Ramen shop in Sokcho for a holiday day trip: hiyashi chuka, Ichiba

Why Ichiba Ramen for a Sokcho day-trip breakfast?

On the last holiday weekend, I took a day trip to Sokcho, and the place I picked for breakfast was Ichiba Ramen (이찌바라멘) near Yeongnang Lake. After a lot of back and forth, we rushed out at dawn. It was a day trip so time was tight, but I wanted to arrive early in the morning and have a proper meal first thing.

While searching for Sokcho restaurants, Ichiba Ramen kept catching my eye. Ramen in Sokcho, isn't that kind of different?! I'd also read that if you go early in the morning you can eat without a wait, which was one of the reasons for the dawn start 🙌

Ichiba Ramen location, hours and parking

Ichiba Ramen is a white-walled building with a yellow sign, so it stands out even from far away. The exterior is clean and pretty!

• 📍 Location: It's near Yeongnang Lake, so it's perfect for a stroll around the lake after your meal
• 🕐 Hours: 09:00-22:00 (last order 21:30), open every day~!
• 💳 Parking: You can park on the roadside in front of the shop or along the side of the building. If all the spaces are taken, use the back streets of the nearby residential area or the parking lot by the sea
• 💡 Tip: If you go early on a holiday morning, you can get in right away with no wait! There may be a wait at lunchtime

Baby chairs: yes. Waiting area: yes. There's also group seating (up to 20 people).

The owner's story and the menu at Ichiba Ramen

The owner of Ichiba Ramen apparently bought a one-way ticket to Japan with a single thought, "I'm going to make real ramen," traveled around the country's best restaurants, and learned the craft directly from five hand-picked master chefs!!! With the skills built up that way, he first served his broth in 2006 at Chichibu Ramen (치치부라멘) in Busan, wrapped up the Busan business in 2024, and is now continuing a new journey in Sokcho as Ichiba Ramen.

The owner's story alone smells like a truly great ramen shop, and the taste was..... truly great too.

You order at a kiosk! Signature dishes included tonkotsu ramen, hiyashi chuka (cold ramen, the Sokcho signature), karai ramen (spicy), and red crab and pollock roe cream ramen, among others.

Is the restroom inside Ichiba Ramen?

Yes, the restroom is inside the restaurant, so it's convenient. It was kept nice and clean too, which is great!

Atmosphere and seating at Ichiba Ramen

The inside of Ichiba Ramen is as clean and comfortable as the outside. Upbeat J-pop was coming out of big, good speakers, and it really felt like a neighborhood ramen shop in Japan 🎵

There are bar seats, and most of the seating is 2- and 4-person tables, so it's a small, cozy space.

They'd thoughtfully put out hair ties for women at the seats! Tying your hair up before you eat is the golden rule, right~ Also, if you write a Naver review you can get one of an egg, chashu or a bowl of rice as a free extra, so don't miss it!

There's a charger in one corner too, so everyone with a dead battery, gather here~

What we ordered at Ichiba Ramen

What we ordered at Ichiba Ramen was!!!! Tonkotsu ramen and hiyashi chuka (cold ramen, the Sokcho signature). My all-time favorite cold ramen was on the menu, so there was no way I could pass it up.

We arrived early in the morning but there were already lots of customers, so we waited a little, and it was a taste that was worth the wait and didn't let me down.

🍜 Tonkotsu ramen: pork-bone broth simmered for 30 hours

The tonkotsu ramen at Ichiba Ramen is the signature dish, known for its rich pork-bone broth simmered for 30 hours! They apparently minimize artificial seasoning and factory-made ingredients, pick good bones carefully and simmer them for a long time, and maybe that's why the broth itself just keeps going down!!!

Even after eating, my stomach felt comfortable and full, and I almost regretted not ordering a bowl of rice.

Hiyashi chuka (cold ramen): 100% sake broth

The hiyashi chuka at Ichiba Ramen had a sweet-and-sour, mouth-coating savory depth that was amazing, and it turns out the broth base is a whopping 100% sake!

It was a secret broth made by simmering only sake, no water, packed with deep craft!!! This precious broth is served icy cold, like it has a thin layer of ice, and the cold broth makes the noodles feel twice as chewy and springy.

The deep flavor of the sake broth soaked into every bit of the chewy noodles, and I was marveling all the way to the last bite T_T It was so delicious I wanted to take it home with me.

How was Ichiba Ramen as a Sokcho day-trip breakfast?

My husband and I ate so heartily and happily at Ichiba Ramen first thing in the morning that we were able to walk around all day long during our Sokcho day trip!!!

If you're traveling to Sokcho!! I recommend a meal at the unusual Ichiba Ramen.