Gangnam ramen restaurant: garlic-boosted chicken broth, Oreno Ramen

Why eating alone at Oreno Ramen Gangnam is the easy option near Gangnam Station

I'm actually pretty good at eating alone. I've had solo meat, solo gukbap (Korean soup with rice), I'm a pro solo diner who walks into most places without a second thought, haha. But even so, somewhere as crowded as Gangnam Station makes finding a seat for a solo lunch a bit stressful. Even for a seasoned solo diner like me, eating alone at Gangnam Station is medium-to-high difficulty.

But this ramen restaurant, Oreno Ramen Gangnam, was the easiest solo dining experience. It's not far from Exit 11 of Gangnam Station, and inside there are dedicated counter seats that are great for eating alone — so comfortable.

Going in alone wasn't awkward at all. There were other solo diners around too, so I could focus entirely on my ramen without feeling self-conscious.

Worried Japanese ramen is too salty? How the chicken broth tastes

If the typical Japanese-style saltiness worries you

The thing I worry about most when eating Japanese-style ramen is broth that's too salty.

The first few bites are delicious, but with plenty of ramen you end up reaching for water partway through.

But Oreno Ramen is built on a rich chicken broth base — thick and deep, yet to my taste it leaned less toward the strong saltiness you get from authentic Japanese ramen and

was closer to a flavor that's a bit easier for a Korean palate. Rich, but not overwhelming, if that makes sense.

What extra garlic does to the tori paitan broth

I especially added extra garlic here, and it turned out to be exactly my taste.

The smooth, creamy character of the chicken broth can lean a bit rich, and the garlic reins that in while

making the broth flavor come through much more clearly. If you like garlic, I personally recommend adding it!

A proper bowl for a solo meal, plus free refills

Oreno Ramen's main lineup is chicken broth-based ramen like tori paitan and kara paitan.

If you like a spicier kick, kara paitan is a solid pick, and if spice isn't your thing, starting with the basic tori paitan seems like a good idea too.

Noodles, rice, and broth can all be refilled, which is pretty great if you tend to eat a lot.

For someone like me who came to Gangnam alone to run errands and thought, "Should I get a real meal before heading to a café?" — this was exactly the right stop. Above all, I want to give credit for how easy it was to walk in alone, eat alone, and walk back out.

If you're looking for somewhere to eat solo at Gangnam Station and want a proper meal instead of gukbap or gimbap, Oreno Ramen Gangnam is worth a visit.

Next time I'll definitely be adding garlic again, haha.

Final verdict on Oreno Ramen Gangnam

If you're looking for somewhere to eat solo at Gangnam Station, Oreno Ramen turned out to be a pretty good choice. I'm a pro solo diner who never has trouble eating alone, but even so, plenty of restaurants near Gangnam Station feel awkward to walk into by yourself. This place, maybe because it's a ramen restaurant, didn't feel awkward at all to visit alone, and it was easy to eat a quick, satisfying meal and head out.

What I liked most was the broth. Japanese ramen usually brings to mind that distinctive rich, salty flavor, but Oreno Ramen was less overwhelming than expected. The richness was still there, but it suited a Korean palate well enough that I kept spooning up the broth.

Personally, I recommend adding garlic! It brought the broth's flavor to life and made it much closer to my taste. The combination of noodles and broth was good, and one bowl left me satisfyingly full.

On a day I need to eat alone at Gangnam Station and I'm craving something with broth, I'd go back. Low difficulty for solo dining and a satisfying meal overall — a solid ramen spot at Gangnam Station. Recommended for fellow pro solo diners hunting for a good solo meal near Gangnam Station.