6pm ramen dinner in Gwangjin: spicy shoyu and takoyaki at Mentsuru

Today I want to introduce a Konkuk University-area favorite, Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch! With everything from clean, rich motsu ramen (offal ramen) broth to light shoyu ramen, there's a wide range to pick from depending on your mood — filling but not too heavy for a meal, which is why I want to recommend it to anyone hunting for good food near Konkuk. Total recommendation if you're looking for a solo-dining spot near Konkuk too!!

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

📌 Location — about 57m from Children's Grand Park Station Exit 4

📌 Hours — Mon-Sun 11:00-23:00 (last order 22:30)

✔ Group-friendly, takeout available

Mentsuru is a short walk from Children's Grand Park Station Exit 4, so it's easy to find! The exterior is clean and screams ramen restaurant — you can tell right away it's got that Japanese vibe going strong.

What Mentsuru looks like at 6pm, and the single seats

The moment I walked into Mentsuru, I got a warm, cozy vibe overall from the wood-toned interior! With both single seats and tables set up together, it works well whether you're eating alone or with a group! I visited around 6pm and it was surprisingly busy haha. The clean, comfortable atmosphere makes me want to try solo dining here sometime!

They even have cute little props and aprons ready — nice touch haha.

Tablet ordering at Mentsuru, and menu items sold out by evening

You order via the tablet at your table! Since it's such a popular place, some menu items were temporarily sold out when I visited in the evening, sadly. I ordered spicy shoyu ramen, gyudon, and takoyaki! Ordering both the ramen and gyudon together was great, since I could switch between the spicy ramen and the sweet-savory gyudon. The portions were pretty filling too, so it was satisfying as a full meal.

🍜 Spicy shoyu ramen at Mentsuru — sharp broth that stays light

The spicy shoyu ramen looked delicious from the moment it arrived. The rich soy-sauce-based broth had a gentle spiciness added to it, giving it a salty-yet-spicy kick. The broth wasn't too heavy or overpowering, but the added spiciness kept me spooning it up nonstop, and with soft chashu, a soft-boiled egg, menma (bamboo shoots) and green onion, there was a good variety of textures and flavors. Especially since the heat doesn't hit hard but stays cleanly spicy, I think anyone who likes spicy food could enjoy this without any worry. 🌶️

🥩 Gyudon at Mentsuru — pop the yolk and mix it through

The gyudon had generous amounts of sweetly seasoned beef and onion piled on top of the rice. The beef was cooked soft, going well with the rice, and popping the egg yolk in the middle and mixing it in added a nutty, smooth flavor that made everything richer. Eating it together with the green onion added fragrance, and the red pickled ginger scattered throughout kept my palate clean, making it hard to stop eating. It went well alongside the ramen too, and was satisfying as a filling meal on its own. 🍚

Ordering it together with the ramen and switching between them, the combination of spicy ramen and sweet, nutty gyudon worked better than expected. It was also great for filling up.

The takoyaki was the surprise highlight

The takoyaki was a surprise kick!! You have to try it. I ordered it without expecting much, but it was plump, piping hot, and I couldn't stop reaching for more, haha.

Why Mentsuru is worth it for ramen near Konkuk University

If you're looking for a filling ramen restaurant near Konkuk University, I recommend Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch! From clean, classic ramen to rich tori paitan (chicken broth) and spicy motsu ramen, there's a wide range of choices so anyone visiting with anyone else can find something to their taste! It's also close to Children's Grand Park Station, so with that great accessibility, it's worth a visit if you're looking for good food or good ramen near Konkuk University!