Gangnam ramen restaurant: mild vs spicy paitan, Oreno Ramen

📍 Oreno Ramen Gangnam / Tori Paitan Ramen, Kara Paitan Ramen / Rice and kimchi refills available, bar and table seating

Why Oreno Ramen Gangnam works for solo ramen near Gangnam Station

I was looking for a ramen restaurant near Gangnam Station where I could eat comfortably alone, and I stopped by Oreno Ramen Gangnam. That day I ordered both the Tori Paitan Ramen and the Kara Paitan Ramen to compare the two flavors. To cut to the conclusion, if you like rich chicken broth ramen, this is a place worth remembering for solo dining near Gangnam Station. The rice and kimchi refills meant I could finish the meal feeling full even after the ramen.

The entrance and the menu at Oreno Ramen Gangnam

At the entrance I could see the Oreno Ramen sign and the menu board, so I could check what to order before going in. When looking for a good restaurant in Gangnam, it also helped that the menu wasn't complicated, making it easy to choose. The ordering is centered around Tori Paitan and Kara Paitan, with rice and kimchi as sides if needed.

Seating and kiosk ordering at Oreno Ramen Gangnam

Once inside, there were bar seats facing the open kitchen along with table seats. There were seats where sitting alone didn't feel awkward at all, which would be great for a day you're looking for solo dining near Gangnam Station. You could watch the staff boiling noodles and ladling broth in the kitchen, which made waiting for the food part of the fun.

Ordering was done through a kiosk — I checked the menu and add-on options, then paid. Even visiting alone, the ordering process was simple, making it a good fit for a day when you want a quick lunch or dinner.

Rice and kimchi refills are free

On the table, water and basic tableware were already set up, and I could also see the rice and kimchi meant to go with the ramen. Having rice and kimchi refills is a quietly satisfying detail when you're eating a soup-based ramen. Even if you're worried the ramen alone won't be enough, you can add sides to match your appetite.

What the Tori Paitan Ramen tastes like

I tried the Tori Paitan Ramen first. The white broth made from chicken looks thick, but the flavor wasn't overly heavy, and the savory chicken broth aroma paired well with the noodles. Chashu (braised pork or chicken slices), wood ear mushrooms, and green onion were all on top, so the texture varied even within a single bite. If you taste the broth first before the noodles, the mild charm of the Tori Paitan comes through even more.

How spicy is the Kara Paitan Ramen?

The Kara Paitan Ramen is a spicy version built on the Tori Paitan base. Rather than an intense spiciness hitting you right away, the heat follows after the savory chicken broth flavor. It would suit someone who likes spicy ramen but finds overly heavy broths a burden, and eating it together with rice and kimchi let me adjust the spice level as needed.

When I lifted the noodles with chopsticks, broth naturally clung to them, and eating them together with bean sprouts and other toppings added more chew. Tori Paitan leans soft and savory, while Kara Paitan adds a spicy impression on top of that — splitting the two dishes made it easy to compare preferences.

The verdict: finishing the broth with rice

After eating a good amount of the ramen, I added rice and kimchi and made good use of the leftover broth. The texture changed once with the noodles and again with the rice, so it ended up more filling than I expected. Adding a little kimchi to the Kara Paitan broth especially sharpened the spicy flavor.

By the time I finished the broth along with the rice, the portion in one bowl felt like plenty. Not feeling self-conscious about seating while dining alone near Gangnam Station, the simple ordering process, and the clear flavor difference between Tori Paitan and Kara Paitan all stood out as strengths of Oreno Ramen Gangnam. Choose Tori Paitan if you want a mild chicken broth, or Kara Paitan if you want something spicy.

Oreno Ramen Gangnam was a good ramen restaurant to pick when looking for a good spot around Teheran-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, or when searching for somewhere near Gangnam Station to eat quickly on your own.