Euljiro ramen lunch with extra seaweed on spicy tori paitan: Mentsuru

Hi everyone, it's Jeong Ramen here 🍜 I love Japanese food so much I've seriously considered moving to Japan! Craving ramen and gara-age with that authentic Japanese feel, I went searching for the best ramen spot in Euljiro and ended up at Mentsuru Euljiro Branch, a well-known name near Euljiro3(sam)-ga.

Where is Mentsuru Euljiro Branch, and what are its hours?

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch

• 📍 Location: 26 Mareunnae-ro 2-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul / 247m from Euljiro3(sam)-ga Station Exit 9
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00-21:30 (last order 21:00), no break time, open 365 days a year
• 📌 Reservations, takeout, group dining available
• 📌 Wi-Fi, waiting area
• 🚗 No parking (nearby paid lots recommended)

It was so close to Euljiro3(sam)-ga Station, which I loved. It's a perfect spot if you're looking for a place to eat solo near Euljiro3(sam)-ga Station. Since lots of office workers pass through the area, it also seems like a great lunch spot in Euljiro. The place is cozy, but with plenty of solo seating, it's great for eating alone in Euljiro. Being open year-round with no break time is another big plus for Mentsuru Euljiro Branch.

Kiosk ordering and how long the wait is

Before entering, you order at a kiosk and get seated in the order you arrive. Maybe because it's a ramen place, turnover is quick, so even when full you don't wait too long — usually about 5 to 10 minutes before getting a table.

Bar seats, tables and the yuzu pickled radish at Mentsuru

Inside, there's bar seating facing the open kitchen, so quite a few solo diners were around. There are also table seats, and I saw all kinds of customers — foreign visitors, couples, mothers and daughters — enjoying their meals.

Opening the drawer at the table, you'll find paper cups, tissues, and utensils ready to grab. The basic side dish, yuzu pickled radish, was really tasty 🍋 It was perfect to pick at bite by bite while eating ramen — subtly refreshing, I kept reaching for more! The staff were kind too, bringing an apron and letting us know to mention it right away if the food was too salty or too bland — it felt like they really paid attention to the details 👍🏻

What ramen is on the Mentsuru Euljiro menu?

Mentsuru menu (source: Naver Map) — there was quite a variety of ramen. Motsu ramen (offal ramen), tori paitan, tsukemen, shoyu ramen, shio ramen, abura soba, and beyond ramen there were Japanese-style rice bowls like horumon-don (offal rice bowl) and gyudon (beef rice bowl). For simple sides, there was handmade gara-age, chicken skin gyoza, and fried gyoza.

There were also drinks — Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin bottled beers, and even a Jim Beam highball — so it seemed like a good spot for a light meal-plus-drink evening, like an Euljiro izakaya.

This time I ordered the spicy tori paitan rich broth ramen with kim added, plus sides of the Best handmade gara-age, fried gyoza (6pc), and peach cider.

How spicy is the tori paitan with extra seaweed?

The tori paitan broth itself was quite rich and had a savory depth, and the spice level, to me, was about as spicy as shin ramyun!

It wasn't just spicy for the sake of being spicy — the heat layered nicely on top of the rich broth, which hit the spot.

And a bowl of rice comes free. Once the broth is a bit low, mixing in the rice makes for a really filling meal! If you want a hearty lunch, definitely add the extra bowl of rice!

Handmade karaage and fried gyoza as side dishes

Handmade gara-age & fried gyoza — the gara-age I ordered as a side was delicious too 🍗

They use fresh chicken thigh meat and batter it right when the order comes in before frying. So it was crispy outside and juicy inside — that classic crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside gara-age. It's delicious plain, but dipping it in the special mayo sauce that comes with it adds a soft, savory extra flavor!

The fried gyoza, a great pairing when ramen alone feels like not enough, came out crispy too.

Why Mentsuru Euljiro Branch works for lunch near Euljiro3(sam)-ga

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is great because the wide range of ramen options means you can pick based on your mood. If you like rich broth, I'd recommend the tori paitan like I had; there's also motsu ramen, shoyu ramen, shio ramen, tsukemen, and abura soba, so you could visit multiple times without getting bored.

They're currently running a Naver receipt review event too. Writing a review gets you a free peach iced tea or yuzu-ade, so be sure to take part if you visit! 🥤 If you love rich-broth ramen or you're looking for a good lunch spot, a good ramen spot near Euljiro Station, I'd recommend Mentsuru Euljiro Branch. 🍜