Bulgwangcheon ramen shop: 3 refills and first-time cilantro, Oreno

Today's place is Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong (오레노라멘 은평점), a Bulgwang-area favorite near Saejeol Station in Seoul. It specializes in Japanese tori paitan (creamy chicken broth) ramen. It has appeared on many YouTube channels, including Yukshikman, Wassup Man, Delicious Trip, Yummy Boy and Foodyland, and on the TV shows Matitneun Nyeoseokdeul and Onepick Road. I hear it has also been listed in the Michelin Guide's ramen category for 6 years in a row since 2018.

Where is Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong, and what are the hours?

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong is at 366 Bulgwangcheon-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Saejeol Station Exit 1. Bulgwangcheon stream is right across from the shop, so it's really nice for cycling or a stroll.

• Hours: daily 11:00–20:30
• Break time: 14:30–17:00
• Last order: 20:00

I visited Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong, a Bulgwang favorite near Saejeol Station. The tori paitan here is really good.

What we ate at Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong

On this visit, the shop provided the meal. I had one bowl each of karai paitan and tori paitan, and added 2 pieces of tsukune chashu and 1 soft-boiled egg.

• Karai paitan x1
• Tori paitan x1
• Tsukune chashu x2
• Soft-boiled egg (extra) x1

What does karai paitan taste like? Spicy chicken broth

Oreno Ramen's karai paitan has a rich chicken broth base with a kick of spice, so it's savory yet clean. The noodles are chewy, and the chicken in it is tender and mild. The broth is spicy and so good that it's really delicious if you add rice to it. The menma (seasoned bamboo shoots) were nicely chewy too.

What does tori paitan taste like? Mild, savory broth

Next, the tori paitan. Oreno Ramen's tori paitan broth is not spicy. It's mild with real depth, and I loved it. You can really taste the richness of the chicken in your mouth, and the noodles are chewy, so I enjoyed it a lot.

I added a soft-boiled egg too. It's soft and lightly seasoned, so it was super good. Ramen and soft-boiled egg go well together.

What does tsukune chashu taste like?

Now the tsukune chashu. It comes like a meatball, and it was so mild and so tender. I'd never tried it before, and it was really good. I wanted even more.

Kimchi and cilantro are served if you ask

At Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong, kimchi and cilantro are provided if you ask separately. The crunchy, tangy kimchi goes really well with the ramen. Cilantro is usually eaten with rice noodles (pho), but it pairs well with ramen too. It was my first time eating cilantro, with its slightly bitter taste and fragrance, and I had no problem with it. It was delicious.

How do the refills work at Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong?

With one order per person, Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong offers unlimited refills of noodles, rice, broth and kimchi. This time I refilled noodles, rice and broth, 3 refills in total. Even noodles get refilled, which is a total steal. You can choose half or a full portion of noodles, and for the broth you can pick tori paitan or karai paitan, whichever you like.

It's a total steal. You can have a really full meal.

If you're wearing a jacket, there are hangers at the shop entrance. You can hang it up and eat comfortably.

Menu and kiosk ordering

You order at the kiosk in the shop, which takes both cash and card. There are just 2 main menu items, tori paitan and karai paitan. Tsukune chashu is a new topping, and there are alcohol and drinks to go with your ramen.

Is there a wait?

There's a waiting bench at the entrance of Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong. You may have to wait on weekends or at lunchtime. Ramen tables turn over quickly, so you should get in soon.

Inside the shop and seating

This is the inside of Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong, an Eunpyeong-gu favorite in Seoul. It has an open kitchen and is really clean, with seating from bar seats to 4-person tables. It's a great spot for a Bulgwangcheon date or eating solo. I enjoyed it so much.