Stroller-friendly Mokdong ramen restaurant in Seoul: Gyedan Ramen

Gyedan Ramen Mokdong Branch: ramen under the SBS building, with parking

I went for weekend lunch to Gyedan Ramen, a ramen restaurant that recently opened in the basement of the SBS building in Mokdong. Since it's inside the SBS building, it was easy to find while looking for somewhere to eat around Mokdong.

Best of all, parking was available, so it was convenient to come by car. In Mokdong, parking is often one more thing you have to think about when picking a place to eat, but because it's the SBS building, the parking lot was big and had plenty of space!

Can you bring a stroller inside? Lunch with a baby at Gyedan Ramen

We visited with a stroller, and staff told us it was fine to bring the stroller all the way inside the restaurant. Figuring out how to manage a baby when eating out is always something you have to think about.

It was nice not having to leave it outside — we could keep it right beside us while eating. The space wasn't cramped even with the stroller parked there. Our baby happened to fall asleep, so we let her nap comfortably right in the stroller.

There are solo tables good for eating alone, as well as seating for groups, so it seemed like a comfortable spot whether you're coming by yourself for ramen or dropping in for a casual lunch. I'd been curious about this new Mokdong ramen restaurant, and the interior turned out to be laid out in a way you could eat comfortably, without feeling cramped or chaotic.

Gyedan ramen or motsu ramen — what is the difference?

The menu is broadly split into two: motsu ramen and gyedan ramen. At first I thought they might have different broths, but when I asked a staff member, they told me the broth is the same for both — the difference is in the toppings.

So rather than agonizing over broth preference, you can just pick based on the toppings you want. The richness of the broth was also adjustable. I went with the gyedan ramen, and my partner ordered the motsu ramen in the rich flavor.

Here's how the gyedan ramen came out —

And the motsu ramen comes topped with — pork intestines? — a fried topping.

The most memorable dish: tamagobap dipped in the broth

The ramen itself was plenty tasty, but the dish I remember most from Gyedan Ramen was the tamagobap (egg rice) we ordered separately. At first I worried that ramen plus rice would just be too much food, but once we actually ate it together, I understood why they recommend it.

I scooped up a spoonful of the egg rice and dipped it lightly into the ramen broth, and that combination was seriously incredible. The broth is delicious on its own, but eating it with tamagobap let me really enjoy the flavor of the broth.

If you add the spicy seasoning, it eats a bit like karai ramen (spicy ramen). The soft flavor of the egg rice and the spicy ramen broth blend together so naturally that I kept reaching for more. You really need to order tamagobap alongside from the start and dip it into the broth to get a proper sense of how good this broth is.

For ramen lovers, and also for anyone who feels a bit unsatisfied with noodles alone, I'd definitely recommend ordering tamagobap alongside.

Even after one bite of the ramen I thought it was really good, but once I tried the rice, it was so good that I ended up leaving some noodles behind while eating the rice instead. That's how great the rice-plus-broth combo is.

Cold-brewed milk tea to finish the meal

And surprisingly, the milk tea was the dish that satisfied me most after the meal. The restaurant had a sign saying the milk tea was good, and I ordered it half-doubtfully, just taking a chance — and it turned out much tastier than expected.

They said it's a cold-brewed milk tea made in-house, and the aroma was really subtle and fragrant. It kept the rich, distinctive flavor of milk tea alive without being too sweet or heavy, which made it a good drink after ramen. Personally, I really liked the fragrant flavor that felt like an Earl Grey-type tea.

I ordered it as a light dessert drink, but it tasted as rich and satisfying as what you'd get at a proper milk tea specialty shop, so I think I'd order it again next time I visit.

Who should visit Gyedan Ramen Mokdong Branch?

• Anyone looking for a ramen restaurant in Mokdong
• Anyone looking for a restaurant with parking
• Anyone looking for a lunch spot that allows strollers

I think I'll be coming back here often whenever I'm craving ramen.