Gangnam ramen restaurant with Sapporo draft beer: Oreno Ramen Gangnam

A ramen restaurant in Gangnam that is great for solo dining: Oreno Ramen Gangnam

There has only ever been one time ramen truly moved me. The deep broth, the harmony of the ingredients, that wave of emotion with every sip of soup.... I couldn’t forget that taste, so I went back. It’s somewhere I want to tell everyone about, while also hoping there will always be exactly one seat left for me,, Oreno Ramen Gangnam.

Getting to Oreno Ramen Gangnam from Gangnam Station

It’s an 8-minute walk from Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station. From Gangnam Station, it’s a little closer—within 5 minutes. Come out toward Exit 11, head up the uphill alley behind CGV, and you’ll find it on the second floor.

It isn’t in an obvious spot—it’s on the second floor up a hard-to-see uphill alley—but people clearly know to seek it out as a Gangnam favorite listed in the Michelin Guide. There is naturally a wait at peak times, and even at awkward hours the seats tend to be full, but because it’s a ramen place the turnover is quick and seats open up soon.

A spacious interior with plenty of counter seats for solo diners

For a ramen restaurant, the interior is quite spacious, with solo-dining counter seats as well as tables for four and six. As soon as you walk in, the staff by the entrance take your order and show you to your seat, so even busy periods seem to flow along smoothly! They assign your seat too, which is convenient.

At a Gangnam Station favorite that has a waiting line, you might feel a little self-conscious about visiting alone at peak time. But Oreno Ramen Gangnam has more counter seats, and there were actually far more people there eating alone, so you can have a meal comfortably without worrying at all.

Two kinds of ramen: tori paitan and kara paitan

• Tori paitan: rich, savory chicken ramen
• Kara paitan: spicy ramen

As you would expect from a Gangnam favorite focused solely on ramen, there are just two ramen choices. Since my previous visit, Sapporo draft beer and assorted tsukune have newly launched as sides.

Side accompaniments

The staff bring over kimchi and ginger, while pickled radish is set out at every table.

Tori paitan with an extra soft-boiled egg

Tori paitan (₩13,000). There are lots of staff in the kitchen constantly making broth and noodles, so it arrives within 5 minutes of ordering. The soft-boiled egg here is seasoned, and it is incredible with the broth. I was so sad I only had one last time, so today I added another egg,, ^^

When your order arrives, the staff kindly explain the ingredients in the ramen and let you know that rice, noodles, and broth can all be refilled.

The sous-vide chicken breast is seriously the best. It’s good enough that I would simply believe it if someone said this was why it made the Michelin Guide,, The very first time I had Oreno Ramen, my eyes went wide and I was so moved—and it was exactly the same on my return visit.

The rich, savory broth, crunchy wood ear mushrooms, tender soft-boiled egg, sous-vide chicken breast, and house-made noodles all work together beautifully, without any one ingredient sticking out.

Sapporo draft beer and assorted tsukune

Sapporo draft beer (₩6,000). On my previous visit, I was disappointed that there were only highballs, but now they have Sapporo, of all things. So good for a Friday-night solo drink and meal near Gangnam Station! The foam is soft, the carbonation has a crisp bite,, it feels like a pretty successful life, enjoyed at Oreno Ramen Gangnam,,

Assorted tsukune (₩5,000). Tsukune are Oreno Ramen’s side dish of minced chicken shaped into meatballs! You get two large flavors: cheese with mayonnaise, and myeongran mayo (pollock roe mayonnaise) with scallions.

They cut easily even with chopsticks. Juicy and soft,, they were such a good snack with draft beer, and I think kids would like them too. The myeongran mayo was tastier to me.

For lunch or dinner near Gangnam Station

I really want to try the spicy kara paitan too, but I’m weak with spice, so I hesitated. Still, after having the tori paitan, I trust Oreno Ramen so much that even a menu item I haven’t tried feels guaranteed to be delicious,, If you’re deciding on a solo meal, lunch, or dinner near Gangnam Station, stop by. Even if there’s a wait, this Gangnam favorite gets you in quickly.