Incheon Nonhyeon katsu and ramen set with free takoyaki: Hongdae

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch, a spot people rave about in Incheon Nonhyeon, felt like a real Japanese eatery where you could get everything from ramen to pork katsu in one sitting. This time I ordered the sandeomi Fukuoka Asosan pork loin katsu and the gureume ramen set and came back stuffed.

Location: 202, 2F I-Flex Building, 17 Nongogae-ro 123beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon (160m from Exit 3, Incheon Nonhyeon Station, Suin-Bundang Line) Hours: Daily 11:30 ~ 21:30 Last order 21:00 No break time. Parking: Building underground parking lot

These days I find myself drawn to places where you can try a little of everything rather than just one dish. Especially on days when I want both ramen and pork katsu, choosing what to order becomes its own dilemma.

This place had a real Japan-vacation feel from the entrance. I got to try ramen as well as some pretty unique pork katsu, and had way more fun eating than I expected.

How to find Hongdae Gureume: 160m from Exit 3, Incheon Nonhyeon Station

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is on the 2nd floor of the I-Flex Building, 160m from Exit 3 of Incheon Nonhyeon Station. The first thing that caught my eye when I arrived was the exterior.

A large red Japanese-style lantern hangs outside, and Japanese-language menu boards and photos decorate the inside and out, giving off a momentary 'am I in Japan?' feeling. Near the entrance, ramen and scoop-style sushi menus were prominently displayed, so I could already get a sense of what to order before even walking in.

I personally love places with such a clear concept — it's fun to look around the space, not just eat the food.

Inside Hongdae Gureume: roomier and more comfortable than expected

Inside, there are wood-tone tables and chairs, plus bar-style seating on one side that's great for solo diners.

Japanese photos, cute little props, and menu signage cover the walls, giving the whole place a casual Japanese-eatery vibe. Some tables have partitions installed, so you don't have to worry much about the tables next to you. Water cups and utensils were set up close to each table too, making everything easy to use.

The 'lucky message' in the spoon holder and free hair ties

The spoon holder on the table at Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch had a note that read, 'Please don't take the comfort and lucky message.' It was funny enough that I looked twice. Even little details like this gave off the store's playful vibe. Here's the lucky message we pulled~~~

They even thought of hair ties for women — that's thoughtful to a whole other level~

What we ordered: Sandeomi Fukuoka Asosan pork loin katsu and the Gureume ramen set

We ordered the sandeomi Fukuoka Asosan pork loin katsu and the gureume ramen set.

The pork katsu set: thick cutlets with a crisp crust

The pork katsu set was honestly shocking the moment it arrived~~ It looked like enough for three people, not one. The plate was piled with plenty of katsu, and rice, salad, soup, sauce, and pickled radish all came out neatly on the side.

The breading on the katsu was golden brown and looked crispy just from the sight of it. Best of all, the meat was pretty thick, so you could really feel the texture of the meat when you bit into it.

Dipping it in sauce is nice, but eating it with a little salt and wasabi let me taste the pork's own clean flavor even more. Eating salad in between helped cut through the greasiness of the fried coating too — the combination worked well.

Ramen, fried shrimp, karaage and inari sushi in one generous spread

What I especially liked was that ramen came included in the set. The ramen arrived in a huge bowl piled generously with bean sprouts, scallions, meat, and a soft-boiled egg — it looked delicious just from the presentation.

The broth's color was deep, but it wasn't heavy — it was the kind of style that went well eaten together with the noodles and toppings. The egg, cut in half, had a soft, runny yolk that paired nicely with the ramen.

On top of that, a big piece of fried shrimp came alongside, so even with just one menu item ordered, there was plenty to try. The fried shrimp was long and hefty, with real presence, and alternating between the crispy shrimp and the ramen was a great combo.

The inari sushi (seasoned fried tofu pouch rice) that came with it also looked a bit different from the ordinary kind. It was piled high with toppings, so one bite gave a savory, soft flavor, and eating it with the ramen made the meal feel filling.

Free salmon sushi and takoyaki from the Naver receipt review

We even mixed it with rice and ate it all~~ Here's what we got from the Naver receipt review service~~ salmon sushi and tako-yaki (octopus balls).

They said up to 3 people can do the review. And there was one more thing I hadn't seen anywhere else.

Phone charging is available. Something you'd usually only find at a hair salon or nail shop, haha — such a fun restaurant~~

Who Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon suits best

What I liked most was that it's not just ramen and done — you can pick from multiple Japanese-style dishes like pork katsu, fried shrimp, and sushi all in one visit.

It looked easy enough to visit alone for a simple bowl of ramen, and also good for visiting with family or friends to order different dishes and share.

The atmosphere wasn't overly formal either — it felt like a relaxed place to eat, good for those days when you can't decide on lunch or dinner. Anyone who likes that Japan-travel vibe would also enjoy browsing the photos and props scattered around the store.

Final verdict after the meal

I went in planning to just eat ramen, but left more satisfied by the surprisingly varied menu than I expected. The biggest draw was being able to try thick, crispy pork katsu, warm ramen, big fried shrimp, and a slightly different style of scoop sushi all at once.

Personally, the meal felt so much more satisfying with a variety of dishes than with just one item. The portions were generous too, so it'll come to mind on a day when I want a hearty meal. If you like Japanese ramen or pork katsu and want to try something a little different from the ordinary combo, it's worth a visit.

Hongdae Gureume in three lines

• The interior and relaxed atmosphere, reminiscent of an actual Japanese eatery, left a strong impression.
• With ramen, pork katsu, fried shrimp, and scoop-style sushi all together, the meal felt generous.
• The uniquely served scoop sushi and thick pork katsu were especially memorable.