Gangnam ramen restaurant packed at weekday lunch: Oreno Ramen Gangnam

Oreno Ramen Gangnam, Seoul

I was out and about in Gangnam when I stumbled on Oreno Ramen, which I heard has even made it onto a Michelin list before. Most people think of pork-based tonkotsu when they hear Japanese ramen, but Oreno Ramen is chicken-broth based, and the clean flavor was really excellent. Today I'll write about my solo lunch at Oreno Ramen Gangnam, a favorite among office workers near Gangnam Station.

Where is Oreno Ramen Gangnam, and the basics

Oreno Ramen Gangnam is a 4-minute walk from Gangnam Station and an 8-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station. Being so close to the subway makes it convenient as a meeting spot, but with so many offices and academies nearby, it's also well known as a go-to lunch spot for office workers, or a solo-dining recommendation.

It's on the 2nd floor of the building, and the staircase is right there on the right side, so you can head straight up without second-guessing whether you're in the right place.

Tables full at 11:45am: bar seat solo dining and kiosk ordering at Oreno Ramen Gangnam

I visited around 11:45am on a weekday, and all the tables were already full — only the bar seats were left. The place is so popular that if you're visiting with a group, they can only seat you once everyone has arrived. There's bar seating too, so it's also a solid spot for eating alone.

You order at the kiosk by the entrance, and the menu is basically split into two options: tori paitan and kara paitan. Both cost the same at 13,000 won — tori paitan is the mild flavor, and kara paitan is the spicy one.

I went with a friend, so we ordered one tori and one kara, plus a 300ml Sapporo draft beer (6,000 won) and an extra soft-boiled egg (1,000 won), coming to 33,000 won total. Just looking at the menu, 13,000 won for a single bowl of ramen might seem a bit pricey.

But here's Oreno Ramen's big selling point — unlimited refills on both noodles and rice, which makes it a pretty solid choice if you're after a really filling meal.

How do the tori paitan and kara paitan taste?

I started with the standard tori paitan ramen. Up until now, when I thought of Japanese ramen, I usually pictured the rich pork-based tonkotsu.

So I figured chicken broth might be a bit light, but it turned out to be much richer and more savory than I expected. I actually loved the clean finish so much that I kept sipping the broth over and over.

The kara paitan, on the other hand, had a spicy seasoning added to it — the chili oil gave it a savory depth, and the refreshing finish, kind of like a hangover soup, really hit the spot. Honestly, in terms of pure preference, I liked kara paitan more, but since this was my first meal of the day, I mostly stuck to the tori paitan to avoid upsetting my stomach with something spicy.

Honestly, both were deliciously clean-tasting, so you can pick based on your mood or preference without much worry of disliking either. The noodles were on the thinner side but had a nice springy bite — exactly the texture I look for.

The chicken chashu seemed to be chicken breast, and it was as tender as if it had been sous-vide. And I loved that the egg came as a whole, not half, soft-boiled egg on top.

Adding a rice refill and mixing it into the kara paitan broth

My friend and I added one order of rice to share and mixed it into the kara paitan. Maybe because Koreans really do run on rice, but finishing with rice made the meal feel complete and doubled the satisfaction. Of course, just the first bowl of ramen alone would have been plenty too!

Who is Oreno Ramen Gangnam best for?

Oreno Ramen Gangnam let me eat a hearty meal at a Michelin-listed spot near Gangnam Station, a favorite among office workers. It's great for solo dining at the bar seats, and just as good for eating with coworkers or friends. With unlimited rice and noodle refills, even big eaters can visit without worry. If you're looking for a good restaurant in Gangnam, I'd recommend Oreno Ramen Gangnam.