs — one soft-boiled egg already comes included as standard.

Chicken broth and sous-vide chicken breast in the bowl

The moment I took a sip of the broth, I let out an involuntary 'wow' at how deep and rich it was. Ah — this is why it keeps getting picked for the Michelin Bib Gourmand! It all clicked instantly.

For reference, the Michelin Bib Gourmand is a rating given to great-value restaurants that serve excellent food at reasonable prices! It made me curious about how Michelin ratings are actually divided, so let me break it down briefly for anyone else wondering. Michelin is broadly split into four categories.

1. Michelin Star: the ultimate dining experience — the top rating, given to places with flawless taste, execution, and originality. Awarded from one to three stars, meaning the restaurant is worth traveling for.

2. Bib Gourmand: Michelin's stamp on great-value dining — not fine dining worthy of a star, but places that serve excellent food at reasonable prices. In Seoul, this applies to accessible menus under ₩45,000, and Oreno Ramen is on this very list!

3. Michelin Selected: guide-recommended restaurants — not star or Bib Gourmand level, but places with fresh ingredients and skilled cooking worth including in the guide.

4. Michelin Green Star: sustainable dining — great taste as a given, plus a special rating for restaurants actively using eco-friendly ingredients, cutting food waste, and practicing environmental and ethical values.

I was amazed a chicken-broth base could have this much depth. Not being greasy at all was its biggest strength. The chicken breast topping clearly told me it was sous-vide cooked. I normally barely eat chicken breast because it's usually dry, but here I tasted the best chicken breast of my life. So tender and soft. Honestly, I've never had chicken breast this soft before. Really!!

Why the karai paitan tasted nuttier than the tori paitan

Personally I preferred the spicy version. Everything else was identical — just the spice level differed. It reminded me of dandan noodles, with a peanut-sauce-like nuttiness added in.

Wood ear mushrooms and scallions were also piled on top, giving it a richer texture and fun chewiness. The noodles were thin but had a good bite — not something you just slurp down, but something you chew and pair with the broth, which made the combination even better.

The soft-boiled egg was also pure art. When I cut it with chopsticks, the yolk came oozing out, and I fell in love with the visual all over again. Soft, nutty, and it paired beautifully with the broth too.

Once we added a noodle and broth refill, it felt like starting a whole new bowl.

And an unbelievably tender slice of chicken breast comes along with the refill too... that sous-vide chicken breast genuinely shattered my preconceptions.

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong location, hours and parking

With mornings and evenings turning chilly these days, I've been craving hot broth even more, and this place's broth hit exactly that spot.

• Location: 366 Bulgwangcheon-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, South Korea — 4–5 min walk from Saejeol Station Exit 2
• Hours: Daily 11:00–20:30
• Break time: 14:30–17:00 / Last order 20:00
• Parking: About 1–2 spots available in front of the restaurant, worth noting

There can be a wait during peak hours, so I'd recommend timing your visit to avoid the rush.

Right out front is Bulgwangcheon stream, which makes for a great walk after eating. I was so full I took a stroll along it myself. This trip to Oreno Ramen, a great ramen spot near Saejeol Station, was a genuinely happy meal. Thick broth, impossibly tender chicken breast, and a soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk — the three came together perfectly. I'd confidently recommend it to anyone searching for a great Eunpyeong-gu restaurant or a great ramen place. This was my honest, first-hand review.