Butanchu HongdaeTonkotsu Ramen Where You Pick the Noodles and the Richness

A place where you choose

This is the character of the shop. You pick the noodle type, and you pick how rich the broth is.

In the menu names, "toko" means the rich version. So it splits like this.

On top of that you can specify the noodles, the sauce, and how much garlic, spring onion and bean sprouts you want. A heavy Japanese-style tonkotsu is the closest description.

What it looks like

A black bowl is filled with a milky broth, with sliced green onion heaped on top. A halved soft-boiled egg sits at the left of the broth, its yolk a moist orange. A sheet of nori leans against the rim, with thick slices of chashu on either side. Chili flakes are sprinkled here and there on the broth, and a pig-face character and Chinese characters are painted in white around the bowl.

Menu words

• Tonkotsu ramen is Japanese-style ramen in a milky broth made by simmering pork bones for a long time
• Chashu is pork braised in a soy-based seasoning and sliced
• Hanjuk-gyeran is a boiled egg with a slightly underset yolk

How I order it

When I go, I have the toko tonkotsu with chijiremen.

Chijiremen are curly noodles. With a broth on the heavy side, I find noodles that hold the soup suit it better. There is no right answer — plenty of people prefer thin straight noodles.

The gyoza set turns it into a full meal. If one bowl of ramen is not enough, go that way.

Right in the middle of Hongdae

Three minutes on foot from exit 7 of Hongik Univ. Station. It sits in the middle of Hongdae, so it is easy to slot into another plan.

There are nights in Hongdae when a bowl of ramen is exactly how you want to finish. Bear in mind that the door closes at 10 PM, so get in before then. If you have time to kill beforehand, Roofcatme Cat Cafe is near the same station exit and makes for a good stop with the cats first.

Honestly, it is not spectacular

It is not spectacular. But something about it keeps pulling me back.

Both sentences have to sit together to be accurate. This is not a place you seek out to be amazed; it is a place that comes to mind now and then. I think those are worth recording too.

Set your expectation to "a bowl of tonkotsu you get to configure" rather than "the best ramen in Hongdae", and it lands well.

First time here

Tonkotsu ramen is Japanese ramen in a heavy broth simmered from pork bones. Not Korean food, but an easy meal in Hongdae, so it is worth noting.

• Not spicy. A little chili powder may be sprinkled on top, as in the photo, but it is not a spicy dish
• The broth is pork. Not suitable if you avoid pork — the chashu on top is pork too
• They will ask you several questions when you order: noodle type, broth richness, amounts of garlic, spring onion and bean sprouts. If unsure, just say "standard, please"
• The broth can be very rich and salty. For something cleaner, order shio tonkotsu rather than the toko version
• The noodles are wheat. Not suitable if you avoid gluten
• You may lift the bowl and drink the broth. That is not rude in a Japanese or Korean ramen shop
• Gyoza are pan-fried dumplings. The set portion is generous

Good fit, or not

• ✅ You want to choose your noodles and broth strength
• ✅ You like heavy tonkotsu
• ✅ You want a filling meal during a Hongdae day
• ✅ You cannot eat spicy food — this place is safe
• ⚠️ If you arrive expecting something spectacular, you may be let down
• ⚠️ It is a pork-bone broth. No good if you avoid pork
• ⚠️ No fixed weekly closing day. Ring ahead over public holidays