Sokcho ramen family meal with mini rice bowls: Ichiba Ramen

How is it for a family meal near Lighthouse Beach?

Ichiba Ramen (이찌바라멘) is a Japanese ramen restaurant close to Sokcho Lighthouse Beach. It relocated from near Sokcho Jungang Market to 348 Jungang-ro. It was in a convenient spot for a meal after coming to see the sea.

The restaurant is larger and has more tables than it did when it was near Jungang Market. I thought it would work well for a large family or group meal. There are also bar-style seats, which looked convenient for a solo traveler having a meal.

From the perspective of visiting with a child, having a restroom inside the restaurant was especially convenient. We did not need to go outside to wash our hands before eating or when my child needed the restroom. The restaurant and restroom were clean, and high chairs were available.

How much are ramen and mini rice bowls together?

We added mini Chashudon (rice bowl topped with braised pork) and mini Butadon (pork rice bowl) to Tonkotsu Ramen and Karai Ramen. The four dishes came to ₩28,500. It felt inexpensive even compared with ramen restaurants in my neighborhood.

I liked being able to order a small rice bowl as a side when we wanted both ramen and a rice bowl. We could not decide between Butadon and Chashudon, so we chose both.

At the time of my visit, writing a Naver photo review came with a choice of a seasoned egg, giant chashu, or a bowl of rice. I liked the ramen broth, so I thought rice would be a good choice to add to it.

Was Karai Ramen manageable for someone who does not eat much spicy food?

The Karai Ramen I ordered was lightly spicy. It was not overwhelming even for me, since I do not handle spicy food well, and I kept spooning up the broth. It was the kind of broth I would want for a hangover the day after drinking.

The large chashu did not have any gamey smell and was tender. Its rich seasoning went well with the ramen, so I would like to add chashu on my next visit.

The noodles were thin and cooked to my liking.

The seasoned egg had a soft yolk and was flavorful enough to enjoy on its own. Eating the green onion and wood ear mushrooms in the ramen with the noodles added more variety in texture.

Which was better: Tonkotsu Ramen or Karai Ramen?

My husband ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen. I preferred the spicy Karai Ramen, while he said the Tonkotsu Ramen was better. Our preferences split between the two dishes.

The owner said they learned traditional ramen-making methods in Japan. They also explained that they make the broth themselves by simmering domestic pork bones for 30 hours.

The price did not feel high, and I was impressed by the explanation that they make the broth themselves. The ingredients also tasted fresh as I ate.

How were the mini rice bowls as sides or for a child?

The mini Chashudon was more satisfying than I expected. The portion felt good for the price, and the seasoning was neither too sweet nor too salty for me. I was glad we ordered it alongside the ramen.

My child ate the Butadon well. The sauce reminded me of eel rice bowl sauce, and it suited my child, who usually likes eel rice bowls. It also had plenty of egg and pork, making it good for a child’s meal.