Namdong Japanese restaurant for solo dining: Hongdae Gureume

A Japanese restaurant in Incheon Nonhyeon for when I miss Fukuoka

Ever since falling for Fukuoka's charms last year, I think I went back nearly eight times in one year! 👀 I love its distinctively quiet atmosphere, but the very best thing is, of course, Fukuoka-style tonkotsu ramen! I just love that richhhh ramen broth so much 😚❣️

It has been nearly a year since my last Japan trip, and lately I have been missing Fukuoka so, so much. While searching for good places in Incheon, I found Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch (홍대구루메 인천논현점)! It was already famous in Incheon as a friendly ramen spot and had been recommended to me, so I was curious. They have ramen, sake-don (salmon rice bowl), rice bowls, and fried dishes too... how could I not go? 🤤

We thoroughly enjoyed soft, nutty sake-don; cheese katsu with chewy mozzarella filling my mouth; salty karaage; and hot, spicy ramen!

Two minutes from Incheon Nonhyeon Station: parking and visitor information

It is two minutes from Incheon Nonhyeon Station, so it is easy to reach, and it is also close to Sorae Port and Homeplus. I think it makes a nice stop for couples and families too!

Parking support is available for two hours ♥️ The parking area was also roomy for a Sunday evening, so I loved being able to park without any stress!

• Daily 11:30–21:30; last order at 21:00
• Phone and Naver reservations available for 2–8 people
• Takeout and delivery available
• Wi-Fi available; separate men's and women's restrooms

“Fukuoka flavors, Hongdae Gureume,” haha. The cute red lanterns and handwritten signs made it feel like I had wandered into a pub near a university!

The menu was also laid out so neatly that you could take it all in at a glance 👀

As expected of a popular spot, there was even a waiting guide. We visited around 8 p.m. on Sunday evening and were seated without waiting!

There were counter seats that I thought would be perfect for dining alone, plus table seats with comfortably spaced tables. I personally loved being free to choose whichever seat I wanted! (I was already thinking, I should come back and eat alone next time. ☺️)

Choosing the menu and ordering from the table

I liked that the menu offered plenty of detail, from set meals to choosing the flavor of each ramen.

You can order right from your seat, so we finished ordering quickly! 🙌 Just take your number tag to pay when checking out, and payment is quick too.

Wait, each table had this adorable little container of lucky messages? 🤍 I simply cannot resist things like this, haha. They were so tiny and cute that my mom and I excitedly drew one each!

My mom drew the one on the left and I drew the one on the right. I was waiting for my first day at a new job after deciding to change jobs, so it somehow made my heart flutter even more 😚

There was even a phone stand that seemed perfect for people dining alone, and I thought that was such a good idea for winning over the customers they are targeting 👍 By the way, they also have a Naver receipt-review event, and up to three people per table can participate, so I recommend getting in on that too, haha.

Salmon bowl set and ramen karaage set

Ah, first of all, the presentation was insane.. ♥️ The ramen and karaage came out quickly too, so it was nice to enjoy everything at once!

I ordered the salmon bowl set for ₩16,000, Korean-style ramen with an extra seasoned egg plus a four-piece karaage set for ₩17,000, two pieces of cheese katsu for ₩6,900, and Sprite Zero for ₩2,500—such a proper spread!

My mom and I are a mother-and-daughter pair who hate scallions, haha, so we diligently picked out the raw scallions on the karaage and ramen. And then appeared this insanely gorgeous cheese katsu.. 😍

Ah, the presentation really was ㅠ_ㅠ It gets your appetite going right away, doesn't it?

First, I took a bite of my beloved sake-don, and the salmon thickness passed the test.. ❣️ Put the salmon over lightly vinegared rice, add a little soy sauce and wasabi, and it is a pass. An absolute pass. (Firmly.)

Since the sake-don came as a set meal, the tray also included salad, one piece of karaage, kabocha squash salad, and miso soup. That completely hit the spot for me too 💘

Stretchy cheese katsu and soy-sauce karaage

Ah, the cheese katsu became my favorite menu item 💛 Can you see how completely packed with cheese it was? They clearly did not use cheap cheese, so it did not snap apart—it stretched loooooong! It made my inner food lover's excitement shoot right up.. hahahahaha

I almost slurped up the cheese by itself, then came to my senses and dipped it in the sauce. Chewy, salty, and nutty—it made me so glad I had added it 🔥

And while Korean-style fried chicken is great too, are there any people who love karaage's distinctly salty, thin coating? I totally do. Rather than stopping at ordinary fried karaage, they lightly drizzle it with a not-too-strong soy sauce seasoning, giving it a little of the feel of Korean-style scallion chicken. A flavor that simply cannot be bad 🤤

Wait... where did all the food go? We were eating so happily and then it was gone.. the food was gone.... hahahahahaha My mom and I do not often find it easy to enjoy meals this much outside of Korean food, but we absolutely wolfed it all down together! 🐷

If you are looking for a good place to dine alone in Incheon Nonhyeon, or want a variety of Japanese dishes with friends, a partner, or family, I recommend Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch ❣️ Flavor is hugely important, of course, but I think the atmosphere, kindness, and even the memories made in that space all count too. Hongdae Gureume has been saved in my archive as a place I want to return to, where I could eat happily throughout my visit 💘 Above all, it was such a charming point that you can add a variety of dishes in small portions at reasonable prices—so varied! 🔥