Goyang ramen restaurant with mild or rich broth: Gyedan Ramen

An Ilsan ramen spot I keep returning to

Today, I’m introducing a great ramen spot in Ilsan that I keep revisiting as a total noodle lover.

Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch softens the intensity of Japanese ramen to suit Korean palates. It’s somewhere I eat often, both in the restaurant and by delivery.

Lunch waits and seating

There is always a wait at lunchtime, so there’s a Catchtable kiosk beside the entrance.

The table seats were occupied, so I’m showing you the counter seats just for a sense of the atmosphere. It made me feel like I was traveling in Japan. Each seat has a mini fan, which is nice because you don’t get hot while eating.

Ramen choices and broth strength

There are two ramen varieties, Gyedan Ramen and Motsu Ramen, and you can choose the broth strength. It’s also great for creating your own ramen recipe with extra noodles and toppings.

Everything we ordered, from regular to rich

Gyedan Ramen (regular), Gyedan Ramen (rich), Motsu Ramen (rich), tamago rice, and chashu rice bowl

Every table comes with kimchi, danmuji (pickled yellow radish), spicy sauce, small plates, tissues, utensils, and cups.

Any place that doesn’t serve plain water has to be good, right? Haha.

The difference between regular and rich Gyedan Ramen

The difference between regular and rich is the broth’s thickness and saltiness. The ingredients are the same, so I’ll describe them together.

Gyedan Ramen comes with chashu, bean sprouts, a soft-boiled egg, scallions, wood ear mushrooms, and noodles. One person in our group was trying ramen for the first time that day, so they chose the regular version—and said even the broth was incredibly delicious.

They said it had a familiar taste, like something they had eaten somewhere before, so it was easy to enjoy without feeling overwhelming. I think it’s perfect for a first ramen experience, too.

Can you see how thick the chashu is? It’s substantial yet tender, with a smoky aroma and so much flavor! I often add extra chashu, but I barely held back that day because I wanted the chashu rice bowl, haha. I also love that the egg is cooked to just the right soft-boiled texture.

A spicy sauce tip for eating it like karai ramen

Here’s a tip for anyone who loves spicy food! Mix a little of the secret spicy sauce on the table, then add it to your ramen to enjoy it like karai ramen (spicy ramen).

I added a heaping spoonful, which made the broth this color. It was a little spicier than Buldak 볶음면 (hot chicken stir-fried noodles). I wanted to make it even hotter, but I have to start worrying about my health now...ㅠㅠ

I had saved two slices of chashu for this moment, too. The added spiciness makes it even better!

My first crispy makchang Motsu Ramen

Motsu Ramen is Gyedan Ramen’s base topped with crispy fried makchang (pork rectum).

I always order Gyedan Ramen, so I finally tried Motsu Ramen for the first time on this visit. The makchang was crispy and nutty with no unpleasant odor, and I could see why it had confidently earned a place as a main-menu ingredient.

Because of the makchang, the broth tasted a little different, too. It reminded me of gukbap broth—a very, very rich one that immediately made me think it would be delicious with rice mixed in.

How to eat the tamago rice and chashu rice bowl

Tamago rice is topped with thinly sliced egg strips, pork, seaweed flakes, and scallions. (As an aside, I’ve been taking Korean-cooking classes lately, and I can really sense an expert’s skill just from the egg strips alone, haha.)

You are meant to mix it well with chopsticks and stir it into the rice, but I preferred scooping it up as is.

Because you can eat it a little faster this way..! Picking out only the egg strips and lightly dipping them like noodles is another fun way to eat it.

Unlike the ramen chashu, the chashu on the rice bowl comes cut into bite-size pieces.

If you like a bigger bite, stack two pieces like I do. One lean piece and one fatty piece make one big bite, haha.

Another eating tip: put one piece on top of the tamago rice! The moment the egg strips, chashu, meat, and ramen broth come together in your mouth, you can’t help going, “Ahhh.”

Location and parking

• 10 Yulcheon-ro 7beon-gil, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Parking is available in front of the restaurant, but the space is limited, so it’s best to park at Madou Library across the street.

Gyedan Ramen is an Ilsan ramen spot I truly love and visit often. Even while writing this post, I’m swallowing my drool and thinking, “When should I go eat it again?” Haha.