Gwangjin mazesoba restaurant, rice in the leftover sauce: Mentsuru

Where is Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, and what are its hours?

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a Japanese restaurant at 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1F, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, known as a Konkuk University area favorite. Passing by the neighborhood on a weekend and looking for lunch, I checked out what was nearby. A place close to the subway station with decent reviews caught my eye, so I decided to give it a try. It was easy to get to by public transit and had a solid reputation, so I stopped by without much hesitation.

It's located at 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1F, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and you can find it quickly walking from the subway exit. It opens daily at 11am and stays open until 11pm, with last order at 10:30pm. If you're planning a visit, it helps to keep these hours in mind.

• Name: Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch
• Address: 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1F, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea (57m from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, under 1 minute on foot / next to KFC)
• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 23:00, last order 22:30
• Parking: If driving, contact the store directly for guidance.
• Two-wheelers: Bikes and motorcycles should be parked without blocking traffic.

Parking and wait times at Mentsuru

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch doesn't have its own parking space, so it's hard to park a car there. If you're driving, be sure to check on parking beforehand. If you plan to bring a car, it's safer to look up a nearby public or paid parking lot in advance.

There's enough of a wait during lunch or peak hours that the restaurant has a dedicated waiting area out front. It's a spot frequented by nearby office workers and locals, so seats fill up fast at mealtimes. Watching a steady stream of people come in, I could see why it's known as a Konkuk University area favorite.

Tablet ordering and solo seats: eating alone at Mentsuru

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch has a tablet at every table, so once you sit down you can just look at it and order directly.

It was convenient — no need to call over a staff member, just pick your menu on screen and finish payment right there.

The kitchen is fully open so you can see the cooking happening inside. Seating ranged from solo seats perfect for eating alone to 2-person and 4-person tables, so dining solo felt completely comfortable. The staff were friendly too, which made settling in feel pleasant.

This time I ordered mazesoba and gyoza. After ordering, the food came out without a long wait.

Rice mixed into the leftover mazesoba sauce, plus crisp gyoza

After finishing the mazesoba at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, I asked for a small serving of rice and mixed it into the leftover sauce — the flavors went really well together. The gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) ordered alongside came out crispy on the outside and tender inside, making them a great side to go with it.

The interior overall had a clean, tidy Japanese restaurant vibe. Seating for solo diners was well thought out, making it a comfortable place to get a meal done on your own. If you're looking for a filling, clean meal, Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, a well-known Konkuk University area favorite, seems worth a visit.