Solo bar-seat motsu ramen with free rice at Mentsuru, Gwangjin

What kind of place is Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch?

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a ramen restaurant at 1F, 394 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, near Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station. It's open daily from 11:00 to 23:00, with last order at 22:30.

Actually, Mentsuru is the place I went to with a friend to eat soyu ramen right after it opened.

I remembered how good it was back then, and since I happened to be looking for a solo lunch spot near Children's Grand Park, I decided to visit Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch. I was craving ramen alone that day, so I went for a solo meal.

If you're planning a date around Konkuk University or Children's Grand Park, where to eat matters too, and ramen is a relatively easy, low-pressure meal — I think it works well as a lunch option for a Konkuk-area date too.

I usually like ramen, but this time I wanted something a bit different from the usual bowl, so I looked over the menu. Among the options, the motsu ramen (beef offal ramen) with beef tripe caught my eye, so I ordered it.

Bar seats at Mentsuru: easy for solo dining

Walking into Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, the overall wood-tone interior gave it a clean, neat feel. Along with regular table seats, there were also bar-style seats, so I could eat comfortably even coming alone.

When eating solo, you sometimes end up self-conscious about people around you, but the atmosphere here didn't feel awkward for solo dining at all, so I could sit down with peace of mind.

Kiosk ordering and motsu ramen at spice level 1

I ordered through the kiosk set up at the table. The kiosk screen showed the various menu items with photos, which made it easy to choose.

Besides ramen, there were also various rice bowls and side dishes to choose from depending on your taste. After some deliberation, I went with the motsu ramen (beef offal ramen).

The motsu ramen also let me choose the spice level, and I ordered level 1. I was told level 1 is about as spicy as Shin Ramyun, and since I'm not great with spice, I picked level 1 to get a savory, spicy kick without it being too intense.

How big is the motsu ramen bowl, and how does the offal taste?

After a short wait, my motsu ramen arrived. The broth had a reddish tint with various toppings piled on top, so it looked generous even just by sight. True to its name, motsu ramen came with beef tripe in it, which gave it a distinct charm compared to regular ramen.

I tried the broth first, and at level 1 it was about as spicy as Shin Ramyun — moderately spicy and savory. It wasn't so spicy that it was hard to eat, and for someone who likes a hearty, spicy broth like me, it was an easy level to enjoy.

Alongside the spice, there was a nice savory depth to the broth that went well with the noodles. Eating it together with the beef tripe scattered throughout gave a different kind of nutty flavor compared to regular ramen. The tripe had plenty of fat marbled in, so with every bite the savory flavor spread through my mouth.

Motsu ramen was tastier when I ate the tripe and various toppings together rather than just the noodles alone. Eating the spicy broth with noodles, then a piece of tripe here and there, changed up the texture and kept me reaching for more. If you're someone who normally likes offal, this kind of motsu ramen will probably feel more fun than regular ramen. Personally, being able to enjoy offal and ramen in one bowl was what I liked most.

Yuzu pickled radish and GABAN pepper on the table

The table had all the necessary tableware and condiments neatly set out. There was also yuzu-scented pickled radish to pair with the meal, and eating a piece between bites of ramen cleansed my palate. GABAN pepper was also on hand, so I could add it to taste if I wanted.

Motsu ramen at Mentsuru comes with free rice

One thing I personally liked at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch was that rice comes included when you order motsu ramen. The rice doesn't come out with the ramen from the start — you just tell the staff whenever you want it, and they'll bring it over.

I asked for the rice after eating some of the ramen. Pairing the rich, spicy broth with rice made the meal far more filling than I expected. Eating the leftover broth with rice after the noodles left nothing to be desired as a full meal. I'd come for a solo lunch, but finishing off both the ramen and the rice left me satisfied and full.

🌶️ New on the menu: spicy shio ramen

While looking over the menu, another new item also caught my eye — the spicy shio ramen.

It's said to be Mentsuru's long-loved shio ramen with a spicy kick added. It sounds like a great fit for anyone who likes the clean, deep flavor of shio ramen but wants something a bit more fiery.

The notable part is that even with the added spice, you can still enjoy the clean broth flavor unique to shio ramen. If you like a spicy broth when choosing your ramen, this is one I'd like to try on my next visit. For anyone curious about the new menu, comparing it side by side with the original shio ramen also sounds like fun.

🎟️ Check the Naver takoyaki coupon before you order

Before visiting, I'd also recommend searching for Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch on Naver to check for coupons. Right now, there's a takoyaki coupon available on the Naver store page that you can use in store, so if you're planning to visit, it's worth grabbing the coupon ahead of time.

Checking the Naver store page before choosing your menu, like I did, lets you catch coupons and new menu updates together, so it's worth a look before you go. If you're planning to visit for a Konkuk-area date lunch in particular, grabbing the Naver coupon in advance and enjoying the takoyaki alongside your ramen sounds like a great idea too. 🐙🍜