Children's Grand Park Station ramen: shio vs spicy shoyu at Mentsuru

I went to Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch (멘츠루 어린이대공원점), which sits right in front of Children's Grand Park Station.

Coming out of Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, you almost immediately see the restaurant, so it's really easy to find. It genuinely felt like less than 30 seconds from the exit.

Since it's near Sejong University and Konkuk University, a lot of students come here. I figured it might be busy at lunchtime, but even visiting around 6pm, there were already tons of customers.

Both the ramen and the takoyaki were satisfying. Let me introduce this spot for anyone looking for good ramen near Children's Grand Park.

Where is Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, and what are the hours?

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is about a 30-second walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station on Line 7. It's open daily from 11:00 to 23:00, with last order at 22:30.

• 📍 Location: near Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station
• 🚇 About 30 seconds on foot from Exit 4, Line 7
• ⏰ Hours: daily 11:00–23:00
• ⏰ Last order: 22:30

It's really close to the station, so it was easy to find. It's a good spot when you're looking for a meal near Konkuk or Sejong University, or when you're stopping by after visiting Children's Grand Park.

The interior was clean and the staff were very kind.

What's on the Mentsuru menu: which ramen can you order?

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch serves authentic Japanese ramen, with a lineup ranging from rich broths to clean shoyu ramen and spicy motsu ramen (offal ramen).

They all start from a rich broth and chewy noodles, but each menu item takes the flavor in a different direction, so it's easy to pick one that suits your taste. I ordered the spicy shoyu ramen and the shio ramen.

Spicy shoyu ramen, 11,000 won: sharp heat with a clean finish

The first thing I ordered was Mentsuru's spicy shoyu ramen at ₩11,000. Made with clam and chicken broth, it's known for a clean, light flavor.

Even though "spicy" is in the name, it wasn't intensely hot — more like a sharp kick. The light broth had a touch of spiciness added, so it wasn't greasy and was easy to eat cleanly.

Rich ramen is delicious too, but personally I prefer this kind of light, sharp broth, and the spicy shoyu ramen suited that preference well.

The noodles were chewy too, which went well with the broth.

Shio ramen, 11,000 won: a clear, gentle broth

Next is Mentsuru's shio ramen at ₩11,000. It's a chicken broth ramen seasoned with salt, and it was much cleaner and lighter than the spicy shoyu ramen.

If you prefer a clear, gentle broth over something more intense, the shio ramen should suit you well. The broth itself had a clean flavor that was easy to enjoy without feeling heavy, and it paired nicely with the noodles.

Comparing the two: the spicy shoyu ramen has that extra sharp kick, while the shio ramen leans light and clean.

Takoyaki, 5,000 won: crisp outside, soft inside, thick octopus

Mentsuru's takoyaki is ₩5,000. I ordered it because ramen alone felt like it wasn't quite enough, and the takoyaki turned out to be way better than expected.

The outside was crispy and the inside was soft, and the octopus inside was pretty thick too.

It was just a side dish at a ramen restaurant, but it was good enough to pass for a dedicated takoyaki restaurant.

The yuzu pickled radish side dish at Mentsuru

Even the basic pickled radish that comes standard wasn't just plain radish — it was yuzu pickled radish. It had a subtle yuzu fragrance and a very crunchy texture, which made it delicious.

What Mentsuru is like at 6pm: mood and service

The food at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch was great, but the staff were also really kind. I visited around 6pm, thinking it was still an early dinner hour, but I was surprised to find the place already full of customers.

Since it's near Sejong University and Konkuk University, a lot of students seemed to come here, and I even spotted some fresh-faced students on dates, which was nice to see haha.

The place was clean, the food was tasty, and the staff were kind — nothing was lacking, and I left feeling good about the whole meal.

A ramen spot that works for a date lunch near Konkuk University

Mentsuru is close to the station, so it's a good spot for lunch, and it also works well for a date around Konkuk University or Children's Grand Park.

A bowl of ramen makes a solid meal on its own, and ordering takoyaki to share is nice too. Being so close to Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station also makes it a convenient meeting spot.

Is Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch worth a visit?

This visit to Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch delivered on both ramen and takoyaki. The spicy shoyu ramen combined the lightness of clam and chicken broth with a sharp kick for a clean flavor, while the shio ramen was very light and soft.

And the takoyaki, crispy outside and soft inside with thick chunks of octopus, was really satisfying.

It's close to the station, the space is clean, and the staff are kind — this is a place I'd want to visit again next time I'm around Children's Grand Park or Konkuk University. If you're looking for good ramen near Children's Grand Park, a Konkuk University date lunch, or good food around Konkuk University, stop by Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch.