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Loved Mensho! They turn the tables super fast so even on a busy weekend we were seated in about ~30 minutes. The food was delicious - my partner had plenty of veg-friendly choices for ramen and appetizers. I had the smoked toripaitan that was perfectly balanced in flavor. I find many ramens too salty but this was perfect. We would definitely come again and bring friends along!
Fair warning, I'm an honest yelper! I came here this past weekend with a group of 5 including myself. A few friends had been here before and raved about the Garlic Knock Out ramen. It lived up to the expectations. We ordered A LOT of different things. I'll just share what my husband and I ordered. The Wagyu jerky roll (really good, when is Wagyu not good?!!), enoki chips (mushroom chips) so crunchy and savory, A5 Wagyu w/ lkura (Wagyu sushi roll 2 pieces) delicious!!! And of course the Garlic Knock Out ramen, add an egg. Egg is smoked somehow and comes out perfectly jammy in the ramen. We spent a pretty penny here. And for the food it was worth it. Now on to the service, friendly at the beginning but my one huge complaint is honestly the service system. Each server walks around to each table, ready to ask you almost immediately if you are ready to order appetizers, then main course. The servers had such bad attitudes towards us for not being immediately ready. It was a really odd scenario, having multiple servers stop by the table to ask "ready to order", then that one goes away, rolls her eyes, then 1 minute later, another does the same.. I understand this is a quick Bay Area bite, and I'm all for it! But I wanted to look over the menu.. as I'm sure others do. Aside from the rolled eyes and attitude, the food was delicious. I hope not everyone gets that rude experience.
I figured out the secret of when this place is not busy with no lines. It's when the weather is 80+ degrees! I dined here on a weeknight during a heat wave, and walked in as a party of 2 to be seated immediately. The host even provided options of which table we preferred. Totally unheard of especially when every other visit included a 45+ min wait. Mensho has great ratings, and for good reason. They have enough ramen selections to cater every type of eater. The ingredients seem quality and the noodle texture has the perfect chew, which Mensho described them as "mochi noodles". I opted for the vegan ramen during my recent visit, loved all the veggies and the broth wasn't too salty. I had a couple bites of the wagyu from the wagyu ramen, the meat was very rich/buttery. I probably wouldn't want a whole serving of that, but a few bites satisfied the curiousity. Currently, Mensho offers a matcha pudding type dessert for $7. It was very tasty with a few bites of red beans and couple slices of strawberry. I was actually enjoying every bite. Prices have definitely creeped up over the years, glad to see that they're still using quality ingredients. Service was good. I'll come again during the next heat wave. Haha. #39/2026
First time here and we went pass 8pm, waited about 30 min. Not too bad of a wait, we just walked around and got some ice cream nearby. We tried the enoki chips, kurozu karaage and unagi roll. I really like the karaage, especially its's paired with eggplant and shishito peppers. I got the A5 Wagyu ramen and my bf got the signature Toripaitan(with extra duck chashu on the side). They are pretty good given I'm not a super ramen person. My soup base tastes very smokey in a good way. I tried my bf's, it's a rich creamy soup base. It was good but might be too heavy for my liking. Overall, I can see the hype and definitely want to come back to try other new dishes!
Mensho was really phenomenal! It challenged my belief that Japanese restaurant chains that make it across the Pacific do not live up to its original standards. The appetizers were all phenomenal. The wagyu nigiri came not seared, but gently warmed so the bite was very buttery and rich. The tartare came in a monaka and was very flavorful. I wasn't sure if you are supposed to eat the third wafer, but it was a bit stale. The house special ramen came with wagyu, duck, and pork chashu in creamy tori paitain broth. It was a very decadent dish, although I have had better paitan broth elsewhere. The premium smoked toppings though were incredibly tender and I loved the contrast of the crispy enokis and oyster mushroom memma. The hostess was super friendly and we got seated immediately. But, a line started building up as we left so plan accordingly. I would 100% come back to try all the appetizers!
A ramen experience unlike any other. The creativity of the flavors and toppings. I've never had ramen like this anywhere else. Quality ingredients too. They also have hand rolls! Also sooooo many vegan options. Just go. but try to go early cuz they dont take reservations and its always packed
My go to order is their signature ramen, chicken karaage, and their special hand rolls. Review long overdue but honestly it is the best Ramen spot here in the east bay. I've been to the SF location a long time ago and have been waiting for them to open up on piedmont ave. Signature Ramen 5/5 Broth is very rich and flavorful. The Chashu is super tender. Noodles are made fresh and chewy. Everything about this bowl is perfect. Fried enoki on top gives an extra umami. This is best for first time goers. Chicken Karaage 5/5 Crunchy and crispy Japanese fried chicken. Meat is super tender and juicy. Sauce drizzled on top for a flavor bomb Hand Rolls 4/5 It's simple and delicious. Hokkaido Scallop 5/5 This was an absolute banger. Super tender scallops. Service 5/5 Staff are very friendly and checks in regularly. Ambience 3.8/5 Beware it's a very small space to dine and can feel cramped and loud when it gets very crowded. But despite that, it's so worth getting a bowl of ramen. I highly recommend this spot to all foodies and ramen lovers. I usually go solo so there's always seating available for myself even when it's extremely busy.
The ramen here is delicious. The restaurant is either taking liberties on what a modern take on Japanese dishes are, or has created something wholey unique. I am not learned enough regarding Japanese cuisine, but I can say, it was fantastic and seemingly new enough to me to be fascinated by the combination of ingredients, the upgraded umami profiles and the decadence of the dishes to want to come back. The service was friendly and dishes come fast. This is by necessity, its a popular place, for good reason. Definitely coming back or trying the San Francisco location, whichever comes first
Unpopular opinion: wasn't my favorite. But that's all due to personal preference (aside from service and a rocky start). The good: fresh, quality ingredients The bad: started with the host/wait list. I accidentally added my name twice for a solo diner. Host thought it was a mistake and completely removed me from the wait list and seated other parties that came in after me. Thoroughly confused - she didn't even call my name to confirm so I had to go up to her and ask. No apology either. Was seated at the counter where solo diners usually sit. Service was non existent. Server came up to me and ask "what would you like to order?" I've never been there before. No "hi my name is ... I'll be your server" nada. They're just a machine - people in people out. The ramen - broth was fine. The squiggly noodles aren't my favorite. Expected to have kernel corn but had corn ribs instead (good thing I'm good with chopsticks!) The charshu was just okay. Enoki topping was just ... aight. The nice touch was that they didn't put it in the ramen and served it on the side to preserve its crunchiness because it definitely needed the texture! It was loud, busy, and nothing spectacular about the dining scene here. $55 dollars later (ramen, 2 additional toppings, one box of sake) ... I sadly don't think it was worth it.
Had been hearing a lot about this place, so we decided to give it a try. We came on a Friday night and it was extremely crowded, we ended up waiting close to an hour for a table. To start, we ordered the enoki chips and corn ribs, which were both really good. For our mains, we tried the duck ramen and tonkotsu ramen, and both bowls were flavorful. Overall, we enjoyed everything we ordered and could see why the restaurant is popular. That said, after such a long wait, we didn't feel like the food quite lived up to the hype. While it was definitely good ramen, it wasn't memorable enough for us to feel that it justified waiting nearly an hour.
Appetizers here - AMAZING! Service is very friendly & quick, and food is reasonably priced. We came here to grab dinner with our friends in town & the menu was big enough that it had something for everyone. The noodles in the ramen were very good, but I would say there is better ramen in the bay. But I would come back to eat through all of the appetizers. There is a lot of seating but they do use shared tables for the bigger tables & just put a separator inbetween parties on the longer tables.
Stumbled upon this ramen place that happened to have a michelin star/ guide for the last three years! The wait was about 30-45 mins for a party of two at 7:30pm on a Saturday. Considering other reviews, I don't think we waited too long. We ordered two of their top ramens, although the matcha duck one was enticing, I did like the Garlic overload on my ramen. The fried enoki mushrooms were also good, I just wish the portions were a bit bigger for both dishes. Staff was also quick and helpful going through the menu with us first timers. We sat at a shared table but I like how they had a divider to separate the spaces. Pretty small restaurant and they only have street parking so if you want to try, I recommend going early! We were lucky to snag a spot right in the front!
I had the smoked signature toripaitan and the beef tongue. The beef tongue was super yummy. One of the best I've had. The toripaitan ramen was super creamy and the noodles were cooked to perfection. Loved the nuttiness and flavor of the broth. The meat was also full of flavor. Was a long wait, but I'd say the food was worth it. Very busy! And for good reason!
I will be thinking of Mensho for a very long time. I have had ramen in Japan and Mensho comes very close to ramen in Japan. The chicken broth is so rich and creamy. The noodles cooked perfectly with a small bite, their proteins are tender and flavorful. I would absolutely recommend! read more
3 days ago
A great restaurant with a wonderful variety of vegan noodle dishes! We visited as a group for lunch, and the place was packed. We ordered several different dishes, and all of them were delicious. You can also watch the noodles being prepared in the kitchen near the entrance, which adds to the experience. I ordered the vegan Tantanmen extra spicy. The broth and toppings were really flavorful, and the eggplant was a highlight. We also tried the corn wings, which were so good that we kept ordering more! It's a bit pricey, likely because of the location, but the overall food experience was excellent. This restaurant now ranks second on my personal ramen list. Whenever I'm back in the area, I'll definitely return to try the other vegan noodle flavors. read more
Excellent service, dark cozy vibrant lively ambiance late Saturday night. Had to wait about ten minutes around 9pm on a Saturday evening, but hey.. no biggie. We've been to plenty of ramen places in this life, but this one is one of the special ones that I keep reflecting upon after my visit. The Ramen was delightful here with artfully prepared ingredients, and depth and complexity in all the elements. One of the standout features was the absolutely dlectable smoke-infused Char Siu. Wow. Correspondingly the side order of boiled was sheer perfection with a creamy yolk inside the firm egg white. I will say that the Vegan Ramen I also tried was pretty spicy for me at the "normal" spice level, but still I ate all of it! =). Next time I'll go with "no spice" and add in whatever chili I need to dial it in to suit my tastes. The hand rolls looked awesome too, but we were out of tummy room.. That's gonna be something for next time for sure! I definitely want to come back here again... Worth the trip, even from across the Bay! read more
Loved Mensho! They turn the tables super fast so even on a busy weekend we were seated in about ~30 minutes. The food was delicious - my partner had plenty of veg-friendly choices for ramen and appetizers. I had the smoked toripaitan that was perfectly balanced in flavor. I find many ramens too salty but this was perfect. We would definitely come again and bring friends along! read more
6 days ago
Fair warning, I'm an honest yelper! I came here this past weekend with a group of 5 including myself. A few friends had been here before and raved about the Garlic Knock Out ramen. It lived up to the expectations. We ordered A LOT of different things. I'll just share what my husband and I ordered. The Wagyu jerky roll (really good, when is Wagyu not good?!!), enoki chips (mushroom chips) so crunchy and savory, A5 Wagyu w/ lkura (Wagyu sushi roll 2 pieces) delicious!!! And of course the Garlic Knock Out ramen, add an egg. Egg is smoked somehow and comes out perfectly jammy in the ramen. We spent a pretty penny here. And for the food it was worth it. Now on to the service, friendly at the beginning but my one huge complaint is honestly the service system. Each server walks around to each table, ready to ask you almost immediately if you are ready to order appetizers, then main course. The servers had such bad attitudes towards us for not being immediately ready. It was a really odd scenario, having multiple servers stop by the table to ask "ready to order", then that one goes away, rolls her eyes, then 1 minute later, another does the same.. I understand this is a quick Bay Area bite, and I'm all for it! But I wanted to look over the menu.. as I'm sure others do. Aside from the rolled eyes and attitude, the food was delicious. I hope not everyone gets that rude experience. read more
I figured out the secret of when this place is not busy with no lines. It's when the weather is 80+ degrees! I dined here on a weeknight during a heat wave, and walked in as a party of 2 to be seated immediately. The host even provided options of which table we preferred. Totally unheard of especially when every other visit included a 45+ min wait. Mensho has great ratings, and for good reason. They have enough ramen selections to cater every type of eater. The ingredients seem quality and the noodle texture has the perfect chew, which Mensho described them as "mochi noodles". I opted for the vegan ramen during my recent visit, loved all the veggies and the broth wasn't too salty. I had a couple bites of the wagyu from the wagyu ramen, the meat was very rich/buttery. I probably wouldn't want a whole serving of that, but a few bites satisfied the curiousity. Currently, Mensho offers a matcha pudding type dessert for $7. It was very tasty with a few bites of red beans and couple slices of strawberry. I was actually enjoying every bite. Prices have definitely creeped up over the years, glad to see that they're still using quality ingredients. Service was good. I'll come again during the next heat wave. Haha. #39/2026 read more
First time here and we went pass 8pm, waited about 30 min. Not too bad of a wait, we just walked around and got some ice cream nearby. We tried the enoki chips, kurozu karaage and unagi roll. I really like the karaage, especially its's paired with eggplant and shishito peppers. I got the A5 Wagyu ramen and my bf got the signature Toripaitan(with extra duck chashu on the side). They are pretty good given I'm not a super ramen person. My soup base tastes very smokey in a good way. I tried my bf's, it's a rich creamy soup base. It was good but might be too heavy for my liking. Overall, I can see the hype and definitely want to come back to try other new dishes! read more
2 months ago
Mensho was really phenomenal! It challenged my belief that Japanese restaurant chains that make it across the Pacific do not live up to its original standards. The appetizers were all phenomenal. The wagyu nigiri came not seared, but gently warmed so the bite was very buttery and rich. The tartare came in a monaka and was very flavorful. I wasn't sure if you are supposed to eat the third wafer, but it was a bit stale. The house special ramen came with wagyu, duck, and pork chashu in creamy tori paitain broth. It was a very decadent dish, although I have had better paitan broth elsewhere. The premium smoked toppings though were incredibly tender and I loved the contrast of the crispy enokis and oyster mushroom memma. The hostess was super friendly and we got seated immediately. But, a line started building up as we left so plan accordingly. I would 100% come back to try all the appetizers! read more
A ramen experience unlike any other. The creativity of the flavors and toppings. I've never had ramen like this anywhere else. Quality ingredients too. They also have hand rolls! Also sooooo many vegan options. Just go. but try to go early cuz they dont take reservations and its always packed read more
My go to order is their signature ramen, chicken karaage, and their special hand rolls. Review long overdue but honestly it is the best Ramen spot here in the east bay. I've been to the SF location a long time ago and have been waiting for them to open up on piedmont ave. Signature Ramen 5/5 Broth is very rich and flavorful. The Chashu is super tender. Noodles are made fresh and chewy. Everything about this bowl is perfect. Fried enoki on top gives an extra umami. This is best for first time goers. Chicken Karaage 5/5 Crunchy and crispy Japanese fried chicken. Meat is super tender and juicy. Sauce drizzled on top for a flavor bomb Hand Rolls 4/5 It's simple and delicious. Hokkaido Scallop 5/5 This was an absolute banger. Super tender scallops. Service 5/5 Staff are very friendly and checks in regularly. Ambience 3.8/5 Beware it's a very small space to dine and can feel cramped and loud when it gets very crowded. But despite that, it's so worth getting a bowl of ramen. I highly recommend this spot to all foodies and ramen lovers. I usually go solo so there's always seating available for myself even when it's extremely busy. read more
28 days ago
The ramen here is delicious. The restaurant is either taking liberties on what a modern take on Japanese dishes are, or has created something wholey unique. I am not learned enough regarding Japanese cuisine, but I can say, it was fantastic and seemingly new enough to me to be fascinated by the combination of ingredients, the upgraded umami profiles and the decadence of the dishes to want to come back. The service was friendly and dishes come fast. This is by necessity, its a popular place, for good reason. Definitely coming back or trying the San Francisco location, whichever comes first read more
Unpopular opinion: wasn't my favorite. But that's all due to personal preference (aside from service and a rocky start). The good: fresh, quality ingredients The bad: started with the host/wait list. I accidentally added my name twice for a solo diner. Host thought it was a mistake and completely removed me from the wait list and seated other parties that came in after me. Thoroughly confused - she didn't even call my name to confirm so I had to go up to her and ask. No apology either. Was seated at the counter where solo diners usually sit. Service was non existent. Server came up to me and ask "what would you like to order?" I've never been there before. No "hi my name is ... I'll be your server" nada. They're just a machine - people in people out. The ramen - broth was fine. The squiggly noodles aren't my favorite. Expected to have kernel corn but had corn ribs instead (good thing I'm good with chopsticks!) The charshu was just okay. Enoki topping was just ... aight. The nice touch was that they didn't put it in the ramen and served it on the side to preserve its crunchiness because it definitely needed the texture! It was loud, busy, and nothing spectacular about the dining scene here. $55 dollars later (ramen, 2 additional toppings, one box of sake) ... I sadly don't think it was worth it. read more
Had been hearing a lot about this place, so we decided to give it a try. We came on a Friday night and it was extremely crowded, we ended up waiting close to an hour for a table. To start, we ordered the enoki chips and corn ribs, which were both really good. For our mains, we tried the duck ramen and tonkotsu ramen, and both bowls were flavorful. Overall, we enjoyed everything we ordered and could see why the restaurant is popular. That said, after such a long wait, we didn't feel like the food quite lived up to the hype. While it was definitely good ramen, it wasn't memorable enough for us to feel that it justified waiting nearly an hour. read more
Appetizers here - AMAZING! Service is very friendly & quick, and food is reasonably priced. We came here to grab dinner with our friends in town & the menu was big enough that it had something for everyone. The noodles in the ramen were very good, but I would say there is better ramen in the bay. But I would come back to eat through all of the appetizers. There is a lot of seating but they do use shared tables for the bigger tables & just put a separator inbetween parties on the longer tables. read more
Stumbled upon this ramen place that happened to have a michelin star/ guide for the last three years! The wait was about 30-45 mins for a party of two at 7:30pm on a Saturday. Considering other reviews, I don't think we waited too long. We ordered two of their top ramens, although the matcha duck one was enticing, I did like the Garlic overload on my ramen. The fried enoki mushrooms were also good, I just wish the portions were a bit bigger for both dishes. Staff was also quick and helpful going through the menu with us first timers. We sat at a shared table but I like how they had a divider to separate the spaces. Pretty small restaurant and they only have street parking so if you want to try, I recommend going early! We were lucky to snag a spot right in the front! read more
I had the smoked signature toripaitan and the beef tongue. The beef tongue was super yummy. One of the best I've had. The toripaitan ramen was super creamy and the noodles were cooked to perfection. Loved the nuttiness and flavor of the broth. The meat was also full of flavor. Was a long wait, but I'd say the food was worth it. Very busy! And for good reason! read more
So glad I found this hidden gem in Piedmont. I came with two friends on a Friday night around 7pm, and as expected for a small spot, there was a long wait. We were seated about an hour later, but once we got in, the service was quick and efficient. We ordered a mix of items to share: * Enoki chips - absolutely addicting. Perfectly crispy with a great crunch, and the umami spice on the side took them to another level. * Chicken karaage - tasty overall, but the glaze was poured over everything. I would've preferred it on the side to keep the texture crisp. * Kani hand roll - super fresh and flavorful; didn't even need soy sauce. * Ikura & hotate hand roll - generous portion and very fresh, again no soy needed. * Garlic Knockout ramen - lives up to the name. Rich, deeply garlicky broth that was bold and delicious. * Signature smoked toripaitan ramen - flavorful without being overly heavy (which I prefer). The chashu was tender and the noodles tasted fresh. I was blown away by the food, I haven't had ramen this good in a long time. The restaurant clearly runs efficiently, turning tables quickly despite the wait. I'll definitely be back read more
5 months ago
The food was so good! The ramen broth, amazing. We continue to come back for more! My husband loves the garlic Ramen and I always get the signature. Raman never fails. It's amazing. read more
14 days ago
We waited for 44 mins and finally got a table in the corner. It's good, not too noisy or crowded. We ordered three ramens with different broth: veggie miso, duck matcha, and vegan yuzu. We also ordered two appetizers. It was so good. For drinks, we ordered hojicha from the menu. The waitress said they don't have it. So we got a green tea instead. But the green tea is just a tea bag. One tea bag for one small cup costs $5 and not much flavor. Overall the food is delicious, service ok. We probably will try again. read more
One of my fave ramen spots in Oakland! Always a line out the door even 15 min before it opened- good thing we were first in line. Interior is chill, intimate with community style tables, very attentive, prompt and friendly service, and delicious handmade mochi wheat noodles in a complex flavorful broth. The signature toripaitan is the best ramen I've had on the menu although I'm sure you can't go wrong with the others. The chashu melts in your mouth and the noodles are a nice chewy texture. Broth is thick, creamy, smoky, truffly, and addicting! They also have a substantial vegan menu that is equally creative and tasty, according to the hubz. We appreciate how well thought out the overall menu is and they also don't do takeout to retain the freshness of the product as it's best eaten fresh from the kitchen. Prices are a little higher - overall low to mid $20s, more for the A5 Wagyu - but worth every penny in quality and taste! There is free street parking in the nearby residential streets and paid street parking and lot close by. read more
Decided to come to Mensho on a Saturday night based on many ramen recommendations. This is definitely one to add to your list if you are a ramen lover on the East Bay! The wait wasn't bad despite it being a Friday night, for a table for two it was about 20 minutes on the waitlist. When we arrived and were seated we were warmly greeted by staff and attended to immediately. The staff was very accommodating and provided their recommendations on the food and also sake. We started with the Enoki Chips and Chicken Kaarage. The Enoki chips remind me of shoestring onion rings (only healthier?) the Chicken Kaarage had a little bit of spice and had a good combination of flavors in the sauce. Though the appetizers were good, the Signature Smoked Toripaitan ramen easily stole the show. I had no clue that you could smoke the egg but they did, there were many combinations of flavors and each bite was savory. We loved the setting that makes you feel like you're in Tokyo, food and everything about this ramen spot. Easily earning a top 5 spot in Bay Area ramen; we will be back! read more
You can tell the chicken soup base is great quality since it's super thicc, as some have mentioned ~ and not in an oily way, but like a thick concentrated stock. We enjoyed the soups we got, but it did feel a little monotonously heavy, and wasn't a soup I'd slurp up. We got their garlic one & the duck matcha one, and I'd say the garlic one felt less heavy, with the garlic helping to balance the flavors. The matcha was very vibrant and seemed to be of high grade. Maybe something zesty would have helped balance the richness. We did enjoy their appetizers - fried enoki, and crab handroll; corn ribs were not bad. We came on a Saturday for an early dinner around 4:45pm and the wait was about 15 min for our party of 2 (I saw on the waitlist that ahead of us there was only 1 party of 2, and maybe 6 parties of 2+). Parking is a little tough, and it worked out that the spouse used 15 min to find residential street parking. read more
I went 15 minutes before open and was first in line. Was seated in a not ideal spot with the wind coming in from the door but whatever. Ramen was tasty, I would recommend going early and not having to wait. Otherwise, there are other good ramen places if the wait is too long. Chill vibe inside. read more
8 months ago
Cannot get enough of this place! I've had both their vegan and their meat based ramen, both of them are amazing and I couldn't pick out a favorite if you paid me to! Their appetizers are also delicious, I really enjoyed the corn ribs and the hand rolls, but note that some Ramen do come with corn ribs already. I've never had a long wait here, though it is always popular and I've never seen the place empty! They have larger tables that they can section out to seat two different parties, but it's always very comfortable. I'd say it's the best Ramen we have in the bay! read more
4 months ago
Mensho is a very popular restaurant. This was my first time visiting, and I had a great experience. The food was delicious! The standout dishes for me were the Calamari, Karaage, and Daikon Salad. The Calamari was perfectly fried, and the seasoning was well-balanced. The Karaage was also perfectly fried, and the sauce was flavorful. The Daikon Salad was light and refreshing. I would like to thank our server, Noah, for his helpfulness in choosing our dishes and for the prompt service. I highly recommend it! read more
Holy moly. How have I slept on this place for so long?! Tried this place last night with some friends who rave about their ramen and it is hands down the BEST in the bay. The depth of flavor in the broth - I am already planning my next visit. We got the enoki chops, daikon salad, and a couple hand rolls. Draft sake was super good. I initially was thinking wow I can't wait to order this in when I'm not feeling up for getting my lazy butt out of the house - but they're so committed to their food experience they don't offer takeout. read more
The service is decent and overall quick. They are busy though so wait times can run long. The ambience, because of how busy they are, is pretty overwhelming and crowded. Food wise I messed up. I saw garlic and didn't even think, but I missed that it was spicy and I don't like spicy so it was already a bit of a disappointment BUT that's on ME and I know that. However, spice aside there were some issues with this ramen vs the places I enjoy. The soup wasn't very creamy, it erred on the oily side, there was way too much chopped onion as a topping that is almost overpowers the garlic. I also wish they didn't put the corn on the cob in the ramen as it makes it terribly unnecessary difficult to eat. The tuna hand roll was mediocre unfortunately, as was the karaage mushroom. I enjoyed the fried enoki but I have had better elsewhere because this too was on the oilier side. Price wise it was okay but the sides were not worth their cost. I would not come here again visit because the not spicy vegan options don't really call me. Also they don't allow take out because they claim it's best fresh but the two people I went with had their left overs about an hour and some later...and liked it more then lol read more
Go around 5 PM if you can--you'll beat the rush and have a much more relaxed experience. The noodles are on the thicker side with a nice chew, and the broth is rich without being overwhelming, which I appreciated. That said, toppings are fairly limited and tend to get soggy quickly, so they don't quite hold up through the bowl. Matcha Duck: The duck was very tasty with a subtle smoked flavor. The matcha broth was interesting--slightly bitter but creamy--and surprisingly worked well overall. Garlic Knockout: Not quite a knockout. Definitely garlicky, but more restrained than the name suggests. Signature: The most traditional of the three. I especially enjoyed the egg, and this bowl felt the most balanced and classic. Overall, solid ramen with some creative options, best enjoyed early before the crowds roll in. There's a whole vegan menu too. read more
Mensho is hands down my go-to date spot with my boyfriend, especially on a cold day. There's nothing better than walking in from the cold, sitting down, and immediately feeling cozy with a hot bowl of ramen in front of you. It just hits every time. The food is always on point. Every bowl is flavorful, comforting, and clearly made with so much care. You never second-guess your order here because everything just works. Between the cozy vibe, the consistently amazing food, and the fact that it never disappoints, Mensho is one of those places we'll always come back to. read more
It's been a while since I last ate at Mensho, and the last time was at their SF location near Union Square. I remembered really liking their ramen, so I was excited to finally check out their Oakland spot. We arrived around 5pm when the restaurant was about a third full, but it filled up quickly within 30 minutes--and by then, people were already waiting outside to be seated. The space has a cool vibe with unique decor that makes you feel like you've stepped into a different world. Service-wise, things felt a little rushed. We were asked if we were ready to order as soon as we sat down, and then again a minute later. It seemed like someone was checking in every minute until we finally ordered, which made the start of the meal feel a bit hurried. As for the food, I really enjoyed the Enoki Chips and Spicy Kara-Age--both were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The cucumber salad, on the other hand, didn't leave much of an impression. For my ramen, I went with the A5 Wagyu Paitan. The toppings were great, especially the beef, but the chicken-based broth was a bit too thick and rich for my taste. Chicken Paitan is often rich but their broth was a bit over the top for me. The smoky flavor of the egg, which the menu mentioned, also wasn't really my thing. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and would come back--though this time, the appetizers stood out more to me than the ramen itself. read more
9 months ago
We were here on a rainy Saturday night and it took us 1 hr to get in because it's so popular! The place has a very nice and lively vibe. The two of us ordered a bunch of stuff and everything was really good! The daikon salad and the enoki chips were unique. The handrolls were good. The nigiri was a little too "beefy" but still great. But the highlight has got to be the ramen. Very exotic! I don't think you can find ramen this kind anywhere! The broth looks creamy but it doesn't taste heavy at all! All the meats are very tender, and don't forget to add the roasted tomato! Some of the stuff took a little long to come out. Plus we wanted to order the ramen later so it comes out hot, but the waitress offered that we could order now and she'll hold it for us. The ramen ended up coming out 1 min after the appetizer. Overall, very good experience! read more
We came just before 6 PM on a Sunday night, party of five, added ourselves to the yelp waitlist and were seated in an hour. This place is very popular so definitely expect to wait. Takeout is not available. The area is cute so you can kill time by walking around and browsing the stores, although most were closed at this time on a Sunday. The place is committed to its farm to bowl and house made Ramen. The philosophies are explained all over on the walls. My vegetarian friends, there are six vegan options for Ramen!!! This is unheard of. The waitress explained that she can make anything non-spicy if needed. She recommended two of the creamy options, vegan garlic knockout and vegan tantan. I went with vegan tantan, non spicy version. I was surprised by the hearty meaty mouthfeel created by the variety of mushrooms, minced soy protein and eggplant-- and appreciated the wealth of fresh herbs. One of the most unique vegan ramen I've ever had. It was definitely worth the wait and I will return. There is street parking. read more
11 months ago
Mensho has my heart. This place is a 10/10. Their vegan garlic knock out Ramen is so complex, deep and rich in flavors. I haven't yet dipped my toes to try their other options but I am eyeballing their Duck Matcha next Service can be a bit slower but what does one expect when it comes to the best Ramen spot in town . The host are attentive and constantly available for quick questions. Overall the Ambiance is slightly intimate and unsettling. The seating arrangement doesn't allow room for much movement. Be prepared to get real cozy with other diners. They implement privacy screens between tables sets of two but it not as efficient. Overall I will come back for much more. If you bring family or a group of friends everyone will love the experience to say the least. Advice to management consider body conscious accessibility. read more
We originally tried to go to their other location in SF but the line, the parking, and the locals creepers hanging out that night were less than desirable. So next day we opted to go hit Piedmont Ave over the bridge in Oakland, thank goodness we did. First time in the area being from out of town and wanted to give mensho a go! Quick service, small wait mid day but i can see why they've won awards. The ramens were so full of umami flavor, broth consistency was well balanced, not watery, not overly thick. The Beef tartare they had for app that day came in edible bowls and it was so cute. A5 Wagyu can't complain, a very refreshing dish. The lady got the Signature smoked toripaitan -- umami check, bouncy nice chew noods, check, broth slurpable check! I got the garlic knockout because i just love garlic haha my noods were perfect portion, nice chew and bounce and the broth was well balanced not overpowered with garlic, the perfect amount to give that slight garlic spice and umami melding in a bowl. Spicy karage chicken i felt was good, a tad over on the cook but still was a good appetizer, i always order it if it's on any menu to compare so not the best I've personally had but still very good! Vibes was popping, natural sunlight, a lot of people in and out. Glad we made it in on our vacation! Will be back, or better yet open on the east coast too haha read more
11 months ago
Signature Smoked Toripaitan: broth was very rich, smokey, and more flavorful compared to the classic Toripaitan. The enoki chips added a nice crunchy touch to every bite. The egg was perfect! The menu is pricey for ramen but their style is different from other ramen restaurants so I was excited to give it a try. Overall, I prefer lighter and traditional ramen. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here again considering the cost but glad I got to try it. My group and I came around 8:30PM on a Friday night and it was about a 40-45 minute wait. Once we get seated, the wait for the food is not bad at all. There is street parking on the premises. read more
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More info about Mensho
4258 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611
Piedmont Ave, North Oakland
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(510) 393-5229
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https://mensho.com
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Ask the Community - Mensho
Do they do carry out?
I have seen people carrying out food, don't know if that was leftovers or carry out order.
Do any of the broths contain seafood? My partner has a seafood allergy (fish and shellfish).
They also offer vegan options!
What items "do not " have sesame or tree nut (e.g.,cashew, almond, macadamia)? Jbtw peanuts are legumes and not considered tree nuts-thnx in advance
Water
Does the broth used in all the items except for those specifically identified as vegan contain pork? I eat poultry and fish, but not pork or beef, so a broth made only from chicken and/or fish would be fine.
I think most of their broths are pork based, but please call them ahead of time to confirm. Best to go with vegan options to be sure.
Is there a way to find out current wait times? The phone when straight to voicemail.
Walking in to check in is your best bet
Is this business kid friendly? Do they provide highchairs?
the staff there is really friendly. it can get loud and cramped so it depends on whether or not they'd be ok in that sort of environment. the have tall tables and i believe they have lower tables too. they also tend to split the tables with a…
Is this place first come first serve or reservations? I don't see anywhere on the website for reservations.?
First come first serve. And totally worth the wait.
Are you dine in only? Can i order a take out?
We are dine in only and do not offer take-out
Are there gluten free options besides ramen without noodles?
Gluten free noodles maybe available but I'm not sure. Better to call Mensho for answer.
Do you serve vegetarian ramen that is cooked with vegetarian broth?
Yes. Half of the menu is completely vegan.
Will you be open on Christmas Day?
We will be closed on Christmas Day, otherwise regular hours on the 24th and 26th
What is the business hour?
M-W 5:00-9:30pm Thursday 4:00-9:30pm Friday 4:00-10pm…
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27 reviews that are not currently recommended
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