Euljiro ramen restaurant, chicken skin gyoza and offal bowl: Mentsuru

Feeling how chilly it's gotten lately? Days like this call for a hot bowl of broth. So today I visited a ramen spot that's word-of-mouth famous among Euljiro office workers — Mentsuru Euljiro Branch.

Where is Mentsuru Euljiro Branch, and what is it like inside?

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is a ramen restaurant tucked in an alley off Mareunnae-ro, a 3-minute walk from Exit 9 of Euljiro3(sam)-ga Station. Even though it's set back a bit from the main street, the place was packed at lunchtime. 💼

The interior has real Japanese-local-ramen-shop vibes. The counter (dachi) seats facing the open kitchen are the main seating, with four or five tables too. Watching the steam rise from the kitchen while you wait is its own kind of treat. 🌟

Counter seats at Mentsuru Euljiro Branch: a haven for solo diners

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is genuinely great for eating alone. Since it's mostly counter seating, tons of office workers come by themselves, slurp down a bowl, and head out.

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch menu and prices

I thought this place only served one type of ramen, but the lineup is actually pretty full. Ramen starts at ₩11,000, and there are rice bowls and sides too.

• 🍜 Ramen — Shoyu ramen ₩11,000 / Shio ramen ₩11,000 / Spicy shoyu ramen ₩11,500 / Tori paitan ₩12,000 / Motsu ramen (beef intestine) ₩15,000 / Abura soba ₩12,000
• 🍚 Rice bowls — Gyudon (beef rice bowl) ₩11,000 / Hormone-don (beef large intestine rice bowl) ₩15,000
• 🍗 Sides — Handmade karaage ₩7,000 / Chicken skin gyoza ₩5,000

After some deliberation, I went with the motsu ramen + hormone-don combo! 🤤

Motsu ramen, 15,000 won: the star of the meal

The dish I was most curious about at Mentsuru Euljiro Branch was the motsu ramen (beef intestine), ₩15,000. It's on the pricier side among the ramens, but the moment the bowl arrived, I understood exactly why. 🤤

First off, they really don't skimp on the gopchang (beef intestine). Plump intestine pieces pile generously over the broth, and just looking at it, I thought, "there's no way this isn't delicious."

Any offal smell? None at all. This was the most surprising part. However carefully they must clean it, all that's left is that savory, fatty flavor. Bite into it and it bursts chewy, with the juices spreading right through. 😋

The broth is rich and heavy, with the intestine fat melted right in. But strangely, it's not the least bit heavy or cloying. Mentsuru apparently says it values "the depth and weight of the broth" above all — and after this bowl, I got exactly what that meant. I drained it to the very last sip. A little embarrassing, but... 😅

The noodles are chewy, holding just the right amount of broth. Slurped down together with that rich soup, my chopsticks wouldn't stop moving. If you love gopchang, the motsu ramen here is a must! 👍

Hormone-don, 15,000 won: the offal rice bowl ordered alongside

Ramen alone felt like it wasn't quite enough, so we also ordered the hormone-don (beef large intestine rice bowl), ₩15,000. Bottom line: skipping it would have been a real regret.

The daechang (beef large intestine) is stir-fried with a smoky char and piled generously over rice, and that char flavor really soaks through. It hits that perfect line of being rich without turning greasy. 🔥

The sweet-and-salty sauce seeps into the rice so every single grain tastes great. The daechang is slightly crisp on the outside and chewy inside, and that contrast in texture was genuinely wonderful.

And you have to try this: a spoonful of hormone-don, then a sip of motsu ramen broth! The broth cleans up the richness in your mouth and sends your chopsticks right back to the rice. A total loop you can't escape. 🔁

Chicken skin gyoza, 5,000 won, to finish

For a side, we also ordered chicken skin gyoza, ₩5,000.

It's chicken skin shaped into gyoza and grilled crisp on the outside. Bite in and it crackles, releasing a savory juiciness inside. Much lighter and cleaner than deep-fried chicken. 🍗

It's great to nibble on while waiting for your ramen, and just as good as a palate cleanser at the end. The portion isn't huge, so if there are two of you, ordering two plates might be a good idea. I finished mine in no time. 😆

Small wins: the pickled radish and how fast the food arrives

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch keeps danmuji (pickled radish) ready at every table. Since the motsu ramen and hormone-don combo runs on the rich side, popping a piece of danmuji here and there really resets your palate. A quietly genius move! 🥒

And the serving speed is genuinely fast. Not long after ordering, everything was out on the table. For office workers on a tight one-hour lunch break, that's a real advantage. ⚡

How to get to Mentsuru Euljiro Branch: hours, seats and parking

• 📍 Address: 26 Mareunnae-ro2-gil, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🚉 Location: 3-minute walk from Exit 9, Euljiro3(sam)-ga Station (Lines 2·3) / also close to Chungmuro Station
• 🕚 Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30 (last order 21:00)
• 📅 Closed: Open year-round
• 🚗 Parking: Not available — you'll need a nearby public parking lot!

No parking is a bit of a shame, but honestly, the subway is the way to go in Euljiro anyway, right? 😉

Is Mentsuru Euljiro Branch worth a return visit?

Motsu ramen, hormone-don and gyoza — I think I overordered a bit today. But zero regrets. 😌

₩15,000 for a bowl of ramen isn't exactly cheap. But considering the amount of gopchang and the quality of the broth, I think it's fully worth the price. Especially if you love gopchang, you need to visit this place. Gopchang ramen with no off smell is harder to find than you'd think!

Next time I want to try the abura soba and tori paitan too. This place keeps giving me reasons to come back. :D If you're craving something rich and warm on a chilly day, why not give it a visit?