Real tomato topping on chicken tomato ramen in Seongsu: Menya Pomo

Solo dining possible for ₩10,000 A cozy yet hearty date spot

This time I wanted something a bit different in Seongsu, so I went to Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch, a tomato ramen specialist.

I'd had tomato ramen in Fukuoka before and remember it being surprisingly delicious. So I visited with high expectations again — and to cut to the chase, I strongly recommend the chicken tomato ramen. It's a great restaurant in Seongsu for either a date for two or a solid solo meal.

Where is Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch, and what is the restaurant like?

Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch sits on the main commercial stretch of Yeonmujang-gil in Seongsu. It's easy to get to — about 268m from Seongsu Station Exit 4, roughly a 3-minute walk.

Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch Address: 37-17 Yeonmujang-gil, B1 Unit 101, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea About 3 min walk from Seongsu Station Exit 4

Once inside, you order right away at a kiosk. There's a wide range of tomato ramen types, so it's easy to pick according to your taste.

When I visited, alongside the regular tables there was also a solo-dining corner that's comfortable to sit and eat alone. If you're looking for a solo-friendly restaurant in Seongsu, this works well.

And what I liked was the unlimited rice refill. Rice is set up at the self-serve bar, so after finishing the ramen you can even turn it into a risotto.

Chicken tomato ramen with real tomato topping: how did it taste?

We ordered the chicken tomato ramen and the Korean beef mince katsu set. We also added the real tomato topping.

The dish I most want to recommend is the chicken tomato ramen. The chicken breast on top was so soft and juicy. It's a clean, mild flavor that paired really well with the rich tomato broth.

The tomato ramen broth has finely chopped onion and meat in it. Scooped up together, the onion and meat add to the tomato flavor for a pretty full-bodied, deep taste.

I also added the real tomato topping, and that was delicious too. The tomato's own flavor comes through strongly, so if you like tomatoes, I'd recommend adding it.

Turning the leftover broth into tomato risotto with unlimited rice

Once you've eaten a good amount of noodles, don't stop there — make sure to add rice too.

Since rice is unlimited, you can add as much as you want to the leftover tomato broth and eat it like a risotto. If you like cheese, try adding cheese rice (₩3,000) to make it like a cheese risotto. Eating the ramen and then adding rice made for a truly filling meal. If I came solo, I'd just order one chicken tomato ramen and go from noodles to risotto like this.

Sharing for two: the Korean beef mince katsu set at Menya Pomo

If you're visiting as a pair, a combo like what I had — one ramen plus one katsu set — works well. You get two pieces of mince katsu, a generous cabbage salad, one fried shrimp, and the potato mousse is really good too.

The Korean beef mince katsu set also comes with ramen broth on the side, which has a soothing quality that goes well with the katsu.

The katsu itself was very tasty and satisfyingly hearty. It paired well with the salad on the side.

We added a salad too, topped with juicy chicken breast, potato mousse, ham, cucumber, and cabbage — hearty yet fresh.

The crispy fried shrimp was also delicious — I'd recommend it as a side if you're doing a solo ramen meal.

Is Menya Pomo Seongsu good for a date or eating alone?

I have fond memories of the tomato ramen I once had in Fukuoka, so it was nice to have it again in Seongsu after a long while. The chicken tomato ramen with the juicy chicken breast was my favorite. Finishing off with rice turned into risotto after the noodles made for a very filling meal.

There's comfortable seating for solo diners and it's also good for sharing dishes as a couple, so it seems like a solid choice whether you're looking for a Seongsu date spot or a solo-dining restaurant. If you want a satisfying Japanese-style meal sitting comfortably in Seongsu and you like tomato ramen, give Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch a try. I think I'd order the chicken tomato ramen again if I went back.