Gongju ramen restaurant for tonkotsu and half-half katsu: Myeonsikdang

A locally recommended ramen spot in Gongju — tonkotsu ramen & half-and-half katsu

I wanted a bowl of ramen while in Gongju, so I visited Myeonsikdang Gongju University Branch near Gongju National University. I heard it's a favorite among students there, and I was curious what a local-recommended ramen restaurant in Gongju was like — it was a total success.

Let's check out Myeonsikdang Gongju University Branch, the locally recommended ramen spot in Gongju ❤️

Where is Myeonsikdang Gongju University Branch, and when is it open?

Myeonsikdang Gongju University Branch, a locally recommended ramen spot in Gongju 🎈 67 Gongjudaehak-ro, 1st floor, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do ⏰️ Mon–Sun 10:30 – 20:30 ✔️ Gluten-free menu, baby chair, delivery, reservations, takeout, group seating available 🚗 Parking available — public parking lot in front of Gongju National University's main gate (about 100 spaces)

Myeonsikdang Gongju University Branch is about a 3-minute walk from Gongju National University's west gate, and it's also walkable from Gongju Bus Terminal. There are plenty of restaurants and shops nearby that students frequent, so it wasn't hard to find even coming in for a meal.

Inside Myeonsikdang: bar seats for solo diners and group tables

As soon as I walked in, the staff greeted me warmly, which put me in a good mood. The tables weren't cramped and the space felt clean and well arranged overall. There were also seats for larger groups, so it seemed like a good spot for a meal with friends near Gongju National University.

By the window you could see straight out to the street, so eating there didn't feel stuffy at all. There were also bar seats set up for solo dining, so anyone eating alone could relax and eat without feeling self-conscious.

The self-service corner had small plates and cups set out, and pickled radish and broth were also self-serve.

True to its reputation as a locally recommended spot in Gongju, there was a wide variety of menu items. Each table had an ordering tablet, and after looking through the menu I ended up ordering the tonkotsu ramen and the half-and-half katsu.

Tonkotsu ramen with a soft-boiled egg: how rich is the broth?

After ordering, it wasn't long before the two bowls of tonkotsu ramen arrived first. On top of the pale, milky broth were layers of bean sprouts, scallions, naruto (fish cake), seaweed, and chashu (braised pork), and with the added egg, each bowl looked pretty substantial.

I added an egg to one of the ramens. It was a soft-boiled egg with a yellow yolk, and when I lifted it slightly with a spoon, the moist, silky cross-section showed right through.

With ramen, you've got to start with the broth. I tried the tonkotsu broth first, and it had that deep, savory pork flavor come through strongly — really delicious.

A big slurpy bite of noodles! The noodles were cooked just right, and eating them together with the bean sprouts added a nice crunch that made it even more enjoyable.

Nicely browned chashu! The chashu had a lightly seared surface with juices soaked through the layers of meat. The savory richness of the meat paired really well with the clean-tasting noodles.

Half-and-half katsu: spicy scallion meets double cheddar

Just ramen felt like it wasn't quite enough, so the half-and-half katsu I'd also ordered came out. It's a dish where spicy scallion pork cutlet and double cheddar pork cutlet come together on one plate, so I could pick between two completely different flavors.

On top of the pork cutlet was a generous helping of sauce and scallions, and on the other side, a wide layer of yellow cheddar cheese. One side was spicy, the other rich and savory — clearly two different directions of flavor.

Double cheddar pork cutlet

Crispy pork cutlet with rich cheddar cheese melting all over it! The batter was crispy and the meat was thick and satisfying. Adding the salty, rich flavor of the cheese made it really delicious. If you love cheese, you have to try this one.

Spicy scallion pork cutlet

Moist sauce, piled with scallions! The spicy scallion pork cutlet had sauce coated moistly over the cutlet, with a heaping pile of finely chopped scallions on top.

I loaded up a bite with plenty of scallions too — behind the sweet sauce came a wave of spiciness, and with no greasy aftertaste at all, it was honestly delicious.

Dipping it in the sauce made the spiciness of the scallion katsu even more distinct. The side salad was a nice palate refresher to eat in between bites too.

Is Myeonsikdang worth a stop in Gongju?

This was a place near Gongju National University where you can eat a hearty meal from ramen to donkatsu. With the rich flavor of the tonkotsu ramen plus the half-and-half katsu on top, it was a great, filling meal at Myeonsikdang Gongju University Branch, a locally recommended ramen spot in Gongju ❤️