Spicy shoyu vs tonkotsu ramen at City Hall Station Exit 10: Mentsuru

Today I'm bringing you a story about eating ramen near City Hall Station haha

How close is Mentsuru City Hall Branch to City Hall Station Exit 10?

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is really close to City Hall Station Exit 10, so it's super accessible. Just walk straight from the exit for a bit and you'll see it right away! I was trying to figure out what to eat near City Hall and got a craving for ramen, so I stopped by haha. I've had a soft spot for this place ever since I used to go to the gym in front of it.

It's ⭐️power air-conditioning season⭐️ right now, so this was a nice spot to stop by when I wanted hot soup near City Hall Station :)

Mentsuru City Hall Branch: address, hours and last order

• Name: Mentsuru City Hall Branch
• Address: 1st floor, unit 1, 2 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30
• Last order: 21:00

Menu and how kiosk ordering works at Mentsuru

The menu at Mentsuru City Hall Branch ranges from ramen to rice bowls. Ordering is done through a kiosk, so picking and ordering was easy. This time I ordered several different kinds of ramen.

Solo dining at Mentsuru: the basement-floor seats

The inside of Mentsuru City Hall Branch felt clean, and it seemed like a good spot to visit solo as a City Hall restaurant. There's seating down to the basement floor, so it was more spacious than I expected. It looked like it could handle group visits too, but I ate comfortably by myself that day.

What comes on the table before the ramen

The three dishes ordered at Mentsuru City Hall Branch

• Spicy shoyu ramen
• Tonkotsu ramen
• Mini rice bowl

This is what I ordered :)

How spicy is the spicy shoyu ramen at Mentsuru?

I started with the spicy shoyu ramen. It was better than I expected and honestly my favorite. A total classic of sharp, spicy flavor!! My friend who came with me said it was their favorite too.

The meat was even more tender than the meat in the tonkotsu. As for spice level, maybe a bit milder than Shin Ramyun? The broth was clean but had a spicy kick that hit right away, so instead of a heavy, dull heat it went down with a refreshing feeling.

Tonkotsu ramen at Mentsuru: a flavor you already know

Next up was the tonkotsu ramen. Tonkotsu ramen tastes exactly like, well, the tonkotsu ramen you already know. A familiar flavor can be a scary thing haha — rich, savory broth plus soft noodles.

It wasn't super unique but was easy and comfortable to eat. If you're visiting a ramen restaurant for the first time, I'd recommend this as a safe order. Personally, the spicy shoyu ramen was more my style. But if you like that distinctly savory tonkotsu broth, you'll be able to enjoy this without any issues.

The toppings were generous, so it was great for piling extra stuff on.

Mini rice bowl: best eaten alongside the ramen

I really liked the mini rice bowl. I'd recommend eating it together with the ramen rather than on its own! Mix the sauce well into the rice and take a bite — it's so good haha. The chashu topping on the bowl was cut into small pieces, which made it easy to eat.

Eating just ramen the whole time can get a little repetitive, but switching to the rice bowl in between changed things up nicely.

Tips for ordering at Mentsuru City Hall Branch

If it's your first visit, I'd recommend the spicy shoyu ramen. Especially if you like a spicy, hearty broth, this one's more likely to suit your taste. The tonkotsu is a more familiar flavor, so it's easy to enjoy without any surprises.

And I'd recommend ordering the mini rice bowl together with the ramen! Mix the rice well and then alternate bites between the two — the combo is surprisingly good haha.

Honest verdict on Mentsuru City Hall Branch

Overall, Mentsuru City Hall Branch felt like a ramen restaurant near City Hall Station that's easy and comfortable to eat at. Above all, the location was really convenient. It's close to City Hall Station Exit 10, so it would be a good stop before or after meeting someone.

Of everything I ate, the spicy shoyu ramen stood out most. It had a clean, refreshing kind of heat, so I thought it could work well as a hangover remedy too. The tonkotsu didn't particularly stand out, but it's exactly the tonkotsu flavor you'd expect, so it should have broad appeal.

That said, the prices felt not especially cheap by ramen-restaurant standards. Still, given the convenient City Hall location and the idea of a simple meal, it's worth visiting once. If you like a spicy broth in particular, I'd recommend the spicy shoyu ramen :)

Next time I visit, I'll go for the spicy shoyu ramen. If you're near City Hall Station looking for a hot bowl of ramen, Mentsuru City Hall Branch might be worth checking out :)