Weekend 5pm wait via CatchTable at a Goyang ramen restaurant: Gyedan

I visited Ilsan's Bamlidan-gil today, and finally got to try Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch, a place I've wanted to eat at for ages!!

I usually love ramen so I went in with high expectations, and it turned out even better than I imagined.

If there's one downside to this area, it's that parking is difficult and the streets are a bit complicated. So I just parked at nearby Madu Library and walked over.

Gyedan Ramen Ilsan Main Branch (1F, 10 Yulcheon-ro 7beon-gil, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea) Hours: 11:00–21:00

How long is the wait on a weekend at 5pm?

I visited around 5pm on a weekend and there were about 4 parties waiting. I thought I'd gotten there early, but... T_T The place is on the smaller side, so there's a wait.

It's a popular spot, so I'd recommend avoiding peak hours or checking wait status ahead of time on CatchTable before you go.

I put my name down on CatchTable and walked around nearby. You get a KakaoTalk message when it's your turn. Since it's a ramen place, turnover is fast, so I got seated pretty quickly. I wanted to photograph the whole interior but it was busy with customers, so I only got a shot of the wall-side seat I sat at haha.

Ordering and menu prices

You order via the kiosk at your table. It had tips on how to enjoy the ramen the best way.

• Gyedan Ramen ₩11,000
• Motsu Ramen ₩12,000
• Tamago-bap ₩3,000

is what I ordered. The ramen comes in base or rich flavor, which apparently differ in thickness and saltiness. After some thought, I went with the base flavor.

Side dishes and tea

The basic side dishes were kimchi, danmuji (pickled radish), and what seemed to be dadaegi (Korean chili paste). The danmuji was the crunchy kind and so good I basically only ate that haha.

I'm not great with plain water, but here they give you tea instead of water. Nice touch. Not sure exactly what kind of tea it was — maybe barley tea? — but anyway, it's delicious. The kind of taste you want to take home.

The ramen came out fast, not long after ordering.

Motsu Ramen (₩12,000), base flavor

Gyedan Ramen base broth and a dadaegi tip

Gyedan Ramen (₩11,000), base flavor. It's a tonkotsu broth made by simmering pork bone and chicken for a long time — the broth was rich but not too heavy, so it went well with the noodles. I ate it plain at first, then partway through added a little dadaegi, and the flavor of the broth changed completely — that was pretty great too.

I'd recommend adding it little by little rather than a lot at once, adjusting to your taste.

The char siu was especially good — not just tender, but with a slight charred flavor that I loved. The soft-boiled egg was moist and seasoned just right, pairing well with the ramen, and the wood ear mushrooms and green onion added texture throughout.

₩3,000 tamago-bap — how much do you get?

Tamago-bap (₩3,000). I expected a small portion for ₩3,000, but it's actually quite generous. It's not just egg — there's ground meat mixed in too, so it was really tasty. It paired really well with the ramen!!

How was the motsu ramen with makchang on top?

One of the famous menu items here is the Motsu Ramen, which comes topped with makchang (pork intestine skirt). It was my first time having ramen with makchang, so I was a little worried, but it barely had any smell and had a savory, chewy texture that surprisingly worked well with the ramen.

If you like makchang, the Motsu Ramen is worth trying. I'm not really a fan of gopchang or daechang, but makchang is the one I can actually eat, so I really enjoyed it haha.

I'd love to come back next time I'm craving ramen and try other menu items. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for good ramen in Ilsan :) If it's your first visit, I'd suggest starting with the base Gyedan Ramen and trying the Motsu Ramen next time~~