Sokcho ramen with tonkotsu and miso: Ichiba Ramen

Even after the rain stopped, I was craving a warm bowl of soup, so I headed to Ichiba Ramen (이찌바라멘) in Sokcho. I had tonkotsu ramen and miso ramen, then continued with a walk along the nearby Yeongnangho Lake Hwangto Trail.

What about the location, hours, and parking?

The restaurant is at 348 Jungang-ro in Sokcho. The original post lists its hours as 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily, with last orders at 8:30 PM. It is open early enough for breakfast.

You need to watch out for parking enforcement in front of the building. I parked beside the building and had no issues until I finished my meal.

How do you order, and is it suitable for dining alone?

I ordered and paid at the kiosk. When the food was ready, the chef called out, and I picked it up myself.

The interior was neat and modern. Because the kitchen is open, I could see ingredients being prepared and food being cooked. It was relatively quiet around 5 PM, but solo diners lined up behind the kiosk. There were also bar tables, which looked suitable for eating alone.

What does the signature tonkotsu ramen taste like?

Curious about the basic menu, I ordered the tonkotsu ramen. I tried the broth first; it was savory and rich without being greasy. The hot soup made me feel as though some of the fatigue from traveling had eased.

They say the beef-bone broth is simmered for more than 30 hours using a method learned directly in Japan. The broth's rich, deep flavor was what stayed with me most.

How was the miso ramen different from the tonkotsu ramen?

I added an egg to the miso ramen. Both the tonkotsu and miso ramen came with minced garlic on a spoon, so I could mix as much as I wanted into the broth. I added all of it, and the miso ramen's miso paste flavor and slight saltiness worked well with the base broth.

The most noticeable difference from the tonkotsu ramen was the fried vegetable topping. Eating the vegetables with the noodles or broth brought out their toasted aroma and flavor. I also liked that the noodles had not gone soggy and still had a springy texture.

The standard ramen came with half an egg, while the bowl with an extra egg contained three egg halves. The eggs were more cooked than soft-boiled, but the yolks were smooth rather than dry. The pork belly chashu on both ramen bowls was also tender and paired well with the beef-bone broth, and one bowl left me feeling full.

How was the karaage on the side?

The karaage (Japanese fried chicken) was crisp and lightly salty, and it went well with cold draft beer. It was also good dipped in the ramen broth and eaten with the noodles.

The tonkotsu ramen's rich broth and the miso ramen's fried vegetables were especially memorable from this meal. The chef seemed brusque at first but also kind and attentive. It was a place I would think of when I wanted a filling meal with warm soup during a trip to Sokcho.

Can you walk to the Yeongnangho Lake Hwangto Trail after eating?

Ichiba Ramen is close to Yeongnangho Lake, so it is possible to walk there. By car, the route seemed a little roundabout, but it took me about five minutes to reach Yeongnangho Lake Upper Trail Parking Lot.

About three minutes after I started walking from where I saw the Hwangto Trail sign, I arrived at the Yeongnangho Lake Hwangto Trail. It was a good way to continue the day with a walk after a filling meal.