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A new Korean ramen restaurant debuted in Cedar Park with a self-serve approach. K-Ramyun opened at 1821 South Lakeline Boulevard, Suite 102 on September 27.
K-Ramyun co-owners Henry Kim and his wife were inspired to open their fast-casual restaurant because they were fans of a similarly-styled business in Korea. When the family lived in South Korea, they frequented popular DIY ramen restaurant Ramyun by the Han River (aka Han River Ramyun). “It was tastier and more fun than eating ramyun at home,” he writes to Eater. After the family moved to America, they missed the restaurant and decided to open their own version to “share this fun experience with people here.”
K-Ramyun operates with cafeteria-style service in a convenience store-ish setting. People grab and carry yellow trays to well-stocked shelves with nearly 50 types of pre-packaged ramen. There are so many brands and styles of Korean instant noodles — Shin Ramyun, Buldak, Jin, Gomtang, Ottogi, Chapagetti, etc. — and in so many flavors and spice levels, from spicy to mild, cheesy to seafood, kimchi to sesame. (Alas, there are no gluten-free options.)
Next, people pick out their toppings from the 25 options, including eggs, corn, and cheese; and non-ramen sides like tteokbokki, kimbap, and ice cream. After paying (there are several pricing tiers with access to either classic or premium ramen and topping combinations), customers head to the cooking station where they prepare their dried noodle soups in a special bowl that fits into a machine that adds water with a timer. There are staffers on hand to help people through the process.
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The goal of K-Ramyun is to let people feel “the fun and excitement of choosing Ramyun, toppings, and making their own meal,” Kim writes, but also it’s about sharing Korean culture with Texans. “It would be great if this could become a channel to introduce Korean food and culture,” he says. The Kims imported a lot of the equipment and products — trays, containers, and cooking machines — from Korea.
The couple has been working on this restaurant for the past three years, but they’re also planning on opening two more locations by 2025.
K-Ramyun’s hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There are indoor dine-in services.
