Michelin Bib Gourmand ramen in Eunpyeong: Oreno Ramen open run

Why is Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick?

Eunpyeong has one seriously famous restaurant: Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong (오레노라멘 은평점). It's popular enough to have earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick. I rushed out early in the morning to open-run it and skip the wait.

Kiosk ordering and how full the seats are at the 11:00 open run

I ordered one tori paitan, one karai paitan, and added cilantro. You order and pay at the kiosk, then just take a seat. If there's a wait, finishing your order first means the food comes out the moment you sit down. Is that the secret to the fast turnover?

Since I open-ran it, there were still plenty of seats — but the moment I took this photo, it filled right up 😂 Fully packed at 11am isn't easy to pull off... I can't even imagine how good this place must be. Even without a seat, the turnover is fast so the wait doesn't get too long ^^

Disposable aprons ready by the entrance~ No worries about red broth splashes!

Side dishes at Oreno Ramen: self-serve radish and Korean kimchi

The side dishes are radish and maet-kimchi (seasoned kimchi). Domestic kimchi in this day and age!! You can eat it with confidence.

You can help yourself to as much radish as you like~ Surprisingly, there's chili in the radish too. It's got a fresh, tangy, slightly sharp kick.

Tori paitan: a light white chicken broth with foam on top

The ramen comes out fast once you're waiting — I tried the white-broth tori paitan first. There's foam sitting on top. Watching the prep, they actually make the foam separately and pile it onto the ramen. Quite a different look from other ramen shops.

One sip of the clear broth and my first thought was: this is genuinely light! But surprisingly it's not greasy at all — the more you drink, the better it gets. I was basically ready to finish the whole broth ;;

Oreno Ramen also makes its noodles in-house! That must be why they don't go soft and stay so chewy. Not a taste you get from store-bought noodles.

The toppings are generous too — scallion, burdock root, and this one in particular was great. Good bite, unique flavor, genuinely addictive!

How spicy is the karai paitan at Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong?

Next up, the spicy karai paitan. Even the color says 'I'm spicy' before you take a bite.

It's not blazing hot, more like a nicely spicy flavor. Maybe a bit milder than Shin Ramyun? Any Korean could handle this no problem. I alternated between the tori and karai broths, and surprisingly they worked together like a sweet-and-salty combo 🤣 Good call ordering one of each.

A whole onsen tamago, not just half an egg

The essential ramen sidekick — onsen tamago (hot-spring egg)! Not a half piece but a whole one, entirely. What generosity in this era of high prices~ Plenty of places only give you half. Cracked open, it's so soft and silky. This is exactly why you eat ramen.

What the signature sous vide chicken breast tastes like

Oreno Ramen's signature! Sous vide chicken breast. Is this really chicken breast? The texture I know is usually pretty dry, but this is so tender... The pieces are also big and generously portioned. And sliced thick, too!!

Cilantro belongs in the karai paitan, not the tori paitan

Among the toppings, the burdock root also had a nice crunchy texture that went well with the ramen. It's long enough to look almost like a noodle. I tried the added cilantro in both broths, and personally, cilantro in the karai paitan had way more depth and flavor. If you order karai paitan, definitely add cilantro 😉

It's hard to say which one is better because both were so good 👍 If you go with someone, order one of each and share. Solo dining works fine too!! Next time I'll try adding rice as well. Another satisfying meal, done~

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong: hours, parking and visit tips

• Address: 366 Bulgwangcheon-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00-20:30
• Break time: 14:30-17:00
• Last order: 20:00
• Parking: Free parking available in front of the restaurant