Bucheon ramen restaurant: spicy mazemen at Gyeoretsu Ramen

There are weekday evenings when it feels a little disappointing to head straight home after work. This Tuesday was one of those days. I wanted something delicious and a light beer to lift my mood, so I headed to Bucheon.

The place I visited was Gyeoretsu Ramen Bucheon University Branch (교레츠라멘 부천대점). Located between Bucheon Station and Bucheon University, this Japanese ramen specialist serves not only ramen but also a range of noodle dishes, including mazemen (soupless mixed noodles) and perilla oil abura soba.

Atmosphere and hours at Gyeoretsu Ramen Bucheon University Branch

From the outside, Gyeoretsu Ramen Bucheon University Branch had the feel of a proper Japanese ramen shop.

The bright sign made it easy to find even in the evening. According to the in-store notice, hours are 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a break from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and last orders at 8:30 p.m.

Once inside, it had that compact, comfortable atmosphere typical of a Japanese ramen shop. There are bar-style seats facing the kitchen, so dining alone did not feel awkward at all.

On a weekday evening when I want to eat something good and have a beer alone, a restaurant laid out like this is really comfortable. There is no pressure about taking up a table by myself, and it was nice to eat slowly while watching the food being prepared. Even on a weekday it was nearly full, and there were waiting seats too, which gave me a sense of how popular it is.

Kiosk menu and ordering

You order at the kiosk. Looking through the menu, there was tonkotsu ramen for ₩9,000, Iekei ramen for ₩10,000, spicy tonkotsu ramen for ₩9,500, spicy Iekei ramen for ₩10,500, soupless tantanmen for ₩10,000, mazemen for ₩10,000, karaimazesoba for ₩10,500, and perilla oil abura soba for ₩10,500, among other options.

They also sell my favorite, Kirin bottled beer.

I ordered karaimazesoba, a bottle of Kirin beer, and half-and-half fried bites.

There is also a helpful menu guide by the entrance, which makes choosing easier.

How to enjoy karaimazesoba

When my order arrived, it made quite a proper full spread, even though I was dining alone.

The karaimazesoba came piled high with minced meat, garlic chives, shredded scallions, seaweed flakes, onion, and more, with an egg yolk in the center.

It is a spicy mazemen made with a blend of several chili powders, so it looked quite intense from the start.

Break the yolk, then thoroughly mix the noodles and toppings before eating.

The deep savoriness of the minced meat and spicy seasoning came together beautifully, while the onion and garlic chives gave it a nice bite here and there. Rather than being merely hot, it had a rich flavor in which all the ingredients came together, so I kept reaching for my chopsticks.

Mazemen can start to taste quite rich as you keep eating, but adding a little vinegar changes the mood. Rather than adding lots of things from the beginning, I recommend fully enjoying the original flavor first, then adding a little at a time.

The table has several seasonings ready, including pepper, shichimi (Japanese seven-spice chili), and kelp vinegar. Eat it as it comes first, then add small amounts to suit your taste midway through, and the same mazemen takes on a different feel.

Rice is complimentary and available in as much as you want, so after finishing the noodles, mixing rice into the remaining sauce would be a good idea too.

There is also a self-serve side-dish bar beside the rice, for your reference!

Kirin bottled beer and half-and-half fried bites

And what really helped lift my mood that day was a cold bottle of Kirin Ichiban beer.

Pouring Kirin bottled beer into the chilled glass made it a great match for the spicy, rich karaimazesoba.

The half-and-half fried bites I ordered alongside it also went well as a beer snack.

Picking up the crisp fried pieces one by one, taking a bite of mazemen, then having another sip of cold beer made for a pretty substantial dinner, even on my own.

A bowl of mazemen and a cold beer on a weekday evening after work. It is not some grand plan, but this kind of thing is a surprisingly reliable mood boost.

How was it as a solo ramen spot in Bucheon?

If you are looking for a ramen restaurant in Bucheon where you can comfortably walk in alone, Gyeoretsu Ramen Bucheon University Branch really made an impression!

From brothy ramen such as tonkotsu ramen and Iekei ramen to mazemen and perilla oil abura soba, there are plenty of choices to match what you are craving that day. It is especially well suited to people like me who want a delicious solo meal and a light beer on a weekday evening. With the easy solo-dining bar seats, spicy karaimazesoba, and cold Kirin bottled beer, it was an evening that truly refreshed me.