Yongsan ramen restaurant with gukbap-like garlic broth: Menya Seoul

Today I want to introduce Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch, which I visited because I wanted a warm bowl of ramen while shopping at Yongsan I'Park Mall!

Where is Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch, and what are its hours?

Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch is on the 7th floor of the living goods wing at Yongsan I'Park Mall, with both counter seats and shared food court seating. Hours are 11:00–22:00, with last order at 21:00.

When you're craving a warm broth these days, a bowl of ramen really hits the spot. It's especially convenient because it's inside I'Park Mall, so you can pop in lightly and quickly before or after shopping or a movie. If you're looking for a good ramen restaurant near Yongsan Station or in Yongsan I'Park Mall, this one's worth checking out :)

Menya Seoul's menu and how to order by number

Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch had menu items numbered up to 12, broadly split into dongpo pork topping / jambon topping, with broth options of mild / spicy / mala!

They also had brothy ramen, mixed mazesoba, and rice bowl options!

Since there were so many menu items, ordering by number made things quick, and when ordering a set you just choose 1 side (gyoza, karaage, or sweet soy chicken rice bowl filling) and 1 drink (cola, zero cola, cider, Pororo drink, sparkling water)!

I'd recommend the sets — they seemed like great value for the price~!

If you visit on a weekday between 2pm and 6pm, they were running an event giving out free dessert spring rolls! I kind of regretted not coming earlier~

After ordering they give you a buzzer, and once it goes off you pick up your food at the counter where you ordered!

Spicy dongpo pork chashu ramen set: garlic-heavy broth

I ordered the spicy dongpo pork chashu ramen set that day. Starting with the dongpo pork piled on top of the ramen, it looked really appetizing. But what I liked most was the texture of the dongpo pork!

The fatty part characteristic of dongpo pork was there in full, yet so tender it melted in my mouth. Beyond my expectations!! The seasoning wasn't too salty, so it paired really well when eaten together with the noodles and broth.

The broth had a pretty strong, rich garlic flavor, and combined with a subtle spiciness on top, I kept going back for spoonful after spoonful. Personally, eating it made me think a little of gukbap (Korean soup with rice) haha. It had its own charm quite different from typical Japanese-style ramen, and above all, the hot broth warmed me up from the inside, which made me think it would be perfect on a cold day. It wasn't just dongpo pork on top either — jambon chashu and a soft-boiled egg came along too, so the toppings were pretty generous. With so many kinds of meat in one bowl, finishing it left me seriously full!

Mild jambon chashu ramen and its milky tonkotsu broth

My sister doesn't like spicy food, so she ordered the mild jambon chashu ramen set. This one felt completely different from the spicy ramen I had! It's based on a pale tonkotsu broth, and the broth had a pretty rich, deep flavor. The pale broth reminded me of a rich gomtang (bone broth soup), so it seemed like it would suit people who prefer something mild and smooth over something more intense~

The jambon quality was great too! Even the mild version had plenty of garlic in it, and that deep garlic flavor was so, so good~ (we are a garlic-loving people after all~)

I was worried since my sister can't handle spicy food well, but after trying it she said she was completely satisfied. The rich, savory tonkotsu broth in particular paired really well with the jambon chashu. The jambon chashu was tender too, so eating it with the broth really brought out the flavor of the meat!

The set sides: karaage and gyoza

Eating just ramen felt like it wasn't quite enough, so we also ordered karaage and gyoza dumplings as set sides. The karaage was crispy outside and juicy inside, pairing well with the ramen, and each bite of gyoza dumpling went really well with it too. With meat and egg already in the ramen plus the sides on top, it made for a really filling meal~

Spicy or mild? How to choose at Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall

If you're shopping at Yongsan I'Park Mall and craving something hot and filling, I'd recommend a bowl of ramen. If you're looking for a light bowl of ramen as the weather turns cool in autumn, try picking between the spicy dongpo pork chashu ramen and the rich tonkotsu ramen at Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch depending on your taste! I think I'll go for the spicy dongpo pork chashu ramen again next time I visit :)