Solo dining at the bar seats for tonkatsu ramen set: Menji Hanam Misa

I went to Menji Hanam Misa Branch, a Japanese restaurant in Hanam Misa with a great atmosphere and a solid reputation for ramen.

House-made fresh noodles, rich chicken broth, and domestic Korean pork loin tonkatsu — great ingredients plus interior design that felt like being on a trip to Japan. Here's my review of this super healing ramen spot!

Menji Hanam Misa Branch: location, parking, hours

• 📍 36 Misagangbyeon-bukro 30beon-angil, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 1st floor
• 🅿️ Limited parking space — there's parking in front but it's for residents. Paid parking available nearby, public transit recommended
• 🚌 From Misa Station, buses 81 or 87 recommended / get off at Misagangbyeon Starhills or Geumbit Maeul
• 🕖 Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 11:00 to 20:30, break time 15:00 to 17:00, last order 20:00

A Ghibli-vibe ramen spot right next to the riverside park

Lately I kept thinking about the ramen I ate on trips to Japan and was looking around for where to go, when I passed by the riverside park and spotted a ramen restaurant right next to it — so I went straight in for some Japanese food!

The moment I walked in, I saw One Piece posters and Totoro along with other Japanese anime goods decorating the place, wooden interior, and lush green riverside park visible outside the window — with the weather that day, it was full-on Ghibli vibes. (I already love how relaxed the neighborhood around Menji Hanam Misa Branch feels, but Menji's atmosphere is truly the final boss of vibes!)

I wondered why I hadn't discovered this place sooner, and it turns out the spot used to be Alloy Bbingbbing, which closed, and Menji Hanam Misa Branch — a ramen restaurant in Hanam Misa — newly opened right there!

Menji Hanam Misa Branch is full of that feeling of having traveled to Japan! Photos really can't capture it the same way, haha 🥲

Solo dining at the counter (dachi) seats — no need to feel awkward

Since I was alone, I sat at the counter seats, and it never felt awkward eating solo — I could eat comfortably.

Japanese food really hits different when you eat it at the counter, haha! On one side there were cute Shin-chan and Totoro figures on display, fun to look at. They even had hair ties at the self-serve bar! Nice attention to even the small details — kudos to the owner 👍🏻

On one side of the restaurant there was a brand introduction card explaining that, true to the name 麺治 (Menji), they use hand-pressed, aged whole-wheat fresh noodles, a rich milky paitan broth made by simmering chicken for a long time, a clear and fragrant qingtan broth, and insist on using only domestic Korean fresh pork loin!

The self-serve bar and what I ordered

At the self-serve bar there were wooden chopsticks, small plates, soup bowls, takanazuke, and chili oil, and there was a sign explaining that since ramen tends to be a bit salty by nature, feel free to ask for more broth if it tastes too strong 👍🏻 I ordered the handmade pork loin tonkatsu + mini ramen set (₩16,500) and a lemon soda!

I didn't know what takanazuke was, so I opened it up — turns out it's a traditional Japanese fermented pickled vegetable! I was curious and meant to try it, but I got distracted the second the ramen and tonkatsu arrived and completely forgot, ugh. If you visit, definitely try it! I heard it's delicious, haha.

Steam kept rising from the noodle-boiling pot in the kitchen area, giving off a strong ramen-shop atmosphere.

I sipped the lemon soda that arrived early while zoning out and looking out the window, feeling like I was on a trip to Japan, haha.

Mild tori paitan mini ramen — the broth was moving

I ordered the set that comes with handmade pork loin tonkatsu and mini ramen, and chose tori paitan (chicken broth) in the mild flavor! A big, thick slice of tender chicken sat on top, generously topped with pepper and scallions — one sip of the broth and honestly, I was moved. The look of it was great too, rich yet clean at the same time, and just so delicious!! I went alone so I couldn't say anything out loud, but I was silently amazed the whole time 👏

The noodles were chewy and the chicken was incredibly tender, so good! Look at how you can still see the grain of the chicken meat.

The handmade pork loin tonkatsu, best with salt and wasabi

It was cooked all the way through, and eating it with salt and wasabi together made it taste light and clean, not greasy at all!

It came with shredded cabbage and slightly firm rice too, so it was a really filling, satisfying meal!

It came with Menji's special tare sauce, made from a base of 16 ingredients including char siu, salt, and soy sauce, mixed with various types of bushi (dried bonito flakes) and aged for over five days, along with fresh wasabi.

Takoyaki also came as a side! I'm not particularly a fan of takoyaki, but eating it together with the ramen, it was actually delicious : )

A meal, then a loop around the riverside park — the perfect course

Both the owner and the staff were so kind that I left in a great mood 🙏🏻 Both the ramen and the tonkatsu were satisfying, and I feel like this would be a great place to come to whenever I want to feel like I'm traveling. I'm definitely going back soon to try the spicy pepper tori paitan ramen!!

I was so happy to find a proper ramen restaurant in Hanam Misa, and watching the view outside the window while waiting for the food felt really healing! Stop by Menji Hanam Misa Branch for a meal, then take a loop around the riverside park — the perfect course!

It's the perfect Japanese home-style restaurant for dates, family meals, or solo dining. If you've been looking for a good ramen restaurant in Hanam Misa, I highly recommend Menji Hanam Misa Branch!! They also have various events running, so make sure to check them out when you visit : )