# House-made noodle ramen near Gongneung Station, Seoul: Torikokoro - By Do-gyeom (https://superchart.com/en/@little-restaurant-record/) - Written Sep 19, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Nowon, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was written after receiving a complimentary meal from the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@little-restaurant-record/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@little-restaurant-record/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/index.md) ## In short Torikokoro Gongneung Direct Store is a house-made noodle tsukemen (dipping ramen) restaurant in a residential alley by the Hwarangdae train track near Gongneung Station in Nowon, Seoul. The writer ordered the Tsukemen M 200g and the Niboshi Soyu Ramen, dipping the noodles in salt as well as the sauce and adding the staff-recommended kelp vinegar to the broth for a second flavor. With bar seating facing the open kitchen, Torikokoro is an easy place to eat a bowl of ramen alone. ## Good to know - **Name**: Torikokoro Gongneung Direct Store - **Address**: 10 Gongneung-ro 35-gil, lower level, Nowon-gu, Seoul - **Hours**: Daily 11:00–21:30 (last order 21:00) - **Break time**: Weekends 15:15–17:00 - **Parking**: Not available - **Ordered**: Tsukemen M 200g, Niboshi Soyu Ramen - **Seating**: Bar-style table facing the open kitchen *as written by the visitor on Sep 19, 2026* Today I visited Torikokoro Gongneung Direct Store near Gongneung Station. ![Exterior view of Torikokoro in an alley near Gongneung Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-01-24mn8-1200.webp) *Torikokoro, tucked in an alley near Gongneung Station* Walking along the alley near the Hwarangdae train tracks, I spotted a cozy little shop tucked among the houses. 🏠 ## Where is Torikokoro Gongneung Direct Store, and what are the hours? Torikokoro Gongneung Direct Store is a cozy tsukemen spot at 10 Gongneung-ro 35-gil, B1, Nowon-gu, Seoul, in the alley by the Hwarangdae train tracks near Gongneung Station. It's open daily 11:00–21:30 with last order at 21:00, weekend break time is 15:15–17:00, and there's no parking. > Tsukemen, Torikokoro's signature dish, is a Japanese-style ramen where springy, chewy self-made noodles are dipped into a rich house-made broth. It lets you experience both the texture of the noodles and the deep savory flavor of the broth at once. Even first-timers can enjoy it without hesitation, and since the noodles and broth are served separately, you get to enjoy the full flavor right to the last bite. ## A small storefront in the Hwarangdae train track alley ![Torikokoro's small storefront that looks like a converted house](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-02-9vtg4-966.webp) *A small storefront that looks like a converted house* From the outside it wasn't a big place, but these small shops tucked into alleys often turn out to be famous ramen spots. ![Entrance of the small alley ramen shop Torikokoro](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-03-10ad3-966.webp) Hungry as I was, I went straight in. 🍜 Right as you enter, you can order immediately. ![Order counter at the entrance of the hidden ramen spot Torikokoro](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-04-k2nk9-966.webp) *A ramen spot hidden in the alley* Inside, it was a clean open kitchen with bar-style table seating. It had been a while since I'd been to a ramen shop like this, so it felt a bit different. ![Interior of the ramen shop near the Hwarangdae train tracks](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-05-1vm35-966.webp) *A ramen shop near the Hwarangdae train tracks* We ordered two dishes: 🍜 Tsukemen M 200g and 🍜 Niboshi Soyu Ramen. Waiting excitedly to see how they'd taste. ![Bar-style table seats facing the open kitchen](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-06-i7uot-966.webp) *Bar-style table seating* Since the kitchen is so open, at first I wasn't sure where to look, haha 👀 but it was fun sitting there watching the food being prepared and taking it all in. ## Noodles made in house: the flour sacks by the entrance Near the entrance, I saw a space behind glass piled with flour. I thought it might just be decoration, but on closer look it seemed to be the flour used to make the noodles. ![Open kitchen at Torikokoro with the noodle-making space visible](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-07-dg3py-966.webp) *The open kitchen inside the shop* Torikokoro apparently tried tsukemen in Japan and has been working to recreate as close a flavor as possible. Seeing the actual ingredients and the noodle-making space up close, I could feel the passion for ramen. 😊 Knowing they make the noodles in-house raised my expectations even more. ## Torikokoro's bar table and the tableware set out for you ![Neatly arranged interior of Torikokoro](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-08-d5pfd-966.webp) *Torikokoro's clean interior* Sitting down, I noticed water dispensers placed around the tables, so it was easy to get water whenever I wanted. ![Table at Torikokoro with an explanation of tsukemen](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-09-4o6y2-966.webp) *A tsukemen specialty spot* I was curious what tsukemen actually meant. Tsuke (dip) and men (noodles) — "noodles you dip to eat" — was helpfully written right on the table. ![Table signage at the ramen spot discovered in the alley](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-10-15zr5-966.webp) *A ramen spot discovered in the alley* They also had a Naver receipt review event going, so it might be worth joining if you're interested. And salt and chopsticks for the tsukemen were all set out and ready! 🥢 ## How does the Niboshi Soyu Ramen taste? ![A bowl of Torikokoro's Niboshi Soyu Ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-11-i8mq7-966.webp) *The Niboshi Soyu Ramen arrives* The Niboshi Soyu Ramen came out first. The broth looked quite dark from the start. I took a sip first... ![Rich, deep-looking broth of the Niboshi Soyu Ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-12-1ewh6-966.webp) *The rich, deep-looking ramen broth* Huh? What is this flavor? 🤔 It's a broth blending chicken stock and anchovy stock, and to my palate the first thing I noticed was a slightly salty taste. ![Smoky chicken topping in the ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-13-jyzwx-966.webp) *Soft chicken with a smoky flavor* But once I had it with the noodles, the seasoning felt just right. ![Eating the Niboshi Soyu Ramen with the noodles](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-14-1oztm-966.webp) *Niboshi Soyu Ramen that grows on you* At first I ate it with a slightly puzzled feeling, but oddly enough, the more I ate, the more I kept thinking about the flavor. It's the kind of ramen that gets more delicious the more you eat it, if that makes sense. 😋 ![Lifting up noodles from the Niboshi Soyu Ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-15-ycd4g-966.webp) ![Close-up of Torikokoro's Niboshi Soyu Ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-16-v6ygp-966.webp) ### Add kelp vinegar and the broth changes One of the staff told us that if you add kelp vinegar partway through the ramen, you can enjoy a whole different flavor. ![Niboshi Soyu Ramen with kelp vinegar added](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-17-kdx7i-966.webp) *Niboshi Soyu Ramen* Adding the vinegar, I could just faintly taste it, and it made the dish even better. I ended up adding quite a lot, haha. ![Broth of the Niboshi Soyu Ramen with vinegar mixed in](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-18-1el9g-966.webp) The kind of flavor you'll think of right before falling asleep. ### Tender chicken with a hint of char The chicken in the ramen was really delicious too. It was soft with a subtle smoky char flavor. 🔥 That seemed to bring out even more umami. Eating the rich broth and soft chicken together with the noodles was a great combination. Personally, this chicken is what stuck with me most. ## Tsukemen M 200g: the texture of house-made noodles And finally, the long-awaited tsukemen arrived! Unlike regular ramen where the noodles sit in broth, tsukemen is served with the noodles separate from the dipping soup. Looking at the noodles, they had a clear springy look right away. Being handmade noodles, they had a nice elasticity to them. The dipping sauce came separately too, with a rich color and aroma unlike anything else. I picked up a bite of just the noodles first. Chewy, with no raw flour smell, just clean flavor! 😋 The noodles' own texture was so good they were fine to eat plain. ### Dipping the noodles in salt instead of sauce ![Dipping tsukemen noodles into the sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-19-9q9ts-966.webp) *A light dip in the sauce* I also tried dipping the noodles lightly in the salt that was set out. Honestly, I found dipping them in salt quite delicious too. 🧂 It brought out the noodles' own nutty flavor and chewy texture even more. Of course dipping lightly in the sauce that came with it was tasty as well. It was fun being able to try one type of noodle in several different ways. ### Bamboo shoots in the tsukemen dipping broth The tsukemen had bamboo shoots and chicken in it. The bamboo shoots added another crunchy texture, which made eating it more fun along the way. Chewy noodles, a rich sauce, and crunchy bamboo shoots together made for a lot of textural variety. 🥢 ![Tsukemen table setting good for solo dining near Taereung Ipgu Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-20-1izkb-966.webp) *A good spot for solo dining near Taereung Ipgu Station* Just like adding vinegar to ramen midway, I tried adding vinegar to the tsukemen sauce too. ## Is Torikokoro comfortable for solo diners? Even while we were eating, customers kept coming in. There seemed to be regulars who come all the time, as well as first-timers like me. Especially since it wasn't lunch hour and customers kept streaming in, I thought, "guess I was the only one who didn't know about this place," haha 🤣 ![View of Torikokoro with customers continuing to arrive](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-21-vl2l8-966.webp) *A ramen spot discovered in the alley* For anyone looking for a ramen place near Gongneung Station, I think this is worth a visit. Thanks to the bar-style seating, it felt totally fine to come alone and have a bowl of ramen. Recommended for anyone looking for solo dining near Taereung Ipgu Station too. ## A good lunch at Torikokoro, one more time ![A bowl of ramen eaten at Torikokoro](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-22-oq541-966.webp) *Another delicious bowl of ramen today 🍜* Today I had lunch at Torikokoro, a place I discovered in an alley near Gongneung Station, with the Niboshi Soyu Ramen and tsukemen. ![Lunch spread of Niboshi Soyu Ramen and tsukemen](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-23-1d4ro-966.webp) *Another delicious bowl of ramen today 🍜* The Niboshi Soyu Ramen, which had me a bit puzzled at first with its rich broth, kept coming to mind as I ate; and the tsukemen was fun for dipping the chewy handmade noodles separately in salt and sauce. ![Storefront of Torikokoro in the alley near Gongneung Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip-24-12ibd-966.webp) *Torikokoro, tucked in an alley near Gongneung Station* Above all, it was fun being able to watch the noodles being made and the food prepared in the open kitchen of this small shop tucked in a residential alley. 😊 Today's lunch was a great one. If you're looking for a ramen restaurant near Gongneung Station, or a comfortable place to eat ramen solo, Torikokoro is worth remembering. 🍜 ## Where it is - Torikokoro Gongneung Direct Store (토리코코로 공릉직영점) - 10 Gongneung-ro 35-gil, B1, Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 노원구 공릉로35길 10 지층 토리코코로 공릉직영점 - 37.6228995, 127.0787329 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%86%A0%EB%A6%AC%EC%BD%94%EC%BD%94%EB%A1%9C%20%EA%B3%B5%EB%A6%89%EC%A7%81%EC%98%81%EC%A0%90/@37.6228995,127.0787329,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@little-restaurant-record/gongneung-torikokoro-tsukemen-salt-dip/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt