Dongseong-ro Daegu ramen for three: kakifurai and asari at Ryusenso

Where is Ryusenso Dongseong-ro, and where do you park?

Ryusenso Dongseong-ro is a ramen restaurant at 57 Gongpyeong-ro, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Daegu, right on the road across from Gukchebosang Movement Memorial Park. There's no dedicated parking lot, so you'll need to use a nearby public lot — the Gukchebosang Movement Memorial Park public parking lot is under 5 minutes' walk from its ground-level entrance. The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 to 21:00, with last order at 20:30.

We parked at the Daegu public lot and walked about 5 minutes. The restaurant itself doesn't have parking, but heading to the public lot first meant we didn't have to circle around busy Dongseong-ro hunting for a spot — much easier.

That said, rates and hours vary by parking lot, so it's worth checking when you pull in.

The restaurant sits on the road facing Gukchebosang Movement Memorial Park, so it wasn't hard to find. With its dark navy exterior and the shop name written in Chinese characters, it had that distinctly exotic Japanese ramen shop feel even from a distance.

Inside Ryusenso Dongseong-ro: open kitchen and seating

Walk in the door and you'll see waiting seats on the right,

and on the left, bar seats wrap around an open kitchen where the owner and staff cook.

There are also regular tables nearby, so the layout works well for solo diners, couples, and families alike.

The waiting area was fairly spacious too. The path from the waiting area to the restroom is separated from the inner tables,

so even with waiting customers coming and going, the dining area never felt crowded — I liked that.

What two adults and one child ordered at Ryusenso, and what it cost

We came as two adults and one elementary-school kid.

• Ryusenso (tonkotsu ramen) x1 – ₩11,000
• Ryusenso Asari (clam ramen) x1 – ₩11,000
• Kaki Fry (fried oysters) x1 – ₩13,000
• Jeju black pork gyoza (dumplings) x1 – ₩8,000
• Total order: ₩43,000

Tonkotsu Ryusenso or asari clam ramen: which bowl suits you?

The Ryusenso (tonkotsu ramen) had a distinct, rich pork bone flavor from the very first spoonful. The broth is heavy, but the thin noodles go down easily and soak up the broth well, making each bite satisfying.

If you like a rich, bone-based broth, this is a great pick.

The Ryusenso Asari, on the other hand, led with a refreshing clam flavor. Clam essence layered over a soy-based broth made it taste like a bowl of warm vongole pasta broth — really refreshing.

It uses thicker noodles than the tonkotsu, which suited the clear broth well, and the two ramens were different enough in character that it was fun to alternate between bites.

If you're not used to Japanese-style ramen, the tonkotsu might feel a bit heavy at first.

In that case, it's better to taste the base flavor first before adding seasonings, then gradually add the pickled ginger or minced garlic on the table. I added a bit of minced garlic to mine, and both bowls tasted even better for it.

Jeju black pork gyoza with two dipping sauces

The Jeju black pork gyoza (₩8,000) caught the eye first with its black dumpling skin. Inside, the black pork's deep, rich meaty flavor came through, and the soy sauce drizzled on top added a salty umami that meant you didn't even need to dip it separately.

Wanting a slightly different flavor, I also tried dipping it into the bonito-flavored soy sauce that came with the fried oysters, and it surprisingly worked really well. Splitting one gyoza between two sauces was a small but fun way to eat it.

Kakifurai (fried oysters), the child's favorite dish

Last up: fried oysters, listed on the menu as Kaki Fry (₩13,000). The outer breading was light and crispy, reminiscent of Japanese-style fried shrimp, while the oyster inside was, in complete contrast, incredibly soft and moist.

Biting in released the oyster's characteristic salty ocean scent and creamy flavor, and it just melted in the mouth.

It paired well with the smooth Alfredo-style sauce it came with, but dipping it in the bonito-scented soy sauce also brought out the oyster's umami clearly.

Our kid, who already likes oysters, took one bite and kept shouting "delicious!" before finishing it off in no time. Of the four dishes that day, this was the one that left the strongest impression on the whole family.

That said, if you're not a fan of the distinct oyster flavor or soft texture, you might be better off going with gyoza or fried chicken instead — but I'd still recommend trying it at least once. It's a flavor you won't regret. Haha.

Is Ryusenso Dongseong-ro worth a visit? Final verdict

• A place where you can enjoy both a rich, savory tonkotsu and a clean clam ramen in one visit
• Deep broth with no off-flavors, made even better with minced garlic to taste
• Kakifurai with crispy outside and moist inside, gone in seconds
• Black pork gyoza with juicy, savory flavor
• A lineup that works well for family meals, dates, or solo dining

With two adults and one elementary-school kid sharing two bowls of ramen plus sides, the portion size was just right. This is a place I'd want to come back to whenever I'm craving a rich broth, and next time I'd definitely reorder the kakifurai. Daegu Dongseong-ro's ramen gem, Ryusenso — recommended!^^