Eungam Chic

This Fukuoka restaurant, known for its unique combination of Japanese ramen and French cooking, has now opened in Seoul. Created by Chef Takahito Nishimura as an expression of his deep passion for ramen, the restaurant showcases his personal style through layered flavours built from carefully balanced toppings, sauces, and oils. While remaining true to ramen tradition, the kitchen thoughtfully localises its dishes with elements such as laver oil, Cheongyang chilli pepper, and tsukemono inspired by white kimchi. A standout dish of freshly cooked pot rice mixed with cheese and ramen broth furthe

Sarukame is currently run by its second-generation owner-chef Hiroto Honma. He is carrying on its culinary legacy by preserving its original recipes. Such effort, coupled with his gastronomic sensibility and international experience in the restaurant business, is adding new narrative layers to this establishment. Sarukame continues to create exclusive menus that combine the flavours of trendy ramen in Japan, classic flavours, and new original flavours, thereby shaping its brand identity and serving the ever-changing needs of Seoul's ramen aficionados.

For over 40 years, Chef Wang Yuk-sung has been committed to popularizing Chinese cuisine in Korea. Unlike most generic Korean-style Chinese restaurants ubiquitous to Seoul, Chef Wang offers a limited menu of just ten dishes to ensure that the quality of the food he serves is consistently high. Some of the most requested dishes include shrimp toast, stir-fried crab meat with egg white, mapo tofu and stir-fried beef with gai lan.

Three generations spanning five decades have kept this restaurant in business since its opening in 1962. At the time, their iconic crispy thin-sliced bulgogi, grilled over open flames, was all that was offered on the menu. The dish became so popular that the name bassak bulgogi was patented. Today, the restaurant stands four stories high, still serving the same dish that has fed generations. Their coagulated beef blood soup with a clear broth is another stunner.

Damtaek is a cozy little ramen haven nestled in a quiet alley near Hapjeong Station. Chef Jo Won-hyeon has purposefully adorned this quaint space with vintage artifacts. The restaurant’s shio ramen, and associated variations that use the same soup base, are in stark contrast to its homey, down-to-earth vibe. The refined and clean flavors of the soups are singular and inspire lingering addiction. With a passion for creating tastes unbound by culinary convention, the chef has persistently dedicated his craft toward perfecting the art of shio ramen, creating ramen that can delight any palate.

Chef Nak-young Kim, an expert on Italian cuisine, offers his unique take on noodle dishes at Seokyonanmyunbang. His nanmyeon is a unique, creative fusion of Korean and Italian culinary traditions. The chef delicately balances these two distinctive traditions to highlight the texture of noodles and the delectable flavours of broth. Signature dishes include gueomdak nanmyeon made from a Jeju breed of chicken and seokyo nanmyeon featuring a broth made from chicken and Hanwoo beef. The chef creates seasonal noodle dishes, making it worthwhile to make multiple visits for new experiences.

Okdongsik has defined its own refined take on dwaeji gukbap, offering a light, clean broth reminiscent of gomtang. Made from the ham and foreleg of native Korean black pigs raised on Jirisan Mountain, the broth is subtle yet elegant in flavour. Prepared using the toryeom method—repeatedly pouring hot broth over the rice—each grain comes alive, enhancing the dish's depth. The house dipping sauce complements paper-thin slices of pork beautifully. Delicately crafted kimchi dumplings complete the comforting dining experience.