Byeollae ramen restaurant in Namyangju: shio vs shoyu at Torikokoro

I'd just finished a golf lesson and was in a great mood, so I met up with my sister, who lives nearby, for a good lunch. While we were debating what to eat, I found a place that matched our shared love of ramen perfectly — Torikokoro, a Byeollae ramen spot that's been a Blue Ribbon pick for three years running.

Coming from the direction of Sahmyook University's back gate, you'll spot an Ediya Coffee — turn left there and the shop with the pretty yellow awning and yellow flags fluttering will catch your eye right away. It's easy to find, and the cute exterior already had me excited before I even stepped inside. This place has such a good reputation among Byeollae ramen restaurants that I'd been wanting to visit for a while.

What kind of ramen restaurant is Torikokoro Byeollae?

Torikokoro Byeollae is a ramen restaurant at 25-39 Bulam-ro in Namyangju, near the back gate of Sahmyook University. It's been selected as a Namyangju Blue Ribbon restaurant for three years in a row.

Stepping inside, a clean, tidy atmosphere greeted us. On one wall were carefully mounted photos from a "Tokyo Ramen Journey" — it looked like traces of the owner's own research trips and ramen workshops in Japan.

I couldn't help but think this deep dedication to doing just one thing well is exactly why the place earned its Namyangju Blue Ribbon status.

Looking at the menu, I noticed it only had ramen — no scattered side dishes like a typical restaurant. It felt like a true specialist, focused entirely on ramen. The biggest strength and foundation here is the chicken broth: not the usual store-bought liquid stock, but a rich broth the owner simmers from whole chickens for hours. Even before ordering, my heart was racing wondering how deep that flavor would be.

To properly try Torikokoro's signature dishes, we ordered one shoyu ramen and one shio ramen, and added a tamago (soft-boiled egg) too.

Shio ramen or shoyu ramen: which bowl should you order?

Torikokoro's shio ramen and shoyu ramen are both ₩9,500, and both start from the same chicken broth — one seasoned with salt, the other with soy sauce. If you want a clean broth, go for shio ramen; if you want richer savory depth, shoyu ramen is the one.

Shio ramen 塩ラーメン

Our order arrived neatly plated. My sister's shio ramen was the chicken broth seasoned simply with salt — I stole a sip and it was pure clean flavor. Not sharp, not greasy, just refreshing broth you could drink endlessly without getting tired of it. If you prefer clean, light flavors, shio ramen is a must-try here.

Shoyu ramen 醤油ラーメン

My order, shoyu ramen, is seasoned with a soy sauce base. Maybe because of the added umami from the soy sauce, the rich flavor of the chicken broth came through even deeper and fuller. The moment I drank the broth, I let out an actual gasp. There was zero gamy smell or greasiness typical of chicken broth — it was almost strange how clean yet deep it tasted at the same time.

Adding tamago and tasting the chicken chashu

The toppings that came with it were excellent too. A half egg comes standard, but I added a full tamago.

The yolk was cooked to exactly the jammy, soft-boiled texture I love, and eating it with the broth was heavenly. The chicken chashu — probably made from tenderloin — had zero dryness and was impressively soft and tender. Wrapped up with the noodles, it practically melted in my mouth.

Self-serve bar, open kitchen and a free bowl of rice

Throughout the meal, the owner's thoughtful touches showed up everywhere. The self-serve bar had neatly cube-cut kkakdugi (diced radish kimchi) — the perfect bite size to enjoy alongside the ramen. Even a small side dish like this showed real care.

The kitchen is also a spotlessly maintained open kitchen, so we could watch the cooking process directly, which built a lot of trust.

If you finish the noodles and still want more, just ask staff for a free bowl of rice. Mixing rice into the rich, clean broth makes for a truly filling meal.

Tips to know before visiting Torikokoro Byeollae

Leave a Naver receipt review and you can get a free drink — choose from ramune, melon soda, or oolong tea.

In a warm space filled with cute little decor pieces, we got to truly taste the serious, well-crafted ramen behind it all. It was a moment where I really felt why this place has earned three straight years of Namyangju Blue Ribbon recognition. If you're looking for a deep, rich Byeollae ramen restaurant, I strongly recommend visiting Torikokoro, where the painstaking broth is the real star.

📝 One-line verdict — A must-visit Byeollae ramen restaurant, proven by careful chicken broth and three years of Blue Ribbon recognition.

Torikokoro Byeollae