# Two-bowl ramen tasting in Gwangjin: shoyu and motsu at Mentsuru - By Hyerin Jo (https://superchart.com/en/@euljiro-basement-stool/) - Written Sep 16, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gwangjin, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written as part of a paid store-visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@euljiro-basement-stool/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@euljiro-basement-stool/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/index.md) ## In short Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a ramen restaurant in Gwangjin, Seoul, a one-minute walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station. Ordering the standard shoyu ramen next to the motsu ramen, loaded with beef tripe and thin-sliced beef belly, showed how far apart they are: one broth is clean and light, the other rich and spicy. Choose shoyu ramen at Mentsuru for a clear, mild bowl, or motsu ramen for a hearty, full-flavoured meal. ## Good to know - **Address**: 1st floor, 394 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul - **Location**: About a 1-minute walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station - **Hours**: Daily 11:00–23:00 - **Last order**: 22:30 - **Seating**: Bar seats plus tables for 2–4 - **Ordered**: Shoyu ramen, motsu ramen - **Other menu items**: Tori paitan, abura soba, shio ramen, rice bowls, karaage, gyoza *as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026* ![A bowl of ramen at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-01-jac7z-900.webp) Looking for a clean, satisfying bowl of ramen to eat solo near Children's Grand Park? Today I'm introducing Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, a great spot to visit whenever you're craving ramen around Children's Grand Park Station. ![The ramen menu at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-02-1ccsg-900.webp) I usually love ramen and enjoy trying all kinds of it, so this time I ordered the standard shoyu ramen along with the slightly more unusual motsu ramen to compare them side by side. ![Shoyu ramen and motsu ramen set out together](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-03-1u1az-900.webp) ![Table comparing shoyu ramen and motsu ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-04-57wy5-900.webp) Bottom line first: the two menus had clearly different appeal, so it was easy to pick depending on your mood. ![Exterior of Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-05-kh5ys-900.webp) ## Where is Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, and when is it open? 📍 Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch - Address: 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea - Location: About 1 minute on foot from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station - Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00 - Last order: 22:30 It's really close to the station, so it's convenient whether you're stopping in after a trip to Children's Grand Park or coming over from the Konkuk University area for a meal. ![Interior seating at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-06-tlxn2-900.webp) ![Bar-style seating good for solo dining](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-07-166o9-900.webp) ## Bar seats for solo diners — and a full house even at late lunch Inside Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch there's bar-style seating great for eating alone, plus tables for 2–4, so it looked good whether you're visiting solo or with friends or a partner. Even during a late lunch hour it was completely packed with university students... Some ramen shops can feel a bit awkward to visit alone, but this place had a comfortable atmosphere where solo diners could eat with ease, which I liked. ![Shoyu ramen at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-08-jsl2q-1200.webp) ## Shoyu ramen: a light, clean soy-sauce broth 🍜 Shoyu ramen The first dish I ordered was the shoyu ramen. If you like clean, light ramen, this was the safest, most reliable choice. Being a soy-sauce-based broth, it doesn't hit you with a strong flavor right away — overall it felt clean with a subtle, lingering savoriness. ![Close-up of shoyu ramen noodles and broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-09-1q97w-900.webp) Especially since the broth wasn't too heavy, eating it together with the noodles felt light and easy. Sometimes with ramen the broth gets too salty or greasy and you get a bit tired of it halfway through, but the shoyu ramen was relatively light, so I could eat comfortably all the way to the end. So if you're visiting for the first time and unsure what to order, I think starting with the shoyu ramen is a solid choice. It'll suit people who prefer a clean broth over something more intense. ![Motsu ramen topped with beef tripe and beef short rib](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-10-zrfde-900.webp) ## Motsu ramen: spicy broth with beef tripe and sliced beef belly 🔥 Motsu ramen And the dish that personally caught my eye more on this visit was the motsu ramen! Motsu ramen is a spicy ramen loaded with beef tripe and beef short rib, and it definitely felt different from a typical ramen. The portion itself was quite generous, so it felt filling as a full meal. The broth was spicy-style, giving it a much stronger presence of flavor than the shoyu ramen. ![Close-up of tripe pieces in motsu ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-11-g971f-900.webp) Above all, the tripe's distinctive savory, chewy texture paired really well with the ramen. If you like tripe, being able to enjoy ramen and tripe together felt like a pretty appealing combo. Eating a bit of tripe between bites of noodles changed up the texture too, so it never felt boring all the way through. If, like me, you want something a bit more special than plain ramen, I'd recommend the motsu ramen. ## Shoyu ramen or motsu ramen — which bowl should you order? 🍜 So which one would I recommend? Comparing the two side by side, the preferences split pretty clearly. - If you like a clean, light broth 👉 Shoyu ramen - If you like a spicy broth and the savory taste of tripe 👉 Motsu ramen For a first visit, I'd suggest shoyu ramen if you want to experience the classic flavor, and motsu ramen if you want something hearty and rich. There's also a range of other ramen options like tori paitan, abura soba, and shio ramen, plus sides like rice bowls, karaage, and gyoza, so you can pick according to your taste. ## Looking for ramen near Children's Grand Park in Gwangjin? ✨ Visiting this time, I felt Mentsuru is a pretty comfortable place to visit whether you're eating solo or with friends or a partner. ![Yuzu pickled radish served with the ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-12-17km3-900.webp) ![A plate of yuzu pickled radish side dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-13-1aehk-900.webp) *(The yuzu pickled radish was delicious too 💛)* (The yuzu pickled radish was delicious too 💛) Its biggest advantage is definitely being close to Children's Grand Park Station! If you're strolling around Children's Grand Park or looking for a hearty meal after a date around Konkuk University, the location works well with that route. This time I tried the shoyu ramen and motsu ramen, and now I want to try the other ramen options one by one next time. ![The ramen table after finishing the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-14-1wxvl-900.webp) If you're craving a clean bowl of ramen near Children's Grand Park, give it a try. If you're looking for a ramen restaurant near Children's Grand Park, Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch was a solid meal option — close to the station and offering a variety of ramen menus to choose from. ![Entrance of Mentsuru near Children's Grand Park Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-15-jd7hn-900.webp) ![Street view near Children's Grand Park Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison-16-19mza-900.webp) After the meal, I also stopped by Aila Cafe, a study café near the intersection below Achasan Station :) ## 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/@euljiro-basement-stool/mentsuru-shoyu-motsu-ramen-comparison/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt