Gongneung tsukemen spot with spicy miso and chicken thigh: Torikokoro

I first tried tsukemen (dipping noodles) on a trip to Fukuoka. Ever since then I've wanted to find a place doing it properly in Korea, and I recently found out — a bit late — that there's a tsukemen specialist in Gongneung, so I went.

Where is Torikokoro Gongneung Direct Store? A basement in the Dokkaebi Market alley

Torikokoro Gongneung Direct Store is tucked into an alley near Gongneung-dong's Dokkaebi Market. It's in the basement, so you might get a little lost the first time, and it's set slightly off the main road, which gives it even more of a hidden-gem feel.

I arrived in the early evening so the wait wasn't bad. By the time I left, though, the line was pretty long!

Torikokoro's menu and our order: free 200g noodles and a chicken thigh add-on

We ordered one tsukemen and one spicy miso tsukemen, and added chicken thigh to both. You can choose 150g or 200g of noodles for free — obviously we both went with 200g haha.

Inside Torikokoro: counter seats for solo diners

The place is really clean. Ramen shops can often be a bit greasy or cramped, right? Here the entrance is modest, but once you're inside it's actually quite spacious and comfortable. There's a separate counter area, so eating alone wouldn't feel awkward at all — in fact there were solo diners there. There's also a guide explaining how to eat tsukemen, so even first-timers won't be confused.

There were hair ties on the table. This might sound like nothing, but you've probably had that moment of coming to eat noodles with nothing to tie your hair back with. A place that thinks of little things like this just makes me like it more, haha.

How are Torikokoro's house-made tsukemen noodles?

A lot of places these days use noodles made elsewhere, so when a place says handmade, I pay extra attention — and one bite of Torikokoro's noodles and I got it immediately haha. The texture is almost like rice cake. "Chewy" doesn't even cover it. So good.

At first they told us to try the noodles alone, so I dipped them in salt. Even without dipping into the broth, the noodles taste great on their own. It's been a while since I had noodles like this 👍

The soup is rich but doesn't taste overly salty. Since it's a dipping broth, if the seasoning is too strong it can get overwhelming toward the end, but this place nailed that balance. In Fukuoka, the saltiness really hit hard.

Chicken thigh add-on and the spicy miso tsukemen

Adding chicken thigh was such a good call. Tsukemen is mostly about the noodles, so without meat it can feel a bit plain. It's thigh meat, not dry breast, so it's moist and tender. Dip it in the broth once and eat it with the noodles — it really boosts how satisfying the meal feels. Protein: covered. Definitely add this next time you go 👍

The spicy miso version has a miso base, so the broth is heavier and spicier. If you switch from the regular tsukemen to the spicy one, it totally resets your palate. I couldn't stop eating it. If you're going with two or more people, I recommend ordering this combination.

Don't skip the kelp vinegar and pepper on the table

There's kelp vinegar and pepper on the table — make sure to sprinkle them on. The vinegar sharpens the flavor, and once the pepper aroma comes through, it basically becomes a different dish. I feel like this would be amazing sprinkled on mazesoba too. So I'm planning to go again haha.

Torikokoro vs. Menya Kanetora in Fukuoka

Torikokoro's broth is a bit milder than what I had in Fukuoka. That one was saltier with a strong bonito flake aroma, which got a bit much toward the end. This place suits Korean palates much better haha. And the noodles here are tastier — I can say that with certainty 👍👍

Final verdict on Torikokoro Gongneung Direct Store

A must-eat ramen spot in Gongneung! Chewy, chewy tsukemen.

Torikokoro ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️