City Hall ramen restaurant for a family lunch: Mentsuru

A return visit to Mentsuru City Hall Branch near City Hall Station

Mentsuru is a franchise, and the City Hall Branch is close to City Hall Station, with Deoksugung Palace and the Seoul Museum of Art nearby, so it is easy to visit. We came back after visiting once before because everyone in my family enjoyed it so much. It feels like a favorite among City Hall Station office workers, but it is busy even on weekends, and it is also a good spot for a solo meal around City Hall.

Waiting for a late Sunday lunch

Because we had breakfast late on Sunday, we came to eat around 2 p.m., but it was popular enough to have a wait even at that late lunch hour. We looked over the menu and ordered in advance, and a table opened up about five minutes later.

Ordering ramen, gyudon, and karaage

We ordered these three dishes. Two mains and one side came to just 30,000 won, which feels very affordable considering prices these days!

• Rich spicy tori paitan ramen ₩12,000
• Gyudon rice bowl ₩11,000
• House-made karaage ₩7,000

Counter seating that is great for dining alone

The restaurant has counter seating where you can watch the cooking. So I think you can eat comfortably even if you come alone. The interior is decorated to feel like you have really come to Japan, which makes it a fun change of scene.

Tori paitan ramen with a rich chicken broth

The tori paitan ramen has an outstandingly rich broth. You can choose the spice level when ordering, and I would like to try it that way next time. It comes with egg and chashu pork as standard, but you can freely add more toppings to suit your taste.

Tori paitan ramen is appealing for the deep flavor of its rich chicken broth. The broth, simmered for a long time, was smooth and savory without being as heavy as expected, so it was easy to enjoy. The rich soup clung well to the chewy noodles, filling every bite with flavor, while the chashu, soft-boiled egg, and seaweed toppings all worked together nicely. Above all, the creamy, rich broth really brought out what makes tori paitan special. 🍜 I recommend it when you want a filling but clean-tasting meal.

Gyudon mixed with an onsen egg

The gyudon (Japanese beef rice bowl) was something I really wanted to try alongside the ramen at Mentsuru 🥢🍚 Tender sliced beef brisket, stir-fried in a special seasoning sauce, was piled generously over warm rice. The sweet and savory sauce soaked into the meat and rice, making every bite full of umami. Break the yolk of the onsen egg (soft-cooked egg) and mix it in, and it becomes even smoother and nuttier. Adding ginger now and then cuts through the richness, so you can enjoy it all the way to the end. I would recommend Mentsuru's gyudon as a side when ramen alone feels a little lacking. If you like Japanese rice bowls, you should definitely try it!

The house-made karaage I always order

These two dishes alone are plenty filling, but I always have to order karaage as a side! There are lots of other sides too, but if it is your first visit, I really recommend ordering it. Compared with other karaage, the outside is lightly seasoned for extra umami, while the chicken inside is tender and well cooked.

I had already eaten one before taking this photo, but for 7,000 won the portion is generous, and it comes with both chili sauce and mayonnaise, so you can enjoy it creamy and spicy. It has a light seasoning underneath, so it tastes good even on its own~~ It is filling this way, and it kind of makes you want a beer too, haha.

White pickled radish and table pepper

I liked that the danmuji (pickled radish) was white rather than yellow. I prefer white pickled radish that feels more natural. There was also GABAN pepper on every table.

Review-event fried gyoza and payment

We received four extra fried gyoza pieces through the Naver review event. They come with the sauce lightly poured over them, so if you do not like sauce, try asking for it without sauce when you order!

Seoul Pay and Alipay are accepted here too, so if you use one of those payment services, enjoy your visit at a more reasonable price. There are lots of staff, and they greet you brightly when you enter, so I feel good every time I visit~