# Solo-dining Japanese restaurant in Gwangjin: hormone-don at Mentsuru - By Seoan (https://superchart.com/en/@diner-pencil/) - Written Sep 6, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gwangjin, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after receiving a meal as an in-store sponsored visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@diner-pencil/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@diner-pencil/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/index.md) ## In short Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a ramen and rice bowl Japanese restaurant near Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, where bar seats for one or two and an open kitchen make solo dining easy. The order was hormone-don (grilled beef intestine rice bowl) with extra pork belly chashu for 2,500 won plus a side of fried gyoza: the bowl carried more topping than rice, seasoned just right and never greasy, and the gyoza came out crisp outside and full of juice. For anyone who loves daechang-donburi, Mentsuru is a solid lunch stop near Konkuk University and Children's Grand Park Station. ## Good to know - **Location**: 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (Children's Grand Park Station Exit 4) - **Hours**: Daily 11:00–23:00 (last order 22:30) - **Parking**: Not available - **Amenities**: Reservations, takeout, groups welcome, high chairs, Wi-Fi - **Payment**: Local currency (card and mobile), Zero Pay, mobile easy pay - **Ordered**: Hormone-don, extra pork belly chashu, fried gyoza - **Extra pork belly chashu**: 2,500 won - **Self-serve bar**: Tissues, water, pepper, yuzu pickled radish, chopsticks *as written by the visitor on Sep 6, 2026* ## Why Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch for a solo Japanese lunch near Konkuk University? Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a Japanese restaurant a short walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station. Ramen is the main event here, but they also serve hormone-don (grilled beef intestine rice bowl). Daechang-donburi (beef intestine rice bowl) was a huge trend when I was younger! As an offal lover — daechang, gopchang, makchang, all of it — I remember waiting maybe an hour and a half for one back then, and it was so good I had zero regrets. Ever since, I've eaten daechang-donburi all the time!! This time I had errands near Children's Grand Park Station and stumbled onto a really good one >_< ![Signature hormone-don from Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-01-1dod0-1200.webp) ## Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch: hours, location, payment It's located at 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea, open daily from 11:00 to 23:00 (last order 22:30). No parking available. - 📍Location: 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea - ⏰Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00 (last order 22:30) - 🅿️Parking: Not available - ✔️Amenities: Reservations available, takeout available, group-friendly, high chairs, Wi-Fi - 💵Payment: Local currency cards/mobile, Zero Pay, easy pay ## How to walk to Mentsuru from Children's Grand Park Station Exit 4 Come out of Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, turn at the Gong Cha in front of you, and keep going straight — you'll reach Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch. ![View of Children's Grand Park Station Exit 4](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-02-1gfta-900.webp) Children's Grand Park Station Exit 4! ![Path turning back from Exit 4](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-03-gj6uv-m-900.webp) Put away your go-straight instincts, turn back this way ![Turning point in front of Gong Cha](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-04-1qu54-900.webp) Turn at Gong Cha and keep going ![Exterior of Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-05-3ygoy-787.webp) Arrived >_< ## Inside Mentsuru: bar seats and an open kitchen — good for eating alone? > A warm wood-toned atmosphere with a reassuring open kitchen Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch has plenty of bar seats good for one or two people, making solo dining comfortable, plus decent 4-seat and 2-seat tables. The moment I walked in, it was full of Japanese vibes. Thanks to the soft lighting and wood-toned interior it felt spacious and clean, but it never lost that warm, cozy feeling — this Konkuk University favorite, Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch! ![Wood-toned interior of Mentsuru](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-06-fqomv-900.webp) ![Restaurant interior with soft lighting](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-07-a9adh-900.webp) ![View of the Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch dining hall](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-08-1m53i-900.webp) There were plenty of bar seats good for one or two people. And the open kitchen<< this seriously raises my trust in the place haha ![Bar seats for one or two with view of open kitchen](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-09-1l693-900.webp) There are 4-seat tables too ![Four-seat table at Mentsuru](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-10-a9kl5-900.webp) And plenty of 2-seat tables! ![Spacious two-seat table](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-11-ozsb9-900.webp) The self-serve bar has tissues, water, pepper, radish pickle, and chopsticks. ## Mentsuru menu: ramen, rice bowls and sides Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch's menu is divided into ramen (shoyu, shio, abura soba, spicy shio), rice bowls (gyudon, hormone-don), and sides (karaage, chicken skin gyoza, takoyaki). Toppings like menma (seasoned bamboo shoots), nori, and pork belly chashu can be added. ![Mentsuru ramen and rice bowl menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-12-296r5-900.webp) ![Menu board for sides and extra toppings](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-13-1opp0-900.webp) This Konkuk University favorite Mentsuru actually has ramen as its main menu! From shoyu ramen to shio ramen to abura soba, they have every type. And apparently they started selling spicy shio ramen not long ago too. Toppings like menma, nori, and pork belly chashu can be added! There are two rice bowls: gyudon and hormone-don. Sides are karaage, chicken skin gyoza, and takoyaki. When I went, the chicken skin gyoza was being sold as fried gyoza. ## Hormone-don review: more topping than rice > Savory, umami-packed hormone-don! Since I really wanted daechang-donburi at this Konkuk University favorite... I ordered hormone-don, extra pork belly chashu, and fried gyoza! ![Table setup with ordered hormone-don and fried gyoza](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-14-170lr-900.webp) First, the radish pickle at the self-serve bar! Not just plain radish pickle — it's yuzu radish pickle🤩 I'm usually not a fan of plain radish pickle, but this yuzu version was so refreshing my hand kept reaching for it..💕 ![Yuzu radish pickle scooped from the self-serve bar](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-15-ey2n6-900.webp) ![Close-up of the yuzu radish pickle plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-16-1rgw4-900.webp) Bahahaha >_< ![Hormone-don piled high with toppings](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-17-1rhb6-900.webp) The hormone-don comes topped with soy-marinated daechang (beef intestine), thin-sliced beef belly, chili, onion, pickled ginger, and shredded green onion. Wasabi and pickled ginger are served on the side too! The amount of toppings is insane. A hormone-don that literally has more toppings than rice really exists‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ ![Daechang and beef belly toppings outweighing the rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-18-7yitr-900.webp) ![Close-up of soy-marinated daechang](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-19-1n22e-900.webp) One bite with the daechang, one bite with the beef belly. A lot of people worry that Japanese-style rice bowls or hormone-don will be overly salty or greasy, but this Konkuk University favorite Mentsuru has none of that. The sweet-salty soy seasoning was perfectly balanced, and the daechang left only savory flavor behind — nothing overly oily or heavy! And usually daechang-donburi has only daechang as the main topping, but Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch also throws in beef belly. Eating it with beef belly on top gives it a whole different flavor >_< ![A spoonful of hormone-don topped with beef belly](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-20-q8pie-900.webp) ![Hormone-don served with wasabi and pickled ginger](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-21-uxamh-900.webp) ### Fried gyoza at Mentsuru: the unexpected highlight Next up, fried gyoza! Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch's fried gyoza comes with pickled ginger, green onion, and chili flakes, drizzled with soy seasoning. ![Fried gyoza drizzled with soy seasoning](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-22-1twco-900.webp) This fried gyoza was an unexpected highlight!!!!! Crispy on the outside!!! But packed with dumpling juice inside. I genuinely want to know their frying secret. One tip: it pairs really, really well with the pickled ginger. ![Cross-section of crispy fried gyoza](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-23-16edp-900.webp) ![Extra slice of pork belly chashu](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza-24-7rsfs-900.webp) ### Is the 2,500-won pork belly chashu add-on worth it? After eating the pork belly chashu, I decided I have to come back for the ramen next time. No pork smell at all, and while I first worried it was too big, it was tender enough to cut with just your gums. Random, but isn't 2,500 won an amazing deal for that? A really satisfying meal in a clean, pleasant atmosphere at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch! Recommended if you're looking for a Konkuk University restaurant, a spot near Children's Grand Park Station, a date course around Konkuk University or Children's Grand Park, or a lunch place near either area!! ## Where it is - Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch (멘츠루 어린이대공원점) - 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 광진구 광나루로 394 1층 - 37.547275, 127.0734369 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A9%98%EC%B8%A0%EB%A3%A8%20%EC%96%B4%EB%A6%B0%EC%9D%B4%EB%8C%80%EA%B3%B5%EC%9B%90%EC%A0%90/@37.547275,127.0734369,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@diner-pencil/mentsuru-childrens-grand-park-hormon-don-gyoza/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt