Family-friendly ramen restaurant in Sokcho: Ichiba Ramen

A Sokcho ramen stop before heading back to Seoul

As we wrapped up our Sokcho trip and prepared to head back to Seoul, we stopped at Ichiba Ramen (이찌바라멘) because we wanted to fill up properly before leaving. Sokcho has so much delicious food, but for the final meal of a trip, I was really craving a warm bowl of broth. Especially after eating lots of good food the day before, is there anything better than ramen the next day? 😊

Ichiba Ramen felt a little special even before we went in. From the outside, it had the cute feel of a Japanese knickknack shop, so I wondered, “Is this really a ramen place?” But once we opened the door, it was full of that exotic feeling of being on a trip to Japan. The Japanese-inspired interior made me feel as though our meal was another scene from the trip.

More than anything, I thought it was such a comfortable spot for families. Having a separate restroom inside the restaurant made getting around with a child so much easier, and they had a high chair ready too—such a welcome detail for moms dining with a baby like me. On a trip, little things like a restroom and a high chair matter more than you think, right? That thoughtfulness made this Sokcho, Gangwon favorite even more appealing.

What did we order?

As you can see in the photos, we ordered tonkotsu ramen, special tonkotsu ramen, and butadon (Japanese pork rice bowl).

Classic tonkotsu ramen with shichimi

First up was the classic tonkotsu ramen that I ordered! The creamy pork broth had a deep savory richness, but it was not just heavy—it was clean and full-bodied too. I especially loved it with a light sprinkle of shichimi (Japanese seven-spice blend); that little kick was totally my taste. It felt like the travel fatigue just melted away, and I thought, “Ah, so this is why people cure a hangover with ramen.”

It would be a great choice for anyone looking for breakfast in Sokcho, or for a next-day hangover meal after drinks. One spoonful of that hot pork broth makes your stomach feel so settled! 😊

Special tonkotsu ramen on a wide plate

The special tonkotsu ramen my husband ordered was eye-catching from the moment it arrived. It came beautifully arranged on a wide plate rather than in a typical ramen bowl, so the presentation really stood out. Anyone who enjoys taking food photos would surely be happy with this one. It is a dish that is fun to look at as well as delicious, so I would recommend it to anyone seeking great ramen in Sokcho.

Mini butadon for the baby

We also added a mini butadon for the baby, and we were really pleased with it. There were a few too many green onions for the baby, so I picked those out before serving it, but the combination of egg, stir-fried pork, and rice made for a filling meal with protein too. When traveling, it is often hard to know what to feed a child, but here I did not have to worry about a separate menu.

The finishing touch: rice in tonkotsu broth

And here is another little joy at Ichiba Ramen! If you leave a Naver review, you can get a serving of plain rice. It is such a perfect match for ramen. Mixing the rice into that rich tonkotsu broth gives it a whole different charm. Saying, “Yep, I’m the person who eats ramen and then mixes rice into the broth too...,” I cleaned every last bit from my bowl 😂

Famous restaurants packed with tourists are great too, but finding a hidden, local-feeling gem in Sokcho seems to make a trip even more satisfying. With warm broth, a Japanese-inspired atmosphere, and family-friendly comfort, Ichiba Ramen is somewhere I would recommend for a meal during a Sokcho trip.

Ichiba Ramen is a Sokcho ramen favorite I would recommend to anyone looking for breakfast or lunch during a Sokcho trip, a ramen spot that is good for a hangover, or a family restaurant to visit with children! If I travel to Sokcho or nearby Goseong again, it is officially saved to my list of truly great places I want to revisit ❤️