Kid-friendly Gwangjin ramen restaurant: gyudon and shoyu at Mentsuru

Looking for somewhere to eat near Children's Grand Park, I ended up at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch.

Where is Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, and what does it look like?

I've always liked ramen, so I looked around for a decent ramen spot nearby and ended up here. When I arrived, the exterior already had that distinctive Japanese ramen shop atmosphere, which caught my eye before I even went in. "MENCHURU Ramen bar" was written in big letters on the building, so it wasn't hard to spot from a distance.

The exterior felt a bit different from a typical restaurant. Wood frames combined with glass windows gave it the vibe of a Japanese ramen shop while still looking clean overall.

Solo bar seats, table seats and a tablet at every seat at Mentsuru

Once I opened the door, the inside felt even more comfortable than I expected. There are solo-bar seats both near the entrance and further inside. They're solo-bar seats, but fine for two people to sit together too.

As you can see in the photo, tables and bar-style seating are set up together, so it looked comfortable both for eating alone and for a group. Each bar and table has the same basic setup: water, cups, pickled radish, tissues, pepper, and a tablet for ordering at every seat.

The whole place is centered around wood tones, giving it a warm feeling, and the lighting isn't too bright or too cold, so it's a relaxing atmosphere to eat in. You can see outside through the windows, while the inner area has Japanese-style props and decor that fit a ramen shop. I thought it was a good place to visit these days when people care about atmosphere as much as the food itself.

Around Children's Grand Park, people often end up looking for somewhere to eat after a day out, and ramen — a relatively easy, no-fuss meal — seemed like it would suit that need well.

There's also a solo-bar right in front of the kitchen, so you can get your freshly cooked ramen and rice bowls quickly, right as they come off the stove.

When eating alone, sometimes a bar-seat setup is actually more comfortable than a big, noisy restaurant. Mentsuru felt like that kind of place — not intimidating for solo dining at all.

The space isn't huge, but there are plenty of seats, which I liked. If you're looking for somewhere to eat around Children's Grand Park, this is worth a visit. It's especially convenient if you want to wrap up time at the park with a satisfying bowl of ramen, given how close it is.

Half a bowl of free rice soaked in the ramen broth

When the food came out, the staff mentioned that rice was available if we wanted it, so I asked for just half a bowl. I mixed it into the ramen broth.

Gyudon (beef rice bowl) and chicken karaage.

Ramen noodles are carbs, but each dish came with meat, so it was nice to be able to get some protein in too. Coming out fast is a big plus, and being able to eat it piping hot is another.

Gyudon, shoyu ramen, and handmade karaage (raw chicken thigh, breaded and fried to order — crispy Japanese-style fried chicken).

Gyudon: the not-spicy bowl ordered for a child

Gyudon is a dish that pretty much anyone — kids, adults, anyone — can enjoy. Not spicy, not too salty, a flavor no Korean would find off-putting. I ordered this one for my child.

Shoyu ramen at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch

I liked that the shoyu ramen wasn't greasy even with meat in it.

The rice service I requested after ordering ramen. I asked for just a little — about half a bowl.

A canned drink for a Naver receipt review

I asked for a printed receipt, wrote a Naver receipt review, and showed it to the staff.

By taking part in the Naver receipt review, I got a canned drink.

The kiosk at the entrance. The location also works well for a meal before or after heading toward Konkuk University, so it's good for a casual visit with friends or family, or just a quick lunch.

For two of us: rice and ramen, karaage on the side, and even a drink from the receipt review.

Handmade karaage on the side, with three dipping sauces

Chicken karaage as a side dish. It was boneless, so easy to eat. Mayonnaise sauce, seasoned sauce, and lemon came with it.

Is Mentsuru an easy ramen restaurant for two or more?

Ramen is filling enough for a full meal, and it's also easy to order when eating alone, so I'm always glad to find a ramen shop like this one. Even if someone in your group doesn't want ramen, there's gyudon, so everyone can still eat rice — which makes this an easy place to visit even with two or more people. Mentsuru Ramen is a good spot near Children's Grand Park Station, and since it's close to Konkuk University too, I'd recommend it as a Konkuk-area restaurant as well.