Euljiro ramen restaurant with spicy tori paitan: Mentsuru

Since it was the weekend, I was worried there might be a wait, so I made a reservation for 5 PM on Saturday. Even that early, there were already quite a few customers, and I was really glad I had booked ahead, haha.

From the entrance, the place has such a strong Japan-like atmosphere.

It uses a kiosk ordering system, so it was easy to take my time deciding on the menu.

A comfortable atmosphere for solo meals and dates

Japanese ramen shops like this often have cramped seating, but Mentsuru was different. Along with counter seats by the kitchen, there were plenty of two-person tables farther inside, so we could eat without feeling squeezed in.

The open kitchen lets you see the entire cooking process, and seeing how neatly it was kept gave me confidence. There were also plenty of people quietly eating alone.

That made it feel like an easy place to drop by without any pressure. Mentsuru is open every day with no break time, so it is perfect when hunger strikes at an awkward hour, haha.

Tori paitan and shio ramen with deeply satisfying broth

There were so many kinds of ramen that we debated for a while before ordering the spicy tori paitan and shio ramen.

The tori paitan, a creamy chicken broth ramen, had a pleasantly moderate kick even for a spice wimp like me, so I kept reaching for it.

Honestly, if something is too intense, I get tired of it quickly, but this one finished in a way that cut through the richness perfectly. My friend loved it too, calling it their ramen of a lifetime. It also came generously topped with about three big slices of meat, which were fun to wrap around the noodles.

When we were about to share our bowls, a staff member thoughtfully brought over a large empty bowl first, which really surprised me with the attention to detail, haha. And the hidden star here is the danmuji (yellow pickled radish)!

I do not usually eat much danmuji, but this was yuzu danmuji, so it was fragrant and tangy and an absolutely crazy-good match with the ramen. It was so good that I lost count of how many times I refilled it.

The shio ramen had a broth that was not salty, yet light and deeply flavorful enough to make me nod along. The noodles also had just the right amount of chew, which I loved.

Crispy handmade karaage and a satisfying side

Because ramen alone felt a little incomplete, we also ordered five pieces of handmade karaage (Japanese fried chicken) as a side.

They came out fresh from Mentsuru.

They arrived piping hot and steaming, and a little squeeze of lemon really brought out the flavor. Karaage can sometimes have nothing but a thick coating, but these were packed with meat, making every bite properly satisfying.

Dip them in the sauce that comes alongside and you can enjoy them deliciously to the very last bite without getting tired of them. It felt like I had finally had a proper bowl of ramen again, and I finished the meal feeling happy. If you are looking for a satisfying meal in Euljiro, be sure to remember Mentsuru!

The depth of the ramen broth and the freshness of the yuzu danmuji keep coming back to me, so I think I will be back again soon, haha.