Seongsu solo dining ramen: study-room booth seats at Menya Pomo

Seongsu-dong always has so many delicious places, but the problem is the waiting line is super long no matter where you go ㅠㅠ

That day I was hungry but wandering around trying to figure out where I could eat alone comfortably, when suddenly I remembered the tomato ramen I'd eaten last time and loved so much!

So without hesitation I headed straight to Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch, famous as a Seongsu-dong ramen must-visit!

Solo seats at Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch: study-room style single booths

Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch has an interior laid out with neatly partitioned single-seat solo dining booths, just like a study room. It's honestly heaven for anyone looking for a solo dining spot among Seongsu-dong must-visits haha

It's the best space to eat comfortably without worrying about other people's stares! Of course, the shop is so clean it's also great as a Seongsu-dong date course.

Ordering the Indian tomato ramen with extra cilantro and Korean beef katsu

I sat down and ordered through the kiosk! Looking at the menu, this time I chose the Indian Tomato Ramen with an extra spicy curry flavor. Menya Pomo has 4 kinds of tomato ramen to suit different tastes, so it's fun picking one haha

On top of that, added cilantro was a must after how satisfying it was last visit! And getting a little greedy, I also carefully added the beef katsu topping haha. It felt like a shame to stop there, so I finished the order with a side of 2 crispy potato croquettes!

Unlimited rice refills at the self-serve bar

After ordering, I checked out the self-serve bar corner set up on one side of the restaurant! Someone happened to be scooping rice from the rice cooker there right at that moment.

But the moment the rice cooker opened, the smell of freshly cooked rice that spread through the air was so good...

Since Menya Pomo offers unlimited rice refills, I secretly decided that if I finished the ramen and was still hungry or had leftover broth, I'd scoop some rice and mix it in haha

Hair ties beside the table: a thoughtful touch from the owner

Then back at my seat, a small detail impressed me! I happened to forget my hair tie that day, and I was worried about my hair falling into the ramen.

But right next to the table, hair ties for customers were thoughtfully set out! Oh!! Such a detailed touch... I was secretly so touched by the owner's thoughtfulness haha

Two potato croquettes: crisp outside, soft inside

A little while later, the potato croquettes and Indian Tomato Ramen I ordered arrived! As expected, the ingredients were generously piled into a huge bowl, and it looked amazing just from the visuals!

First, I tried a bite of the freshly fried, warm and soft potato croquette!

The outside was crispy like a cracker, while the inside was pure softness, with the mashed potato filling practically melting away!

I was glad I ordered them, and ended up cleaning up the croquettes completely haha. They were so delicious ㅠㅠ

What does the Indian tomato ramen taste like? Curry, tomato and cilantro

And now, the moment I'd been waiting for — digging into the Indian Tomato Ramen!

First, I dipped the beef katsu topping generously into the rich tomato broth that had been carefully simmered, and took a big bite. Wow... it really was a luxurious flavor that made me glad I added the beef katsu!

The tangy, spicy umami of the tomato and the savory juiciness of the beef katsu blended perfectly with the broth!

Then I scooped up the beautifully yellow soft-boiled egg with a spoon along with some broth and sent it straight into my mouth, then mixed everything evenly so the fragrant cilantro and broth soaked into the noodles!

After checking the noodles were cooked just right, I started slurping them down, and the subtle spice of Indian curry, the tanginess of the tomato, and the sharp kick of cilantro came together in perfect balance, making it impossible to stop eating haha

I was so absorbed in eating that I finished off the noodles, broth, and toppings completely, leaving the bottom of the bowl showing white!

If you're tired of the waiting lines in Seongsu-dong, or want to enjoy a delicious bowl of ramen without worrying about other people in a space as comfortable as a library, I highly recommend giving Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch a try :-)