Damtaek: The Clear-Broth Shio Ramen That Earned a Bib Gourmand in Mapo
A small ramen counter in the backstreets between Hapjeong and Yeonnam, built around one bowl: a clear, salt-seasoned shio ramen that's become one of Seoul's most-queued Japanese dishes.
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- Mapped restaurants
- 4
- Neighborhoods
- 마포구
- Awarded spots
- 1
- Food focus
- 일식, 한식
Menu signals: 시오라멘, 모둠 돈까스 정식, 국수, 만두전골, 녹두빈대떡, 닭칼국수
Allergy fields present: eggs, gluten, pork, soy, dairy
Seoul has gone through a real ramen boom over the past decade, and Mapo is its centre. Damtaek (담택) is one of the small counters that turned it into a queue. It serves a shio ramen, salt-seasoned and clear-brothed, and the Michelin Guide lists it as a Bib Gourmand. Comedian Poongja's food channel has also featured it.
What shio ramen is
Japanese ramen is often grouped by its seasoning base: shoyu (soy), miso, tonkotsu (rich pork bone), and shio (salt). Shio is the lightest-looking and the hardest to get right. With no heavy sauce to hide behind, the flavour depends entirely on the stock and the balance of salt and fat.
Damtaek's bowl is pale gold and clear, with a clean, deep flavour. Many people who "don't like ramen" because they find tonkotsu too heavy end up liking this one.
What to order
- Shio ramen (시오라멘) — the house bowl. Order it on your first visit.
- Add toppings (extra chashu or egg) if they're offered.
- The menu is small and can change, so check the counter or the EatHub page.
How to eat it
- Taste the broth first, on its own.
- Eat the noodles quickly. Thin ramen noodles soften fast in hot broth.
- Save the egg for halfway through and let it warm in the broth.
The queue
It's a small room and turns over steadily, but weekend lunch can mean a real wait. Come near opening or mid-afternoon on a weekday. Hours aren't consistently published, so check before you go.
Around Hapjeong and Yeonnam
- Gyeongui Line Forest Park (Yeontral Park) is a linear park on an old railway line, lined with cafés and small restaurants.
- Yeonnam-dong's back lanes are for independent shops and craft studios.
- Mangwon Market is a local market with cheap street snacks, 10–15 minutes west.
Nearby spots with videos
- Kawakatsu for Japanese-style pork cutlet sets, right around the corner.
- Seogyo Nanmyeonbang for Korean noodles.
- Nambuk Tongil for North Korean-style dumpling hot pot, mung-bean pancakes and chicken kalguksu.
Practical tips
- Getting there: Hapjeong Station (Lines 2 and 6) or Hongik University Station (Line 2 and Airport Railroad), then about 10 minutes' walk.
- Allergies: ramen broths may contain pork, chicken, seafood, soy and wheat. Ask if you need to.
- Solo diners: counter seating makes it ideal for one.
The video above gives a close look at the broth. Watch it before you go and you'll know exactly what you're queuing for.
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