Gwangjin ramen shop: alternating motsu ramen and hormone-don, Mentsuru

Today I'm sharing a review of the motsu ramen and hormone-don I had at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, a Japanese-style ramen spot near Children's Grand Park Station that always has a line :)

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch: Location, Hours and Parking

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is on the first floor at 394 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and it's open 11:00–23:00. For parking, use the Gwangjin Plaza public parking lot (paid).

Mentsuru is a great spot for a solo ramen meal near Konkuk University, and it's just 1 minute from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, so it's nice to stop by after a walk in the park. It's also popular with college students.

Is Mentsuru Good for Eating Alone?

Mentsuru has 2-person tables, 4-person tables and bar-style seats, so going alone feels no pressure at all. The inside was clean and pleasant overall, and I liked the Japanese ramen shop atmosphere. It would be a good place for a quick bite on a company lunch break, too.

Waiting and Kiosk Ordering

Mentsuru is so popular that on weekends there's a wait until late in the evening. You choose and order your menu yourself at the kiosk at the entrance before going in, so tables turn over quickly and our turn came up fast!!

Mentsuru also has aprons that keep broth and sauce from splashing onto your clothes, so we could eat comfortably.

Mentsuru Menu

The Mentsuru menu has soy sauce ramen (soyu ramen), motsu ramen, abura soba (brothless noodles with oil and sauce) and mazesoba (mixed noodles), plus rice bowls like hormone-don and gyudon (beef bowl). As you'd expect from a Japanese ramen specialist, the menu is varied, so it's easy to order several things and share :)

How Was the Motsu Ramen and Hormone-don Combo?

We ordered the motsu ramen and the hormone-don at Mentsuru. Piping-hot beef intestine broth ramen plus a rich daechang (beef large intestine) rice bowl made a great dinner combo, and both came with generous toppings, so just looking at them before eating got us excited :)

Mentsuru Motsu Ramen: Spicy Broth with Beef Intestine and Beef Brisket

Mentsuru's motsu ramen is a beef intestine ramen, with plenty of beef intestine and thin-sliced beef brisket piled on top of the broth. If you love gopchang jeongol (beef intestine hot pot), you'll definitely like this one, and since the spice level is adjustable, even people who can't handle spicy food can give it a try.

When I lifted the noodles, the broth clung to them nicely, which made them even tastier, and the chewy texture of the intestine added to it.

When I took a spoonful of the motsu ramen broth, it had a spicy kick, so the beef intestine toppings weren't greasy at all. I think it's a perfect fit for people who like rich, spicy ramen.

Mentsuru Hormone-don: Daechang and Beef Brisket Rice Bowl

Mentsuru's hormone-don is a daechang rice bowl topped with plenty of daechang and thin-sliced beef brisket. You get the rich flavor of the daechang and the tender texture of the brisket together with rice.

I mixed the hormone-don so the rice, daechang and meat were evenly coated in sauce. The teriyaki-style sauce on the rich daechang gave it a savory depth in every bite, and it made a filling dinner.

Mentsuru is a famous ramen specialist, but ordering a rice bowl that goes with the ramen broth worked out well too: sip the motsu ramen broth, then dig into the daechang hormone-don, and keep alternating for a satisfying meal :)

Who Is Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch For?

From the spicy motsu ramen loaded with beef intestine to the hormone-don with daechang and beef brisket, everything was delicious, with no exceptions. The solo seating in particular is so well set up that if you're looking for a ramen spot for eating alone near Children's Grand Park Station, I recommend Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch :)