Jung-gu Daegu ramen restaurant: Kara level 1 spice at Ryusenso

I visited a place that impressed me with its rich broth and generous toppings. Dongseong-ro is packed with famous eateries, but a solid ramen spot is surprisingly hard to find — and I finally found one! Great for solo dining too, with smoky chashu and noodles that soak up the deep broth beautifully. Here's my honest review of Ryusenso, a Dongseong-ro Daegu favorite.

Ryusenso Dongseong-ro hours, address and how to find it

• 🕒 Daily 11:30–21:00 / last order 20:30
• 🏠 1F Ryusenso, 57 Gongpyeong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea

What the Ryusenso storefront and dining room look like

The exterior has an elegant dark navy sign. Even from outside it doesn't look small, and the spotless, gleaming windows show they care about cleanliness — a great first impression. Photos of Ryusenso's menu items are on display outside, and just looking at them made me hungry. They all look so good!

Once inside, it's clear this is a popular spot since there's plenty of waiting seats. The gleaming windows almost make it feel like you're outdoors. The place is really clean.

This Dongseong-ro favorite has three 4-person tables plus an L-shaped counter. There's enough seating for solo diners and groups alike.

I caught the moment they were charring the chashu over open flame. Meat and direct fire, right? I could already tell the smoky flavor would be great.

What we ordered at Ryusenso Dongseong-ro

I ordered the Ryusenso (tonkotsu ramen) and the Ryusenso Kara (spicy tonkotsu ramen).

How the Ryusenso tonkotsu ramen tastes

The order arrived. It came piled with toppings — a moist soft-boiled egg, flame-charred chashu, and crunchy wood ear mushroom strips.

I helped myself to pickled ginger strips and pickled mustard greens as sides. They're perfect for cutting through what could otherwise be a rich dish, keeping your palate clean.

✔️ Ryusenso (tonkotsu ramen) — a ramen with a deeply simmered, milky pork broth. No off flavors at all, just a rich broth with a surprisingly clean finish.

Look at the shape of the noodles. Slurped up together with the crunchy wood ear mushroom, this is pure bliss. The generous portion of chashu is also excellent — the smoky, tender texture pairs perfectly with the noodles.

How spicy is Ryusenso Kara level 1?

✔️ Ryusenso Kara (spicy tonkotsu ramen) — I always order spicy. The milky tonkotsu broth is appealing on its own, but I love the spicy flavor and aroma, so I go for it whenever I can.

With Ryusenso Kara you can choose your spice level — I went with level 1. If you handle spicy food well, you could probably go up to level 3. Level 1 was milder than Shin Ramyun, so even a spice wimp like me could manage it just fine! And it's fun looking at all the toppings piled on top. Dipping the moist soft-boiled egg into the broth is so good.

The chashu is just as moist here, with plenty of that smoky char — a perfect match for the ramen. The fat ratio isn't too high, so it's savory without being greasy.

The noodles, soaked in the rich broth, have incredible depth of flavor. The portion was bigger than I expected — plenty to fill up an adult woman like me. You can also add pepper or garlic to taste for a different flavor. I added a spoonful of garlic halfway through, and it completely changed the flavor — a nice way to enjoy two different experiences in one bowl.

Is Ryusenso Dongseong-ro worth it? Parking and solo dining

It's right across from Gukchaebosang Memorial Park, so it's easy to access and easy to spot from the street. It's also across from the Gukchaebosang Memorial Park public parking lot, one of the more affordable ones in Jung-gu (₩7,000 for the whole day), so it's an easy walk over. With plenty of counter seating, it's great for solo dining, the prices are reasonable, and the food is excellent. Recommended if you're after subtly smoky, flame-charred chashu and a rich broth. That was Ryusenso, a Dongseong-ro Daegu ramen favorite.