Ramen shop in Namdong, Incheon: Korean spicy ramen, Hongdae Gureume

Today I'm introducing a regular spot of mine, a real Namdong gem that I keep thinking about and just revisited. Restaurants open and vanish so quickly these days, but Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch (홍대구루메 인천논현점) has quietly run in the same place for more than 10 years, so the flavor is deep and dependable every time. It's popular for lunch in Nonhyeon, Incheon, and it's also known by word of mouth as a good restaurant near Soraepogu.

Where is Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch, and how is the parking?

The restaurant is just a 1-minute walk from Nonhyeon Station Exit 4, in Unit 202 on the 2nd floor of the iFlex Building. The access is really great. You can use the building's underground car park, and if you tell the staff after your meal, they'll give you 2 hours of parking support, so you can eat in peace without parking stress.

• Address: 17 Nongogae-ro 123beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea (iFlex Building, 2nd floor, Unit 202)
• Hours: daily 11:00–21:30

Atmosphere and seating: is it comfortable for solo diners?

The moment you step inside, you get the impression that the place is really tidy and clean. It's cozy, and with the cute little props and interior, it feels distinctly Japanese and exotic.

It's wonderful for a quiet chat on a date in Nonhyeon, Incheon, and there's also a neatly arranged area for solo diners, so you can eat comfortably without feeling self-conscious.

Another big plus: the kitchen seems fast, so turnover is quick and even if there's a wait, a seat opens up soon. As a famous Namdong restaurant, it also has a long list of TV appearances posted on the wall, which raised my expectations while waiting for the food.

Menu lineup and how to order

You look at a booklet-style menu and order on a kiosk at your table. The menu isn't one of those complicated modern ones but a neat booklet that's easy to take in at a glance, and the kiosk shows vivid pictures and friendly descriptions for each item, so first-timers can choose easily.

The variety is huge: rich ramen, fresh kaisendon (seafood rice bowl), the eye-popping mountain series, the signature scoop sushi (sushi you eat with a spoon), regular sushi, tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) sets with a crispy outside and juicy inside, and hearty rice bowl sets. Best of all, there are well-composed set menus as well as single dishes, so you can eat a lot for good value, which I loved.

Receipt review perk and the lucky box draw

The restaurant was running a Naver receipt review perk, a lucky box draw and a prepaid top-up benefit. I eyed these while waiting for the food: if you take part in the Naver receipt review, you get a free melt-in-your-mouth salmon sushi, crispy-outside, soft-inside takoyaki (octopus balls) or a cold drink.

And that's not all, there was also a fun lucky box draw! If you draw well, you can win salmon sushi, basic ramen, a fresh ade or a fizzy drink for free, so I strongly recommend joining in when you visit.

There's also a top-up system where you prepay an amount and use it later, so regulars can eat for much less than the listed price. That seems like a really reasonable benefit too.

What I ordered: premium special ramen and Gureume ramen

This time I ordered the premium special ramen (Kumamoto broth, extra noodles) and the Gureume ramen (Korean spicy). The food came out quickly after ordering, which made me so happy while hungry. The set meals especially arrive as a full spread on a neat, pretty wooden tray, so you really feel treated.

What comes in the premium special ramen set?

The premium special ramen is Kumamoto-style ramen served with 2 pieces of yubu chobap (sweet fried tofu pouch rice), a salad, fried shrimp, chicken karaage (Japanese fried chicken), kabocha squash salad and goguma matang (candied sweet potato). It's a record-breaking spread, enough to make the table legs bend. The deep, rich Kumamoto-style ramen is the main, with big tofu pouch rice, a crisp fresh salad, freshly fried shrimp and chicken karaage, soft kabocha salad and sweet, chewy candied sweet potato on the side.

It's so generous that I almost felt sorry eating it alone, and it looked filling just to look at. As you'd expect from a famous Namdong restaurant, they don't make even a single side dish carelessly.

Kumamoto-style broth, noodles and chashu

Kumamoto-style ramen is made with pork bone broth topped with a special black garlic sauce developed by the head chef himself. I tried the broth first, and I couldn't help exclaiming. When you stir it and drink, a subtle yet rich garlic aroma brushes past your nose, followed by the deep, nutty flavor of the bone broth filling your mouth. The balance was excellent.

With extra noodles the portion was huge, and the thin fresh noodles soaked up the rich broth so nicely that slurping them was a lot of fun. The chashu (braised pork slices) on top was generous too, and it had been simmered so carefully that it tore along the grain just from picking it up with chopsticks, and it melted the moment it hit my mouth.

The broth is so deeply flavorful that I kept drinking it, and the crunchy bean sprouts at the bottom cut the richness and added a refreshing note, so I never got tired of it down to the last drop.

How were the tofu pouch rice and fried sides?

The tofu pouch rice in the premium special ramen set is big, topped generously with tuna mayo and flying fish roe. Don't think of the usual size. With creamy, nutty tuna mayo and popping flying fish roe piled on without holding back, each bite had varied textures and a sweet-salty flavor that was fantastic.

The fried shrimp and karaage crunched loudly and were full inside without being greasy, showing off that crispy-outside, juicy-inside charm, and the fresh salad in between refreshed my mouth for a perfect harmony. It's a charming Namdong restaurant.

Korean spicy Gureume ramen: good as a hangover cure?

The Gureume ramen (Korean style) that my companion ordered is ramen with rich Japanese tonkotsu broth plus a special Korean spicy sauce, a top pick for a hangover cure. It's built on a deep, bone-rich tonkotsu base, with a sharp, clean spicy sauce added in what they call a golden ratio.

When I took a sip of the broth, the zesty, refreshing kick hit the back of my throat, and it's not just aggressively spicy: the nutty richness of the bone broth wraps the heat softly, so I immediately thought it was perfect for a hangover. The savory, deliciously spicy flavor is wildly addictive, and I kept going back for more. I hadn't been drinking the night before, yet it felt like it soothed my stomach, and it's a bewitching ramen that any Korean would love, no hit-or-miss. Looking at the tables around us, I completely understood why so many people order it as a hearty meal.

Verdict: a Namdong ramen shop with regulars for over 10 years

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a true Namdong gem that proves with every bite why it has kept its reputation and been loved by countless regulars for more than 10 years in one spot. A pleasant, hygienic space, friendly and fast service, and above all high-quality dishes that clearly carry care and deep skill: nothing was lacking, and I was completely satisfied with the meal.

If you're looking for a no-fail place to eat nearby, or a neat Japanese restaurant to share with someone special, don't hesitate to go. I'm sure I'll be back soon too, because I'll be craving that hot, rich garlic bone broth again!