City Hall ramen restaurant with spicy tsukemen: Mentsuru

A few days ago, I had something to do around City Hall, so I revisited Mentsuru City Hall Branch after a long time. I had been happy with it on my first visit too, which is why I came back. The dishes I had last time were delicious as well, so I was curious about the other menu items.

1F, Unit 1, 2 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul Daily 11:00–21:30 Last order at 21:00 / No break time

Mentsuru City Hall Branch, close to Exit 10 of City Hall Station

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is less than a one-minute walk from Exit 10 of City Hall Station. It is right in front of the station, so the access could not be better. When you arrive, you will see Mentsuru, a ramen specialist with the atmosphere of an authentic Japanese ramen shop! It was bigger and more spacious than I expected, so it was easy to spot. They even had the air conditioner on full blast, which would be so nice in summer. It felt great and cool as soon as I walked in.

This is what the dining room looks like inside. There are many offices nearby, so it seems that quite a few workers come here for lunch and dinner. There was a good variety of tables for both solo diners and groups. Even when we visited, there were not many empty tables—it is clearly popular. There is no break time either, so you can visit whenever works for you.

What we ordered: shio ramen and spicy tsukemen

There were many kinds of ramen, from ramen with deep, rich broth to clean shoyu ramen and spicy motsu ramen. There were also plenty of items that would be nice with a casual drink, including karaage and alcohol. There was so much to eat that we debated for quite a while, haha.

After much deliberation, we chose shio ramen, spicy tsukemen, house-made karaage, and Coke Zero! We had ordered the house-made karaage on our first visit too, and liked it so much that we ordered it again. I was excited to try new ramen flavors while waiting for our food. There was also a Naver review event. It would be nice to write a review using the required keywords and receive a drink or fried gyoza.

Finally, everything we ordered arrived! Shio ramen, spicy tsukemen, and house-made karaage. The onions came separately on a spoon, so you can add only as much as you want. The staff were all very kind too, haha.

Try the shio ramen if rich ramen is not your thing

I started with the shio ramen! The broth was very clean, and true to its description as salt-seasoned chicken-broth ramen, it was delicious without being rich or greasy. I recommend it to anyone who wants ramen but does not do well with rich food! The noodles had a nice texture, and the ramen’s savory depth was the kind of flavor I think I will crave often. It has a different appeal from spicy hangover ramen. I am not good with spicy food and do not like greasy dishes, so I really liked the shio ramen.

Spicy tsukemen with dipping sauce you can control

Next was the spicy tsukemen. It was delicious to dip the noodles deeply into the sauce, and the warming spicy flavor came through nicely. Since you can control how much sauce you dip into, it seemed worth trying even if you are not great with spicy food. I would recommend it if you want a bold, brothless tsukemen! My boyfriend tends to dip his noodles heavily, and the amount of sauce was just right for him.

House-made karaage I ordered again on my return visit

Next was the house-made karaage (Japanese fried chicken)! It was crisp outside and moist inside—so good. This is why I keep coming back to Mentsuru.. There were two sauces and lemon too, and it was delicious with a squeeze of lemon juice before dipping it in the sauce, haha. If you are visiting with several people, I recommend ordering the karaage as a side. It goes well with ramen and alcohol.

I was very satisfied when I revisited this time too. There are many types of ramen, and each one is high quality, so I found myself wanting to try another menu item next time. Even though it was a return visit, I enjoyed the meal just as much as I did on my first visit!

Recommended for dinner during Deoksugung Palace night opening or a City Hall Station meal

If you are craving ramen near City Hall, looking for somewhere comfortable to eat alone, deciding on dinner during Deoksugung Palace’s night opening, or searching for a good meal spot for City Hall Station office workers, I recommend Mentsuru City Hall Branch! I was so satisfied that I think I will come again next time too! Haha.