First-of-its-kind self-service Korean ramen bar opens in downtown Lincoln
Snack Korner, a Korean-style ramen bar, is providing fast, easy and personalized ramen in downtown Lincoln.
After eating ramen for most of his life, Min Park decided to open Snack Korner on Aug. 26 at 128 N. 13th St. The shop is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Park, originally from South Korea, spent most of his life in Japanese restaurants. After living in Yuma, Arizona, for six years with his wife and kids, the Parks decided to make the move to Lincoln where he opened Shokunin Sushi & Japanese Cuisine with Seung Yon "Tony" Chong. Park learned from Chong how to make sushi for their traditional Japanese restaurant in the Haymarket.
After five years of owning Shokunin, Park said he also wanted to open a low-cost Korean place, especially after seeing food costs rising for restaurants.
"I tried to make something with food with a low cost for students and for close workers," Park said.
Park said the do-it-yourself ramen bar idea started in Korea and spread throughout Asia before coming to the United States. While ramen bars have opened in large cities, this is the first of its kind to open in Lincoln.
Since opening, Park said he's been pretty busy because many customers have seen ramen bars on social media and have been eager to try it themselves.
Snack Korner offers more than 100 different types of ramen with a range of spices and flavors. Park said he spent a long time searching for diverse options of noodles to offer. At the shop, each ramen package shows the level of spice along with the price and setting to cook the noodles.
Customers can then grab a paper bowl and tray, along with an optional lid to take their ramen to go. The topping bar offers a variety of vegetables and proteins including green onion, eggs, mushrooms, shrimp, dumplings, tofu and squid.
After paying, customers then use one of nine different ramen makers in-house where the ramen will be cooked and ready to eat in about five minutes. Each maker has three different settings that determine how much water the ramen needs and the length of time.
Each ramen maker has step-by-step directions, and there is an employee present to help guide customers through the process. There are currently three employees at Snack Korner, which Park said helps keep prices down for customers.
There are also some grab-and-go options including egg rolls, sushi, salads, sandwiches and pre-arranged bowls available for purchase. Park also offers snacks such as chips, mochi ice cream and other desserts from local vendors.
He said it's a perfect place for students and employees in the area who might not have a long break to grab lunch. The restaurant is at the corner of 13th and P streets, next to the Rococo Theatre.
"If you go to a restaurant, you have to order, wait for waiters, servers, and then wait for food. The hour is not enough to eat. Unfortunately, around here, there's not many fast-food restaurants," Park said.
