Yeongnang-dong ramen in Sokcho with hair ties on tables: Ichiba Ramen

Whenever I'm in Sokcho I usually end up looking for sashimi or mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), but sometimes what you really want is a hot bowl of Japanese-style ramen. This time I went to Ichiba Ramen, and both the rich broth and crispy karaage exceeded my expectations — genuinely satisfying meal.

Where is Ichiba Ramen in Sokcho, and what are its hours?

Ichiba Ramen is located at 348 Jungang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, near the Yeongnang-dong beach in Sokcho. It's open daily from 09:00 to 22:00, with last orders at 21:30. Reservations and group visits are available, and the restaurant has wifi, separate men's and women's restrooms, a waiting area, and kids' chairs.

Parking is available on the street in front of the restaurant or on the side of the building. Even the exterior has a clean, Japanese sensibility to it. It's in an easy-to-reach spot for anyone traveling through Sokcho, and it naturally catches your eye as you walk by.

Inside Ichiba Ramen: bar seats for solo diners, kids' chairs and a hair tie on every table

Ichiba Ramen's interior was clean and cozy overall. From bar seats perfect for eating alone to 2-top and 4-top tables, it felt comfortable whether I came by myself or with friends and family. Kids' chairs were available too, making it convenient for family visits, and the whole place had a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a meal in.

On the tables, along with the seasonings, they'd thoughtfully placed hair ties for women. Such a thoughtful little touch.

Ichiba Ramen's menu and its 30-hour broth

They offer a variety of Japanese-style ramen — tonkotsu ramen, miso ramen, karai (spicy) ramen — along with side dishes like karaage and rice bowls. The broth is made by simmering fresh domestic pork bones for 30 hours, and they say they minimize artificial seasonings and processed ingredients to bring out the true flavor of the ramen.

If you take part in the review event, you get to choose one of a seasoned egg, jumbo chashu, or a bowl of rice — definitely worth joining. We ordered the tonkotsu ramen, the red snow crab and pollack roe cream ramen, and the karaage.

Tonkotsu ramen at Ichiba Ramen

The first spoonful of the tonkotsu ramen broth was really impressive — such a deep, rich pork bone flavor. The broth was rich but not greasy, with a clean finish, and it paired well with the chewy noodles.

The chashu was cooked tender enough to fall apart softly in your mouth, which made it satisfying, and I could finish the whole bowl without feeling heavy. As you'd expect from a ramen restaurant with a real reputation in Sokcho, the fundamentals of this ramen were solid.

Red snow crab and pollack roe cream ramen

The red snow crab and pollack roe (myeongnan) cream ramen was loaded with crab meat and roe in a rich cream sauce, giving it a nutty flavor with plenty of umami.

The cream was rich but not greasy, and the salty flavor of the pollack roe kept it from getting heavy even by the last bite. The sauce coated the noodles nicely too, which made it really satisfying. It has a different kind of appeal from regular ramen, so if you're after something a little different, I'd definitely recommend this one.

Karaage fried to order

The karaage came out piping hot, fried fresh to order. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the chicken thigh meat kept all its juices, and it was seasoned just right to go with the ramen. It was delicious on its own, but even better dipped into the ramen broth.

Another good meal today :)

Why Ichiba Ramen is worth a stop on a Sokcho trip

As you'd expect from a dedicated ramen restaurant, Ichiba Ramen really nailed the broth. The owner apparently learned the craft directly from five ramen masters in Japan, which I think explains why the ramen felt so refined and full of depth. If you're craving warm Japanese-style ramen during a trip to Sokcho, I'd recommend Ichiba Ramen :)