A Playful Korean Noodle Odyssey in Toronto
Imagine cooking your own ramen in a giant noodle cup while K-pop hums in the background and shelves of rare Korean instant noodles line the walls. That’s not a food lover’s fantasy—it’s real, and it’s right here in Toronto. Welcome to 111Ramyun, a self-serve Korean noodle and snack bar that captures the joy of Korea’s convenience store culture with playful charm and genuine hospitality. From icy bibimmyun and fiery Buldak to fizzy pineapple ades poured over ice, their summer menu is built for bold palates and hot days. This is more than a meal—it’s a trip without the plane ticket.
Have you ever dreamed of visiting Korea just for the convenience store experience? 111Ramyun, located on Yonge Street, brings that dream to life right here in Toronto. Right as you step in, you’re immediately greeted by an impressive wall of ramen packets uniquely imported from Korea. Not to mention the heartwarming decor from oversized noodle cup tables and K-pop playing softly in the background to a full wall showcasing their range of ramen packets — some that you won’t find in Canada. It’s the kind of spot that’s both cozy and exciting, making it a haven for K-culture lovers and foodies.
From the start, we were warmly welcomed by the incredibly kind owner. As this was our first time experiencing this self-serve concept, she was generous enough to explain how things work. She encouraged us to try their summer menu, so we went with the Buldak Carbonara, Spicy Chicken Buldak, and Bibimmyun ramen. This way we could get the feel for the different spice levels.
Here’s how it works: choose your ramen and toppings, head over to the induction cookers, and let the machine add water and boil the noodles for you. Once done, you drain the water, mix in the seasonings, and dig in! We were recommended to try the Bibimmyun ramen cold, and we would definitely recommend everyone to try it too. It was light, flavourful, and perfect for the hot weather. Spicy Chicken Buldak definitely brought the heat, we regretted not trying it cold. The Carbonara had a kick too, but it was still super creamy and flavourful. Our favourite, though, had to be the Bibimmyun — it was perfectly balanced and packed with flavour.
To help cool things down, we explored their summer drink menu. They had a variety of Korean drinks, and we went for the Green Grape Ade and Pineapple Ade. The owner suggested mixing Milkis into the Pineapple Ade, and honestly, we would definitely recommend everyone not to miss out on this combination. It was a mix of refreshing, fizzy, and the perfect blend of sweet and creamy. Pouring the drinks into ice-filled cups straight from the pouch made the whole experience feel so authentic, just like you’d do in a K-convenience store.
Beyond ramen and drinks, 111Ramyun also serves up beloved Korean street food classics like tteokbokki and kimbap. They even had bungeoppang — a fish-shaped pastry filled with choices like red bean, nutella, pizza, custard, and blueberry cream cheese — which we didn’t get to try this time but it’s already at the top of our list for next visit.
If you’re looking for a fun, fast, and flavour-packed way to beat the heat this summer (or just want to live out your K-convenience store dreams), 111Ramyun is 100% worth checking out. The experience wouldn’t have been the same without the incredibly kind and welcoming owner, who took the time to guide us through the menu and made us feel right at home.
