Late-night ramen in Gwangjin, Seoul: motsu ramen level 1 at Mentsuru

I already like Mentsuru and go often, and it turns out there's a branch at Children's Grand Park Station too. The exterior is so pretty. Since you can't see inside from outside, it has a private kind of feel, and the lighting is lovely too!! When you walk in, all the staff greet you together with such energy — hearing it really lifts your mood.

Does Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch serve late-night ramen?

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch also has a menu called late-night ramen. It seems perfect for eating on the way home from work, or since there are a lot of universities around, as a hangover cure after drinks. Being able to enjoy it deliciously late into the night is so nice!!

Late-night ramen operating hours

Getting to Mentsuru from Children's Grand Park Station, and what the seats are like

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is right in front of Children's Grand Park Station on Line 7, so access is really good. As you enter, a cute cat figurine welcomes you! Sejong University and Konkuk University are nearby, and since Children's Grand Park is close too, it's also a great spot to visit with family!

There are bar seats facing the kitchen counter as well as bar seats facing the hall. Since you can see the cooking happening, I think the bar seats facing the hall would be preferred for solo dining. There are also charging outlets, which seems really useful.

In the hall there are 4-person and 2-person tables.

These are the bar seats facing the kitchen counter, and there's frosted glass above here too, so you can dine alone comfortably. Whether at the bar seats or the tables, you order through the kiosk.

This is the apron they provide, essential for eating spicy ramen. It's free-size, so it fits men well too!

Menu explanation posters at Mentsuru for first-time ramen orderers

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch has a menu explanation poster for those who find ordering Japanese-style ramen confusing. I only knew that shoyu ramen means soy sauce and shio ramen means salt, but after reading the explanations, I understood things much better.

It's set up nicely with pictures too, so it's easy to choose!

4 free takoyaki with a Naver Reservation booking, karaage sold out

This is the takoyaki we got through Naver Reservation. It's free, and they give 4 pieces, and you can even taste the octopus inside. Karaage was sold out today, which was such a shame. The karaage here is genuinely delicious, so I always order it as a side. The meat comes in a portion of about ₩7,000, is generous, and comes with a sauce drizzled on top that's spicy-sweet too.

How does Mentsuru's hormone-don (beef intestine rice bowl) taste?

This is the hormone-don I ordered. I heard it's also called daechang-deopbap (grilled beef intestine over rice)! It's a combination similar to gyudon (beef rice bowl) but topped with more daechang (beef intestine). It was delicious without being too spicy or overwhelming~~

The chewy yet tender texture unique to daechang really comes through, and the more you chew, the savorier it gets — the harmony with the rice was really good. The salty, umami-rich sauce brings out the flavor of the daechang even more, so you keep wanting more rice. It's great when you want a filling meal, and I think it would satisfy anyone who usually enjoys gopchang or daechang dishes. If you're looking for a hearty, delicious rice bowl menu, I recommend Mentsuru's daechang-deopbap!

Motsu ramen spice level 1 at Mentsuru: about as hot as Shin Ramyun

This is the motsu ramen my companion ordered. It's loaded with a lot of bean sprouts and green onion, and the spice level can be chosen from 3 stages. Level 1 was about as spicy as Shin Ramyun. Next time I want to try level 2. With gopchang (beef intestine) in it, there was a nice chewy texture, and the bean sprouts blended in with the spiciness nicely — it was delicious.

Eating this together as two people, it was really filling and delicious.

If you're craving ramen with a rich broth, I recommend Mentsuru's motsu ramen. It's loaded with chewy, savory motsu (beef intestine), so every bite gives you a rich flavor, and the harmony of the deep, rich broth with the noodles was really good. In particular, the savory flavor unique to motsu blends naturally into the broth, giving it a different charm from regular ramen. The broth is rich yet not overwhelming, so you keep reaching for more, and eating the noodles together with the motsu really brings out the texture.