Gwangjin ramen restaurant dinner with gyudon: Mentsuru

A ramen restaurant near Children's Grand Park Station

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is an affordable ramen restaurant near Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station.

Known as a date spot near Children's Grand Park Station, it offers drinks and ramen in a trendy yet comfortable setting.

It is on the first floor at 394 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, just 30 seconds on foot from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station. It is close to Hwayang-dong Post Office and Hwayang-dong Community Service Center, as well as the KFC Sejong University branch. It is open daily from 11:00 to 23:00, with last orders at 22:30. Group visits, takeout, reservations, and solo dining are available, along with high chairs and Wi-Fi.

The good value makes it easy to drop in without feeling burdened, while the food is said to be clean, tasty, and served in an atmospheric space. The restaurant is large enough for group gatherings or company dinners, and it is also nice for a drink without driving. It works equally well for dates, outings, or eating alone, with a youthful but relaxed atmosphere that suits Konkuk University.

Craving the steaming ramen from Japanese films

Are you interested in Japanese films or animation? When I watch them, foods from sushi and gyudon (Japanese beef rice bowl) to onigiri (rice ball) appear all the time. Seeing people eat them always makes me wonder what they taste like, and the thing I wanted most was a piping-hot bowl of ramen. I had often wondered about its flavor, and then heard there was a place near Children's Grand Park Station that did it properly. I visited happily, and was satisfied enough to feel it would be a shame to keep this place to myself.

A stop on a Children's Grand Park date

The place I visited was Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, a Japanese ramen specialist that has been gaining word-of-mouth attention as a Konkuk University date hot spot. I had heard it was good value. It is a 30-second walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, located between KFC and McDonald's. It is five minutes by car from Exit 1 of Konkuk University Station, and is also close to Konkuk University Seoul Campus and Konkuk University Medical Center. Since Seoul Children's Grand Park is a 10-minute walk away, it felt like a fitting stop on a date route too.

Counter seating with a little-Japan feel

The exterior caught my eye right away, and the interior had a charming atmosphere. There was Japanese-style décor and small accessories, along with dachi (bar counter) seating. It reminded me so much of my recent trip to Fukuoka that it felt like finding a little Japan in Euljiro. For reference, if you leave a Naver review and show the staff confirmation, you can receive a soft drink or fried gyoza as a service item.

Choosing ramen and gyudon on a tablet

This is a restaurant where you can dine alone, with a variety of ramen and meal options. You can request a bowl of steamed rice at no extra charge and add toppings to suit your appetite. Beer, highballs, and soft drinks are available too, and tablet ordering made the contactless process convenient. There may be a wait at peak times, so I recommend going early.

Spicy shoyu ramen ₩11,000 Tori paitan ramen ₩12,000 Gyudon (beef rice bowl) ₩11,000

After talking it over with my sibling, we each chose something different. My sibling, who normally prefers spicy soups, picked the spicy shoyu ramen, which would also be great for a hangover. Since I love chicken, I decided to make a dinner of tori paitan ramen. We also ordered gyudon as a rice dish to have alongside the ramen.

Light yet deeply flavored tori paitan ramen

Pickled radish was set out at every table, and pepper was available to use as you liked. The gyudon arrived first, followed by our two bowls of ramen. The tori paitan ramen had pleasantly soft noodles, and the savory soft-boiled egg suited my taste perfectly. The broth, simmered from chicken bones for a long time, delivered a light yet deep flavor. You can add extra egg and chashu separately.

Spicy shoyu ramen with complimentary rice

The spicy shoyu ramen my sibling chose had a reddish color. When I savored the broth first, it had a warming spicy kick. Like the tori paitan ramen, it had a rich broth, with an extra peppery heat that suited my taste. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys spicy food. It was good with the pepper on the table, and adding a complimentary bowl of rice made it even more filling. I felt that there would be no wrong choice on the menu.

Charcoal-scented gyudon with a poached egg

The gyudon, a Japanese beef rice bowl, was mouthwatering just to look at. It was topped with a poached egg, sliced chili peppers, and shichimi (Japanese seven-spice blend), and eating them together brought different flavors into harmony. I liked its subtle charcoal aroma and the fact that it was not spicy, while the tender beef was excellent too. Breaking the egg yolk and mixing it in made it even richer. The portion was substantial enough that one bowl did not leave me wanting more.

Next time, I am coming back for motsu ramen

I wanted to give it a passing grade in so many ways. Its transport access was excellent, making it perfect for a meal and drink without driving, and above all, the staff's kindness stood out. They moved diligently and paid close attention so that guests could eat comfortably. Thanks to them, I had a pleasant stay and naturally felt grateful. Next time, I plan to return to try motsu ramen with beef offal.