Seongsu ramen restaurant with tomato mazesoba: Menya Pomo

A tomato ramen spot within walking distance of Seongsu Station

On our last day in Seoul, we took our child out to Seongsu-dong and stopped by Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch because I was curious about something a little different from the ramen we usually eat.

Since our family gets around on foot, I loved that it was an easy walk from Exit 4 of Seongsu Station! Tucked into an alley off Yeonmujang-gil, it is also a nice stop during a Seongsu-dong date or an outing to Seoul Forest. We actually had ramen and then went to Seoul Forest too!

Inside, the overall atmosphere was neat and calm. There were plenty of solo seats and bar-style seats along one side, so office workers looking for a good Seongsu-dong meal alone could come without feeling awkward! There are also tables for groups, making it a nice option for friends, couples, or families.

I also liked that you can refill rice for free at the self-service bar. You can add rice to the leftover ramen broth and turn it into risotto, so it makes for a seriously filling meal.

What we chose with our child and how we ordered

We ordered level 1 spicy tomato mazesoba (brothless mixed ramen; about as spicy as Shin Ramyun) with two slices of thin ham added. For our child, we chose the non-spicy beef bone-broth Korean beef cutlet ramen set and the tonkatsu set meal. Since we were visiting with our child, we requested the beef cutlet ramen mild and without cilantro.

It was convenient to order, make requests, and choose the spice level on the ordering screen at each table.

The bone-broth tomato ramen set comes with ramen, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and a drink. You can choose either topping rice for risotto or a fresh salad, so it felt like a fuller and more affordable choice than ordering everything separately.

Tomato mazesoba that broke my preconceptions

What I was most curious about was the tomato mazesoba. Unlike regular ramen with broth, it is a mixed-style ramen where tomato and spices come together, so it felt quite unusual from the first impression. It was my first time trying tomato-based ramen, and I wondered whether it would be good—but I was surprised by how delicious it was!

I almost regretted letting my preconceptions stop me from trying it 😂 I worried that the tomato's signature tang would be too strong, but not at all. It was clean and savory with a spicy kick, and much more appetite-stirring than I expected.

Once I mixed the noodles, the tomato sauce and spices coated them evenly, deepening the savory flavor. Adding two slices of thin ham brought extra saltiness and nuttiness, which I personally thought went really well. I usually think Japanese ramen can be rich and heavy, but the tomato base was not heavy at all—it was fascinating!

Beef bone-broth cutlet ramen and karaage set

The tomato ramen we ordered for our child has a rich bone-broth base topped with a Korean beef cutlet, just as its name suggests. Rather than the bright flavor of tomato ramen, it had the deep, smooth taste of bone broth with tomato's fresh savory note added in, making it an easy choice to share with a child.

Even our child, who will not eat something if it is not tasty, happily made it into risotto and finished it 😂

The karaage that came with the set was also nice to snack on between bites. If you are visiting with a child, a set like this seems like a good option.

Tonkatsu and risotto from the leftover broth

I ordered the tonkatsu set meal just in case the tomato ramen did not suit our child, but our child ate both the tomato ramen and the tonkatsu with Menya Pomo's signature tomato demi-glace sauce really well. For a seven-year-old, our child eats so well that it made me proud just watching 😂 My husband and I also loved it—the outside was crisp and the inside was tender!

The fun at Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch does not end with ramen: you add rice to the leftover tomato ramen broth after finishing the noodles and naturally make risotto! The bright tomato flavor meets the nutty, smooth flavor of cheese, creating a totally different taste from the ramen.

Because the ramen was not heavy, I think we were able to make and eat risotto even after finishing it all!! This visit really broke down many of my preconceptions about foods with tomato. Tomato goes so well with ramen.

If you are looking for something different in Seongsu-dong

If you are looking for something a little different from typical Japanese-style ramen in Seongsu-dong, I recommend giving it a try. I recommend it even if you have never had tomato-based ramen. It was seriously delicious in a way that breaks down preconceptions, so I could understand why the restaurant was full of customers!

If you are looking for a good restaurant around Seongsu-dong or Seongsu Station, or want a low-key solo meal in Seongsu-dong that is actually delicious, give it a visit. The lighting is soft and a little dim, so it looked like a nice place for date-night vibes too 😂 I am planning to stop by again next time I come to Seongsu.