Ilsan ramen shop, 11:15am arrival and two rich-broth bowls: Gyedan

Today I'm sharing a story about a special ramen place I visited after wrapping up some work in Ilsan, right at lunchtime. By the time I finished my errand, I was starving and it was the perfect hour for lunch. Searching for somewhere good to eat near Bamgasi Village, I spotted a ramen shop famous for its distinctive look and deep broth flavor. I'd heard that if you go too late you have to wait in line, so I hurried over.

Location and hours of Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch

Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch is a ramen restaurant in Jeongbalsan-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, open daily from 11:00 to 21:00. Parking for about 3 cars is available right in front of the shop.

• Address: 1341-6 Jeongbalsan-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Parking: About 3 spots in front of the restaurant

The Madu Library alley, shop atmosphere, and parking

The restaurant sits in an alley near Madu Library. Walking along the cozy alleyway, a charming little storefront appears.

There are about 3 parking spots in front of the shop, and luckily exactly one was free when we arrived, so we got lucky with parking. In front of the shop there was a CatchTable registration kiosk,

and since we arrived around 11:15am, we got in without any wait at all. The moment we opened the door, the owner and staff busily cooking in the open kitchen greeted us warmly.

The inside isn't very spacious, but it's cozy and neatly kept. There are about 3 tables, and a clean bar-style counter along the wall that's great for solo diners.

By the time we walked in, the place was already full of customers and only one seat remained. If we'd been even a little later, we would've had to wait!

Choosing broth richness and how to order

At Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch, once you're seated, you can check the menu and pay all at once using the tablet installed at each table.

One big feature here is that you can choose how rich you want your broth. You can pick between 'Basic' and 'Rich,' and since we wanted to experience the full flavor, we chose 'Rich' for both bowls. Here's what we ordered.

• Gyedan Ramen
• Motsu Ramen
• Tamago Bap

Gyedan Ramen: the taste of a tonkotsu broth simmered 14 hours

Soon our dishes arrived one after another. The moment I saw them, each bowl piled high, I couldn't help but gasp.

True to a tonkotsu broth simmered carefully for over 14 hours using pork bones and chicken, the broth was pale, thick, and heavy. Thinly sliced green onions and chewy kelp garnish on top made it visually appealing too.

I first took a big spoonful of the broth to taste.

A heaviness wrapped around my whole mouth, followed by a rich savoriness — not salty or sharp, but mild, with an addictive, distinctly Korean umami that really stood out.

The chashu (braised pork) was so tender it shredded apart along the grain just by picking it up with chopsticks. The noodles were just the right thickness and chewy, soaking up the broth nicely,

and even my kid said it was delicious and gobbled it right up. This really is a legit must-visit ramen spot in Ilsan, I thought.

Motsu Ramen: daechang topping and the secret spicy seasoning

Next we tried the signature, unusual menu item here, the Motsu Ramen.

It was fascinating to see the ramen topped generously with crisply grilled daechang (beef intestines). Half curious, half worried whether the broth and daechang would actually go together, I took a bite.

The moment I bit into the daechang, it was crispy outside and burst with flavor inside, incredibly savory! Dipping it slightly into the broth added the rich savoriness of the broth to the crunch of the fried bite, melting together in a way that was surprisingly delicious.

It was fried-grilled in a way that left only savoriness without any greasiness. I also tried following the restaurant's posted 'how to enjoy ramen' guide.

• First, enjoy the pure broth as-is
• After eating some, add the spicy secret sauce placed on the table

When I was about halfway through, I added a bit of the spicy sauce,

and instantly the broth transformed into something spicy and fiery. Adding the heat brought a whole new charm, but personally, I preferred the solid, rich taste of the basic broth itself. It's nice that you can adjust it to your own taste!

Finishing with tamago bap and complimentary rice

While eating the ramen, I also enjoyed the tamago bap (egg rice) that came alongside it.

The rice was topped with thin, fluffy shredded egg, and it looked as tidy and soft as it tasted. Pouring a few spoonfuls of the leftover rich ramen broth over this tamago bap and mixing it up was an incredible match!

The fluffy egg and the deep broth combined to double the savoriness. By the way, I heard a small portion of plain rice is given as a free service upon request, so if you want to mix rice with your broth, be sure to ask the staff.

Tips for using CatchTable's remote waitlist

By the time we finished eating, it was approaching the lunch peak and more people were waiting outside the shop. If you want to eat without waiting, make good use of the CatchTable app!

• Joining the remote waitlist: Register through the CatchTable app, and be sure to select 'ready to enter' when the KakaoTalk notification arrives.
• Waiting near the shop: The interior is too small to wait inside, so it's best to wait nearby so you can enter right away when you get the notification.
• Checking your entry time: Your spot may be automatically canceled if 3 minutes pass after the final KakaoTalk notification, so be sure to check your KakaoTalk alerts!

My personal take

It had been a while since I finished a bowl of ramen without leaving a single drop of broth — this Ilsan ramen spot made that happen. The 14 hours of careful simmering really showed through in the flavor of the broth alone. The mild yet rich tonkotsu broth, the crispy savory daechang combo, and the finishing touch of tamago bap — there was nothing to complain about.

For delivery or takeout, the noodles are provided uncooked so they don't get soggy, which seems like a great option for home parties or enjoying comfortably at home. This is a precious spot in Jeongbalsan-dong's Bamgasi Village that I'd love to revisit whenever I crave a warm, hearty meal.