Sunday solo lunch at a Gangnam ramen restaurant: Oreno Ramen Gangnam

On a Sunday afternoon, I set out to escape the busyness of everyday life and enjoy a quiet, leisurely lunch on my own. Whenever I want to fully focus on myself over the weekend and treat myself to a good meal, a deep, warm bowl of Japanese-style ramen naturally comes to mind.

Mulling over where to find properly simmered chicken-broth ramen near Gangnam Station, I headed to Oreno Ramen Gangnam, which has consistently made the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list, proving both its popularity and its quality.

How long is the wait at Oreno Ramen Gangnam on a Sunday lunch?

At Sunday lunchtime, a long line had already formed from the building's stairwell entrance at Oreno Ramen Gangnam. But since ramen is a fast meal and turnover is excellent, the actual wait wasn't nearly as long as the line suggested.

My turn came around quickly, and I was soon seated inside. It's an appealing spot for solo diners hoping to enjoy a relaxed meal without the burden of a long wait.

Oreno Ramen Gangnam menu and prices

You order at the self-order kiosk.

Right at the entrance is a self-order kiosk where you can conveniently prepay for your order. The menu includes the tori paitan ramen, made from chicken simmered down into a deep, rich broth, and the kara paitan ramen with an added spicy kick, both priced at 13,000 won. As a side dish, the mixed tsukune — skewers of chicken meatballs — is 5,000 won, and a 300ml Sapporo draft beer to cool your throat is 6,000 won per glass.

Craving something hot and spicy that day, I ordered a bowl of kara paitan ramen, a side of mixed tsukune, and a Sapporo draft beer.

Is Oreno Ramen Gangnam comfortable for eating alone?

The interior features cozy wood-tone bar tables and standard 4-person tables arranged neatly, creating a comfortable dining atmosphere.

The open-kitchen layout lets you see straight into the cooking area, which gives real peace of mind about hygiene. It was a calm, pleasant space for a solo healing session on a Sunday afternoon.

As soon as I sat down, the basic side dishes — napa cabbage kimchi and red pickled ginger — arrived first.

These are the accompaniments that refresh your palate between bites of ramen.

A 300ml glass of Sapporo draft beer for 6,000 won

Next came the Sapporo draft beer to cool me off.

The glass was filled precisely with cold beer, topped with a dense, soft layer of creamy foam that made it look refreshing even before the first sip. Taking a sip, the crisp carbonation and chill spread through my whole body, washing away all the sluggishness and thirst of a Sunday afternoon in one go.

What does the karapaitan ramen taste like?

While I was slowly savoring the cold beer and enjoying the moment, my main dish, the kara paitan ramen, arrived at the table.

The pale, deep chicken broth mixed with the special spicy seasoning gave the soup an appetizing reddish hue, and a layer of soft foam on the surface added to the visual appeal.

The toppings were generous: moist sous-vide chicken breast chashu, crunchy wood ear mushrooms and grilled onion, finely chopped green onion, and a soft-boiled ajitama (seasoned soft-boiled egg).

Tasting the broth first, I found deep, rich umami from chicken simmered on the bone for a long time, with a clean, spicy heat melted seamlessly into it.

There was no harsh or greasy heaviness at all — it was so refreshing and clean it seemed to clear my whole system.

The thin, straight semen noodles soaked up the rich broth beautifully, pairing well with the soup while keeping a firm chewiness that made each bite fun.

The chicken breast chashu pulled apart tenderly with no off odor, and the soft-boiled egg had a savory, well-seasoned outside with a bright yellow yolk that flowed out softly — excellent.

Mixed tsukune for 5,000 won: two flavors on one plate

While I was enjoying my ramen, the freshly grilled, golden-brown mixed tsukune arrived last. Two wooden skewers held plump chicken meatballs topped with thinly shredded green onion, cheese, and a generous drizzle of special sauce.

On the left, shredded green onion with mentaiko mayo (spicy pollack roe mayo); on the right, plenty of cheese and pepper.

One bite released a deep smoky char aroma along with juicy meat juices filling my mouth. The savory outside and tender inside of the tsukune contrasted wonderfully with the spicy kara paitan ramen, and paired fantastically with the remaining Sapporo draft beer.

A half refill of noodles and broth, topped with chashu

As the meal went on, I noticed a standout perk unique to Oreno Ramen: free refills of rice, noodles, and broth — a really unusual policy.

The generosity was clear — the base portion was already hearty, but you could add as much as you liked to suit your appetite. I asked for a half refill of broth and noodles. Soon, a bowl arrived with half a portion of freshly boiled, chewy noodles topped with green onion garnish and a slice of chicken breast chashu, along with warm broth served neatly in its own container.

Unlike other ramen places that typically just hand over plain noodles for a refill, the thoughtful touch of including chashu and garnish even in the refill really stood out. Pouring the fresh noodles into the warm broth felt like being served a brand-new bowl of ramen all over again, letting me finish the meal warm and satisfied to the very last bite.

A ramen restaurant that's been on the Michelin list for a long time really is different.

Hair ties and disposable aprons are also provided.

The progression from kimchi and ginger, to the cold draft beer, to the spicy ramen and savory tsukune, came together in perfect harmony.

Thanks to the fast turnover, the wait was short, and thanks to the deep, rich broth, the well-made noodles, and the generous free refill system, I left full and thoroughly satisfied.

Visiting alone on a Sunday afternoon for a relaxed, unhurried time by myself was a deeply satisfying experience. I strongly recommend Oreno Ramen Gangnam to anyone near Gangnam Station looking for delicious ramen and a satisfying solo meal.