Sokcho ramen lunch with spicy broth: Ichiba Ramen

When I travel to Sokcho, I tend to look for a lunch that will settle my stomach after having drinks the night before. This time, I chose Ichiba Ramen with friends—one who likes spicy broth and another who prefers rich, creamy food.

Where is it convenient to stop during a Sokcho trip?

Ichiba Ramen is at 348 Jungang-ro, Sokcho-si. It is close to Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal, so it was a convenient place to stop for a meal after getting off the bus. It is also near Jangsa Port and Yeongnangho Lake, making it a handy option when looking for food around Yeongnangho.

I was told parking is available along the road in front of the restaurant or beside the building. If those spaces are full, I was told that residential side streets nearby or parking lots toward the beach can be used.

Was there a wait, and is it suitable for solo or family meals?

The entrance was decorated in a Japanese style, which gave it the feel of a Japanese restaurant.

You can register for a wait through Tabling on site. I went for a late lunch at around 2 p.m. on a weekday and was able to go straight in without waiting.

There were many counter seats, so it looked easy enough to stop by alone for a bowl of ramen while traveling.

There were also large tables, which looked suitable for families or groups eating together.

High chairs were available as well.

How do you order, and what is on the menu?

Orders were placed and paid for in advance at a kiosk inside the restaurant.

There was a wide range of options, including tonkotsu ramen, Karai Ramen, miso ramen, and Mania Tonkotsu Ramen. They also had Hiyashi Chuka cold ramen, described as a signature dish; I did not get to try it this time, but would like to next time. There were rice and side dishes too, which seemed good for sharing with companions.

The restroom was inside the restaurant, and it was clean and well maintained when I visited.

How spicy is Karai Ramen, and how much does it cost?

The spicy Karai Ramen was ₩9,500. It was a warming ramen with spicy seasoning added to tonkotsu broth, close to the kind of Japanese-style spicy ramen I had in mind. It came with chashu and an egg as standard, so the bowl felt well composed without extra toppings.

They say the broth is simmered for 30 hours, and I could taste its depth. To me, it was about as spicy as Shin Ramyun, so even I, someone who does not handle spicy food especially well, found it manageable. At under ₩10,000, it also felt less burdensome to order a bowl.

Was the red snow crab and pollock roe cream ramen too rich?

The red snow crab and pollock roe cream ramen was ₩14,000. Topped generously with red snow crab meat and pollock roe, it felt different from tonkotsu ramen.

The pollock roe and red snow crab meat were seasoned themselves, and to my taste, the ramen was not greasy but light. It could be worth choosing when you want something different from the ramen you usually eat.

Is butadon worth adding for a more filling meal?

Because it was the day after drinking, I also wanted rice and added butadon (pork rice bowl). It cost ₩4,500.

For under ₩5,000, I felt the portion was generous. It was well seasoned and paired nicely with the ramen broth, making it a good addition when I wanted a more substantial meal.

At the time of my visit, there was also a notice saying that writing a Naver review would get you one of the following: an egg, a giant chashu, or a bowl of rice.

Was it a good recovery lunch for friends with different tastes?

With the warming Karai Ramen and the red snow crab and pollock roe cream ramen, which tasted light to me, it was easy to have lunch with friends who had different preferences. Adding butadon made the meal filling, and it was a decent choice when looking for a recovery lunch the day after drinking during a trip.