Hangover breakfast at Sokcho ramen restaurant near Jangsahang: Ichiba

Ichiba Ramen, a Sokcho ramen restaurant I'd recommend for breakfast or lunch.

Ichiba Ramen Address: 348 Jungang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon Parking available Hours: Daily 09:00–22:00 Last order 21:30

On the last morning of our Sokcho trip, we went to a Sokcho ramen restaurant that's perfect for curing a hangover.

The broth was rich yet clean, so I'd recommend it for breakfast or lunch in Sokcho. It's especially great for a hangover cure if you drank the night before.

Where is Ichiba Ramen in Sokcho, and where do you park?

We found this place on the way to Jangsahang, near the Yeongnang-dong beach. It's about 5 minutes from Jangsahang or Dongmyeonghang, and about 15 minutes from Sokcho Jungang Market or Daepohang — not far at all.

You can park on the road right in front of the restaurant, or on the side of the building. If those spots are full, there are back alleys in the nearby residential area or lots along the beach.

Inside Ichiba Ramen: seating and morning atmosphere

This Sokcho ramen restaurant opens at 9am — a perfect opening time for breakfast.

We arrived around 10:30am and there were already a few tables filled, and by 11am the place was fully booked.

The tables were spaced out comfortably and the vibe was cozy and cute.

There's an open kitchen in the middle, so you can watch the ramen being made.

Maybe because the ramen is tasty and reasonably priced, there were even solo diners eating breakfast alone.

There were tasteful little details scattered around, so it was fun to look around the restaurant while waiting for the ramen.

On the table there were chopsticks, cups, pickled radish, various sauces, and — surprisingly — hair ties. I'd just checked out of my hotel and left my hair tie behind, so this came in super handy.

You order at the kiosk inside the restaurant.

Ichiba Ramen menu and prices

• ★ Tonkotsu Ramen ₩9,000
• ★ Special Tonkotsu Ramen ₩15,000
• ★ Karai Ramen (spicy) ₩9,500
• ★ Miso Ramen ₩10,000
• ★ Mania Tonkotsu (salty) ₩9,000
• ★ Hiyashi Chuka (cold ramen) ₩13,000
• ★ Red Snow Crab Roe Cream Ramen ₩14,000
• Butadon ₩4,500
• Karaage ₩5,000
• Chashu Don ₩5,500
• Extra chashu 2pc ₩2,000 / 5pc ₩4,000
• Extra egg ₩1,000
• Extra noodles ₩2,000

Drinks

• Draft beer 330ml ₩3,000
• Draft beer 500ml ₩5,000
• Highball ₩6,000
• Coke ₩2,000
• Sprite ₩2,000
• Fanta ₩2,000
• Retro bottled Coke ₩2,500

If you write a Naver review, you get a complimentary seasoned egg, extra-large chashu, or a bowl of rice — your choice.

Special Tonkotsu Ramen, 15,000 won: the meat-loaded signature bowl

Karai Ramen (spicy) ₩9,500, Special Tonkotsu Ramen ₩15,000. There were so many tempting signature dishes that we had a hard time deciding on lunch, so we went with an upgraded version of the classic tonkotsu ramen and a spicy option.

The Special Tonkotsu Ramen adds rolled pork belly chashu, beef brisket, and bean sprouts, upgrading both the flavor and the portion size of the regular tonkotsu ramen.

I've often felt let down by skimpy meat toppings in ramen, but ordering the Special meant the meat was seriously generous.

What makes the 30-hour tonkotsu broth at Ichiba Ramen different?

Ichiba Ramen, a Sokcho ramen restaurant, makes its ramen the authentic Japanese way. They say the broth, which determines the flavor, is simmered for a full 30 hours.

They simmer fresh domestic pork bones for 30 hours to make the broth, minimizing artificial seasonings and processed ingredients to deliver the true flavor of ramen.

Maybe that's why the broth had such depth. It tasted less like a typical Japanese ramen broth and more like a rich, well-simmered ox-bone soup (sagolgomtang) — the kind of flavor Korean diners would all love. Japanese ramen can sometimes taste a bit greasy, but Ichiba Ramen's broth was clean, with no greasiness at all.

The rolled pork belly chashu was the real deal. It was so tender and delicious, with just a hint of a smoky, charred flavor, that I wanted to eat nothing but the meat.

The beef brisket was so good too that I almost mistook this place for a barbecue restaurant.

Apparently the chef trained under five Japanese ramen masters, and this was easily the best ramen I've had in a while.

Karai Ramen, 9,500 won: how spicy is it really?

Karai Ramen is the spicy version, adding a special sauce to the tonkotsu broth for a deliciously hearty kick.

It's the spicy take on tonkotsu ramen, but it wasn't extremely spicy.

I expected something along the lines of the super-spicy ramens you get in Japan, but even someone who can't handle spice could manage this — it's more hearty-spicy than fiery, so I'd recommend it if you're after a bit of a kick.

It's not an exotic kind of spicy — more like a Korean-style spicy flavor — so it's the kind of dish that just about anyone would like.

And once again, the chashu was fantastic. So tender and tasty that I kept wanting more.

Which bowl won: the couple's verdict on Ichiba Ramen

I found the savory, rich Tonkotsu Ramen more delicious, but my husband said he preferred the spicier Karai Ramen. It might just come down to taste, but I'd guess women tend to prefer the tonkotsu and men the spicy version.

I'd highly recommend Ichiba Ramen, a Sokcho ramen restaurant, for a hangover-curing breakfast or lunch. The broth isn't greasy and stays clean, and the flavor is familiar enough to Korean palates that just about anyone would enjoy it.