Seongsu ramen with potato purée corn and basil risotto: Menya Pomo

Looking for a Seongsu-dong ramen spot that's a bit different but still a guaranteed win? A lot of people are, right?

Today I want to write about Menya Pomo, one of the standout Seongsu-dong restaurants I visited recently, with a look and a tomato ramen concept unlike anywhere else. I go around trying ramen shops all over Seongsu-dong pretty often, but this place specializes specifically in tomato-based ramen, so I went in with a ton of expectations already.

To cut to the conclusion first: it's a great Seongsu-dong solo-dining spot, and just as satisfying as a date-course restaurant in Seongsu-dong — I finished every last drop of broth.

Where is Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch, and when is it open?

• Address: 37-17 Yeonmujang-gil, B1 Unit 101, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Sun 11:30–20:30 (last order 20:00)
• Break time: 15:30–17:00 / none on Sat–Sun

Inside Menya Pomo: solo booths, tables for two and four

Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch has a modern wood-toned interior with partitioned solo seats, 2-tops and 4-tops. Walking in, the whole place feels calm and a little upscale, and the warm wood interior put me at ease right away.

The space is used really well — there's a dedicated solo-dining corner with proper partitions, cozy 2-tops for conversation, and roomy 4-tops, all laid out neatly. It struck me as a place that works for solo diners grabbing a comfortable meal alone, couples on a date, and groups of friends or coworkers alike.

Every seat has its own tablet ordering kiosk, so you can browse menu photos and topping options and take your time deciding — genuinely convenient.

Menya Pomo tomato ramen menu and spice levels explained

Menya Pomo's signature dishes are, without question, its tomato-based ramens. The menu offers a solid lineup of four tomato ramen flavors to pick from depending on your taste.

Spice levels are broken down carefully too, from no-spice up through level 1 (Shin Ramyun heat) all the way to level 5 (5x Shin Ramyun), so everyone from spice-shy eaters to heat lovers can find their fit.

What we ordered at Menya Pomo and which toppings we added

We ordered two of Menya Pomo's signature dishes and piled on extra toppings to suit our taste.

Pomo Corn Tomato Ramen (22,500 won)

• Spice: Level 1 (Shin Ramyun heat)
• Extra toppings: eggplant & mushroom (+₩1,500), sous-vide chicken breast (+₩3,000), cheese risotto rice (+₩3,000), basil risotto rice (+₩3,000)

Real Tomato Ramen (17,000 won)

• Spice: no spice
• Extra toppings: Korean beef katsu (+₩4,500)

Drinks over ice: an unusual pairing with tomato ramen

Before the food came out, they set up our drinks first — nicely, with highball glasses packed full of ice.

The oolong tea I used to drink a lot on trips to Japan has a deep, roasted flavor that paired really well with the rich flavor of the tomato ramen. Even the drink lineup here felt anything but ordinary, full of thoughtful little touches.

I usually prefer something clean over soda, and the Club apple cider vinegar soda hit the spot — its fizzy tang and the bright sourness of apple vinegar refreshed my palate perfectly between bites of ramen.

How the Pomo Corn and Real Tomato ramen actually taste

The moment our order arrived, I couldn't help but gasp at how good it all looked.

The Pomo Corn Tomato Ramen was the standout visually — an ice-cream-cone-shaped scoop of potato purée planted right in the middle of the bowl, unlike anything I'd seen before.

Stirring the soft potato purée little by little into the level-1 broth, roughly as spicy as Shin Ramyun, made the broth even richer and deeper, and the flavor lingered thick in my mouth.

Add in the nicely browned eggplant and mushroom topping along with the moist, tender sous-vide chicken breast, and the texture was fantastic.

The Real Tomato Ramen we ordered alongside it came topped with a whole fresh, large tomato — visually it was incredibly satisfying.

The unspiced broth was bright and fresh rather than punchy, and we topped it with crispy Korean beef katsu — dipping that crisp-outside, tender-inside katsu lightly into the rich tomato broth was honestly a real treat.

Using the spices on the table at Menya Pomo

Definitely check out the spice guide on the table too. It comes with pepper, garlic oil, mild tabasco, and crushed pepper flakes.

Personally, my favorite combo was a few drops of garlic oil with a light dusting of crushed pepper flakes. The nutty aroma of garlic plus a sharp kick of spice upgraded the broth into something rich and deep that really suits Korean tastes.

Finishing the broth with cheese and basil risotto rice

The biggest draw at Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch is the unusual pairing of tomato-based ramen with risotto — once you've worked through most of the noodles, the real highlight begins.

They offer free unlimited rice refills as standard, but for a fuller experience we ordered both the cheese risotto rice and the basil risotto rice on top of that.

Final verdict and score for Menya Pomo Seongsu Branch

• Taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (the Pomo Corn and Real Tomato's unmatched looks, topping combos, and risotto finish are all on point)
• Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (modern wood-toned interior with well-planned seating from solo tables to 4-tops)
• Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (one bowl of ramen delivers a full, unusual risotto-course experience)

If you're after an unusual, satisfying meal in a comfortable wood-toned space, I highly recommend Menya Pomo.