Gwangjin ramen after a Ttareungyi bike ride: hormone-don at Mentsuru

Hi, this is Sudaeng :) We use Seoul's Ttareungyi bike-share a lot, and this time we combined exercise with a walk, riding past Konkuk University and having dinner near Children's Grand Park. I was craving Japanese food after a while, so we went to Mentsuru, a ramen spot near Children's Grand Park — and came back completely charmed by the beef intestine rice bowl.

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch: hours, location and parking

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is open every day of the year with no break time. Where else do you find a place like that these days? Right here, at this Japanese restaurant, Mentsuru.

It's within a 1-minute walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station. Unfortunately there's no parking at the restaurant. Please use the paid Gwangjin Plaza public parking lot across the street. 🚗

Inside Mentsuru: seats for solo diners and for groups

Mentsuru is more than just a ramen shop — it's a place where you can also enjoy drinks like highball, sake and beer, so the interior had a touch of Japanese atmosphere mixed with an upscale izakaya feel.

There are seats good for quiet solo dining, plus 2- and 4-person tables, making it a place enjoyed by couples on a date or coworkers out for a meal together. There are baby chairs too, so families are no problem, and being near Sejong University and Konkuk University, it's a well-established spot that draws a lot of students.

What's on the menu at Mentsuru

True to being a Japanese restaurant specialist, Mentsuru sells eight kinds of ramen plus a variety of rice bowls and sides.

To enjoy delicious food even more, the vibe made me feel like a drink alongside dinner would be perfect.

Since the kitchen is open, you can watch the cooking happen right as you order — it felt like watching a live performance. Oh, and the staff all seemed to be good-looking too, hard to keep my eyes off them, haha.

First order at Mentsuru: takoyaki 5p, 5,000 won

Takoyaki (5.0) We ordered the 5-piece takoyaki. About ₩1,000 per piece. It came out before the main dishes, so maybe that's why — a round, cute, bald little friend good for a light palate cleanser.

Topped with mayo sauce and bonito flakes, crispy outside and soft inside, with the octopus giving it a kick! You know it's better eaten hot right away, right? Gone in one bite, just like that.

Finally, the main dishes we ordered at this ramen spot near Children's Grand Park arrived. Spicy shoyu ramen and hormone-don — the two bowls came out stacked, which made the plating feel even more upscale.

Spicy shoyu ramen, 11,000 won: heat over clam and chicken broth

Spicy shoyu ramen (11.0) I usually don't like greasy food much, so I ordered the spicy shoyu ramen as soon as I saw it — even the smell of the spice hit my nose right away.

The chashu (braised pork) piece was so big that picking it up with the noodles and taking a full bite made me go 'mmm, delicious — oishii!' 🍜

Topped with chashu, egg, and chopped green onion — just from the look of it, this isn't a typical ramen spot near Children's Grand Park, but a place where you can taste real Japanese atmosphere and flavor.

Light, clean clam and chicken broth with a savoriness perfect for curing a hangover. The spice level is well-suited to Korean palates, so I don't think opinions will be too divided.

Hormone-don beef intestine rice bowl, 15,000 won: the secret sauce

Hormone-don (beef intestine rice bowl) (15.0) The grilled daechang (beef large intestine) has a strong roasted aroma but no funky smell at all, and the seasoning is sweet-salty — Mentsuru's own secret sauce really does all the work. It's not too much to say the sauce is 80 percent of the dish, haha.

Pop the egg yolk and mix it all together. The color alone is killer.

Plump, juicy daechang plus beef brisket slices make this a special rice bowl! If you come to Mentsuru, be sure to try the daechang rice bowl.

Next visit to Mentsuru: the noodles with gopchang

I saw there's also a noodle dish with gopchang (grilled small intestine), so I'll have to come back and try that next time. Great to visit with kids after Children's Grand Park, or for a couple's date! With Sejong University and Konkuk University nearby too, this ramen spot near Children's Grand Park, Mentsuru, comes highly recommended :)