Gangnam ramen restaurant, foamy broth and tsukune plate: Oreno Ramen

This time I visited Oreno Ramen, a great find for solo dining near Gangnam Station. It's actually a place I come to often with my own money, not just for reviews. It's got quite a few branches around Seoul now, but it's been on the Michelin list for almost 10 years running, so the taste is genuinely guaranteed ...👍👍👍 It's comfortable to eat alone here, so it's always a good pick when I want a simple meal in Gangnam.

What is tori paitan (chicken paitan ramen)?

What I ordered this time was tori paitan! Tori means "chicken," and paitan refers to a milky white broth — so it's a ramen with a creamy, deep broth made by simmering chicken down hard.

What I really loved was the thick, bubbly foam sitting on top of the broth — you get a deep, savory hit the moment you take the first sip. If you're looking for a rich-broth ramen for solo dining near Gangnam Station, this is the one I'd recommend!

Oreno Ramen Gangnam: location, parking and hours

• ✔️ Location: 2F, 28-9 Teheran-ro 1-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul / about a 4-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 11
• ✔️ Parking: No parking available. No dedicated lot or parking support / use nearby public parking lots
• ✔️ Hours: Daily 11:00–20:30, last order 20:00, no break time

Tori paitan vs kara paitan: what's the difference?

The menu is broadly split into tori paitan and kara paitan. "Karai (辛い)" means spicy in Japanese, so put simply, it's the basic tori paitan versus the spicy kara paitan!

Oreno Ramen's base is a richly simmered chicken broth topped with soft sous-vide chicken as standard. They also sell extra toppings and assorted tsukune. Tsukune is a Japanese-style chicken meatball!

Inside Oreno Ramen Gangnam: counter seats and atmosphere

The interior was bright overall and the seats were well spaced out, so it felt comfortable. The staff were really kind, and that same attentiveness showed in how spotless the restaurant was kept. The table seating was also generous, so it looked fine for groups too, even large ones.

Since I came alone today, I sat comfortably at the counter seat! There's dedicated solo seating, so it's a totally stress-free place to visit if you're looking for solo dining near Gangnam Station.

Free refills of noodles, broth, rice and kimchi, plus the complimentary sides

It's posted that noodles, broth, rice and kimchi can all be refilled on order. No matter how big your appetite, you'll never leave hungry here!

Radish pickle comes set as a basic side dish.

I thought kimchi and pickled ginger were something you had to pay extra for, but a plate comes standard. Given how ramen makes any Korean crave kimchi or something refreshing, I liked that they gave a generous side dish for that.

And the cola and ice cup were set down super fast. They fill the cup with plenty of ice, so even on a hot day you can keep drinking cold cola right up to the last bite.

A cola that looks refreshing just to look at. I don't usually reach for soda with meals, but it pairs so well with the ramen here that I always end up ordering one — I'd recommend it.

A bowl of tori paitan: foamy chicken broth and toppings

Finally, the tori paitan ramen arrived. It came out super fast, perfect for solo dining, and a staff member brought it out personally and explained the dish, which was a nice touch 🥹 Even during a busy stretch, they kindly took the time to walk me through each topping.

You might wonder why there's so much foam, but despite how rich it is, the foam makes the broth feel soft. I still remember how shocked I was the first time I tried it here.

First, the shredded wood ear mushrooms. They don't have a strong flavor, but the crunchy texture is really nice.

This is the sous-vide chicken breast you could eat without teeth. It's so~~~ soft and moist that I didn't miss pork chashu at all. It's not greasy either, so it doesn't sit heavy afterward — your stomach feels light.

The soft-boiled egg that comes standard. The yolk is cooked to perfection. It's not a chalky, fully hard-boiled egg — it's a fully moist soft-boiled one.

The noodles were thin and chewy, cooked just right, and even eaten alone they held onto the broth well — perfectly salty seasoning.

Eating through the green onion, fried onion, wood ear mushroom and egg toppings one by one, the meal stayed varied enough that it never got boring, right up to the last bite.

The chicken broth is soooo rich, but it feels lighter than pork broth — a broth that's easy on the stomach and just plain delicious.

Assorted tsukune: are two pieces enough for one person?

Out of curiosity I also ordered the assorted tsukune. It comes as two pieces, and that's a substantial amount for eating solo. One side is topped with parmesan cheese and cheese sauce, the other with green onion and cheddar cheese sauce.

The first bite was surprisingly soft and moist! I was expecting the chewy bite of the chicken skewers I've had before, but this went down so tender you could practically eat it with your gums.

Is Oreno Ramen Gangnam worth it for eating alone near Gangnam Station?

No matter how many times I come back, Oreno Ramen still tastes just as good! The richly simmered chicken broth is savory and deep, but far less heavy than a pork-broth ramen, and everything from the moist sous-vide chicken breast to the chewy noodles worked well together.

Above all, there are counter seats good for sitting alone and the food comes out fast, so it's easy to visit without any hesitation when you're looking for solo dining near Gangnam Station. And it's Michelin-listed .. 👍 If you're near Gangnam Station wanting something simple yet filling to eat alone, or craving a rich tori paitan ramen, this is the Gangnam restaurant I'd recommend!