# Ramen dumplings and spicy level picks in Itaewon: Okagura Ramen - By Haeram (https://superchart.com/en/@evening-stew-seoul/) - Written Sep 8, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Yongsan, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after a sponsored store visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@evening-stew-seoul/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@evening-stew-seoul/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/index.md) ## In short Okagura Ramen is a tonkotsu ramen restaurant in a back alley near Itaewon Station in Yongsan, Seoul. Two bowls of umakara tonkotsu were ordered at spice levels 1 and 2 with chashu and egg toppings, plus hitokuchi gyoza (bite-size dumplings), and the torch-seared chashu with rich tonkotsu broth was the standout combo. A great pick for two people with different spice tolerances, since heat, noodle firmness, and toppings can all be customized. ## Good to know - **Umakara Tonkotsu**: ₩13,000 (choose spice level 1–3) - **Extra chashu**: ₩2,500 - **Extra egg**: ₩1,500 - **Hitokuchi Gyoza**: ₩6,000 (6 pieces) - **Order recap**: Umakara Tonkotsu level 2 + chashu + egg ₩17,000 / level 1 + chashu, no wood ear mushroom ₩15,500 - **Location**: 6–10 min walk from Itaewon Station Exit 4, in a side alley - **Parking**: No dedicated lot; use nearby public parking - **Seating**: Counter seats and table seats - **Ordering**: QR code order at the table - **Other**: Free rice refill; standard pickled radish contains ginger (ask for plain version if preferred) *as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026* ![A bowl of umakara tonkotsu at Okagura Ramen in Itaewon](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-01-12d5l-900.webp) ![Interior atmosphere at Okagura Ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-02-9a6up-900.webp) Okagura Ramen Itaewon ramen spot 🍜 From the exterior alone, it looked like something straight out of a Japanese back alley, and I loved that vibe. After actually eating there, the combo of smoky-charred chashu and rich tonkotsu broth was especially good — Okagura Ramen, an Itaewon ramen restaurant. We ordered umakara tonkotsu with different spice levels and toppings each, plus hitokuchi gyoza (bite-size dumplings) on the side. Here's the full review of this filling Itaewon Station ramen spot! ## Getting to Okagura Ramen from Itaewon Station, and parking Okagura Ramen is located in an alley about 6–10 minutes on foot from Exit 4 of Itaewon Station. You do have to walk a bit off the main road into the alley, but the big cloth banner and wooden sign at the entrance made it easy to spot! There's no dedicated parking lot, so if you're driving, it's best to check the operating hours and available spots at a nearby public parking lot beforehand. The location makes it convenient to explore Itaewon or Gyeongnidan-gil before or after the meal, so it also works well as a Yongsan date spot 👍👍 ![Okagura Ramen's exterior and wooden sign in an Itaewon alley](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-03-z5l33-m-900.webp) ![Cloth banner hanging at the entrance of Okagura Ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-04-1u1v9-900.webp) ![Wood-toned interior of Okagura Ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-05-1ga8h-900.webp) ![Counter and table seating at Okagura Ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-06-1jepr-900.webp) ## Japanese-style interior with both counter and table seating From the sign at the entrance, it already felt like a local ramen shop in Japan! Dark wood tones and Japanese-style decor made for a calm, cozy interior ✨✨ There are counter seats for comfortable solo dining and table seats for groups, so it works for everything from eating alone to a date. Each table has a QR ordering guide, so we could order right from our seats! These days I like how QR ordering usually comes with photos and detailed menu descriptions haha ![A table seat with QR ordering instructions](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-07-1s47m-900.webp) They might even make the noodles in-house!? We spotted a noodle-making machine ![A noodle-making machine inside the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-08-qulls-900.webp) ![Rayu sauce, shichimi, and other seasonings prepared at the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-09-3ifpe-900.webp) ### Oolong tea, sauces, and a pickled radish tip Warm oolong tea comes as the default, and there was a variety of sauces to customize to taste — rayu (chili oil), moto tare sauce, kelp vinegar, shichimi, and pepper ✨ You can also ask for raw garlic, so if you like a rich broth, adding some partway through could be a nice way to change up the flavor. One note: the standard pickled radish comes with ginger mixed in, so ask separately if you want the plain version. ![Warm oolong tea and the basic table setting](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-10-wnzw5-900.webp) ![Okagura Ramen's menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-11-zofbn-900.webp) ![Spice level selection for umakara tonkotsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-12-1mvf7-900.webp) ![Menu listing topping add-on options](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-13-jb6kt-900.webp) ![Drink menu with beer, sake, and highballs](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-14-l25hu-900.webp) ## Okagura Ramen menu Alongside a classic tonkotsu ramen, this Itaewon ramen restaurant offers umakara tonkotsu (spicy tonkotsu), miso ramen, and a summer menu of zaru soba. Umakara tonkotsu comes with a choice of 3 spice levels, and you can also pick your preferred noodle firmness in detail. You can add toppings like chashu, egg, and menma (seasoned bamboo shoots), or remove bean sprouts and wood ear mushroom. Hitokuchi gyoza and free rice were also on the menu. There was a good range of drinks too — beer, sake, and highballs — so it'd be great for a light drink with ramen 🍻 ![The full ramen order laid out](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-15-1iub3-900.webp) ### What we ordered and how much it cost - 🍜 Umakara Tonkotsu level 2 + extra chashu ₩2,500 + extra egg ₩1,500 = ₩17,000 total - 🍜 Umakara Tonkotsu level 1 + extra chashu ₩2,500 + no wood ear mushroom = ₩15,500 total - 🥟 Hitokuchi Gyoza ₩6,000 The base price for umakara tonkotsu is ₩13,000, and you can choose a spice level from 1 to 3. You can also choose noodle firmness — we both went with the standard 'firm' option for both bowls. ![Two bowls of umakara tonkotsu and hitokuchi gyoza on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-16-e1out-900.webp) ![Ramen set with plain pickled radish requested separately](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-17-1p7fr-900.webp) Everything we ordered! The visuals were insane...✨ I'm not a fan of ginger-mixed pickled radish so I asked for the plain version separately. ## Crispy hitokuchi gyoza True to its name, hitokuchi gyoza (bite-size dumplings) came in a small size perfect for one or two bites. Six pieces! There was a thin, wide lacy 'wing' formed at the bottom of the dumplings, which gave off crispy vibes from the visual alone >< ![Six pieces of hitokuchi gyoza with lacy wings](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-18-pq5kv-900.webp) ![Cross-section of a crispy hitokuchi gyoza](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-19-31kwf-900.webp) The lacy wing shattered lightly like a cracker, while the dumpling wrapper itself was chewy and moist. Inside, they were packed with meat and chives, and the juices stayed locked in so it was so delicious! Eating the light, savory gyoza first and then taking a sip of the spicy ramen broth — the different textures and flavors complemented each other really well. A great side to order with ramen, one I'd love to have again 👏👏 ![Umakara tonkotsu with thick chashu slices in red broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-20-134k1-m-1200.webp) ![Close-up of umakara tonkotsu level 1](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-21-u6uq4-900.webp) ![Firm noodles lifted up with chopsticks](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-22-kbdn6-900.webp) ![A chopstick-full of ramen topped with chashu](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-23-fc92r-900.webp) ## How spicy is Umakara Tonkotsu level 1? As soon as the ramen arrived, the reddish broth and the big chunks of chashu caught my eye first. This wasn't just a thin slice of chashu on top — long, thick pieces covered the whole bowl. It's genuinely delicious, so definitely add the topping!!! The noodles kept their firm, springy texture without going soft, and the rich broth clung to them just the right amount. There was that heavy, savory tonkotsu flavor, followed by a spicy kick that cut through the richness. Level 1 was a good balance — you can still fully enjoy the savory tonkotsu flavor while getting a subtle kick of heat. I'm not great with spicy food, but if you want something spicier than the regular tonkotsu, level 1 seems like a safe choice. ![Umakara tonkotsu level 2 with added egg topping](https://img.superchart.com/images/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza-24-kfiv4-900.webp) ## Umakara Tonkotsu level 2 and torch-seared chashu Level 2 is a bit spicier, but not overwhelmingly so — if you love it really spicy, I'd recommend level 3! Rather than being aggressively spicy for its own sake, the heat is layered onto a rich pork bone broth, so the broth flavor is honestly the best... The egg had seasoned whites and a yolk that wasn't too dry, pairing nicely with the broth. With generous toppings added, a single bowl felt quite filling — a solid Itaewon ramen restaurant 👍 We got to watch the chashu being torch-seared right in front of the ordering counter — the outside had a deep smoky char while the inside stayed soft and moist! The thick fatty parts melted smoothly in the mouth, and the lean parts were clean-tasting, pairing well with the rich broth. Topping the noodles soaked in spicy broth with a piece of chashu gave me savoriness, smoky char, and spice all at once — personally my favorite combination 👍👍 ## Final thoughts Being able to pick your own spice level, noodle firmness, and toppings made Okagura Ramen a great Itaewon ramen restaurant for two people with different tastes to each eat exactly what they wanted 🍜 🧡 With its Japanese vibe both inside and out, plus counter and table seating, it's also worth recommending as a Yongsan date spot. Personally, I'd love to come back for the umakara tonkotsu with extra chashu paired with the hitokuchi gyoza! ## Where it is - Okagura Ramen (오카구라 라멘) - 26 Itaewon-ro 14-gil, 1F, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 용산구 이태원로14길 26 1층 - 37.533201, 126.9908598 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%98%A4%EC%B9%B4%EA%B5%AC%EB%9D%BC%20%EB%9D%BC%EB%A9%98/@37.533201,126.9908598,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@evening-stew-seoul/itaewon-ramen-spicy-tonkotsu-gyoza/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt