Shio vs shoyu broth at a Euljiro3(sam)-ga ramen restaurant: Mentsuru

Now that cold winds are starting to blow morning and evening, I've been craving something hot and rich on the way home from work. A few days ago, while on a weekday date with my husband near his office in Euljiro, I searched for a hearty bowl of ramen and found Mentsuru Euljiro Branch — a well-known Euljiro spot famous for its clean, deep chicken broth. I finished every last drop of soup, so here's my detailed, honest review 😜

• 📍 Mentsuru Euljiro Branch
• 📍 26 Mareunnae-ro 2-gil, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🚇 247m from Euljiro3(sam)-ga Station Exit 9
• ⏰ Daily 11:00–21:30 (last order 21:00)

Where is Mentsuru Euljiro Branch and how do you get there?

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is 247m from Euljiro3(sam)-ga Station Exit 9, just a short walk into the alley from the subway. The exterior feels like it was lifted straight out of a small ramen shop in Japan, and the warm atmosphere spilling out from the entrance made it easy to spot from a distance — very accessible.

Ordering at the kiosk outside Mentsuru

At Mentsuru Euljiro Branch, the system is simple: order your ramen at the kiosk outside, then walk in. It seems like a lot of Japanese-style places do this — outdoor kiosks, especially ramen shops. Thanks to that, the inside stays uncrowded and you don't have to feel awkward waiting.

Inside Mentsuru: open-kitchen bar seats for dates and solo meals

Walking into Mentsuru Euljiro Branch, the cozy wood-toned interior instantly puts you at ease. A cute cat figure greets you at the entrance.

The bar seats wrap around the open kitchen, so it's fun to watch the cooking process up close. Sitting side by side and chatting makes this a perfect Euljiro date spot. And of course, it's also a comfortable, calming place to enjoy a quiet solo meal ✨

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch runs two review events — leave a Naver review or a Google review and get a free drink or gyoza (dumplings).

What comes to the table, plus drinks

The basic table setup: water, yuzu pickled radish, and whole peppercorns. The yuzu pickled radish pairs really well with the salty ramen.

After ordering and sitting down, the first thing they brought was an ice cup and Pepsi Zero. Before diving into the hot ramen, cleansing the palate with a crisp, cold soda got us ready for the real feast — and how nice that they stock both Pepsi Zero and Coke Zero haha.

Shio ramen: clear chicken broth balanced with salt

Soon, the first main dish arrived looking radiant: the shio ramen. Mentsuru Euljiro Branch's shio ramen is a cleanly salt-seasoned chicken broth ramen, and the broth is so clear and transparent it reminded me of dakhanmari (whole chicken soup).

The moment I took a spoonful of broth, the deep, rich flavor of chicken broth spread through my mouth — honestly insane. The salt seasoning is never harsh, and it balances the flavors so perfectly that the finish is unbelievably clean. Chewy, springy noodles with tender chicken and chashu on top gave this dish serious depth — a genuinely great restaurant, confirmed 👍

Why the boiled egg is worth adding

The boiled egg was especially delicious — so much so that I even added an extra one and was so happy about it. Protein refill complete. If you go to Mentsuru, definitely add the egg 🙏

Shoyu ramen: clam broth blended with chicken broth

Next up was the shoyu ramen I'd been looking forward to. Technically my husband ordered it, but of course I stole bites. Mentsuru Euljiro Branch's shoyu ramen skillfully blends a light, clean clam broth with chicken broth.

Tasting the broth, the refreshing, clean umami of clam hits first, followed by the sturdy backing of chicken broth. Even blending two broths, it's never heavy — instead, a clear, exploding umami bursts through...! Personally, the shoyu was way better than the shio haha. If you've always found heavy, greasy tonkotsu ramen a bit too much, this clear, deep shoyu ramen might be exactly your taste.

Handmade karaage: chicken thigh fried to order

About halfway through the ramen, at just the right moment, the freshly fried handmade karaage arrived. Mentsuru Euljiro Branch's karaage isn't frozen — it's authentic Japanese-style fried chicken, made from fresh chicken thigh that's battered and fried to order on the spot. Two pieces is just the right amount, making it an easy, low-commitment side to pair with your ramen!! I wanted to have it with beer, but I'm personally on a no-drinking challenge (day 2), so I stuck with soda.

The moment you pick it up with chopsticks, you can feel the crisp texture of the coating, and one bite in, the juices burst out. The outside is pleasantly crunchy while the fresh chicken thigh inside is unbelievably tender and juicy. The quality is good enough that I want to order a whole plate of just karaage with a cold beer — I strongly recommend trying it !! 🔥

Is Mentsuru a good Euljiro date spot?

After finishing every bit of the carefully made ramen and crispy karaage, I felt full and like the day's fatigue had completely melted away. Being able to enjoy top-notch ramen in a quiet, calm space made this Euljiro date a complete success 🫶 If you're looking for a hearty, clean ramen destination in Euljiro as the cold winds set in, I highly recommend a visit to Mentsuru Euljiro Branch ~~