Gwangjin ramen restaurant for family meals: Mentsuru

When looking for a good ramen place near Children's Grand Park, I find myself checking not only the location but also whether it will be easy to eat with kids. Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch (멘츠루 어린이대공원점) is right outside Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, so it was easy to find. This time, four of us visited and ordered shoyu ramen, hormon-don (beef offal rice bowl), chicken karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and tori paitan ramen with extra chashu. Rather than ordering ramen alone, we could enjoy a range of flavors, which worked well for a meal for four.

It is an 8-minute walk from the main gate of Children's Grand Park and right outside Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station.

A ramen restaurant that is easy to reach from Children's Grand Park

When looking for somewhere to eat after spending time at Children's Grand Park, its easy-to-reach location was the first thing that stood out. Inside, there are counter seats that are great for solo visitors, along with tables for four.

There were four of us, and we were able to eat comfortably at a table for four. If you are visiting with a child, it is also worth noting that high chairs and children's tableware are available.

Ramen and rice bowls shared by four

• Shoyu ramen
• Tori paitan with extra chashu
• Hormon-don, beef large-intestine rice bowl
• Handmade chicken karaage
• Santorini highball

By ordering different types of ramen and adding hormon-don and karaage, we got to try more dishes than we would have with just one menu item. If you visit with several people, sharing ramen, rice bowls, and side dishes like this seems like a good option.

If you want extra toppings with your ramen, you can choose additions such as seaweed, egg, or chashu.

My personal top pick: shoyu ramen

The shoyu ramen had a rich broth that paired beautifully with the perfectly cooked noodles, making it a satisfying bowl of ramen. (My personal top pick.)

Tori paitan with extra chashu

Tori paitan is ramen with a rich, full-bodied broth made by simmering chicken bones for a long time.

We added chashu, and the extra pork with the rich broth made the meal even more filling.

Hormon-don, easy to portion out for a child first

Hormon-don is a rice bowl topped with thin-sliced beef brisket and plump beef large intestine stir-fried in a slightly sweet house sauce. It comes with chili peppers, wasabi, and scallions, so if you are eating with a child, it would be best to serve their portion first before mixing it all together. Adults can mix the chilies and wasabi into the rice to cut through any richness for a different way to enjoy it.

Crisp, light handmade chicken karaage

The handmade chicken karaage is a great dish to have alongside ramen. Fresh chicken thigh is battered and fried to order, so the crisp texture really came through, while its light flavor made it easy to eat.

Dipped in the sauce, it gained a spicy kick that made it a good ramen side dish, and it would also be a nice snack with beer or a highball.

Santorini highball with ramen

The Santorini highball was refreshing and cool, so it went well with the rich ramen and karaage. It was good alongside the food, and taking a sip now and then felt like it cleansed the palate, so I was glad we ordered it.

Why it was comfortable for a family meal with kids

When looking for a good restaurant near Children's Grand Park to visit with kids, you end up checking not only the food but also the seating and tableware. Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch has both counter seats and tables for four, plus high chairs and children's tableware, so it was convenient for families.

Open without a break time

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is open year-round and has no break time, which is another plus. Sejong University is nearby too, making it well located when you are looking for a place to eat around Sejong University. If it is difficult to visit at a particular time, not having to check for a separate break time is convenient. However, actual business hours and menu prices may change depending on when you visit, so I recommend checking the latest information before going.

For rich-broth ramen near Children's Grand Park, Mentsuru. Having tried it myself, the rich broth went well with the chewy noodles, and the flavors worked well across the menu, from the ramen to the rice bowl and handmade chicken karaage. I especially liked that it was not a place with just one good item but somewhere worth trying several dishes together; the high chairs and children's tableware also made it comfortable for a family meal. If you are looking for a delicious ramen restaurant around Children's Grand Park, Konkuk University, or Sejong University, this is a place where the menu is worth looking forward to, not just the location.