Contributor: Eric
We tried Jirou almost by accident. Our intent was to eat at another highly-rated Japanese restaurant near Hongik University station before seeing a movie; we failed to account for the Hongdae schedule. Hongdae is the area surrounding Hongik University, and it takes the Korean can’t-find-a-damn-coffee-shop-open-before-eleven reality and multiplies it by college-kids-studying-into-the-wee-hours-nightly. The result, of course, is that you may as well not show before about 3:00 PM, when most shops finally start opening.
When we arrived at our chosen lunch spot, the shutters were drawn and lights were off. After briefly conferring and a quick MangoPlate search, we settled on Jirou Ramen based exclusively on the pictures; how fortunate for us. After a short hike up a treacherous, icy road and a few near misses with inattentive drivers, we found this tiny ramen shop, reminiscent of the izakayas we frequented in Tokyo.
The decision on what to eat was fairly easy, since the menu consisted of only five items: ramen, bomb ramen, teriyaki pork, and some additions we couldn’t translate. No problem, I was in it for the ramen. We got the teriyaki and the bomb ramen, which turned out to be a spicy pork dish.
The teriyaki was simple, with five long strips of pork served on a bed of rice with green onion and a small garnish of pickled ginger. Unfortunately, based on the confined cooking space, it seems the cooks took the shortcut of reheating pork in a microwave. Despite this shortcoming, however, it was still tender and flavorful, reflecting perhaps a more involved preparation earlier in the day. Although basic, the combination of flavors made this dish satisfying.
The real star was the bomb ramen. When we ordered this, one of the cooks told us it was very spicy. He asked for a spice level, from one to three. When I selected two, he made sure to again emphasize that it was very hot. It has been my experience that most locals tend to overstate the heat of their dishes, especially when they are catering to foreigners, so I gave him the thumbs-up to make it spicy.
I was expecting a typical salty, pork flavored ramen with some chili flakes or oil added for a little kick. What came out would be better described as a bowl of hot sauce with some noodles and pork as an afterthought. It was fantastic. The bomb included some of the better ramen noodles we’ve had in Seoul, none of the wavy instant noodles you frequently see at Korean “raymen” joints. It was served with a large strip of fatty pork, crumbled, seasoned pork on top, and half of a soft boiled egg. Each of these provided a different flavor and texture, making the meal a joy to eat.
Jirou Ramen, although small and simple, is a great lunch spot. It has seating for only about twelve, and in our short time there we saw many groups of locals rotate in. If you need a quick fix of warm, filling comfort food, definitely stop by.
I Can Haz Kimchi? 