Sokcho ramen shop: Shin Ramyun-spicy karai and a highball at Ichiba

This is the story of eating special tonkotsu and karai ramen at Ichiba Ramen (이찌바라멘), a well-known ramen spot in Sokcho.

Sashimi and seafood are great on a Sokcho trip, but sometimes you just want something hot and soupy, right? While wandering near the sea, we looked for a hearty meal and ended up at Ichiba Ramen, which kept showing up as a top Sokcho ramen spot :) In person, the local Japanese ramen-shop vibe came through, and the broth was quite rich, so it also worked well as a Sokcho hangover meal.

Where is Ichiba Ramen in Sokcho, and what are the hours and parking?

Ichiba Ramen is at 348 Jungangno, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do. It is open 09:00–22:00, with last order at 21:30. Parking is available.

It sits near the beach in Yeongnang-dong, Sokcho, so it is a handy stop on the way to Sokcho Central Market, Dongmyeong Port or Jangsa Port. It is also close to Sokcho Beach, which makes it easy to fit into a trip route, and it looked like a good pick for Sokcho dinner too. You can park on the road in front or beside the building, and if there is no space, the shop says you can use nearby alleys or the parking lots around the beach.

What is the atmosphere like at Ichiba Ramen?

The inside was bigger and cleaner than I expected. It keeps the feel of a local Japanese ramen shop while still being tidy and pleasant, so it is easy to relax and eat.

You order at a kiosk, which made choosing easy, and quite a few people were there eating solo or having a Sokcho lunch. It had the feel of a casual local spot that is easy to drop into during a trip.

The tables are not cramped, so it works for families, and there are baby chairs, which made it easy to come with a child :)

Ichiba Ramen menu: tonkotsu, karai, miso and rice bowls

The signature dish is tonkotsu ramen, of course. They say the pork-bone broth is simmered for over 30 hours, so expectations were high, and the variety is wide: plain tonkotsu, spicy karai ramen, miso ramen and more.

The hwangtae hangover ramen and the red crab and pollock roe cream ramen, made with a Sokcho touch, stood out because you rarely see them elsewhere. Sides include butadon (pork rice bowl), chashu-don and karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and with draft beer and highballs too, it looked good for a Sokcho dinner.

What we ordered: special tonkotsu, karai ramen, butadon and a highball

• Special tonkotsu ramen
• Karai ramen
• Butadon
• Highball

We wanted both a rich-broth ramen and something spicy, so we ordered the special tonkotsu and the karai ramen, and added butadon as a side :)

We also ordered a highball, and it paired better with ramen than I expected. The place also felt good for a casual drink while you are hunting for a Sokcho ramen spot.

How does Ichiba Ramen's 30-hour broth special tonkotsu taste?

The special tonkotsu ramen hits you with rich flavor from the very first sip of broth. Eating it, I understood why they stress the 30-hour broth. You can taste the depth of long-simmered bone broth, but it is not heavy or greasy, so you keep wanting more.

It comes with rolled pork belly chashu and beef belly, so it was much more filling than a regular tonkotsu, and the bean sprouts and toppings were generous, making the bowl quite hearty. The chashu slices are big, so it looked appetizing from the start, and I could see why it shows up so often as a Sokcho ramen favorite.

How spicy is the karai ramen compared with Shin Ramyun?

The karai ramen felt about as spicy as Shin Ramyun, a style fans of spicy, hearty broth will like. It is a tonkotsu base with a spicy kick, but it is not just harshly hot, and you can still taste the richness of the broth.

At Shin Ramyun-level heat it was easy to eat, and with the hot broth it naturally fit the Sokcho hangover-meal feel :)

Is the butadon worth ordering as a side?

The butadon we ordered alongside was good value for the price. It felt less like a side and more like a small rice bowl, so eaten with the ramen it was quite filling, and the salty-sweet seasoning was not overwhelming.

Ichiba Ramen in Sokcho: final verdict

Overall, it was a good place to stop while looking for a Sokcho meal in Gangwon-do, and we were happy with it, since you get a Japanese-style ramen feel along with a local Sokcho atmosphere. It is a nice stop when you crave hot soup on a Sokcho trip or need a hangover meal, and I think anyone who likes Japanese-style ramen will be satisfied :)