Gwangjin ramen restaurant with booking-coupon okonomiyaki: Mentsuru

What is Mentsuru, the ramen restaurant near Children's Grand Park Station?

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a ramen and rice-bowl Japanese restaurant on Gwangnaru-ro, not far from Children's Grand Park Station. On a weekend or a relaxed weekday afternoon, after a walk toward Children's Grand Park, this is exactly the place that comes to mind once you start getting hungry.

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch really shines with its ramen and rice bowls. For anyone near Konkuk University or Children's Grand Park trying to figure out a date course or a lunch spot, this is a clean, solid pick — hence this review.

Inside Mentsuru: atmosphere and first impressions

It's not far from Children's Grand Park Station, so access is really convenient. Step inside and you get that cozy, tidy feel typical of a classic Japanese ramen shop.

There are bar-table seats great for solo dining, plus seats well suited to couples or friends chatting over a meal. Nothing is overdone — it feels clean and understated, so it's an easy place to pick for lunch.

The store is really clean and bigger than I expected, so it'd work well even with a group of friends.

And since it's clearly a popular spot, I'd recommend booking through Naver reservation if you're visiting during a busy window like lunchtime!

Mentsuru's menu and what we ordered

Mentsuru's menu is quite varied, and I think the prices are pretty reasonable.

We ordered Mentsuru's famous motsu ramen and hormone-don.

1. Motsu ramen: how deep and rich is the broth?

Eye-catching from the first glance, motsu ramen is one of Mentsuru's signature specialties. The richly simmered broth is loaded with chewy, savory beef tripe (motsu).

Take the first sip of the broth and behind the heavy, deep umami of the bone broth comes a subtle, savory hint of tripe. A spicy seasoning and clean finish keep any potential greasiness in check, so you keep going back for more broth without ever getting tired of it.

The noodles soak up just the right amount of broth, staying soft while keeping a good bite. Together with the pop of the tripe and the crunch of bean sprouts and scallions, every mouthful delivers a different layer of flavor. If you're after a hearty, umami-packed bowl of ramen, this is a must-try.

And if the broth isn't to your taste, you can just ask them to adjust it — and if you need rice, you can request it for free. Such a generous spot!!!

2. Hormone-don: smoky char and nutty richness

The hormone-don (beef tripe rice bowl) we ordered alongside the ramen didn't disappoint either. Golden, well-charred tripe is piled generously on rice, topped with an egg yolk and a special tare sauce — the look alone is enough to get your appetite going.

The hormone-don's savoriness from the beef large intestine is truly excellent.

Okonomiyaki free with the Naver reservation coupon

We also got okonomiyaki using a coupon downloaded when making the Naver reservation, and it was so good.

Pick up a piece of the tripe and the outside is slightly crisp while the inside stays plump and chewy — really appealing texture. Each bite pops with savory fat, sweet-and-salty tare sauce, and a whiff of smoky char that all come together perfectly.

Put the well-grilled tripe on warm rice soaked in that sweet-salty sauce, add a touch of wasabi, and the richness gets cut right back while the savoriness stays in your mouth. It also pairs really well alongside the ramen broth.

Is Mentsuru worth it? Final verdict

The combination of motsu ramen's deep, rich broth and the smoky char of hormone-don makes it clear why Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is beloved as a ramen spot near Children's Grand Park. The food is consistently clean and deeply flavored throughout, so I'd recommend it for a Konkuk University date lunch or whenever you're craving good Japanese food. If you want a special, filling meal near Children's Grand Park, be sure to stop by Mentsuru!