Menya Itto Ramen, a renowned Taipei ramen restaurant located in Taipei, offers an exceptional dining experience for ramen enthusiasts. With a focus on authentic flavours and exquisite craftsmanship, Menya Itto Ramen is a destination for those seeking some of the finest ramen in the city, specifically in the Zhongshan district part of Taipei.
Their menu seems to focus on two signature varieties: a rich and savoury chicken soup-based ramen, and the tantalizing Tsukemen, a dipping ramen that is sure to bring you as much delight as it does to me. Conveniently situated in the heart of Zhongshan, Menya Itto Ramen invites you to savour the true essence of traditional ramen in a relaxed and inviting setting. Its dedication to culinary excellence helps Menya Itto Ramen stand out as a must-visit establishment for Taipei ramen aficionados looking for a memorable dining experience.
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Menya Itto Ramen has been here now for a number of years now in the Zhonhshan District of Taipei on Nanjing East Road. Right next to Linsen Park, this Taipei ramen shop that has its roots in Japan has had a face lift within the last couple of years, and looks really inviting from the outside.
You’ll often find a line outside, but if you tap the tablet/ipad on the stand, it will generate a number for you and you can wait.
At peak times, they will open up their 2nd floor to deal with the influx of people wanting to eat here. But, as we got here around 17:00, they hadn’t yet opened that up and we had to wait outside. I don’t really like this idea. I think that if you have people waiting, then you should accommodate them if you have the space inside. If that means opening up the 2nd floor, then I think that is something they should do for their customers.
We waited about 30 mins, which for a newly opened Taipei ramen Zhongshan shop would be fairly reasonable, but for a place that has been here for a while and has a 2nd floor waiting to be opened, it felt like a bit too long.
If you aren’t sure how to order or what to do when you arrive at Menya Itto Ramen, then this is the post for you. See below for How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
3 Fast Tips on How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
The Menu at Menya Itto Ramen
The menu can be access through a QR code on the table, and a quick flick of the option at the bottom of your screen will translate it into English for you. The English may not be perfect, but it's pretty good and will allow you enough information to make an informed decision on your choice of ramen for your meal.
They had 3 ramen dishes available when we arrived. 2 were their signature, and 1 was their limited edition. We didn't get the limited edition this time, as it was more important for us to try their signature ramen to see if it had changed over the last 5 years since we had last visited.
Grilled Porcini Chicken and Pork Rice
The bowl of grilled porcini chicken and pork rice at Menya Itto Ramen was an absolute delight. The combination of tender chicken and flavourful pork, topped with the scorched mayonnaise, created a mouthwatering experience. The scorched mayonnaise added a unique touch, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
The aroma of the grilled porcini infused the rice, creating a rich and earthy flavor profile. Each bite was a perfectly balanced blend of savoury and smoky notes, with the chicken and pork complementing each other perfectly. The generous portion size left us feeling satisfied and content, making it a filling and satisfying meal option. It's worth a go, for sure.
However, I think for one of these little bowls of rice topped with meat and mayonnaise, I would probably look to somewhere like 麵屋壹慶 as I think that theirs is enough to make me want to go just to eat that bowl and skip the ramen altogether.
The layers of rice, soaked in flavorful broth, provided a delightful base for the succulent chicken and pork toppings. The blow-torched smokiness of the mayonnaise added a unique touch, enhancing the overall taste of the dish. The aroma of grilled porcini infused the rice, creating a rich and earthy flavor. Would I come back just to eat this? Perhaps not. But, it's a good accompaniment if you're hungry for more than just a bowl of ramen .
Mellow Scallion Chicken Soup Ramen
Known as the lighter of the 3 ramen options on the menu, this chicken soup ramen looked beautiful in the bowl, and still looked pretty rich in flavour, considering its so-called lightness. With two generous pieces of chicken breast in the bowl, in addition to the rich pork, bamboo shoots, scallions and egg, you get exceptional value for money here.
But that egg needs to be talked about all by itself. Soaked in brandy and left oozing with silky yolk on the inside, the egg is absolutely perfect in every way. You must get the brandy soaked egg at Menya Itto Ramen.
These thin noodles offer a satisfying bite and absorb the flavours of the ramen soup broth. They didn't necessarily bring much to the dish, but they did carry some of the soup with them and they did satisfy my need for an al dente noodle. Menya Itto Ramen isn't quite going to set the world alight when it comes to their noodles, but they're pretty good. The focus here is more on the depth of flavour in the broth, and the deliciously juicy meat served with each bowl.
Yusuke Champion Dipping Noodles
Yusuke Champion Dipping Noodles at Taipei restaurant, Menya Itto Ramen, feature thicker noodles that serve as a perfect vessel for the strong and rich dipping sauce. The noodles absorb and carry the flavors of the sauce, enhancing the overall taste experience. The sauce has some bamboo shoots and a meatball inside, and is full of that umami flavour that you want from a bowl of dipping noodles like this.
The depth of flavour that you get from this dish at Menya Itto Ramen is quite astounding. But, it's not for the faint-hearted. You'll drink quite a bit of water afterwards, and you'll definitely be aware of the sodium overload later in the day as you continue to consume copious amounts of water. But, I really like this bowl of dipping noodles for the complex flavours and depth that it brings.
The bottom line
Is it worth it? Yes. I often think of this place when I think about ramen . I just wish they'd open upstairs rather than let people wait outside.
What is the best dish? The dipping noodles was my favourite dish, but you absolutely have to get the brandy soaked egg with whatever you order. Order 2 if you can!
Are there other places like this? There are many ramen restaurants throughout Taipei. I also really like Ramen Katsuo, Nagi, and Shinn ramen.
Taipei restaurant – Ramen Katsuo 勝王
Taipei Restaurant – Nagi 凪の Taiwan, awesome Ramen!
Taipei Restaurant – 柑橘Shinn Ramen 魚水 Refreshingly Delicious Fish Stock Based Ramen