Ramen shop near Noryangjin Station: mazesoba mixed with rice at Chome

I visited Chome (ちょうめ / CHOME), a Japanese ramen shop that's been getting a lot of buzz as a Noryangjin favorite lately. It's a 5–6 minute walk from Noryangjin Station Exit 3. I loved the flavor and the prices, and above all the staff were so friendly that I left in a great mood!

What does Chome in Noryangjin look like inside and out?

Chome is a small ramen shop tucked into a Noryangjin alley. The red logo and the ‘ちょうめ’ sign give off total Japanese ramen shop vibes. Ta-da!

The inside is cozy, with a real Japanese back-alley eatery feel! It has an open kitchen, so you can watch the ramen being made, which makes you even hungrier.

Japanese manga and anime goods are displayed all around the shop. It's full of Japanese flavor, which I found fun.

How do you order at Chome?

You order at a self-payment kiosk. There's also a Naver receipt review event going on, with a free drink or side if you leave a review.

What we ordered for two at Chome, with prices

• Half salmon futomaki (5 pieces) — ₩8,500
• Cho ramen — ₩9,500 (Cheongyang chili and chili flake options)
• Mazesoba (brothless mixed noodles) — ₩9,500
• Karaage (Japanese fried chicken), 3 pieces — ₩3,000
• Plum ade — ₩3,000

A perfect combo for two people to enjoy a bit of everything!

How to use the self-serve condiments at Chome

Next to the tables there are self-serve seasonings: kimchi, Japanese GABAN black pepper, kelp vinegar and minced garlic. The trick is to add a little kelp vinegar or minced garlic about halfway through your ramen for a different taste!

A cold glass of plum ade! The sweet-and-sour kick goes amazingly with ramen.

Finally, the full spread! The whole table is packed. Chome turns tables quickly and the food comes out fast, which I loved!!

How is Chome's half salmon futomaki (₩8,500)?

The salmon futomaki (thick seaweed rice roll) is the owner's strongly recommended dish! It's stuffed with raw Norwegian salmon, fried shrimp, egg strips, cucumber and burdock root. It comes with wasabi and a spicy sauce.

A whole crispy fried shrimp is inside, so the texture is really fun. The softness of the salmon and the crunch of the shrimp burst together, and it's so deliciousss T_T

What is Chome's signature Cho Ramen (₩9,500) like?

Cho ramen is Chome's signature dish! The broth is said to be a special blend of pork and chicken stock, simmered for a long time and aged :)

I was surprised to learn the noodles are made in the shop from premium flour and fresh eggs only!! They stay chewy and soak up the broth well.

Sous vide slow-cooked chicken chashu and pork neck chashu! The tender, chewy texture is crazy good!!

Should you mix rice into Chome's mazesoba?

In Chome's mazesoba, the garlic chive aroma, the savoriness of the minced meat and the spiciness go really well together. About halfway through, a little splash of kelp vinegar adds a different tangy flavor, and it's delicious all over again.

Mixing a bowl of rice into the leftover mazesoba sauce is the real highlight! The minced meat and sauce soak into the rice and you'll scrape up every last grain. The mazesoba is sooo good, so definitely order it.

Is Chome's 3-piece karaage (₩3,000) good value?

The side karaage, 3 pieces, is ₩3,000. For the price the pieces are quite big, and it comes with a spicy sauce like mentaiko (pollock roe) mayo. Crispy outside, juicy inside, a total bargain. It would surely go well with beer too!

Chome location and opening hours near Noryangjin Station

• Location: 1st floor, 10 Manyang-ro 14-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul (5–6 min walk from Noryangjin Station Exit 3)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:30)