Kid-friendly ramen in Seongsu: cheese chicken tomato ramen, Menya Pomo

A ramen review from a trip out to Seongsu-dong! This post covers Menya Pomo Seongsu's tomato ramen lineup, the Hanwoo mince katsu, spice level options, and the self-serve bar and free rice — all from an actual visit.

After my kid finished a lesson in Seocho-dong, we headed out to Seongsu-dong as a family. We all love ramen, so we went looking for lunch at Menya Pomo Seongsu, right in the busy part of the neighborhood.

Where is Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch, and what is it like inside?

Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch is located at 37-17 Yeonmujang-gil, B1 Unit 101, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. We visited around 1pm on a Sunday and were lucky enough to get seated right away with no wait.

What we were especially curious about that day was tomato ramen, a bit different from our usual bowl. "How different could this be from the ramen shop in our neighborhood?" we wondered as we walked in, full of anticipation.

※ Business hours may change, so it's worth double-checking on Naver Place before you visit.

What a family of three ordered at Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch

The three of us ordered cheese chicken tomato ramen, cheese Hanwoo katsu tomato ramen, and Hanwoo mince katsu. While waiting for the food, we took our time looking around the restaurant.

Free rice, the self-serve bar and seats for solo diners

The first thing that caught my eye at Menya Pomo Seongsu was the self-serve bar. There was a dispenser of refreshing-looking lemon water with paper cups, cabbage pickles, small plates, and aprons folded neatly nearby.

And personally, my favorite part: the rice is free!

Our family loves mixing rice into ramen broth, so this was a very welcome surprise haha.

There were also seats set up specifically for solo diners, so eating alone here would feel pretty low-pressure, and having the restroom inside the restaurant was convenient too.

Hair ties, aprons and other thoughtful touches from the owner

While setting up our chopsticks as we waited for the food, I noticed hair ties tucked in with the utensils. Little details like this made it clear the owner was thinking of the customers.

On top of that, I was wearing a white t-shirt, and before our food even arrived, the owner personally brought over an apron for me. I was touched that they noticed what a customer might need before being asked. 😊

Hanwoo mince katsu: what comes with it and how does it taste?

Menya Pomo Seongsu's Hanwoo mince katsu came with cabbage salad, two pieces of Hanwoo katsu, shrimp katsu, potato salad, and sauce. Our food had finally arrived.

The shrimp katsu in particular was quite sizable, which caught our attention.

I bit into the Hanwoo katsu — crispy on the outside, and the meat inside was really tender. It was the kind of bite that makes you go, "Oh, this is good!"

Seongsu-dong tomato ramen with a broth that really stands out

The cheese chicken tomato ramen and cheese Hanwoo katsu tomato ramen we'd been waiting for finally arrived. At first I wondered whether tomato and ramen would actually work together, but once we tried it, the combination was better than expected.

The subtle tomato aroma blended naturally with the deep flavor of the bone-broth ramen base. Above all, the broth wasn't harsh — it was clean, yet still rich, which kept us going back for more.

My son ended up dumping his whole bowl of free rice into the broth and polishing it off haha.

Can you adjust the spice level at Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch?

Spice level can be chosen based on preference. Our family isn't great with spicy food, so we ordered at about the level of Shin Ramyun — comfortable to eat without any strain. If you want to really feel the heat, I'd personally recommend starting from level 2.

The review-event croquette was worth it too

Menya Pomo Seongsu had a Naver receipt review and Kakao Map review event running.

We took part in the Naver receipt review and received a croquette. I'd heard it was normally 2 pieces, but since there were three of us, we were given 3 pieces. This, too, showed the owner's careful attention to detail.

The croquette was delicious — crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.

It was a memorable side dish — the kind that still came to mind after we got home.

How clean is the restaurant?

While checking out the self-serve bar, I also spotted a sanitizer spray.

It showed a clear effort to keep the customer-facing spaces clean, and I appreciated that too. Beyond the food itself, this was a place where consideration for guests showed up everywhere — the self-serve bar, the restroom, the hair ties, the aprons.

Worth a stop for ramen on a day out in Seongsu-dong?

This visit to Menya Pomo Seongsu was a satisfying meal for the whole family. The tomato ramen in particular wasn't just about a bright, tangy tomato flavor — it also carried the deep richness of a bone broth, so I think anyone who loves ramen should give it a try at least once.

If you're out exploring Seongsu-dong and want a clean-tasting ramen broth, or a hearty meal with Hanwoo katsu, this is a place worth revisiting. We were happy with the food, and with all the thoughtful touches we noticed throughout the restaurant — we'd definitely go back. 😊