Instant noodles are one of the first things people want to try in Korea, and convenience stores are one of the most fun places to see them. What we did not expect was to find both inside Everland.
Just inside the park there is a large CU convenience store with a “Ramyun Library”: a whole wall of Korean instant noodles, a few from other countries, toppings to add, and machines where you cook your own bowl. We took a lot of photos, so this post is a visual tour of what you can find and try.
At a Glance
- Where: inside Everland, past the entrance gates. (There is also a CU near the exit side of the park.)
- What to try: many kinds of Korean instant noodles, plus cheese and kimchi toppings, cooked in the store.
- Also fun: ramyun-shaped tables and stools, and a full Korean convenience store to explore.
- Note: products and opening hours can change, so this is what we saw on our visit.
A Big Convenience Store Just Inside the Park
We used to think of the CU near the exit, so we were happy to find a big one right after we entered. It is bright and wide, with space to walk around even when it is busy.
The Ramyun Library: A Wall of Korean Instant Noodles
The first thing you see is a long wall of instant noodles under a red “Ramyun Library” sign. The shelves are grouped by brand, so you can spot the big Korean names such as Nongshim, Samyang and Ottogi, and compare flavors side by side.
Cup noodles are lined up in rows too, so if you want something you can eat on the spot, pick a cup.
Most of the noodles are Korean, but there were also a few from other countries. If you are not sure what to pick, try a Korean bagged ramyun, since many of the flavors are hard to find at home.
Cheese and Kimchi to Add to Your Bowl
Next to the noodles is a shelf labeled “Best with Ramyun”. It holds the toppings Koreans like to add: cheese slices, packs of cheese, and kimchi. Adding cheese to spicy ramyun is a very Korean habit, and it is easy to try here.
Cook Your Own Bowl, at a Ramyun-Shaped Table
The store has giant cup-shaped tables, one styled like a Neoguri cup and others like Samyang cups, so you can stand and eat or just take photos. Kids find them funny.
There is a seating area with stools and tables made to look like ramyun boxes, near the drinks fridges. In the cooking area, called the Ramyun Library Kitchen, you cook the noodles yourself.
The automatic ramen machines each have a “How To Cook” guide in several languages, so you do not need to read Korean. One sign asks you not to take water from the hot water dispenser when cooking, because the machine adds the water by itself, and to wait a few minutes.
Cup noodles can also go in the microwaves. The English notice says to remove the lid of the cup before using them. Many signs warn that things are hot, so please keep children a little back from the machines and the hot water.
Not Just Ramyun: A Korean Convenience Store to Explore
The rest of the store is a full Korean convenience store, which is a fun thing to wander through if you have never been to one. There is a “Snack Library” with cookies, chocolate, jelly and chips from Korean and global brands.
Ready-to-eat sausages are popular, and there is a chilled deli section and a frozen food section too. Everything is easy to grab and eat as you walk around the park.
The drinks section has milk, juice, bottled drinks and coffee cups. In the middle of the store, a display of banana milk, one of the best-known Korean convenience store drinks, is a good one to try. There is also a smoothie freezer.
You can also find small essentials, which is handy if you forgot something. Payment is at self-checkout kiosks marked “Creditcard · Pay Only”, so bring a card or use mobile pay, because cash is not accepted at the kiosk.
What We Picked
We kept it simple with a sausage and a few snacks, including pizza-flavored chips and a shrimp-flavored snack. It was plenty to keep us going between rides.
Our daughter, who is almost four, enjoyed picking her own snack. With so much in one place, it was easy for her to choose and for us to get back to the rides.
Tips for Visiting
- Perfect for a mid-day break. Grab a cup of ramyun, add cheese, and rest for a while before the next ride.
- Try the cheese. It is a classic Korean way to eat spicy ramyun, and a good one for first-timers.
- Follow the posted instructions. The cooking machines and microwaves have step-by-step guides, including English.
- Watch out for hot water. Keep little ones away from the cooking area.
- Bring a card. The self-checkout takes cards and mobile pay only.
- Hours and products change. We did not check the opening hours, so please check on the day.
Planning your Everland day? Read our Everland with a toddler guide for rides and shows, and our ticket guide for how to buy tickets. Everland is also one of the places in our best day trips from Seoul.
Final Thoughts
You do not have to go out of your way to try Korean instant noodles. At Everland you can pick one from a huge wall, add cheese or kimchi, cook it yourself, and eat at a table shaped like a giant cup. It is also an easy way to see what a Korean convenience store looks like.