Hanam Misa ramen restaurant with no parking lot, ₩15,900 set: Menji

Sometimes there's a place that makes you feel like you're traveling even without going anywhere, right? Menji Hanam Misa Branch was exactly that kind of spot for me. The moment I walked in, it felt like stepping into a small Japanese village.

The warm wood-toned interior and tidy space instantly put me in a good mood. Today I'll give you my honest review of eating at Menji Hanam Misa Branch, a Hanam Misa ramen spot.

Where is Menji Hanam Misa Branch?

Menji Hanam Misa Branch is located at 1022-8 Mangwol-dong, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do. It's close to Misa Lake Park so it's easy to get to, and there's a café right next door, perfect for a coffee after your meal.

Actually, I'd visited the café next door before. This time I did the perfect course — ramen first, then bread, then coffee. Haha.

Parking near Menji is the one drawback

Honestly, the biggest downside of Menji Hanam Misa Branch was parking. There's no dedicated lot, so you have to use the alley around the shop or a nearby parking lot.

If you're comfortable driving, it's fine, but for a newbie driver like me(?), it's a bit of a mission. On weekdays you can apparently use Hyerim Church or a nearby paid parking lot. Worth checking before your visit.

A Japanese ramen restaurant that is easy for solo diners

Menji has well-set-up bar tables. So you don't have to feel self-conscious eating alone at all,

and it's also cozy for a meal with two people.

I visited before lunchtime, so I got seated right away,

but before long the whole place filled up. There was even a wait forming.

Guess a popular Hanam Misa ramen spot is popular for a reason. Personally, I'd recommend getting there right when it opens.

Ordering the house-made loin tonkatsu and mini ramen set

The menu I ordered was the house-made loin pork cutlet + mini ramen set (₩15,900).

It's Menji's signature set, letting you enjoy fresh Korean pork loin cutlet along with a half-size chicken broth ramen. I'm not great with pork bone or heavy meat-based broths, so I ordered thinking, "The cutlet will be the main and the ramen will just be a side, right?"

But once I actually tasted it, my mind changed. I was thinking, "Actually the ramen could be the main and the cutlet the side, and that would be fine too."

Crispy tonkatsu that still runs with juice

I tried the cutlet first.

Crispy outside, really moist inside. The breading wasn't overly thick — thin and clean, so you could really taste the meat.

One bite and the savory juices spread through my mouth — "Ah, this is what house-made cutlet is," I thought. It wasn't greasy, just light, so I could keep eating without any heaviness to the end.

The tori paitan chicken broth ramen was better than expected

And then the part that exceeded expectations: the ramen. Menji is apparently known for its tori paitan ramen, made from a rich chicken broth.

I took a first spoonful of the broth — it was rich but not heavy.

Clean yet deep, light yet with a lingering savoriness. There's a certain softness unique to chicken broth, so even people who usually find heavy broths a bit much could probably enjoy this.

The noodles were impressive too. Being fresh, house-made noodles, they had good bounce and chewiness. They held onto the broth well, so every slurp felt quite satisfying.

A full table for one set menu

At Menji, the food comes out neatly arranged on a tray. So instead of just feeling like a regular meal, it felt more like being properly served a full spread. Even a single side dish and a bowl of soup were plated cleanly, so I could feel the care put into it overall.

I really liked these little thoughtful touches.

The summer-only yakitori to try next time

There was a menu that caught my eye while eating: the summer recommendation & grilled chicken leg yakitori (₩15,000). It's apparently on sale right now for ₩2,000 off during the Menji Week discount.

A whole chicken leg grilled directly over flame... doesn't that sound amazing just thinking about it? Haha. Tearing into a smoky chicken leg with a cold beer sounds truly happy. I'm definitely trying it on my next visit.

Bujabongnyeo's final word on Menji Hanam Misa

If you're looking for a Hanam Misa ramen spot, Menji Hanam Misa Branch is a place that will more than satisfy you.

• A space with genuine Japanese local vibes
• Clean yet deep-flavored chicken broth ramen
• Crispy yet moist house-made pork cutlet
• Bar tables that make solo dining comfortable
• A perfect course finishing with the café next door

Parking is a bit of a letdown, but the food and atmosphere were good enough to more than cover for it. Next time, I'm planning to start with the grilled chicken leg yakitori.