Ilsan Bamlidan-gil ramen shop, three bowls with friends: Gyedan Ramen

Looking for a ramen spot on Bamlidan-gil in Jeongbalsan-dong, Ilsan?? You absolutely cannot skip [Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch]. I've been here a few times before and it's genuinely popular — there's a line every time I visit. This time I came back with friends after a while to try a few different menu items and bring you an honest review. It's close to the National Cancer Center and Jeongbalsan, so it seems like a lot of people come for lunch too. If you're curious about Gyedan Ramen, follow along~ 👀

Getting to Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch and parking

Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch is 928m from Exit 1 of Pungsan Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. If you're driving, turn right at the intersection near the National Cancer Center and Hankyung Jin School, then take the first alley — the shop is right in front of Any Car Land / Lotte Real Estate.

• [If driving] You can park right away if there's space in front of or beside the shop! Madu Library parking lot / Jeongbalsan Park public parking lot are also usable if space allows (fees apply separately!)
• Parking in front of operating shops or residences is absolutely not allowed!!! Please be sure to leave your contact number!!!!!!
• [On foot or by public transit] 15-minute walk from Exit 1 of Pungsan Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line; 10 minutes from National Cancer Center bus stop toward the Hankyung Jin School intersection

Details / Name: Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch / Address: 10, Yulcheon-ro 7beon-gil, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 1st floor / Parking: Madu Library or Jeongbalsan Park public parking lot / Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00

Outside and inside the shop

[Exterior]

[Interior]

The interior fits about 20 people and is decorated with cute little touches that give off a strong Japanese vibe.

What we ordered and how much it cost

Today's picks were 🐽

• Gyedan Ramen - ₩11,000 (1)
• Motsu Ramen - ₩12,000 (2)
• Tamago Rice - ₩3,000 (1)

Gyedan Ramen ₩11,000 — how was the tonkotsu broth?

Gyedan Ramen, ₩11,000 🍜 First up, the basic menu item — gyedan ramen. Pale tonkotsu broth topped with chashu, wood ear mushroom, bean sprouts, green onion, and a soft-boiled egg — the visuals alone scream authentic Japanese ramen! The broth had that savory, rich pork bone flavor, but it wasn't as heavy or muddy as I expected.

I'm not a fan of broth that's too greasy when eating ramen, but here the generous amount of bean sprouts, green onion, and wood ear mushroom added crunchy texture throughout, which I liked. Also, the chashu is pretty thick. Maybe because the surface is seared, there's a subtle smoky char to it, and it's tender to chew — perfect combo with the noodles! The noodles also had a firm, springy bite that hadn't gone soft, pairing well with the chashu and cutting down on greasiness.

There was even a soft-boiled egg in there, so this soft-egg-loving blogger got excited haha. The egg seemed lightly marinated in soy sauce and was quite salty. This is where eating it with tamago rice really shines!

The tamago rice is quite sweet. They recommend scooping up the generous egg strips and meat topping together in one bite and dipping it into the broth.

Motsu Ramen ₩12,000 — the answer if you love daechang

Motsu Ramen, ₩12,000. The menu I was most curious about on this visit was motsu ramen! I'd had it before, but coming back after a while brought a new sense of anticipation. Being a daechang lover, I simply cannot pass on this kind of dish. The motsu ramen comes with savory motsu (beef innards) that has a chewy yet crisp-fried bite when you chew it, with no greasy feel and a flavor that isn't heavy at all. 💛

The tonkotsu broth itself is already rich, but adding the savory flavor of the motsu gave it a whole different charm from the basic gyedan ramen. If you're someone like me who loves daechang or gopchang (grilled intestines), I recommend the motsu ramen! ෆ.̮ෆ If you want both ramen and motsu in one dish, this is exactly it.

I really love wood ear mushroom, and there was plenty of it here too, giving a fun crunchy bite, while the bean sprouts and green onion added texture amid the rich broth.

Tamago Rice ₩3,000 is quite sweet

Tamago Rice, ₩3,000 🍚 It felt like a waste to only eat ramen, so we also ordered tamago rice! Yellow egg strips piled high on the rice, topped with seaweed flakes, green onion, and meat — the visuals were prettier than I expected.

The soft, mild flavor of the egg combined with the salty taste of the meat and seaweed flakes made it a great pairing with the ramen. It's quite sweet, so I'd only recommend it to those who like sweet flavors. In the end, I devoured both types of ramen (shared, of course haha). When you go out to eat, you've got to eat properly. 😎

My tip: add dadaegi halfway through

At Gyedan Ramen, you eat about half your ramen first, then add dadaegi (spicy chili paste).

The dadaegi is really spicy, so even that small amount is plenty!! It doesn't look spicy, but it packs a serious punch haha. Even if you think you can handle spice, don't dump it all in at once — add it little by little to control the heat. Doing this spicy round two neutralizes what could turn greasy into a spicy new flavor, letting you enjoy it like two different dishes. 💛

Gyedan Ramen or Motsu Ramen — which to order

Overall, if you love a rich, savory tonkotsu ramen, go with gyedan ramen; if you also love that savory, crispy-chewy daechang flavor, I'd recommend motsu ramen. I'm firmly team motsu ramen 💛0💛 It's a solid choice on Bamlidan-gil when you want something richer than a standard ramen, with that tonkotsu-and-motsu combo. For anyone searching for ramen restaurants on Ilsan Bamlidan-gil, Ilsan ramen restaurants, or Bamlidan-gil restaurants, I recommend Gyedan Ramen.