Daegu ramen shop with pickle self-bar: ebi miso at Ryusenso

Ryusenso, a well-known ramen spot in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, is also a place I'd recommend for solo dining in the area.

If you love ramen, there are times you just crave a proper bowl of Japanese-style ramen. This time I visited Ryusenso, a Japanese ramen specialist. haha

Ryusenso Dongseong-ro hours and where to park

• Hours: 11:30–21:00
• Last order 20:30, no break time
• Closed only on the day of major holidays
• Parking: Gukchebosang Memorial Park public parking or City Hall parking lot (free on weekends)

What the Ryusenso storefront and bar-table interior look like

Arriving at the restaurant, the deep teal exterior with the gold-lettered '龍泉莊' sign caught my eye first. Written as 龍泉莊, read as Ryusenso — good to know~

As expected of a popular spot, there's a proper waiting area set up for guests. haha

It wasn't flashy, but the sleek, understated vibe made it feel like I'd stepped into a ramen shop in Japan. haha Walking into a space with such a strong Japanese-ramen-shop feel, the first things I noticed were the long bar table and the open kitchen. It's a layout that works well whether you're dining alone or sitting side by side with someone to enjoy ramen together. haha

Ryusenso menu and how tablet ordering works

Here's the Ryusenso menu board.

You can order comfortably right at your seat using the tablet.

Pickled ginger, various pickled vegetables, and seasonings were all set up so you can customize your ramen to taste. While working through the rich broth, alternating in a bit of pickle now and then felt great for cleansing the palate. haha

What we ordered: Ryusenso, Ryusenso ebi miso and Jeju black pork gyoza

On this visit I ordered Ryusenso, Ryusenso ebi miso, and Jeju black pork gyoza (dumplings). With two bowls of ramen and black-wrapper gyoza all arriving together, the spread looked pretty generous just visually. haha

Ryusenso ebi miso: the whole fried shrimp on top

Personally, the dish with the most impressive visual was the Ryusenso ebi miso.

A whole large fried shrimp sits right on top of a golden, rich broth. Add in a soft-boiled egg, chashu, scallion, and red onion, and it looked seriously appetizing~ haha The broth had a slightly more savory, fuller feel than the basic Ryusenso. Miso's distinct deep flavor blended beautifully with the rich stock, and the whole fried shrimp was a real treat too. haha

The basic Ryusenso bowl, done right

The classic Ryusenso was a textbook Japanese-style ramen, with a milky white broth topped with big chunks of chashu, a soft-boiled egg, kombu, and scallion. haha

Taking the first spoonful of broth, a rich yet smooth, nutty flavor spread through my mouth. It had depth without being overly heavy — the kind of taste that kept me reaching for another spoonful.

What I especially liked was the chashu. The thick, hearty slices were lightly seared on the surface for a smoky char, yet soft enough to bend easily when picked up with chopsticks. Wrapping the noodles around the chashu and eating them together — the savoriness of the meat and the broth-soaked noodles paired really well. The thin, springy noodles held just the right amount of broth, making them great for slurping. haha

Jeju black pork gyoza with black wrappers

The Jeju black pork gyoza stood out from the color alone — unlike typical gyoza, the wrapper is black, which really drew the eye~ The golden-browned parts were slightly crisp while the inside stayed moist, making it a great match with the ramen. Alternating between the rich ramen, a bite of gyoza, and a bite of pickle made for a really nice combo. haha

Is Ryusenso Dongseong-ro worth it? Final verdict

Overall, if you love the deep broth and chashu that define Japanese-style ramen, this is a highly satisfying meal. haha If you want to enjoy the fundamental flavor of ramen, go for the basic Ryusenso; if you want to try something different with miso's savory depth and a whole fried shrimp, I'd recommend the Ryusenso ebi miso~ Add the Jeju black pork gyoza on top, and you've got a truly filling meal.

Sitting at the bar table, watching the ramen get made right in front of me, then eating it piping hot the moment it was finished — that was part of the fun. A place I'd want to visit again on a day I'm craving that rich broth, springy noodles, and soft chashu — that was Ryusenso. ♡