Gwangjin ramen shop with a 2pm wait: mixed abura soba at Mentsuru
In short
Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant in Gwangjin, Seoul, a one-minute walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station. The order was abura soba (brothless oil noodles) original for 12,000 won and spicy for 12,500 won plus fried gyoza for 5,000 won, with the two bowls mixed together and dashida vinegar stirred in halfway. The original tasted nuttier and deeper, but the mixed bowl was the most satisfying of all; the only letdown was missing the finishing rice, which is not on the kiosk and has to be requested separately.
Good to know
- Location
- 1F, 394 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (1-minute walk from Exit 4, Children's Grand Park Station)
- Hours
- Daily 11:00–23:00, no break time
- Abura soba, spicy
- 12,500 won
- Abura soba, original
- 12,000 won
- Fried gyoza
- 5,000 won
- Parking
- No parking on site; use Gwangjin Plaza public parking lot across the street
- Seating
- Solo counter seats and tables for two, high chairs available
- Other
- Reservations and takeout available; spice and salt levels adjustable
- Rice
- Not on the kiosk, so ask staff separately
- Price reference
- ₩12,500 ≈ $9 · ₩12,000 ≈ $8.7 · ₩5,000 ≈ $3.6 (2026-09-21)
as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026
Is there still a wait at Mentsuru at 2pm?
Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a ramen restaurant at 1F, 394 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, open daily from 11:00 to 23:00 with no break time. I came out for a walk around Children's Grand Park plus a good lunch, and discovered this ramen shop called Mentsuru!
It looked delicious at a glance, so I went in — and even at 2pm for lunch, the place was packed and the crowd never let up! After tasting it, I understood why haha. Since it runs with no break time, it was also great for a late lunch without any pressure.
Where to park near Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch
Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch has no parking lot of its own, so I'd recommend Gwangjin Plaza public parking lot right across the street! I parked there, and it was convenient since the ramen shop was directly opposite.
After eating ramen, it's about a 5-minute walk to a stroll through Children's Grand Park! Perfect for a date course or a walking course.
Abura soba original vs spicy at Mentsuru: which one wins?
What I ordered at Mentsuru was abura soba spicy for ₩12,500, abura soba original for ₩12,000, and fried gyoza for ₩5,000.
- Abura soba (spicy) — ₩12,500
- Abura soba (original) — ₩12,000
- Fried gyoza — ₩5,000
The spicy abura soba was a bit spicier than what I'd call Shin Ramyun-level heat? And a little salty too, but they say you can adjust the spice and salt level!! It's not just faintly spicy but quite hot, so I'd recommend it to anyone who loves spicy food.
They're both the same abura soba but the vibe is completely different. The spicy one hits with a sharp heat from the very first bite, so if you're picturing something around Shin Ramyun level, it might feel a bit spicier than that.
The original had a strong savory oil aroma rising up, and the texture of the noodles themselves was really good. Personally, I liked the original more! Savory, rich, and deep.
The spicy one was tasty too, so mixing them together made it even better, and adding vinegar partway through made it even more delicious! Also there's really a lot of meat!!
How dashida vinegar changes the abura soba
When eating Mentsuru's abura soba, the method I recommend most is dashida vinegar. Eat a few bites plain at first, then about halfway through, drizzle a round of dashida vinegar over it.
The oily richness stays alive, but with the added tanginess it feels like a completely different dish. Personally, vinegar suited the spicy abura soba way better.
Fried gyoza for 5,000 won: mind the hot juice
The fried gyoza is ₩5,000 and delicious, but bite into one and the juice bursts out so it's a total surprise-attack situation lolololol you'll spill it everywhere T_T
Still, it's delicious haha. If you save one and eat it with the sauce, it's even better!!
The one thing I'd do differently at Mentsuru
Mentsuru's rice isn't on the kiosk, so you have to request it separately. I assumed of course it just wasn't available and left without it, but apparently you just need to ask for it separately T_T T_T T_T T_T regret.
Why didn't I think to ask lolololol I just assumed there was none. Mixing rice into the leftover sauce after finishing the noodles is really the proper finale... and I missed out on that, ate all the sauce plain, and left haha. Definitely ask for it and mix it in~~~!!!
Why Mentsuru works for a lunch date near Konkuk University
Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a 1-minute walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, so it's great for a walk-then-eat outing, and it's also close to Konkuk University Station, making it a solid lunch course for a Konkuk date. Seeing so many students there, it seems to be known as a go-to spot for Sejong University and Konkuk University students!
These three things stood out in particular.
- No break time, so a late lunch is possible
- Both solo seats and 2-person tables make for a comfortable atmosphere
- 1-minute walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station means top-tier access
Frequently asked questions about Mentsuru
Which ramen restaurant near Children's Grand Park is popular?
Near Children's Grand Park Station, Mentsuru is widely known as a leading Japanese ramen restaurant. Abura soba, tori paitan, and shoyu ramen are the popular menu items.
Is Mentsuru good for a lunch date near Konkuk University?
Yes. Mentsuru runs with no break time and is close to the station, making it great to visit for lunch after a walk.
How spicy is the spicy abura soba at Mentsuru?
It was quite spicy, more than expected. If you're not great with spicy food, I'd recommend asking them to adjust the level or mixing the spicy version with the original.
Where it is
394 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 광진구 광나루로 394 1층
