Incheon Terminal ramen for pork-smell skeptics: mazesoba, Menya Seoul

Why a ramen skeptic came to Menya Seoul

Menya Seoul Lotte Department Store Incheon Branch is the one restaurant near Incheon Terminal where I, someone who almost never eats ramen because of that heavy pork smell, actually eat ramen. I happened to stop by Lotte Department Store Incheon in Guwol-dong to shop, got hungry, and headed down to the B1 food avenue. Among the neatly refreshed restaurants, one place caught me with the savory, rich aroma of its broth!

It was Menya Seoul, a ramen shop famous for its cold ramen in summer, the new whole pork belly mazesoba (brothless mixed noodles), and its chashu and dongpo pork (braised pork belly) toppings. The Menya Seoul that's well known in Yongsan has also settled in as a go-to near Incheon Terminal, popular for solo meals and dates in Guwol-dong. It's perfectly placed for a tidy bowl on a grocery run or before or after shopping, so I sat down and ordered without hesitation.

Menya Seoul Lotte Incheon location and atmosphere

Menya Seoul is inside the B1 food avenue of Lotte Department Store Incheon Branch.

The shop has the clean, hygienic open-kitchen layout typical of a department store food hall. With bar-table (dodge-style counter) seating, it's very comfortable for eating alone, and the food comes out fast, so it's easy to drop in even on a busy shopping day. I loved how the hearty meal fit in with the soft, upscale department store interior.

On the table there's vinegar and rayu (spicy chili oil) for seasoning, so you can adjust the ramen to your own taste.

Menya Seoul menu and prices

Ramen is the signature here. It comes in regular or spicy, and the price and menu change depending on the toppings. Main menu items include the (spicy) dongpo chashu ramen at ₩12,900, the new signature whole pork belly mazesoba at ₩11,900, and the jambon-loaded jambon chashu ramen at ₩10,900, plus fried items and rice bowls as sides.

Best of all, in a department store where prices tend to run higher, you can get a generous bowl for just over ₩10,000.

What I ordered that day was the whole pork belly mazesoba and the spicy dongpo chashu ramen set.

How was the whole pork belly mazesoba?

Looks and toppings

Menya Seoul's whole pork belly mazesoba grabs your eyes the moment it arrives, with a big, golden-grilled slab of pork belly sitting on the mixed noodles. Egg yolk, minced meat (minji), scallions, seaweed flakes and a special mixing sauce all come together nicely.

Flavor and texture

Break the yolk, toss it well with the plump noodles, and take a bite: the savory, tangy, umami-bursting sauce clings to your mouth. Add a piece of the thick pork belly and the juices burst out, a superb match with the chewy noodles. Thanks to the slightly sharp scallions and the sauce, you can enjoy it right to the last bite, very savory and not greasy at all.

Spicy dongpo chashu ramen set: what's in it and how it tastes

The spicy dongpo chashu ramen broth

Menya Seoul's spicy dongpo chashu ramen layers a special sharp, spicy seasoning onto a rich, savory tonkotsu (pork bone) broth base, giving a hearty yet refreshing, spicy broth that soothes your stomach. It's an appealing broth that even people sensitive to greasiness can enjoy cleanly.

Dongpo pork and chashu

Big pieces of dongpo pork that tear softly along the grain in your mouth come together with chashu carrying a faint flame-grilled aroma, so a single bowl of ramen feels as hearty as a premium meat dish.

The set: sweet soy chicken rice bowl (mini) and Coca-Cola

The spicy dongpo chashu ramen set comes with a sweet soy chicken rice bowl (mini) and a Coca-Cola. The mini chicken bowl is a solid side that goes well with the ramen broth. Crispy fried chicken and a sweet-salty special soy sauce soak into the rice, and alternating bites with a spoonful of the spicy ramen broth gives a perfect sweet-salty balance.

After the spicy, rich ramen and chicken bowl, finishing with the cold, fizzy Coca-Cola was clean and refreshing in every way.

Why I recommend Menya Seoul after trying it myself

• A distinctive dongpo topping: thick, tender dongpo pork you rarely see at ordinary ramen shops makes even one bowl feel like being treated to a proper dish.
• Convenient for shopping: it's on B1 of Lotte Department Store, directly connected to Incheon Terminal Station, so it fits perfectly into a date or shopping route.
• Filling and tidy: great value, and the toppings are so generous that a single bowl of ramen makes a very satisfying meal for an adult.

Final verdict

At Menya Seoul on B1 of Lotte Department Store Incheon, the whole pork belly mazesoba maximizes a weighty, savory flavor without any broth, while the spicy dongpo chashu ramen set gives you a full course: sharp spicy broth plus a sweet-salty mini rice bowl. Together, the two are simply can't-go-wrong (맛없없, "nothing tastes bad").

If you're feeling peckish while shopping at Lotte Incheon, or want to try a ramen of a lifetime with special, hearty toppings, I recommend dropping by Menya Seoul in the basement food avenue.