Chuseok-holiday ramen in Gwangjin, Seoul: shio and motsu at Mentsuru

Today I'm sharing a review of my visit to yet another one of my go-to spots — Mentsuru! :)

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

• 📍 Location: 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1F, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00 (last order 22:30 / open year-round, no break time)
• 🅿️ No parking (no dedicated parking facility) — if driving, use Gwangjin Plaza Public Parking Lot across the street (paid)
• ⭐️ Reservations/takeout available, group visits welcome ⭐️

I was looking for somewhere to have a date even during Chuseok, and Mentsuru suddenly came to mind since it's open year-round with no break time! I loved the abura soba so much last time that I got curious about their other ramen too..!!

So this time I visited Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch! It's located between Children's Grand Park Station and Konkuk University Station, so it's super accessible!

If you ever need a solo meal around Konkuk/Sejong University, have a date or meet-up with a friend, or just want to fill up lightly before exploring Children's Grand Park or Konkuk, this is a great spot to recommend :)

How to walk there from Children's Grand Park Station Exit 4

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is less than 100m — just 30 seconds — from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station (Line 7), so it's really easy to get to!

What Mentsuru looks like from the street

The outside has a clean beige-toned wood interior, so it was easy to spot from the street right away!

Seating at Mentsuru: good for eating alone

The overall interior (and seating layout) at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch gave me the immediate thought — 'this is a great place to eat solo!'

An L-shaped single table, tables with partition walls, and 2-4 person tables set up on the side — the seating variety made it clear it works well whether you come alone, as a couple, or as a group of four!

Mentsuru's menu and how to order at the kiosk or table tablet

Mentsuru is a highly recommended spot among Japanese ramen enthusiasts, and I found a truly wide variety of ramen flavors on offer! Beyond the popular shoyu ramen and abura soba, you can also easily find ramen types like tori paitan, motsu ramen, and shio ramen — the kind that's hard to come across at other Japanese restaurants!

Besides the kiosk you see right as you walk in, you can also order via T-Order at your seat, which makes picking a menu really convenient! Since there are so many ramen options and they all look delicious, I have a cautious theory that the owner set this up thoughtfully for people who can't decide which ramen to get^^ As someone who takes forever choosing a menu myself, I really love this system..❤️

The tangy pickled radish at Mentsuru that I love so much!

Motsu ramen (beef tripe ramen): spice level and portion size

First, the motsu ramen (beef tripe ramen) is a hangover-cure ramen generously loaded with beef tripe and beef brisket — since the tripe and brisket are simmered thoroughly, the broth has an incredibly deep, rich meaty flavor!

On top of that, the crisp texture of the bean sprouts and the sharp, sweet flavor of the green onion took the broth's flavor up another level!

Also, it wasn't as spicy as I expected! If I had to describe the spice level — slightly milder than Shin Ramyun! Even people who aren't great with spicy food can enjoy this at just the right kick :) Highly recommended for anyone who loves a hangover-cure ramen✔️

The portion was also more generous than I expected, so I felt like I was about to burst while eating.. There were even more toppings (brisket & tripe) than noodles.. Seeing how they don't skimp on toppings and pile them on generously.. I thought, ah, this is going to become yet another go-to place for me.. 😊

Tori paitan sold out at 2pm, so shio ramen (salt ramen) instead

Shio ramen is a chicken broth ramen seasoned with salt, and it was even more delicious than I expected :)

Actually.. I visited that day determined to eat tori paitan, but since it's such a popular menu item, it was already sold out even though I arrived at 2pm ㅠㅠ As a fallback, I tried the shio ramen, and wow? It turned out to be a blessing in disguise — it was so, so delicious..haha

I'm not usually someone who enjoys mild flavors, but it was unbelievably clean and light while still being packed with umami for something seasoned with just salt.. the saltiness was exactly right, and thanks to the deep, rich chicken broth flavor, I could keep eating without ever getting tired of it!

This is a menu item that anyone who loves clean flavors and the simple, pure taste of the broth would really enjoy 😊

The side order: fried gyoza 6p at Mentsuru

At Mentsuru's City Hall Station branch, I tried the handmade karaage as a side.. so this time, I went with the fried gyoza! The fried gyoza had a crispy dumpling wrapper packed full of filling, and the texture was really great! Overall, I could really tell they don't skimp on ingredients in any of their dishes..!!

Set store notifications and get 4 free takoyaki

Through November, to celebrate their new menu launch, if you sign up for notifications, Mentsuru gives you 4 pieces of tako-yaki free of charge, so it's good to know this before you go 😊 The tako-yaki balls are really big and soft, so delicious ㅠㅠ

Why Mentsuru works for solo meals and dates near Konkuk and Sejong University

With Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, I kept thinking throughout the meal — the seasoning is just perfectly balanced! And I could fully feel how generously they use their ingredients, making it a satisfying, filling meal :) 200% would come back again 😊

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a great Japanese restaurant for solo meals or dates around Konkuk & Sejong University✅