Yongsan ramen restaurant for a quick mall dinner: Menya Seoul

Ramen for solo dining on I'Park Mall's seventh floor

When you're eating alone, there are plenty of times when a fancy meal feels a little burdensome, right? And when I want to eat quickly and leave quickly, I don't think there is a better option than ramen. I heard there was a great ramen spot at I'Park Mall, so I went. It was Menya Seoul 🍜.

• Parking available: subject to I'Park Mall policy
• Daily 11:00–21:00
• 7F, 55 Hangang-daero 23-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Menya Seoul is near the escalators on the seventh floor of I'Park Mall. It is in the perfect spot to pop into when you get hungry while shopping. I actually came by after work because I was sooo hungry after shopping! A shopping-to-meal route this neat is great, right?

It is right by the escalator, so it was incredibly easy to find! Even those with zero sense of direction should have no trouble.

Dongpo Pork Set No. 3 and choosing the heat level

The menu is so, so varied, isn't it? I wanted to eat everything, but as someone with a small appetite... I was craving something spicy today, so I ordered Dongpo Pork Set No. 3. The set includes a side dish and a drink. Ordering the set saves you ₩3,900! With Yongsan prices being what they are, getting ₩3,900 off a side and drink is such a bargain. (₩17,900)

For reference, I am terrible with spicy food, so I could not take on the mala flavor and ordered eolkeun (spicy and warming) instead! Eolkeun is about as spicy as Shin Ramyun, while mala is said to be a little hotter. Keep that in mind when ordering!

Solo dining comfortably at the bar table

Ramen really is a solo-dining food! There are plenty of bar seats, too, so you can eat alone without feeling self-conscious. Behind them is the I'Park Mall food court, where you can sit anywhere. If you came with companions, I recommend sitting in the food court.

Fast service that works for office lunches too

As expected of ramen, it is practically fast food. My meal came out after about five minutes. There are so, so many office workers in Yongsan, right? I think it would be great for them too! I am an office worker myself, and at lunch I want to eat quickly and rest... But when food comes late, it feels like my precious free time is being taken awayㅠㅠ. Menya Seoul comes out very quickly, so there is no need to worry about that! And because ramen turns tables quickly, your food comes soon even if it looks busy.

Tender dongpo pork served in one big piece

There is a thick piece of dongpo pork right in the middle. Usually elsewhere, the meat is sliced thin and arranged all around the edge of the bowl, right? Not at Menya Seoul. They simply put in a whole piece. You might expect it to be tough, but here it was tender with no chewiness at all. Its rich dongpo pork aroma, with no unpleasant smell, went so well with the ramen. They could sell the dongpo pork on its own.

Also, I really love dumplings, and I am firmly on team fried dumplings over boiled dumplings! 🥟 What kind of dumplings do you all like? Haha.

As a dumpling lover, I demolished all three dumplings in no time >< If ramen alone does not fill you up, definitely order the set! With the dumplings, you will feel nicely full.

Thin noodles and a punchy garlic broth

I prefer noodles that are just a little underdone rather than very soft ones, and they were cooked exactly to the texture I love. The thin noodles soaked up the broth beautifully. The broth also had minced garlic, giving it a pleasantly spicy kick. It is perfect for a hangover... From now on, ramen for hangovers! The garlic flavor completely cut through the potentially greasy, gamey notes of the meat broth and left a clean finish. It was a rich yet punchy broth that made me feel better with every sip.

I think this is jambon! It was my first time seeing ramen topped with jambon, but it was unexpectedly such a perfect match with ramen, you know? Haha. I enjoyed the jambon too 👍

Jambon and a moist soft-boiled egg to finish

Last up, the soft-boiled egg. I prefer a moist, soft-boiled egg like this to a fully cooked one!! And while most people seem to love egg whites, I am a yolk person, you know? Haha. That dry, crumbly texture is my style, haha. Thanks to Menya Seoul's ramen, I had such a satisfying dinner! I recommend it to ramen lovers 👍👍

From the deep, rich broth to the springy texture of the noodles, I immediately understood why so many people call this a great ramen spot. The clean, tidy atmosphere also made solo dining feel easy, and it is likely to be the first place I think of when I want a proper bowl of ramen. The tender dongpo pork and jambon, along with the broth's savory flavor, are already making me think I will return soon.