Namdong Japanese restaurant sushi ramen couple set: Hongdae Gureume

You know that recurring weekend dilemma, right? I wanted sushi, my boyfriend wanted ramen, and once again this week neither of us would give an inch. In the end, we settled on, “Let’s find somewhere that does both.” That’s how we found Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch (홍대구루메 인천논현점).

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch exterior and practical information

It’s apparently well known as a great Japanese restaurant in Incheon Nonhyeon. With its “Fukuoka within walking distance” concept, it has been loved in Nonhyeon-dong for more than 11 years, which gave me confidence. In the end, it was exactly the answer for a couple like us.

• Address: Unit 202, 2F, Iplex Building, 17 Nongogae-ro 123beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• Hours: Open daily, with no break time
• Parking: 2 hours free in the underground parking garage; register directly at the counter
• Takeout, delivery, reservations, easy payment, group visits, and high chairs available
• Reservations: Available through Naver Reservation

What was the Saturday afternoon wait like?

We visited at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and of course it was full.

We waited about 10 minutes, and true to a popular waiting-list restaurant, there was a separate waiting area.

Fukuoka-inspired interior and seating

Photos of Fukuoka hung all over the walls, with little decorative items here and there, so it briefly felt like we were on a trip to Fukuoka.

There were eight solo seats and six tables for four. The layout worked well for eating alone, as well as dates, families, and gatherings with friends.

The solo seats were bar-style with a wall in front, so they looked ideal for focusing only on your meal without feeling self-conscious. High chairs were available too. There were actually families with children there, and the crowd was more varied than I expected: solo diners, families with children, couples, and students.

Kiosk ordering and pay-after-meal system

You order first at the kiosk, receive a card with your table number, then pay at the counter after eating. It wasn’t difficult, even for a first visit.

A couple set with sushi and ramen

But choosing a menu is always the hard part ㅠㅠ There were so many options. After debating for ages, we decided a set menu was the answer for a moment like this, so we picked the Fukuoka Couple Set for two. We chose Option B, with a ramen set meal plus an assorted sushi set meal, for ₩39,900.

For ramen, we chose the Fukuoka style, said to be the most popular among Kumamoto-style, Fukuoka-style, and Korean-style ramen. We got greedy and added two seasoned eggs and extra noodles too.

The Fukuoka Couple Set for two included drinks. Solo visitors can also choose a one-person set and pair ramen with an onigiri (rice ball) or salmon sushi.

If you like heat, choose Korean-style ramen or add spice for ₩600.

From hair ties to a lucky draw

Hair ties and aprons were set at the table, so we could eat comfortably.

While waiting, there was a little corner where you could draw a message of comfort and luck. The messages were lovely, so there was no time to get bored while waiting for the food.

The Fukuoka couple set filling the table

When the food arrived, the whole spread looked so colorful and pretty. Of course I had to take a photo! Ramen, assorted sushi, fried shrimp, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), salad, and side dishes filled the table with little bowls.

How the Fukuoka-style ramen set tasted

I started with a spoonful of the ramen broth. Just as the menu described, it had the clean, savory depth of pork broth.

It went down easily, without the richness or saltiness often associated with Japanese ramen.

The ramen uses thin noodles, and honestly, with the extra noodles, it was a bit too much to share between two people.. Unless you have a big appetite, I think it would be plenty without adding noodles.

Ramen alone can feel a little lacking, but two inari sushi (seasoned tofu-pocket sushi) came with it, which kept the meal varied without becoming tiresome. The karaage and fried shrimp were thick and generously sized too. Every bite through the crispy coating made me glad we had ordered the set meal.

The salmon and eel I loved in the assorted sushi

The assorted sushi included salmon, tuna, eel, raw shrimp, cooked shrimp, egg, and inari sushi.

Among them, the salmon and eel sushi were especially delicious—so much that they reminded me of sushi I had eaten in Japan.

The salmon was soft and fresh, while the eel was evenly coated in sauce and grilled just right—not too crisp and not too soft.

Order-based events and parking

On top of that, orders of ₩30,000 or more can enter the Lucky Box event:

• First prize: salmon sushi
• Second prize: basic ramen
• Third prize: ade
• Fourth prize: soda
• Fifth prize: no prize

There were also various events: for a receipt review, choose one drink, two pieces of salmon sushi, or four takoyaki (octopus balls); middle and high school students get ₩1,000 off per person; and the prepaid-card event offers extra points when you sign up.

Seeing the stack of customer coupons at the counter also made me realize how many regulars they have. Later, I found that they sell more than 30,000 bowls of ramen a year and have more than 13,000 members. So that pile of coupons wasn’t there for nothing.

For parking, you can register it yourself when paying at the counter! Two hours of free parking.

Recommended for sushi fans and ramen fans

• Sushi-and-ramen couples: solve the preference debate with one set menu
• Solo diners: wall-facing bar-style seats mean no need to feel self-conscious
• Families with children: high chairs are available, and there were plenty of guests with children

Why I want to return

For a little over ₩20,000 per person, we could have both sushi and ramen in one place. That was the biggest point of satisfaction for our couple. If you’re torn between sushi and ramen in Nonhyeon-dong, I think Hongdae Gureume is worth a try.

Next time, I want to reserve ahead, take it easy, and definitely try the scoopable sushi and Kumamoto-style ramen.