# Cheongyang chili spicy ramen and Asahi draft near City Hall: Mentsuru - By Somi Hwang (https://superchart.com/en/@jongno-narrow-bench/) - Written Sep 21, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jung-gu, Seoul - Sponsored: This review was written as part of a paid store-visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@jongno-narrow-bench/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@jongno-narrow-bench/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/index.md) ## In short Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a ramen restaurant on Seosomun-ro 11-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, a short walk from City Hall Station, and when the first floor is full staff send guests to the basement, so the wait stays short. After a Deoksugung Palace exhibition, this visit meant spicy ramen topped with beef intestine and brisket, ordered with extra cheongyang chili, plus fried gyoza and Asahi draft beer. The fiery broth and wide spacing between seats made Mentsuru easy for both solo dining and a light drink. ## Good to know - **Location**: 2 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, 1st floor, Unit 1, Jung-gu, Seoul (basement floor also in use) - **How to order**: Order at the kiosk first, wait outside, seated in turn - **Ordered on this visit**: Spicy ramen with beef intestine and brisket, fried gyoza, Asahi draft beer - **Fried gyoza**: 6 pieces per plate - **Self-service bar**: Water and cups, stainless steel chopsticks, pepper (Gaban black pepper) - **Review event**: A photo review on Google or Naver gets a free soft drink or fried gyoza (as of the visit) *as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026* ![Main photo from a visit to Mentsuru City Hall Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-01-kxvxv-1200.webp) Today I'm writing up a ramen place I stopped by after seeing an exhibition at Deoksugung Palace. If you're looking for a good ramen spot near the Deoksugung night opening, this review should help. ## Where is Mentsuru City Hall Branch, and how does the wait work? Mentsuru City Hall Branch is at 2 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, 1st floor, Unit 1, Jung-gu, Seoul, and also runs a basement floor. It's within walking distance of City Hall Station, so it worked well as a stop after visiting Deoksugung. When the first floor is full, they guide you down to the basement, so the wait was fairly short. You order first at the kiosk, then wait outside until you're called in order. ![Entrance and waiting area at Mentsuru City Hall Branch near City Hall Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-02-2f0cr-966.webp) ![Kiosk ordering screen at Mentsuru City Hall Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-03-xmbih-966.webp) ![Exterior signage at Mentsuru City Hall Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-04-6klf1-966.webp) ## Inside Mentsuru: wood lattice ceiling and wide seat spacing The first thing that caught my eye walking into Mentsuru City Hall Branch was the wood lattice ceiling filling the whole space. Little wooden plaques with Japanese text and palm-sized maneki-neko (beckoning cat) bells hung between the lattice, giving it that classic ramen-bar izakaya feel. On the shelf above the bar table, Suntory whiskey bottles were lined up neatly, with signed albums displayed alongside them. The seating was mostly wooden tables, so the overall tone was warm, and the soft lighting made it feel fine for both solo dining and a date. The seats were spaced wider than I expected for a ramen bar, so I could eat comfortably without worrying about the next table. Water and cups, stainless chopsticks, and pepper (Gaban black pepper) were all neatly set up at the self-service bar, so I could grab whatever I needed right away. ![Interior view showing the wood lattice ceiling and bar table](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-05-8b3fv-966.webp) ## What the photo review event gives you Signs for Google and Naver review events were posted all around the store. They're currently running an event where leaving a photo review gets you a free drink or fried gyoza. Worth keeping in mind if you're planning a visit. ![Sign for the Google and Naver review event](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-06-83sjr-966.webp) ![Water cups, chopsticks, and pepper at the self-service bar](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-07-16ref-966.webp) ![Wooden table seating at Mentsuru City Hall Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-08-u4bwi-966.webp) ## How the spicy ramen tastes: beef intestine, brisket and extra cheongyang chili This visit at Mentsuru City Hall Branch, I ordered one bowl of spicy ramen with beef intestine and brisket, fried gyoza, and Asahi draft beer. The ramen arrived in a classic bowl with a dragon painted on it, and the broth had a reddish, fiery-spicy style. The first sip was sharp and the aftertaste was deep, so it worked well both as hangover food and just when you're craving a spicy broth. It came generously topped with beef small intestine, large intestine, and thinly sliced brisket, plus plenty of bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and green onion — filling just from the toppings alone. Adding the minced cheongyang chili on the table bumped the spice up another level, so if you like a really fiery broth, I'd definitely recommend adding it. Tasting a spoonful of the broth, it felt like a bone-broth base with spicy oil added, which could easily turn heavy, but it wasn't like that at all. The noodles were a chewy medium-thickness style, good for slurping along with the broth, and I liked that it stayed hot all the way to the last bite. The intestine was cleaned well with no off smell at all, so even people who are wary of intestine dishes should be able to eat it comfortably. ![Spicy beef intestine and brisket ramen served in a dragon-patterned bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-09-cqsfh-966.webp) ### Fried gyoza and Asahi draft beer at Mentsuru The fried gyoza came as crispy-fried dumplings with juicy insides, six pieces per plate. Good to eat before the ramen arrives, and also a great pairing with beer. The Asahi draft was poured cold and generously, and it went really well with the fiery broth. ![A plate of crispy fried gyoza](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-10-12vu8-966.webp) ![Spicy ramen with a glass of Asahi draft beer](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-11-ksphn-966.webp) ## Final verdict: solo dining near City Hall after Deoksugung Palace Mentsuru City Hall Branch felt like solid value for the price, and the staff were friendly enough that I'd definitely go back. It's an easy pick whether you're an office worker near City Hall looking for lunch or dining solo near City Hall. It's especially well located for stopping by after a walk through Deoksugung or the night opening, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for ramen near the Deoksugung night opening. The interior was cozy and the broth was satisfying at Mentsuru City Hall Branch. ![Table at Mentsuru City Hall Branch after finishing the ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-12-bjdq3-966.webp) ![Softly lit interior of Mentsuru City Hall Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer-13-10p6s-966.webp) This review is a personal account written after an actual visit, and store information (location, menu, events, etc.) reflects the time of visit. Please check with the store directly before visiting for the latest details. ## Where it is - Mentsuru City Hall Branch (멘츠루 시청점) - 2 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, 1st floor, Unit 1, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 중구 서소문로11길 2 1층 1호 - 37.5629944, 126.9731249 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A9%98%EC%B8%A0%EB%A3%A8%20%EC%8B%9C%EC%B2%AD%EC%A0%90/@37.5629944,126.9731249,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@jongno-narrow-bench/menzuru-city-hall-spicy-motsu-ramen-beer/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt