Food court bar seats for solo ramen in Incheon: Menya Seoul

Fellow readers, don't you sometimes go out alone and end up stuck figuring out where to eat solo? Today I had errands to run near Guwol-dong, so I headed to the solo-dining mecca — the basement food court at Lotte Department Store Incheon! (๑ↀᆺↀ)✧

With bar-table seating, you can eat alone without feeling self-conscious at all, and it's a Guwol-dong ramen spot famous for its insane combo of mala broth and melt-in-your-mouth dongpo pork (braised pork belly) — here's my honest review of Menya Seoul Incheon Branch💕

Menya Seoul Incheon Branch: location and hours

Incheon Lotte Department Store restaurant, Guwol-dong ramen favorite Menya Seoul Incheon Branch, solo dining in the food court

• Location: B1F, Lotte Department Store, 35 Yeonnam-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon
• Hours: 10:30 – 20:00
• Department store parking available

Is solo dining in a department store food court awkward?

The best thing about a department store food court is that you don't feel self-conscious eating alone at all😝 There were quite a few other solo diners there for ramen too! I guess ramen really is the ultimate solo-dining food >_<👍

There were food models displayed in front of the store! While happily agonizing over what to order, I glanced at them and the models matched the actual dishes perfectly, so it was really convenient to pick based on what you're craving 👏

Ordering the double dongpo pork set with mala broth

I remember it used to only have mild and spicy broths, but now there's a mala broth??? My blood-mala levels had dropped and I needed a refill, so honestly, this felt like fate🤤💕

No hesitation — I ordered the double dongpo pork set with mala broth! The double set literally means double the tender dongpo pork, a total value bomb👏 The set comes with a choice of side (karaage, gyoza, or rice bowl) plus one drink — a solid package! And it saves you ₩3,900 compared to ordering à la carte, so getting the set is always the smart move!!

When the buzzer goes off, you pick up the food yourself, and once you're done, you return your dishes to the drop-off counter.

Table setup and the review event tamago

The table had lemon kelp vinegar and rayu (chili oil) set out so you can add them to taste. I decided to enjoy the mala broth as is😎 If you take part in the review event at this Guwol-dong ramen favorite Menya Seoul Incheon Branch, you get a free sweet-savory tamago (seasoned soft-boiled egg), so make sure to join in and grab one!! 🥚✨ You know the tamago is the crown jewel of ramen right..💕💕

One bowl of ramen wasn't enough, so a rice bowl went on too

The moment the food from Menya Seoul at the Incheon Lotte Department Store restaurant arrived, I couldn't help but gasp at how good it looked! It was loaded not just with beautifully braised dongpo pork but also jambon (smoked ham slices) for extra savoriness!

But my stomach isn't satisfied with just one bowl of ramen, apparently... lol. I picked karaage for the side and also added a small sweet soy chicken rice bowl (and of course, I finished every last bite😎✌️)

The Coca-Cola keycap gift with set orders

Order a set right now and you get an adorable 'Coca-Cola keycap' as a gift! Honestly, I'm an old-school type who doesn't really get the appeal of keycaps...? But before I knew it, I was clicking it over and over🙈 Surprisingly addictive lol 🕹️

How do the mala broth and dongpo pork taste?

The spicy, deep mala broth with chewy noodles.. how could this combo possibly not taste amazing?🔥 The noodle portion is generous for average appetites, but if you're a bigger eater or a guy, I strongly recommend adding extra noodles!! You always regret not adding noodles after finishing ramen😋

Ramen wrapped in tender jambon — need I say more♥️

The dongpo pork was so soft and tender it just melted the moment it hit my mouth! Please make a double-double dongpo pork option too....🙏 The tamago had soaked up the broth nicely and I devoured it in a flash🥰

Karaage and the small sweet soy chicken rice bowl

The karaage that came with the set had 3 pieces, a perfect amount to nibble on as a side between bites, and the sweet soy chicken rice bowl I added on came piled high with bonito flakes that danced with every breath — the salty umami flavor exploded and paired perfectly with the ramen broth👏

Washing it all down with zero-calorie cola once things get greasy is just the rule. No matter how high-calorie the food, I firmly believe the cola has to be zero(firm).

Is Menya Seoul worth it for solo dining in Guwol-dong?

That addictive keycap... still clicking away...😝😝😝 Since it's a department store food court, you can enjoy it comfortably even alone, and with the generous set composition, the cute keycap freebie, and the top-tier mala broth and dongpo pork combo, it was a flawless Guwol-dong ramen favorite!

If you're near Lotte Department Store in Guwol-dong looking for a solo-dining spot, or want to try the ramen and dongpo pork combo, head over to Menya Seoul Incheon Branch. I confidently recommend this Incheon Lotte Department Store restaurant 💖