The 20 Best Ramen Restaurants in South Korea

Chou Ramen is a top ramen shop near Kansai University, famous for its refreshing and well-balanced flavors. The cheerful and energetic atmosphere of the owner is also charming, making the overall experience at the ramen shop comfortable. The soup, made from a blend of pork bone and chicken broth, has a light and refreshing taste, and the thin noodles are delicious without being too salty. With a reasonable price and a wide variety of toppings, be sure to visit at least once.

"Ore no Ramen Shikin" prides itself on its delicious chicken broth, thin noodles, and perfectly balanced shoyu ramen. The bright and friendly atmosphere inside, along with the efficient and kind service of the staff, is one of its charms. The Tori Paitan Ramen and Kara Paitan Ramen are popular menu items, and it's known as a fast-paced and famous establishment.

Menkaori is a shop that offers various types of ramen. The chashu is tender and has a wonderful flavor. The noodles are satisfying as they are well-coated with the soup, which is a rich and balanced tonkotsu ramen with a hint of acidity. It is especially recommended for those who prefer a refreshing taste. The shop also offers impressive variations of ramen, such as Kuro (garlic) ramen and Kiiro (lemon) ramen.

Oreno Ramen is a ramen shop located in Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, with convenient access. The cozy and clean interior makes it welcoming. Highly recommended is the chicken-based ramen, featuring a smooth and flavorful soup made with chicken, offering a fragrant taste. The tender and moist chicken breast adds to the dish's excellence, enhancing the overall ramen experience. Extra noodles can be ordered for free, and for those who enjoy spicy food, the Karai Ramen is also recommended. However, be prepared for a wait during meal times, so it's advisable to arrive early or be prepared to wait.

Hana Ramen is a popular ramen shop located in Yeonnam-dong. The signature dish, "Saba Shoyu Ramen", is particularly appealing with its unique flavor. The soup has a deep and fresh seafood taste, while the noodles are medium-thick with an interesting texture and firmness. The toppings are also generous and of high quality. Additionally, Hana Ramen offers the rare "Mackerel Shoyu Ramen".

Menya Roji is a popular ramen specialty shop located near Dongdaegu Station in Daegu, offering rich and flavorful ramen. With a variety of ramen options and friendly service, it has garnered a loyal following among many customers.

Located in Busan, South Korea, Ryusenso is a bright and local ramen shop. Inside, you can enjoy delicious mochi and pork noodles, as well as creamy foam and local flavors in the ramen. The soy sauce-based oyster ramen is particularly recommended, with its perfect combination of sweet and spicy soup and refreshing oysters. Ryusenso has many branches in Busan, as well as in Gwangju and Incheon, where you can savor the balanced soup with clams and dried wood ear mushrooms, and tender Iberico pork chashu, among other local flavors.

Oreno Ramen is a franchise with multiple locations, and its ramen is always delicious and loved by many. This establishment offers the signature Tori Paitan Ramen, which has a savory and fragrant taste with homemade noodles that have the perfect texture. The chicken broth ramen is especially fragrant, with great noodle texture, and the chicken breast has a delicious appearance similar to Harim Black Pepper Chicken Breast. As it is a popular restaurant, it is recommended to arrive early to ensure you get a taste of their dishes.

Hakone Ramen is a ramen specialty shop located in Nam-gu, Busan, that authentically recreates the flavors of Hakata ramen from Fukuoka, Japan. Situated near Kyungsung University and Pukyong National University, it is beloved by students and local residents alike.

Nagahama Mangetsu is a renowned ramen shop selected by the Michelin Guide, located in Haeundae, Busan. It carries on the tradition of its main branch in Fukuoka, which has been serving for over 50 years, offering authentic Japanese ramen. With a rich tonkotsu broth and a variety of toppings, it provides visitors with a new ramen experience.

Majesinson is a specialty shop for mixed noodles, and there doesn't seem to be any other mixed noodle shops around here. At the restaurant, you can enjoy fragrant mixed noodles and potato croquettes. The seasoned egg is soft and well-seasoned. According to some reviewers, the chashu is overcooked and lacks flavor. There are also opinions that the special sauce for the mixed noodles is too mild, but it would be best to try it for yourself.

Kanda Soba is known for its complex flavors using various sauces and rich ingredients. The savory and unique tangy sauces enhance the dishes. Both mixed soba and grilled soba are delicious options. The grilled soba topped with crispy pork skin is a specialty that left my acquaintances thoroughly satisfied. Why not savor the unique mixed soba at Kanda Soba, which combines the umami of kelp, miso, and grated yam?

Usagi Ramen is a Japanese-style ramen specialty shop located near Lake Park in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, offering a variety of ramen and rice bowl dishes. It is a beloved spot among local residents and visitors, where you can experience the deep flavors of authentic Japanese ramen.

Dream of Turtle is a Japanese-style soba restaurant known for its ochazuke and maze soba. The seafood maze soba in particular has a rich flavor that spreads throughout your mouth while still being light. The garlic flavor blends perfectly and pairs well with the seafood toppings. Additionally, they also offer cold soba made with natural broth. They provide a bowl of soba that will impress you with its deliciousness and make you want to come back for more.

The newly opened ramen shop, Menya Shinogi, is located near Enan Station. Their tsukemen has a smooth texture with just the right amount of chewiness, and the dipping sauce is made with bonito and a slightly sweet broth. The quality of the chashu is also excellent, and it sells out quickly due to its popularity. You can also enjoy maze soba, which is influenced by Korean cuisine and has a delicious flavor with a slightly different texture, as well as tasty abura soba.

Samidan is a popular ramen shop with a long history of operation. They offer both soy sauce ramen and salt ramen, both of which are highly regarded for their deliciousness. The salt ramen, in particular, is known for its light and refreshing flavor and is considered the best menu item by many. They also recommend the mixed noodles, which can be enhanced with the addition of kombu vinegar and mixing it with rice. They have plans to open a branch in Matsushima in the future, and will continue to be loved by more and more people.

Mumei Ramen, a well-regarded ramen shop, quietly stands in the authentic Japanese style near the Hongdae Entrance area. The owner manages everything alone, so the food comes out faster than expected. The soup has depth, and the noodles are cooked just right. Overall, the quality of the ingredients and the ramen is good, and the fundamentals of ramen are solid. There are always customers during opening hours.

Churuchuru is a shop that offers a basic tonkotsu ramen with noodles, soup, chashu, wood ear mushrooms, and eggs. The price is reasonable, and it is simple yet delicious. The chashu is thick and tender, and very tasty. The interior of the shop is somewhat small, but you can enjoy your meal without having to wait. The ramen has a rich and chewy soup with a light flavor. You can customize it to your liking by adding minced garlic, green onions, shichimi, and more. The chashu also has a faint smoky aroma and a rich soy sauce flavor. The salmon sushi is also recommended, with a fragrant and sweet flavor. The shop can get crowded, but you can enjoy delicious ramen.

Kanda Soba is a place where you can enjoy flavorful mixed soba and oil soba. The noodles are chewy and are accompanied by a unique flavor from the sauce and kelp vinegar. The mixed soba goes exceptionally well with rice and beer. It's also worth trying their house-style ramen and shirunashi ramen. They have a technical partnership with the ramen shop "Wise" in Kanda, so you can enjoy a delicious bowl of noodles.