Euljiro ramen shop for offal lovers: motsu vs tori paitan, Mentsuru

Where is Mentsuru Euljiro Branch, and when did we go?

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch (멘츠루 을지로점) sits between Euljiro 3-ga Station and Chungmuro Station, an area full of offices and things to see, so it's easy to reach for lunch or dinner. We went for an early Sunday dinner, and as you'd expect from a popular spot, quite a few customers were already there. Here's my review of a Sunday dinner at Mentsuru Euljiro Branch!

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch exterior and how to order

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is tucked inside an alley. The exterior already feels like a local ramen shop in Japan, haha. Menu photos are posted at the entrance, so you can look over the lineup before you go in, which was nice!

At Mentsuru, you order at the kiosk in front of the shop first, then go in.

Can you eat alone at Mentsuru Euljiro Branch?

The seating inside Mentsuru Euljiro Branch isn't large, but there are solo seats for eating alone,

and there are tables for two or more as well.

Even this early in the evening, the place filled up with customers soon after we walked in, which is just what you'd expect from a Euljiro 3-ga favorite.

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch menu and prices

Mentsuru's menu is really varied: Japanese-style broth ramen, abura soba (brothless oil noodles), tsukemen (dipping noodles) and rice bowls. We ordered these three items.

• Motsu (beef intestine) ramen ₩15,500
• Tori paitan (rich chicken broth) ₩12,000
• Handmade karaage (Japanese fried chicken) ₩7,000

There's also a Naver receipt review event, so give it a try!

Sauces and pickled radish (danmuji) are set out at every seat! Take as much as you like while you wait for your order.

Does Mentsuru's motsu ramen have any offal smell?

This is the motsu ramen, one of the signatures of Mentsuru, a well-loved Euljiro spot.

The motsu ramen is packed with beef intestine, yet it's clean with no gamey smell, and the broth is rich and deep. As offal lovers, we thought it was really delicious. The intestines keep their characteristic chew and are soaked through with broth, and eaten with the perfectly cooked noodles, the whole bowl vanished in no time, haha.

How is tori paitan different from motsu ramen?

Tori paitan (rich chicken broth) is made by simmering chicken stock down until thick, giving a milky, nutty broth with real body.

If the motsu ramen is heavy and deep, the tori paitan is soft and mild. Ordering both and comparing them was fun.

Side dish: handmade karaage

Ramen alone felt like a pity, so we added handmade karaage (₩7,000) as a side. The word "handmade" on a menu is like magic. It makes you want to order it for sure! Haha.

Crispy outside, juicy inside! It goes so well with the ramen broth.

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch: would we go back?

We meant to keep it light on an early weekend evening, but it was so good we cleared everything. If you're in the Euljiro area, drop by for a solo meal or a date. Next time I want to try the shoyu ramen and tsukemen too!