Hakata tonkotsu ramen with banchan bar and dessert in Hongdae

Today I'm bringing you my review of Shomendo, where I went for ramen for dinner near Hongdae! I love Japanese ramen so I'm always on the lookout for ramen spots around Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong haha. This time I was craving tonkotsu ramen, so I stopped by Shomendo!

Shomendo's location and hours

🚩Location — 24-2 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It's in a spot that's great for grabbing a meal while out in Yeonnam-dong, so it's easy to pair with a café or other stops nearby!

⏰Hours — Closed Mondays / Tue–Sun 11:30–20:30 / Break time 15:00–17:00 / Last order 20:00

Shomendo is a ground-floor spot in an alley, so it wasn't hard to spot while walking by. The exterior had a clean, cozy feel, and being able to check the menu right outside gave it that classic Japanese-ramen-shop vibe, exactly the mood I was after haha. It's a good place to duck into after wandering around Yeonnam-dong, and since there are so many good restaurants and cafés nearby, you could easily grab lunch here and hit a café right after haha.

An atmosphere that's easy for solo dining too

Inside, it had that clean, cozy vibe typical of ramen shops! The atmosphere felt low-pressure enough to enjoy a bowl solo, so anyone dining alone should feel comfortable here haha. Ramen shops tend to be places where you slurp down a hot, delicious bowl and head out rather than lingering, and Shomendo felt like exactly that kind of spot for a quick, satisfying meal!

How was the Hakata tonkotsu ramen?

🍜Ordered — Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen

What I ordered was the Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen! Tonkotsu ramen is a Japanese-style ramen with rich pork-bone broth paired with noodles, and this one had the thin noodles and deep tonkotsu broth characteristic of Hakata ramen — a familiar, comforting choice for anyone who loves ramen haha.

The moment it arrived, the hot broth, noodles, and toppings on top looked so appetizing I had to snap a photo first 🤭. Ramen really is best eaten hot right when it arrives haha.

I tried the broth first, then the noodles together, and you could really taste that savory, rich tonkotsu flavor! The noodles soaked up the broth nicely, and eating them together was delicious, while the toppings along the way added different textures too!! Slurping the hot broth and noodles together was really, really good 🤤.

Side dishes and seasonings at every table

At the table, there were various side dishes and seasonings set out to go with the ramen! From pickled radish (danmuji), a classic ramen pairing, to a range of seasonings, you could add whatever suited your taste. Midway through a bowl of ramen, you sometimes crave something tangy and crunchy like danmuji, and having it right there really cleaned up my palate haha. It was also great that the seasonings were there so I could adjust the base ramen exactly to my liking!

A small dessert after the meal

And the staff even brought out a small dessert afterward! A nice light bite to finish off after the ramen haha. Getting a little treat like that just made me feel good!! Enjoying a delicious bowl of ramen and then a sweet little dessert at the end really rounded off the meal on a happy note!

Restroom location

The restroom was right on the left just outside the shop! Easy to find as soon as you step out haha. And the little keyring hanging on the restroom door was so cute!! It felt like they paid attention to even these small details, which caught my eye haha. Having the restroom so close to the shop also made it convenient to use during the meal ☺️.

When you're craving tonkotsu ramen in Hongdae

This time I tried the Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen at Shomendo! It struck me as a solid place to visit whenever you're craving Japanese ramen near Hongdae. I liked that there were side dishes and various seasonings to go with the ramen, and finishing the meal with a small dessert made for a really pleasant ending haha.

If you're hanging out around Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong and wondering 'what should I eat today?', a warm bowl of ramen here could be a great call! If you love Japanese food or tonkotsu ramen like me, it's worth a visit at least once haha. Next time I'd like to try one of the other ramen menu items too!