Pre-Japan-trip spicy ramen in Yongsan, Seoul: Menya Seoul

I was at Yongsan I'Park Mall trying to figure out what to eat for dinner, walking around — you know how it is, plenty of places but nothing that really hits the spot?! That's when I found Menya Seoul. A ramen restaurant, but instead of regular chashu you can choose dongpo pork (braised pork belly) or jambon as your topping. Oh, this one's a bit different, I thought, and went in.

I'm heading to Japan soon, so I figured I'd get my fill of spicy Korean-style ramen before I go, since I won't find that there. And get this — they even serve mala flavor ramen?! If you love a fiery red-broth ramen, or you're looking for good eats near Yongsan Station or at Yongsan I'Park Mall, I recommend this place.

Where Menya Seoul is in Yongsan I'Park Mall, and its hours

📍 7th floor, Yongsan I'Park Mall, 55 Hangang-daero 23-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea ⏰ Daily 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:00) 🚗 Parking available

Menya Seoul is on the 7th floor food court of Yongsan I'Park Mall. Easy to find!

Right there on the wall was Menya Seoul's whole thing spelled out: dongpo pork made from 100g of whole pork belly, ramen broth flavored with 25 ingredients, and ajitamago (marinated soft-boiled egg) aged in a special sauce for 48 hours.

Ordering the spicy dongpo pork set (17,000 won) and jambon bowl (10,900 won)

From the Spicy broth options, we ordered No. 3 dongpo pork set for ₩17,000 and No. 9 jambon single for ₩10,900! Ordering the set gets you a side dish and a drink included!

• Side dishes: karaage (small), crispy gyoza (small), sweet soy chicken rice bowl (small)
• Drinks: cola, zero-sugar cola, Sprite, Pororo milk flavor, sparkling water

You pick one of each. We went with the sweet soy chicken rice bowl and zero-sugar cola. Also, heads up — the mala flavor comes with cilantro in it, so if you don't like cilantro, tell them in advance!!

I kept debating whether to get mazesoba too, but decided to try the ramen first and save mazesoba for next time! Also, weekdays 14:00–18:00 there's a happy hour giving away 2 pieces of red bean spring rolls for free, so a weekday visit could be worth it too!!!

How to order quickly at Menya Seoul

• 1. Choose the broth type (mild, spicy, or mala)
• 2. Choose the topping (dongpo pork or jambon)
• 3. Set or single
• 4. Pick a number and order!

That's exactly how we did it haha. You can order really quickly this way.

Food court seating and the sauces on the table

You can eat at the tables surrounding Menya Seoul! If it's full here, just eat at another table — that's the perk of a food court~~ Even when it's crowded with no seats, you can eat somewhere else haha.

But you'll only find the lemon-kelp vinegar (for mazesoba, cold ramen) and rayu chili oil (for mazesoba, spicy, mala) at this particular table! We didn't add any ourselves, but I bet it'd be handy with the mazesoba haha.

What does the dongpo pork spicy ramen taste like?

Jambon on the left, dongpo pork on the right! Jambon is the standard version, and dongpo pork gets added on top. Just visually, the meat presence is huge lol.

If you're expecting the usual ramen shop chashu and then see dongpo pork sitting on top, you'll go — whoa? It's pretty hefty. The dongpo pork is thick but surprisingly not tough, quite tender, and eating the lean meat and fat together with that spicy broth made for a really good combo.

The set side: sweet soy chicken rice bowl

The sweet soy chicken rice bowl that came with the set was perfect for a bite here and there between noodles.

My partner ordered it, but it was so good I stole a lot of bites ;; haha. I noticed most people get the set. Ramen alone can feel a bit plain, so I recommend the set!

How spicy is Menya Seoul's spicy broth?

Honestly, if you only eat dongpo pork, you might get a bit sick of it by the middle, but the sharp broth cuts through the richness, so I think going spicy instead of mild was much better. And