An Instant Noodle Library? You’ll Find One at Ramyun EZ
The new Korean food spot opens April 10, plus more local restaurant openings.
When you walk into Ramyun EZ | K-Food Cafe, a colorful mosaic wall of ramen packages greets you. It’s a clear sign that the former Tea Zone space off Bethel Road has been transformed.
This bright and playful Columbus business—part convenience store, part restaurant, part coffee shop—is the brainchild of Johae Chong, owner of Don Pocha Korean BBQ, and his son, Saejin Chong. The duo had encountered the concept of a ramyun library in other cities (ramyun is the Korean version of Japanese instant ramen) and wanted to bring something similar to Columbus, with their own twist that makes Ramyun EZ far more than just a noodle shop.
The noodles are impossible to miss. A selection of more than 60 colorful varieties of Korean instant ramen fills almost a whole wall. Some of the brands and flavors will be familiar to people who shop at Asian grocery stores, but there are plenty more unusual flavors and brands.
The process is simple: Choose your noodles, receive an induction-ready bowl, add fresh toppings and use one of the in-store induction cookers to bring it all together. The cookers automatically add the correct amount of water and time the cooking to produce perfectly textured noodles. Press a button and a quick, convenient and budget-friendly meal is ready.
You might be wondering about Korean ramen. Instant noodles actually have deep roots in South Korea, where they were first introduced in 1963 as a way to address post-war food shortages. By the 1980s, more companies had entered the ramyun market, ushering in spicy broth flavors that became a cultural phenomenon. In recent years, Korean ramyun has gained a worldwide following, fueled in part by the global spread of K-pop and Korean dramas, and Korean noodle companies have kept pace, continually rolling out bold new flavors.
Ramyun EZ offers plenty beyond noodles. Korean street foods like tornado potatoes, corn dogs, dumplings, rice cakes and roasted sweet potatoes round out the menu. Guests can also grab items from the convenience store side of the space and use the in-store microwave or air fryer.
Kimbap, which are Korean rice rolls seasoned with sesame oil and packed with a variety of cooked fillings, are available in tuna mayo, bulgogi and veggie varieties, served with optional house-made dipping sauces. These sauces are also a good choice for the tornado potatoes.
For a hot rice option, cupbap (Korean cup rice) features steamed rice topped with a variety of options such as bulgogi, dak-gangjung (chicken) along with vegetables and sauce—all in one container. Individual servings of banchan, or traditional Korean side dishes, are available as well.
On the sweeter side, look for bungeo-ppang. This fish-shaped pastry filled with red beans is similar to Japanese taiyaki. You’ll also find affogatos and Korean ice creams in the freezer. Korean shaved ice is planned for later in the year.
The drink menu features Korean ades, refreshing combinations of fruit syrups and sparkling water, alongside coffee drinks like the popular dalgona latte and other coffee and tea options. The Jeju (yuzu) and grapefruit ades come highly recommended. Pre-packaged drinks including the bear-shaped ice cube cups (viral on TikTok) are also available.
All of the noodles and convenience store items can be purchased to take home. There’s also a selection of prepared meats and vegetables for at-home hot pot. And don’t leave without checking out the merch selection.
Ramyun EZ will make its debut on Friday, April 10, at 10 a.m.
Find It:
Ramyun EZ | K-Food Cafe
5025 Olentangy River Road, Northwest Columbus
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.
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Around the Columbus Food & Drink Scene
A new spot serving Southeast Asian fare recently took over the former Bambu space at 827 Bethel Road. Red Sen & Asian Street Foods offers a wide variety of drinks including mocktails, iced coffees, matcha drinks, milk teas and milkshakes. The menu also features Cambodian foods—a rarity in Columbus—such as the num pang sach, a sandwich similar to Vietnamese banh mi, and kuy teav, a Cambodian noodle soup.
Maison Skalli’s Short North location, which we previewed last week, is set to open Saturday, April 11, at 622 N High St.
After a brief hiatus, the progressive Indian restaurant Rooh (685 N. High St.) will reopen April 10 with a refreshed interior and dinner menu. The reopening also means the launch of Mornings by Rooh, a new breakfast pop-up cafe inspired by Chicago’s Swadesi Cafe.