Weekday 2pm no-wait ramen and parking tips at Mentsuru, Gwangjin

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a Konkuk-area ramen restaurant that lets you pick your style depending on your mood.

I love ramen, but sometimes an oily or heavy broth gets a bit much halfway through. This time at Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch, a well-known Konkuk restaurant, I tried two ramens with completely different styles and compared them.

I visited around 2pm on a weekday, well past the lunch rush, but the place still had quite a few customers. Even past the busy hour people kept coming in to eat, so it seemed like a spot locals rely on regularly.

Above all, ordering both the spicy shoyu ramen and the rich tori paitan side by side made the difference between the two pretty clear. For anyone deciding which ramen to order, here's an honest comparison. 🍜

How close is it to Children's Grand Park Station?

Walking out of Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, the restaurant is basically right there, so it was really easy to find.

Walking in, the staff greeted me brightly, which made a great first impression. Inside there was a good mix of seating: bar seats for eating alone, plus 2-seat and 4-seat tables.

There's a bar table that's especially good for solo dining, so stopping in alone for a single bowl of ramen doesn't feel awkward at all. Every table also has a tablet for ordering, so you can check photos of the menu and order and pay right away — very convenient.

It's a good vibe whether you're eating alone near Children's Grand Park or looking for a Konkuk lunch spot with a friend.

What we ordered today

We ordered two ramens with different styles plus a side dish.

• Spicy shoyu ramen ₩11,000
• Tori paitan ₩12,000
• Handmade karaage ₩7,000

1️⃣ Spicy shoyu ramen ₩11,000

The spicy shoyu ramen I ordered has a Japanese soy sauce-based broth with a subtle kick of spice.

It's not extremely spicy, but the heat builds and gets sharper toward the end. Thanks to that spiciness the broth didn't feel greasy and went down fairly clean. If you're like me and find overly oily ramen a bit much, this should work well.

✔ Recommended if you like a spicy, clean broth

2️⃣ Tori paitan ₩12,000

My companion's tori paitan stood out for its milky, thick broth. One sip revealed the savory richness of chicken stock, and the broth was clearly heavier than the shoyu.

Unlike the clean-finishing shoyu, this style leaves a rich flavor lingering in your mouth, so it'll suit anyone who likes a thicker ramen broth more.

✔ Recommended if you like rich, heavy broth

3️⃣ Handmade chicken karaage ₩7,000

The handmade chicken karaage we ordered as a side was crispy outside and juicy inside.

It was seasoned just salty enough to pair well with the ramen, and if two of you visit, ordering one ramen each and sharing this as a side works great.

The lemon danmuji (pickled radish) served as a basic side was tangy and delicious too — I kept going back for more. 🍋

Shoyu or tori paitan — which to choose?

Trying both ramens side by side made the difference in style really clear. The spicy shoyu ramen is sharp and clean, while the tori paitan is rich and heavy, so it comes down to your broth preference.

Personally I lean toward clean broths over oily or heavy ones, so the spicy shoyu ramen was slightly more to my taste.

Overall the food came out quickly and the staff were friendly. With no break time, it's also good for eating at an off-peak hour, and having bar seats made solo dining easy too.

With the restaurant just a minute's walk from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station, it's easy to get to and worth a visit if you're looking for a Konkuk restaurant or a lunch spot near Children's Grand Park.

Good to know before you go

Parking: Gwangjin Plaza public lot

There's no dedicated parking at the restaurant. If you're driving, the easiest option is the Gwangjin Plaza public parking lot right across the street. It's close enough that the walk over isn't a hassle.

For a relaxed meal, go after the lunch rush

Between 12 and 1pm, local office workers and students can pack the place. I visited around 2pm on a weekday and there were still quite a few customers, but I was able to eat without any wait.

A layout that works well for solo dining

With bar seats available, coming in alone doesn't feel awkward at all. It's a fine spot if you just want to grab a single bowl of ramen and go.

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch info

• Location: 394 Gwangnaru-ro, 1F, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (1-minute walk from Exit 4, Children's Grand Park Station)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00 (last order 22:30 / no break time)
• Parking: No on-site parking; use the paid Gwangjin Plaza public parking lot across the street