Ttukseom Japanese restaurant: bone broth tomato ramen at Menya Pomo

It was rainy and suddenly chilly again, so I went looking for a hot bowl of ramen broth and ended up at Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch (멘야포모 서울숲점), a Japanese restaurant near Ttukseom Station.

Menya Pomo serves tomato ramen, which is different from regular tonkotsu or shoyu ramen, so I especially recommend it to anyone who says, "I can't handle greasy food, so ramen is hard for me!"

Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch hours, break time and parking

Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch is open daily from 11:00 to 20:30, with a break from 15:30 to 17:00. Last orders are at 15:00 and 20:00.

• Transit: 2-minute walk from Ttukseom Station (Line 2) Exit 8 or Seoulsup Station Exits 4 and 5
• No parking
• Reservations available (Naver Reservation)

Where is the entrance to Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch?

Menya Pomo is on the 2nd floor of a building on Seoulsup 4-gil, and the bold red tomato ramen sign, visible from far away, marks the spot.

Facing the building, head left past the Dongbinggo on the first floor and you'll see another red sign. It's a separate staircase, so the entrance is right there when you go up.

Inside Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch: seating

The inside was bigger than I expected.

The bar counter running along the edge makes it feel even more like a proper Japanese restaurant near Ttukseom Station.

There are easy solo seats and roomy tables. With the wood tones and lighting, it felt warm, a nice spot for a ramen date in Seoulsup.

What's on the Menya Pomo menu?

The menu is built around original tomato ramen, plus bone broth, tom yum, Indian and tantan-style tomato ramen, and cutlet sets. There's also a menu board on the first floor.

There's something for every taste. And since there are cutlet sets besides ramen, kids would probably like it too.

Today's order:

• (Bone broth) Hanwoo cutlet ramen set
• Hanwoo cutlet set
• Pork cutlet (tonkatsu) set

Bone broth Hanwoo cutlet ramen set: is tomato ramen sour?

The bone broth Hanwoo cutlet ramen set comes with karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and lets you choose spice level, cilantro, extra toppings, rice and a drink. The bone broth tomato ramen had less sourness than I expected, and the usual ramen greasiness was kept in check.

It was my first time having tomato ramen, so I read the descriptions posted there very carefully.

I debated between the original tomato ramen and the bone broth, which is described as having slightly less tomato tang and a stronger smooth richness, and picked bone broth. It's a set where you choose spice level, cilantro, extra toppings, rice and a drink.

The bone broth tomato ramen has the fresh taste of red tomato and a rich, smooth body at the same time.

There's less sourness than I expected, and the excessive greasiness ramen usually has is tamed, so it actually suited me better than the tonkotsu ramen I usually eat.

How spicy is spice level 1 at Menya Pomo?

Spice level 1 at Menya Pomo is milder than Shin Ramyun (a popular Korean instant noodle), so even people who can't handle heat can enjoy it. If you want it as spicy as Shin Ramyun, I'd recommend level 2 or higher.

The fresh noodles are chewy and don't go soft even if you eat slowly, and the Hanwoo cutlet on top makes it filling.

On top of that, choosing the cheese rice risotto option means you can add cheese rice to the broth, a total bonus.

If you still want more rice, you can get extra from the self-serve corner, so there's no way you'll leave hungry.

Hanwoo cutlet set vs pork cutlet set: what's the difference?

Both the Hanwoo cutlet set and the pork cutlet set at Menya Pomo use the same house-made tomato demi-glace sauce, so they taste fresh, less sweet and less heavy. We wanted to try both beef and pork, so we ordered Hanwoo (Korean beef) cutlet and tonkatsu... haha.

A tomato broth comes along too, so between bites of rich cutlet you can refresh your palate. Nice touch.

The Hanwoo cutlet is black, so it looked special from the start, and the meat is moist and cuts smoothly with no effort. The outside goes beyond crispy to shatteringly crisp. The inside is truly moist and juicy, so it's a filling rice dish if you're not a ramen fan.

It also comes with a big fried shrimp. I was going to order one as a side, but I stopped myself, haha.

For the pork cutlet, I dunked the thick cut deep into the tomato sauce, added some mustard and took a bite.

Tips for visiting Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch

Break time starts late, at 3:30 p.m.

The break time starts at 15:30, 30 minutes later than at most restaurants. I came after 2 p.m. on a Sunday and still had plenty of time to eat, which was great.

Worried about tomato? Order the bone broth ramen

Tomato plus ramen...? At first I couldn't imagine the combination, but the fresh noodles were so chewy, and without ramen's usual greasiness, I really liked Menya Pomo. The tomato sourness isn't strong, so I think it's even less divisive than regular tonkotsu ramen. If tomato worries you, I'd absolutely recommend the bone broth.

Risotto and self-serve rice

At Menya Pomo you can choose basil risotto or cheese risotto, and extra rice is available at the self-serve corner. The broth isn't heavy, so skipping the risotto would almost be a shame. I'd recommend it as a good-value Seoulsup spot where even guys can have a hearty meal.

Self-serve seasonings at the table

Every table has seasonings you can add yourself if you want more heat or salt. The ramen was just right as served, so we ate it as is, and added garlic oil when making the risotto. The garlic flavor really hit.

Events

Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch runs Naver pickup and review events, so keep that in mind.

Verdict: who is Menya Pomo Seoul Forest Branch for?

• A good-value Seoulsup ramen spot that's perfect for chilly weather
• A Japanese restaurant near Ttukseom Station that works for families, since there are cutlets too
• Free rice after you finish your ramen, so you can make risotto
• If you're ordering takeout, don't miss the discounts