Konkuk University ramen before the 6pm line: motsu ramen at Mentsuru

There are about three famous ramen restaurants around Konkuk University, and Mentsuru is one of them. I'd been meaning to go for a while, so I finally made the trip this time.

Where is Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, and when is it open?

"Mentsuru" — a Konkuk-area favorite near Children's Grand Park Station, known for its tasty, generous portions of ramen.

• 📍 220 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🕑 Daily 11:00–23:00 (last order 22:30)
• 🚗 No parking / 58m from Exit 4, Children's Grand Park Station

It's located next to a KFC, on the ground floor below a Tanghua Kungfu mala tang restaurant. Even arriving around 5:50pm, about half the seats were already full. Inside, soft yellow lighting gave the space a dim, cozy atmosphere. The gap between tables felt comfortable, and there were even seats facing the wall for solo diners, so eating alone here wouldn't feel awkward at all.

Beyond ramen: beef intestine rice bowls and gyudon on the Mentsuru menu

As the "Ramen bar" sign suggests, ramen is the main focus, but that's not all they serve. There's also abura soba, beef large-intestine rice bowl, gyudon (beef rice bowl) and more, so it's an easy place to visit even with friends who have different tastes. In fact, the table next to us was eating the beef large-intestine rice bowl, and it looked really good. My companion and I, drawn in by the look of the beef intestine ramen, both ordered the motsu ramen.

How spicy is motsu ramen at each of the three levels?

The motsu ramen had three spice options.

• Spice level 1 (Shin Ramyun-level)
• Spice level 2 (fiery)
• Spice level 3 (seriously spicy)

You could also add toppings like two pieces of pork belly chashu, menma (seasoned bamboo shoots), and egg. We ordered spice level 1.

Motsu ramen ₩15,000: a bowl loaded with intestine and beef brisket

The broth color was similar to jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup). With so many toppings piled up, one bowl alone looked seriously filling.

Pushing aside the green onion and cheongyang chili a bit, the toppings came into full view: plenty of intestine and beef brisket sitting on top of bean sprouts. The spice level was about the same as regular Shin Ramyun these days — just right for my companion, who can't handle spicy food that well, to enjoy comfortably. If you want a real kick, I'd recommend ordering level 2.

The noodles were a basic thickness. The intestine had that distinctive chewy, savory texture that came through more with every bite. The spicy broth paired really well with the intestine and beef brisket. Even I, who can't handle greasy food, found it very much to my taste and ate it up happily. The portion of intestine was generous too, more than enough. Motsu ramen would also make a great hangover cure!

Yuzu pickled radish on every table at Mentsuru

Every table had pickled radish along with a container for portioning it out. But this wasn't your ordinary pickled radish — it was yuzu pickled radish. Sliced thin, it was easy to lay one piece on each spoonful. Eating it along with the bean sprouts between bites of ramen kept things from feeling repetitive at all, and I was able to enjoy it right to the last bite.

Bowl cleared~

6:20pm: the Mentsuru line stretching out the door

When we finished and stepped out around 6:20pm, customers were already lined up outside the store. It seems to already be a well-known favorite. Overall, considering the portion size and taste, satisfaction was very high. The motsu ramen in particular was loaded with intestine, beef brisket, and bean sprouts, so one bowl alone was filling. The broth was pleasantly spicy without ever getting tiring, and eating it with the yuzu pickled radish in between helped cleanse the palate along the way.

I'd happily come back whenever I'm craving ramen again. Next time, I want to try the tori paitan and hormone-don. It's a good spot whether you want a light ramen fix or a hearty full meal. Personally, I felt this would be a great place for Konkuk University and Sejong University students to grab a meal. The staff were also young and friendly.

If you're craving ramen around Konkuk University or looking for a comfortable spot to eat alone, this is a total recommendation! Of course, good food is even better shared, so it's just as recommended to bring a friend or partner along!