Gangnam ramen restaurant with rich chicken broth: Oreno Ramen

Getting to Oreno Ramen Gangnam from Gangnam Station

You can reach Oreno Ramen Gangnam in just a five-minute walk from Gangnam Station. Go up the stairs and you will find the entrance on the left.

An interior for solo diners and groups alike

As soon as you enter, order at the kiosk, pay in advance, and then take a seat. The bar counter runs nice and long like this, making it perfect for a solo meal. Of course, there are also plenty of tables for four alongside it.

Table setting

The table comes set with utensils and side dishes like this. There are even hair ties at every table... Every time I come, I think: such great attention to detail.

Basic side dishes and Coke Zero

These are the basic side dishes that come with the meal. A ramen restaurant that serves kimchi... It is exactly right for me and my very Korean taste buds.

I ordered a Coke Zero, and they even brought this refreshingly ice-cold cup with it.

There are exactly two ramen options here: Tori Paitan and Kara Paitan. I ordered both.

What does the rich, nutty Tori Paitan taste like?

I will start with Tori Paitan. The description calls it “a rich, nutty ramen made primarily with chicken.” On my very first visit, I saw how it looked and thought, “Why is there so much foam in this broth...?” haha

Then I took one sip of the broth... and totally fell for the richest, nuttiest ramen I had ever tasted. I even wondered whether the foam was the secret to this broth. It was genuinely the nuttiest ramen I have had in Korea.

Why adding ajitama was a great choice

We each added an egg, so we had two eggs per person. I am so glad we did. They were wonderfully soft yet springy, with yolks cooked to that honey-like soft-boiled stage... and no eggy smell at all.

Sous-vide chicken breast that is not dry

This ramen comes with chicken breast rather than pork. But it truly is not dry... it is moist! Personally, I am someone who does not usually reach for chicken breast when eating chicken... I thought, how moist could it really be even if it is sous-vide? But one bite completely broke that prejudice.

So chicken breast really can be delicious... It was not dry in the slightest, and its tender yet pleasantly chewy texture was so appealing.

Kara Paitan, gentle enough for spice wimps

This is the menu with an added kick of spice. I chose Tori Paitan because I love the original’s distinctive savory, nutty flavor, while my companion chose Kara Paitan because they wanted to enjoy that richness with some heat.

It still had that savory richness, with spice added for a different kind of appeal. It is fantastic with the chicken breast and menma (seasoned bamboo shoots). It felt less spicy than Shin Ramyun, so even a spice wimp like me could enjoy it, which I loved.

I filmed a video too. Looking at it makes me want to eat it again...

Assorted tsukune on the side

This is the assorted tsukune (chicken meatball skewers) we ordered as a side... It is seriously such a special treat! The chicken meatball skewers come in two flavors.

• Pollock roe mayo and scallions
• Cheese powder and black pepper

The tsukune topped with pollock roe mayo had the roe’s signature salty, nutty flavor, while the one dusted with cheese powder was a little lighter and let the chicken meatball flavor come through more clearly. But honestly, both were delicious. Why? იმიტომ...

The chicken meatballs themselves were wonderfully tender with a little chew still intact, and full of juicy chicken flavor. The meatballs were simply that good, so I enjoyed both versions. I highly recommend this menu item too.

Final thoughts on this return visit near Gangnam Station

This is one of my very favorite restaurants around Gangnam Station. The richest broth of any place I have tried!!! I had enjoyed it so much on my previous visit that I ended up writing this review with complete sincerity. It is great for coming alone and just as good for coming with a group. If you are near Gangnam Station and craving ramen... I wholeheartedly recommend this place.