Motsu ramen with watermelon cider at a City Hall ramen bar: Mentsuru

Hi everyone~~! It's really starting to feel like fall now. I'm passing the days waiting for the leaves to turn pretty. Today, craving something soupy after work, I visited Mentsuru City Hall Branch, a Japanese ramen restaurant that's also handy for the Deoksugung night opening. It's got a great location, great taste, and great value — a solid spot for office workers near City Hall Station!!

Where is Mentsuru City Hall Branch? Right outside City Hall Station Exit 10

A great ramen spot near the Deoksugung night opening!!! Mentsuru City Hall Branch sits right in front of Exit 10 of City Hall Station, so it's a good place to grab a quick meal after visiting City Hall or Deoksugung.

Mentsuru City Hall Branch menu and kiosk ordering

You can get motsu ramen, shoyu ramen, shio ramen, tori paitan, abura soba, tsukemen, horumon-don, gyudon, gara-age, chicken-skin gyoza, and a variety of drinks and alcohol.

Just order and pay at the kiosk at the entrance, then take a seat. Great value and no break time make it an easy spot to drop by — a favorite among City Hall office workers near the Deoksugung night opening. Leave a Google or Naver review and you can get a drink or fried gyoza. If you need an apron, just ask the staff.

Inside Mentsuru City Hall Branch: bar seats for solo diners

There were plenty of 2- and 4-person tables, plus bar seats that make solo dining comfortable. The wood-tone interior and pleasant atmosphere made it easy to relax. Cooking starts the moment you order, and the staff work incredibly fast despite being busy. I came alone and sat at the bar — it was quiet and nice :) There were quite a few other solo diners too. I should come back for lunch next time.

Motsu ramen: spicy broth loaded with beef tripe and brisket

Ta-da~~~~~ I ordered motsu ramen. It's a spicy beef tripe ramen. Honestly, I love this dish so much I think I order it every time I come to Mentsuru.

The soft noodles are soaked in spicy broth, and it's loaded with brisket and beef tripe for a savory, deep flavor. The bamboo shoots and green onion inside pair really well with the spicy broth. It's the kind of spice that cures a hangover on its own.

They cooked it fresh right away, so steam was still rising when I got it~~ You know ramen tastes best eaten piping hot, right 👍

Watermelon cider on the side

When I come with a friend, it's nice to split a chicken-skin gyoza, but today I came alone so I just ordered a drink. There were so many options — highball, sake, soju, soda — that it was hard to choose, but I went with the watermelon cider I'd been curious about!!! It was cold, generously portioned, and had that watermelon-mixed-with-cider flavor — refreshing and easy to enjoy. It went really well with the spicy broth.

The portion was surprisingly big, so I got pretty full, and I really love these soft noodles. They're thin, so the seasoning soaks in well, and the light flavor keeps you coming back.

It tastes a bit similar to jjamppong, but a little clearer, with more pepper flavor and savory beef tripe, which makes it even more delicious.

If it were just beef tripe, it might taste a bit plain, but the touch of adding plenty of brisket to round out the flavor with its savory fat is genius!! I think that's where the broth's deep flavor comes from. I want to try the other menu items too, but the motsu ramen is so good that I end up ordering just this every time I come... 🥰 It would go really well with alcohol too. That gut-warming spiciness keeps coming to mind. Mentsuru City Hall Branch — a great ramen spot near the Deoksugung night opening and a favorite among City Hall Station office workers — is a place I want to visit and eat again.

The broth is really deep and rich. It's not too salty, and the vegetable-based stock is blended in just right, making it easy to keep sipping.

Piling on a heap of beef tripe to eat!!! If you love tripe, motsu ramen is a must-try. It's not too spicy, just about the level of Shin Ramyun?? The savoriness of the tripe balances so well, making it taste even better 💛

Piling on the brisket and bamboo shoots along with the broth for a full bite!!! 🍜 Even with lots of customers, the food came out fast, and visiting in the evening let me eat at a relaxed pace, which made Mentsuru City Hall Branch even better.

The noodle portion is really generous. It comes with a variety of toppings, and the price is reasonable too, so it's a place I'd want to visit often for lunch. Lately it seems a lot of people stop by Mentsuru while on dates around the Deoksugung night opening too.

Yuzu pickled radish, the surprise star at Mentsuru

Pickled radish on every table! I never really liked the yellow pickled radish you get at gimbap shops, but Mentsuru's version cuts the saltiness and mixes in yuzu for a refreshing tang that made it even tastier. It's a real hidden gem that pairs wonderfully with the spicy ramen. I'd definitely recommend having it alongside your meal. Just scoop out as much as you want into the small bowl next to it.

There were also plenty of bean sprouts, which was satisfying. With the chewy bamboo shoots and crunchy bean sprouts, there's texture to chew on and the flavor gets even richer. It's a place I already knew was good, but I've been satisfied every single time I've come, so I want to recommend Mentsuru City Hall Branch with even more confidence — it's a popular spot among office workers in the area too.

Do try the cool watermelon cider too!! It was my first time trying it, and I liked its light, watermelon-popsicle-like flavor. If you're ever around City Hall or Deoksugung, try the spicy motsu ramen at Mentsuru City Hall Branch — great value and delicious!! A great ramen spot near the Deoksugung night opening, it really warms you up and the soft noodles are so good. Let's enjoy this fall together, happily ❤️