The Most Unique Convenience Store In Hongdae

For noodle aficionados and culinary adventurers alike, a new must-visit spot has emerged in Hongdae, Seoul. Already a super popular place to go, there are a ton of things to do in Hongdae and now eating Korean ramen in a convenience store is one of them. The CU convenience store chain has unveiled the Ramyeon Library. Shop til you drop in Hongdae and then hit up this Instagrammable spot for a quick bite on the go.

CU Hongdae Ramyun Library, Hongdae, Seoul, Korea; Korean ramyeon

The design of this convenience store is an innovative response to the evolving consumer habits and and major interest in ramyeon from not just Koreans but visiting tourists alike. Korean ramyeon has become super popular around the world. Here’s what to know before you go:

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Basic Info

Address: CU Hongdae Sangsang-jeom: 25 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (CU 홍대상상점: 서울 마포구 잔다리로 25)

Hours: 24 hours a day

A World of Flavors Under One Roof

While every convenience store you walk into in Korea will have a selection of Korean ramyeon. The options can vary from here to there usually with the most popular on the shelves. What sets the CU Ramyeon Library in Hongdae apart is an array of over 225 ramyeon varieties.

From the popular Shin Ramyun, Jin Ramen, and Buldak Ramen, there is also a selection of international flavors like Japanese Shoyu Ramen, Vietnamese Bun, and Indonesian Mie Goreng. We have our list of best Korean ramen to eat, but whatever your favorite is, they’re sure to have it. It features both popular bag and cup options, catering to all tastes and preferences.

More Than Just Noodles

While its vast ramyeon collection is the Instagrammable star, the store doesn’t stop there. CU has ingeniously included a selection of 150 alcoholic beverages, including traditional Korean liquor as well as plenty of favorites like banana milk, strawberry milk, melon milk, and all of the other intriguing juices and teas you could want. This diverse range not only complements the ramyeon but also showcases the depth of Korean culinary culture which has been gaining in popularity around the world. To think that this is just a convenience store would be a mistake.

A Unique Culinary Experience

If you’ve ever visited the Han River picnic areas or parks, you’ll recognize the ramyeon cooking machines. These machines set up to not only dispense boiling water on your noodles also heat everything up for you. Equipped with instant ramyeon cookers and standing counters, visitors can select their favorite ramyeon, cook it on-site, and enjoy it fresh. There are even eggs and small packets of bean sprouts, sliced cheese, eomuk, or fish cakes, and other upgrades that you can add to really have a full-fledged meal.

A Reflection of Current Trends

The establishment of the Ramyeon Library is a strategic move by CU, reflecting the significant growth in ramyeon sales in recent years. With an impressive growth rate recorded in 2021, 2022, and 2023, the popularity of ramyeon is indisputable. According to the Korea Customs Service and the food industry on Sunday, outbound shipments of ramyeon posted 952 million dollars in 2023, up 24 percent from a year earlier. The store aims to capitalize on this trend and introduce a distinct aspect of Korean convenience store culture to a broader audience.

Affordability Meets Convenience

In a time when dining out costs are soaring – a phenomenon dubbed “lunchflation” in Korea – the Ramyeon Library offers an affordable alternative. Honestly, Koreans often eat right in convenience stores all around, not just this one, it’s a pretty standard, easy, and convenient way to have a quick meal that doesn’t hit your wallet hard. When we visited, the majority of people eat were Koreans.

Should You Stop In To Eat

In the end, this is just an amped up convenience store. You could eat in any convenience store in Korea really, but this is a cool photo-op version. While we were there, everyone that was eating in were Koreans and the foreigners that stopped in to see the hype I could hear asking each other why they’d eat here. To be clear, this is still a convenience store so expect that. But if you like ramen, enjoy the experience.