City Hall Japanese restaurant for abura soba: Mentsuru

When I need to have lunch around City Hall, I tend to look for something simple yet filling, like ramen or a rice bowl.

This time, I went back to Mentsuru City Hall Branch (멘츠루 시청점), which I had visited once before. I remembered the food being good and the staff being kind on my first visit, so I decided to try different dishes this time.

This time, we ordered abura soba, chashu don, and house-made karaage.

Back at Mentsuru near City Hall Station

Mentsuru City Hall Branch had an atmosphere that did not feel awkward for eating alone, so it seemed like a good spot for office workers looking for a restaurant near City Hall Station. There are counter seats around the kitchen for one or two diners, as well as tables for dining with companions.

More than anything, I noticed again how kind the staff were. They greeted us pleasantly when we came in and again when we left, so even on my second visit, I could start the meal feeling comfortable.

Abura soba with a mildly spicy standard flavor

When you think of a ramen restaurant, ramen usually comes to mind first, but this time I chose other dishes instead. I was especially curious about the abura soba, which I had not tried on my previous visit. Even the standard flavor of the abura soba is mildly spicy.

Abura soba is an oil-mixed noodle dish. Just from the name, I wondered whether it might feel a little greasy because of the oil. But you could choose the spice level, and the menu noted that even the standard flavor was slightly spicy. We chose the standard level.

Once I tried it, the subtle heat meant that, despite being oil-mixed noodles, it was less heavy than I expected. It was not intensely spicy; rather, it had a gentle kick as you ate that nicely balanced the richness of the oil.

The noodles and seasoning came together well, so it did not feel overly heavy even through a whole bowl. I usually enjoy ramen with broth too, but sometimes I crave noodles mixed without broth like this, and abura soba would be a good choice at those times.

Thick-cut, tender chashu don

Actually, the dish I chose for myself this time was not the abura soba but the chashu don. It came piled high with chashu, so the amount of meat looked quite generous from the moment it arrived.

The chashu was sliced thick, but it was tender rather than tough, which I liked. A rice bowl with lots of meat can become a little rich as you eat, but the Cheongyang chili peppers added a sharp spicy note, and they went well with the meat. As I topped the rice with chashu and added bits of chili pepper, I ended up finishing the bowl faster than expected.

The meat was thick yet tender, so I think anyone who likes meat would enjoy it. Especially for office workers wanting a filling lunch, a rice bowl like this seemed like a good option near City Hall Station.

The house-made karaage I ordered again

We also ordered the house-made karaage. I had enjoyed it on my first visit too, so I did not hesitate to order it again.

The karaage pieces were large, and even one or two pieces felt quite filling for a side dish. They were crisp outside and juicy inside, making them good alongside either the abura soba or chashu don. Ordering karaage along with a meat dish such as chashu don made the overall meal feel especially generous.

Personally, I had remembered enjoying it on my earlier visit, so I naturally ordered it again this time—and I was happy with it again.

Another satisfying meal on my second visit

This time, I tried abura soba and chashu don rather than ramen. The standard abura soba had a mild spiciness that made the oil-mixed noodles easy to enjoy without their usual richness, while the chashu don was packed with thick chashu that was tender rather than tough. Adding the large house-made karaage made it a very filling meal for two.

Above all, I was glad that the staff were just as kind on my second visit. Some places are simply somewhere you eat and leave, but it is comfortable to revisit somewhere that welcomes you pleasantly from the moment you enter until you finish and head out. If you are looking for lunch around City Hall or a simple place to eat alone, Mentsuru City Hall Branch could be worth stopping by.

When you are craving a filling meal around City Hall or looking for a lunch spot for office workers near City Hall Station, keep the combination of abura soba, chashu don, and house-made karaage in mind.