Hangover ramen in Sokcho with five extra char siu: Ichiba Ramen

Why we picked Ichiba Ramen for a hangover meal in Sokcho

Ichiba Ramen, a well-known ramen restaurant in Sokcho, sits at 348 Jungang-ro, Sokcho-si, near the Yeongnang-dong beach. I'd had a spicy night of drinking on my trip to Sokcho and desperately needed a hangover cure the next morning lol, so I went to Ichiba Ramen first thing.

Apparently the owner here trained directly under five Japanese ramen masters. One of those masters even praised him, saying 'he makes ramen better than I do' 👍 So I went in with high expectations — here's my honest review of Ichiba Ramen!

• ⏰ Hours: Daily 09:00–21:00 (last order 20:30)
• 📍 Location: 348 Jungang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do
• 🚗 Parking: Roadside in front of the restaurant, or beside the building

Ichiba Ramen is located near the Yeongnang-dong beach. I was staying at a hotel near Yeonggeumjeong and it only took about 5 minutes by car to get there for my hangover breakfast. It's also just 15 minutes by car from Sokcho Jungang Market and Seoraksan, and 10 minutes from Sokcho Beach — great access for anyone sightseeing in the area.

Where do you park at Ichiba Ramen?

If you're driving, you can park roadside in front of the restaurant or in the empty lot beside the building. If it's full, there are side streets in the nearby residential area or parking lots near the beach you can use instead.

Inside Ichiba Ramen: atmosphere and seating

The inside of Ichiba Ramen has a cozy, warm feel with bright wood tones. There are bar-style seats along the kitchen and wall, which are great for solo diners or couples sitting side by side, and group tables too, so you can comfortably eat with a bigger group.

There's also a clean private restroom inside and baby chairs are available, so families with kids can dine comfortably at Ichiba Ramen too.

You order by walking in and using the self-order kiosk to the right of the kitchen.

You really should have draft beer with ramen ㅠㅠㅠ but this was the last stop of my trip before driving home, so I couldn't drink because I had to drive. So sad, ugh.

What we ordered at Ichiba Ramen and what it cost

• Special tonkotsu ramen ₩15,000
• Karai ramen ₩9,500
• Extra char siu (5 pieces) ₩4,000

The food gets set out on the bar counter in front of the kitchen, and they call you over to pick it up.

Ichiba Ramen simmers fresh, domestic pork bones for 30 hours for their broth and keeps artificial seasonings and processed ingredients to a minimum, so I was really curious about the flavor of the broth!

Special tonkotsu ramen, 15,000 won: loaded with char siu and beef brisket

The special tonkotsu ramen is the upgraded version of Ichiba Ramen's tonkotsu ramen! It's loaded with rolled pork belly char siu and beef brisket. Just the size of the bowl alone was hearty enough to make you feel full before you even started eating.

The broth is seriously so rich. No gamey smell at all, just deep, heavy savoriness through and through. You can tell just by looking at the color of the broth, right? haha

The thin pork belly char siu comes rolled up, but once I unrolled it, it turned out to be quite long. There were two pieces, which felt filling on their own, and the beef brisket, bean sprouts, and noodles were all generous portions too, so I ate until I was completely full.

Karai ramen, 9,500 won: how spicy is it?

Karai ramen is a spicy version made by adding Ichiba Ramen's special secret seasoning sauce to the tonkotsu broth. For a hangover cure, you really do need something spicy.

I tried a spoonful of the karai ramen broth first, and it really felt like it hit the spot and cleared my system. It wasn't overly spicy — just the right amount of spicy-savory heat, combined with a rich, deep broth flavor that kept making me want another spoonful.

The noodles were also cooked with a nice chewy bite, well soaked in the broth. The spicy-savory broth clung to the noodles, and every slurp had an explosion of umami.

Look at that soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk still intact — the yolk wasn't fully cooked, more jelly-like and chewy, and it went perfectly with the spicy karai ramen broth. It was so good I regretted not ordering an extra egg~~

Five extra char siu slices for 4,000 won, torch-seared

Here's the 5 extra pieces of char siu I ordered! If you're a meat lover, ordering extra char siu at Ichiba Ramen is a must. The outside is lightly torched for a subtle smoky flavor, and the texture is so tender it practically melts the moment it hits your mouth.

Not dry at all — moist and tender, and wrapping it around the noodles doubled the flavor. I finished every last bit and ended my trip on a satisfying note.

A Sokcho breakfast spot that nails the combination of a rich tonkotsu broth simmered with care for 30 hours and a spicy-savory karai ramen that clears your system right up!

If you're heading to Sokcho and want a spicy hangover cure, or want to try genuine, master-level Japanese ramen, I highly recommend Ichiba Ramen, one of the best ramen restaurants in Sokcho.

Ichiba Ramen FAQ before you visit

Can you park right in front of Ichiba Ramen?

You can park roadside in front of the restaurant or in the empty lot beside the building. If it's full, use the side streets in the nearby residential area or the parking lots near the beach.

How spicy is Ichiba Ramen's karai ramen?

It's not an artificial capsaicin-style heat — it's a delicious spicy-savory kick from the special seasoning added to the rich tonkotsu broth, so even people who aren't great with spice can enjoy it comfortably as a hangover cure.

Is Ichiba Ramen good for a visit with kids?

Yes! Baby chairs are available and the interior is clean and comfortable. There's also non-spicy tonkotsu ramen and cream ramen, plus rice dishes like butadon and chashudon, so it's a good place to eat with kids.