# Kid-friendly Gwangjin ramen restaurant: gyudon and shoyu at Mentsuru - By Boram (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-shelf-cup/) - Written Sep 16, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gwangjin, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written as a paid visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-shelf-cup/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-shelf-cup/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/index.md) ## In short Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a Japanese ramen bar on Gwangnaru-ro, near Children's Grand Park Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Visiting with a child, the writer ordered a not-spicy gyudon (beef rice bowl) for the little one plus shoyu ramen and handmade karaage (Japanese fried chicken) for the adults, and asked for just half a bowl of the free rice to soak in the ramen broth. A Naver receipt review also earns a canned drink, making Mentsuru an easy family meal after a day out at Children's Grand Park. ## Good to know - **Ordered**: Shoyu ramen, gyudon (beef rice bowl), handmade karaage (chicken karaage) - **Rice service**: Rice served on request after ordering ramen; half a bowl can be requested - **Seating**: Solo bar seats at the entrance and in the back, solo bar in front of the kitchen, table seats - **Ordering**: A tablet at every seat, kiosk at the entrance - **Table setting**: Water, cups, pickled radish, tissues, pepper - **Receipt review**: A canned drink for taking part in a Naver receipt review - **Karaage sauces**: Mayonnaise sauce, seasoned sauce, lemon *as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026* Looking for somewhere to eat near Children's Grand Park, I ended up at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch. ![Exterior of Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-01-m34f9-1200.webp) ## 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. ![Entrance of the ramen shop with wood frames and glass windows](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-02-627mu-900.webp) ## 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. ![Solo-bar seating near the entrance](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-03-19a60-900.webp) 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. ![Interior view of the shop with wood-tone decor](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-04-2yeth-900.webp) 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. ![Tablet and basic table setting at each seat](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-05-15rpp-900.webp) ![Inner area of the shop with Japanese-style decor](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-06-16op8-900.webp) 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. ![Solo-bar seating in front of the kitchen](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-07-1mc8w-900.webp) 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. ![Bar seating comfortable for solo dining](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-08-15gao-900.webp) 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. ![Table seats and seating by the window](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-09-jrmh7-900.webp) ## 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. ![Ramen and rice bowls set on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-10-1li1s-900.webp) ![Gyudon and chicken karaage table setting](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-11-1q1kz-900.webp) Gyudon (beef rice bowl) and chicken karaage. ![Gyudon and karaage served together](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-12-1px69-900.webp) 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 spread](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-13-10om0-900.webp) Gyudon, shoyu ramen, and handmade karaage (raw chicken thigh, breaded and fried to order — crispy Japanese-style fried chicken). ![A bowl of gyudon from Mentsuru](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-14-1s8ry-900.webp) *Gyudon* ### 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. ![Close-up of the mild gyudon](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-15-1p44a-900.webp) ![Shoyu ramen topped with meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-16-3m4rz-900.webp) ### Shoyu ramen at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch I liked that the shoyu ramen wasn't greasy even with meat in it. ![Broth and noodles of the shoyu ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-17-14l0u-900.webp) The rice service I requested after ordering ramen. I asked for just a little — about half a bowl. ![Half a bowl of rice served on request](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-18-1bg4p-900.webp) ## 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. ![Printed receipt received at the shop](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-19-1tg0p-900.webp) By taking part in the Naver receipt review, I got a canned drink. ![Canned drink received for a receipt review](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-20-m44sa-900.webp) 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. ![Order kiosk at the entrance of the shop](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-21-lmmvn-900.webp) For two of us: rice and ramen, karaage on the side, and even a drink from the receipt review. ![Table setting for two with a canned drink](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-22-11mre-900.webp) ### 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. ![Boneless handmade karaage with three sauces](https://img.superchart.com/images/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen-23-1neef-900.webp) ## 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. ## Where it is - Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch (멘츠루 어린이대공원점) - 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1st floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 광진구 광나루로 394 1층 - 37.547275, 127.0734369 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A9%98%EC%B8%A0%EB%A3%A8%20%EC%96%B4%EB%A6%B0%EC%9D%B4%EB%8C%80%EA%B3%B5%EC%9B%90%EC%A0%90/@37.547275,127.0734369,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-shelf-cup/menchuru-childrens-park-gyudon-shoyu-ramen/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt