RAMEN! RAMEN! RAMEN!

It's been a busy week, I've been singing and dancing the days away in preparation for our new show "Twelve Singing Animals", so on my day off I knew I needed something delicious and comforting to ease my aching legs and ravaged throat. Right next to the Itaewon Hotel is a little Japanese restaurant called 81 and it's the perfect place to unwind.

Starting at 7,000 won you can get yourself a big bowl of delicious ramen noodles. I went for the "Chya-syu" ramen in a soy sauce based soup (11,000 won), but you can satisy your noodle urges with a miso based soup if you so desire.

Service is speedy and the piping hot bowl of soup smells fantastic. The noodles are chewy and the spring onions and seaweed fit well with the salty soy broth. The "chya-syu" is the star of the dish: Five slices of sumptuously fatty pork that has been boiled in a mix of soy and spices, reminiscent of chinese "char sui" roast pork. A very satisfying noodle treat.

This tiny noodle shop seats about twenty people and is perfect for when you're hit with Japanese noodle lust. They even have a special jumbo challenge offer. If you can eat their massive bowl of ramen (four times their normal size) in twenty minutes or under you get it for free (normally 20,000 won) as well as your photo on their wall of fame. Anyone up for the challenge?

To get to 81 just exit Itaewon station, head past the Hard Rock Cafe, Kraze Burger, Sortino's and Marcaroni Market. 81 is on the left hand side right next to the Itaewon Hotel. You can call them on 02 792 2233.