Eunpyeong ramen with kimchi and house pickles: Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong

Today I want to introduce the best tori paitan I've ever had, at Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong. The real deal, straight-from-Japan flavor. It's already famous among ramen lovers, and with branches in Songpa, Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, Insa, Gangnam and more across Seoul, it's a proven crowd-pleaser.

Where is Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong, and what are the hours?

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong is at 366 Bulgwangcheon-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, near Saejeol Station. It's open daily from 11:00 to 20:30, with a break time from 14:30 to 17:00, and last order at 20:00.

• Hours: open daily 11:00–20:30
• Break time: 14:30–17:00
• Last order: 20:00
• Parking available, wifi, restroom (outside)

I visited around 7pm on a weekday, right at dinner rush, so the place was pretty packed with customers.

The menu: tori paitan and kara paitan

Oreno Ramen is said to be the first ramen restaurant in Korea listed in the Michelin guide. The menu is simple — just tori paitan or kara paitan. For sides you can add tsukune chashu (skewer-style meatball chashu) or a soft-boiled egg, and drinks include highball, Kloud bottled beer, and Coke (regular and zero). I thought about getting a highball, but sadly they don't use soda water, only tonic water!

I ordered tori paitan with added tsukune chashu and soft-boiled egg, plus a zero-calorie Coke (I'm absolutely obsessed with soft-boiled eggs in ramen).

Counter seats at Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong, easy for solo diners

The interior of Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong is mostly counter (dachi) seats and 4-person tables. Since it was crowded, I only took photos of the wall where there were no customers. The counter seats can hold quite a lot of people, so it seems like a great place to eat solo even at lunchtime.

Check the photo for the restroom password!

Sharing the wifi info too! And you can pay by bank transfer here!!

Each seat has its own little compartment with chopsticks and tissues, so you don't have to get up for anything — nice touch.

Free refills on noodles, broth, rice and kimchi

Another great thing about Oreno Ramen is that noodles, broth, rice and kimchi are all free refills. It's a really solid deal for eating your fill.

The water isn't plain water — it's green tea water, which added to the authentic Japanese feel. And every staff member wore masks, hats, and aprons, which really gave a sense that they take hygiene seriously! (They were also incredibly kind... it almost made me tear up.)

Just a heads up, the drinks come in small cans. They're served with a cup of ice. Since it's counter seating, I liked being able to watch them prepare the dishes.

How did the tori paitan taste?

The tori paitan arrived! The tsukune chashu came mixed right into the ramen. That pale, milky broth is the whole charm of tori paitan. It might look plain, but the flavor is incredibly rich and thick.

Say yes to the kimchi and house-made pickles

When you sit down, the staff will ask if you'd like kimchi — say yes no matter what!! The broth can get a bit rich as you eat, but one bite of this kimchi cuts right through it.

I also asked for extra cilantro.

Are the soft-boiled egg and tsukune chashu add-ons worth it?

The egg was cooked to the perfect soft-boil — the yolk inside was truly gooey and perfectly aged, sliding right down. It was also well seasoned, so it never got boring to eat.

The tsukune chashu had a texture and flavor kind of like dumpling filling, but a much more elevated version. It had a strong, savory meat flavor and a healthy taste from fresh ingredients — I was very satisfied. There were three pieces, but they were pretty big, so it felt like good value too!

On top of that, there's chicken breast included as a base ingredient, and it was incredibly moist and delicious. The portion felt really generous (I usually eat a lot), but the noodles were chewy and the broth so rich and thick that even when full, I kept going back for more.

It might look oily, but that's exactly what makes it so savory and delicious. If you're a real ramen lover, this is a flavor you have to try at least once. It was as good as the tori paitan I had in Japan.

There were also house-made pickles, and they were really tasty too — make sure to have some alongside your ramen!!

Would I return to Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong?

I visited Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong, a well-known spot for Eunpyeong-gu food and Seoul ramen. As someone who struggles to make decisions, I loved that the menu is so simple, and I always leave satisfied with the staff's kindness and the flavor — I really recommend it!