Returned for the first time since I wrote the review. Not as good as the first time. Better. I could eat here every week. read more

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Holy Ramen!! What an absolute find. This is, without exaggeration, the best ramen I've ever had -- the kind you dream about afterward, and then feel genuinely heartbroken over because it's five hours away from home. Why must the best things always be so far away from me?! But this spot has officially earned a permanent place on my "best of the best" list for my bestie's city, and I am beyond stoked to come back. Everything we tried -- every single bite -- was incredible. Honestly, no wonder there's a line out the door. This place has earned it. read more

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We visited Menya late one Saturday afternoon in May for an early dinner. You order (and pay) via a QR code using the Toast app, so ordering is very simple. We started with the pork gyoza, which were delivered quickly and were delicious. For our entrees, I had the Tonkotsu Black with added braised tofu, and my husband had the Spicy Tantan. I don't usually like eggs in my ramen (because they are never cooked enough), but Menya cooked theirs perfectly soft boiled, and I loved the flavor the egg added to the soup. Both soups had complex flavors, and we loved them. The tofu was great--thinly sliced and flavorful, if a bit salty--but I am not sure I'd need it again. My husband thought his soup was perfectly spicy. A note about parking - if you can park in the lot in front of the building, you scan a QR code, and open a parking time block. (I believe Menya paid for a 2-hour block.) You then enter the information on an iPad at the back of the restaurant to validate your parking and start the clock. It was easier than I expected, and I'd definitely use this parking service again. And if you can't get a spot in the lot in front of the building, you can park on the neighborhood streets just one or two blocks away. All told, it was a great meal for a reasonable cost. We'll definitely return! read more

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We were in the mood for ramen and Menya Daruma was a great choice. Note: they are closed Monday and Tuesday. I chose the soba option with chicken. I really enjoyed the bowl. My husband had one of the ramen choices and enjoyed that, too. It was a pretty easy ordering process. You do everything on the phone so very minimal interaction with the team. Clean, simple and quiet place. read more

Menya Daruma - Soba with chicken - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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This food is lit. Very delicious gyoza and karaage. Definitely recommend getting the kaedama.

Menya seriously exceeded expectations. I wasn't expecting this level of ramen, especially from the vegan option--but wow. The broth had so much depth of flavor, honestly comparable to some I've had in Japan. You can sit at the counter or at a table, but I'd recommend the counter--it was fun watching them prepare everything. Really impressive spot and a great option even if you don't eat pork or beef. read more

Menya Daruma - Vegan ramen - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Yesterday, my husband and I visited Menya in the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte on a rainy afternoon. It was exactly the kind of cozy lunch spot we were hoping for as it was our first time. The experience was smooth and memorable from the moment we walked in. The restaurant is small and inviting, with a minimalist, cozy vibe. We were seated immediately and greeted warmly by staff. Our table was already set with water, utensils, and chopsticks. Then the server explained the easy ordering system, scan the QR code, order and pay from your phone. Once you paid then the kitchen will get your order and start making your dish. Once your food is ready then the server will deliver the dish to your table. Easy! We started with the Tori Karaage (soy and ginger marinated fried chicken thighs) served with Japanese tartar sauce and a lemon wedge. The chicken was perfectly crispy outside, juicy inside, and the tartar sauce was more like an aioli with chopped hard-boiled egg and was incredibly flavorful. For ramen, I had the Spicy Tan Tan and my husband had the Tonkotsu Black. My broth had a nice spicy kick and a tingling heat from the chili crisp, with fresh noodles, seasoned pork, and crunchy toppings like bean sprouts and peanuts. His Tonkotsu broth was rich, velvety, and deeply savory. Out of the two, his ramen is definitely my pick for next time (I've been thinking about it since). We'll absolutely be back to Menya, especially for the Tonkotsu. I would definitely recommend Menya for any ramen lover looking for flavor, comfort, and quality in a chill setting. A must visit spot for those checking out the city. read more

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The pork gyoza was amazing, the sauce that it came with was very tasty. I already ate it before I could take a picture! The spicy tantan was phenomenal. I visited Japan for the first time two months and this might be the best Ramen I've had since I came back to the US. It's truly authentic, a decent amount of spice but not too overpowering. The egg was cooked perfectly...I completely emptied the bowl. The fried tofu is also a nice addition if you're into that! read more

Menya Daruma - spicy tantan and pork gyoza - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

After a doctor's appointment in Charlotte we popped over to this spot for some lunch. The hardest part about it was finding parking in the jammed lot for this high end strip mall. Quickly seated and I opted for vegetarian options like the tofu bao and the truffle yasai vegetable broth. Wonderful umami flavor from the vegetable broth. Why can't we have ramen this good in Winston-Salem? read more

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Menya Daruma had a nice atmosphere and the service was friendly, but the food experience was a bit underwhelming for us. As vegetarians, we noticed there was only one vegetarian option available, which made the menu feel somewhat limited. The food overall was just okay and lacked the depth of flavor we were expecting, especially considering the hype around ramen spots. The tofu in particular was extremely salty, to the point where it overpowered the rest of the dish. While the presentation was good and the restaurant itself had a cozy vibe, the flavors unfortunately didn't stand out enough for us to want to come back. read more

Menya Daruma - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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This is hands down one of the best ramens I have ever had. The broth was spicy, creamy, umami and the noodles were bouncy and had a bit of a bite. And the egg!!! Soft boiled and marinated for so long, the yolk was perfectly jammy. Overall, perfectly crafted bowl of ramen and would recommend to a friend. Service was super friendly and even tho there was a wait it went by quick. It also has a nice friendly neighborhood ramen bar feel to it. read more

Menya Daruma - spicy tantan - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Cute ambiance, love sitting at the counter! Service is always quick & severs are kind. Ramen is served hot and love that they have a veggie option. read more

Menya Daruma - tofu bao bun (v) - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I'm a ramen enthusiast who's tried numerous shops around town. I'm willing to splurge when the ramen is worth it. The parking was a nightmare. We circled for about 10 minutes, fighting off three other cars, before finally finding a spot. We arrived just before opening on Sunday and were seated promptly. The place was clean, and the ordering process was straightforward. However, they nickel and dimed you for everything. We ordered two pork bun and black tonkotsu ramens with the recommended extras. The pork buns were small and came with shredded pork, which I don't like. The ramen was small for $18, and the flavors were okay. But something was off with the broth. When I asked our waitress for some chili sauce, she told us to order it through the app, which goes back to my previous comment about being nickel and dimed for everything. In total, our bill came to $67.55, which I thought was a rip-off for just okay ramen. I won't be returning because I've found much better ramen elsewhere at much lower prices. read more

Menya Daruma - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

After a quick Google search for Ramen, we found this place. Located off Central Ave. Its a small shopping center next to Puerta and Starbucks with very minimal on site parking so I can only imagine what peak times look like here unless you park somewhere else. They have few tables to sit at inside with some Bar seating as well. Ramen was what I expected. Very flavorful and the pork always adds a little razzle dazzle. Everything we got was delicious. Now, if you ask for anything extra, cilantro, chili paste, lemons, etc they do charge you which we didnt expect but I guess thats how they roll. read more

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Still my favorite ramen place in charlotte. Food is always fast and so tasteful. Meat is always soft, the dishes never get old. read more

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This is a QR code menu and pay on your phone before the food comes out- which is completely fine for me but I know this is not preferable to some people. I, however, found the whole process to be very convenient. The service was super efficient in that you get seated, you order on your phone when ready, and because I sat at the bar, the food was placed right in front of me as soon as it was done being made. The items came out one by one as they were ready and this ensured that the food was at its peak best when eating and everything was served hot and nothing got soggy or weird from sitting in the window too long or from trying to make everything come out at the same time. The chicken karaage was phenomenal, great crispy fry with moist and juicy chicken and it's served on the side with a mayo-like sauce but I preferred to just use the vinegar and chili oil they provide. The pork bao bun, the bread was so incredibly soft and the pulled pork inside was again juicy and tender and had great flavor. The absolutely star tonight was the chicken wontons. These are easily the best wontons I've ever had because the wrapper/dough literally feels like silk in your mouth. It is so delicate and smooth in a way that I've never had. Typical wontons have a thicker skin and have a bit more of a chew or a bite to it- but this one was easily so distinct and different in the best way. The abura soba is a dry noodle and it comes with tons of ingredients on top to mix in with it. I got the Nagoya style and it was delicious. The noodles are thicker and firm but still cooked so well and have a nice chew and the flavor of the seasonings mixed with the runny soft jammy egg created such a satisfying and flavorful bite. This was very reminiscent of similar flavors I had when visiting japan. Another thing to note- I love seafood flavors but not everyone does, so just be aware that this noodle dish has a mild fishier taste to it. It's a very unique flavor that I can't pin point but while I really loved it, my partner (who doesn't love fishy things) did not love it as much. The spicy tantan ramen again had great quality noodles and great flavor. The flavor of this ramen is more mild but still great. The portion size for both noodle dishes I found to be very generous. The appetizers are on the smaller side so if you want to share I recommend getting multiple appetizers, especially for the bao bun that is harder to share. Overall great experience and I am very excited to try the omakase experience they offer in the back of the restaurant called Kappo En read more

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Wow!!!! Menya exceeded my already high expectations. My ramen was delicious!!!! Even for takeout ramen! The broth was so delicious, and I loved the chicken wontons in the Shoyu. Not pictured we also got the pork gyoza which was so delicious too. Need to eat at menya next time...overall 10/10!! read more

Menya Daruma - shoyu - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

5 stars for Menya Daruma... and this is based off a takeout order. I was visiting Charlotte with my boyfriend and we were recommended Menya. I was feeling a bit under the weather so soup and ramen were my ultimate cravings. It was perfect for the chilly weather we were experiencing while there. We ended up visiting close to closing and didn't want to take up a table and have them wait on us so close to the end of the day. The parking was a bit hard to find a spot and we had to circle the small plaza lot a couple of times until we found someone that was leaving. We ended up ordering takeout from their takeout window and it was pretty easy to go through the menu and make a decision on what we wanted to eat. After we placed our order, we asked if we could sit inside to wait and we were able to. The food came out fairly fast and we were so hungry, we ended up eating in the car. Although takeout ramen is a hard thing to judge, this ramen was so good. We also ordered the sando and it was actually my favorite thing as far as flavor and how soft the bread was. For food to be good with a takeout order, I think this speaks very highly of a spot. We loved Menya Daruma! read more

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The best ramen in Charlotte! One of the best Asian/Japanese spots we've tried here. Everything is delicious, the prices are very reasonable, the service is fast, and the interior is cozy and inviting. We drive all the way from Monroe read more

Great ramen place. It's very modern in that you sit down and you place your entire order via QR code on Toast as if it were a takeout order, including full checkout and tipping. Then once you've placed the order you can hear the receipts being printed in the kitchen and the cooks start working. The food is delicious and the flavors are excellent. I really enjoyed my tonkotsu red ramen and I added a few of their vegetable based add-ons, which were great as well. Although you don't place your order with the server, they are there to help and support you and answer any questions. The woman working when I came in was extremely friendly and kind and happy to help with any questions I had. Noodles are made fresh in house and you can see them making them through a cool window cutout in the wall. I can't wait to bring my young daughter here. She will enjoy the food and love watching them make the noodles. I will be back. And I will come hungry! read more

Menya Daruma - Tonkotsu Red with a few veggie add-ons. So delicious! - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I went in with some expectations for the ramen, and unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The broth tasted a little bitter--I'm not sure if it was from the black garlic or something else, but it wasn't my kind of ramen. The meat was also a bit on the dry side. The highlight of the meal, by far, were the potstickers. They were great! Overall, the customer service was decent. read more

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This is a place Charlotte should be proud of. Menya Daruma is a serious ramen shop -not a Japanese restaurant that happens to serve ramen, but a menya in the actual sense, built around the discipline of making noodles and broth from scratch every day. I've had the Tonkotsu Kuro and the spicy bowl, and both are excellent. The Kuro's broth is simmered eighteen hours, and it tastes like it: heavy, clean, properly emulsified, finished with black onion oil rather than the sweet muddiness that passes for tonkotsu most places. Noodles are made in-house - you can watch them being rolled through the window in back -- and the soy sauce and salt are imported from Japan. These are not marketing details. They're the difference between a bowl that works and one that doesn't. Everything surrounding the ramen is held to the same standard, which is rarer than it sounds. The gyoza are properly crisped on one side and served with a sharp chili su that cuts the fat. The karaage comes out shatteringly crisp with a Japanese tartar that's worth the order on its own. The Taiwanese cabbage salad -- shio konbu, wakame, a wafu vinaigrette -- is bright and saline and does exactly the job a salad should do next to a heavy bowl. The cucumber tsukemono is the same idea with more bite. The bao buns are generous without being sloppy. The spicy chicken wontons are excellent, and the wonton soup is a clean, restrained thing that a lesser kitchen would have oversalted. Even the katsu sando is genuinely good -- nama panko, a proper wasabi slaw, correct pickles. I've worked through most of this menu many times and I've never had a throwaway dish. They also serve abura soba, the brothless Tokyo-style bowl, which is still rare in the U.S. and, as far as I know, the only one in Charlotte. The room is simple and sophisticated: counter seating, open kitchen, nothing decorative. This is an upstanding institution, and the city needs more of them. Not another beer hall :) read more

Okay, I liked Ramen when it first became popular in the little packages you could cook in your dorm room. When Ramen restaurants started popping up in recent years, I became a big fan. All of a sudden I see this Menya on a top ten in Charlotte list and its Ramen. We went. Oh wow, Ramen at a whole new level. The atmosphere is casual, efficient and attractive. The open kitchen adds an energy to the place but the accoustics are just fine. The food is over the top. The broths have a depth and complexity I didn't know existed. The choices and additions are vast. The whole softboiled egg was one of the best I have ever eaten! Careful, the tonkotsu black comes with an egg. Not realizing that I added an egg. As there were two of us I checked two . Turned out each of our tonkotsu came with three eggs! (we ate them all). You order and pay with a QR code on the Toast app. Efficient, service was dead on great and quick. This place easily qualifies as a top 10 in Charlotte. Can's wait to try the entire menu. Now if I could just figure out how to eat Ramen without getting it on my shirt! read more

For this area, the food is decent. I am vegetarian, so not a ton of options that worked for me. The truffle ramen was okay. The broth is very heavy on soy, which wasn't my favorite. Vibe of a Japanese counter ramen spot is nailed head-on. Overall, not sure I would choose to come back again personally but I could see how for a meat eater it might get a higher rating. read more

We got the Tonkotsu Black Ramen and it did not disappoint. The broth is incredibly rich and flavorful - you can really taste the time and care that went into making it. The handmade noodles were springy and delicious, holding up perfectly in the broth. We also got the cucumber tsukemono, which was a perfect refreshing and acidic side to balance the richness of the ramen. The karaage was crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor - the aioli on the side was a perfect pairing. Service was quick and friendly, and the restaurant itself is very clean and well-maintained. Definitely a new go-to spot for ramen! read more

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Wowza. I'm mad it took me this long to try Menya. We've all heard about how amazing they are and I can confirm that fact. Today, I stopped in for some to go ramen and I am in love. I ordered the shoyu ramen and it was perfection. It had a piece of chicken and pork in it that were so tender and delicious it shocked me lol. Now I know other ramen spots have been missing the mark, because other places I've been the meat is always dry and tough. I didn't even know it shouldn't be until Menya. My ramen was absolutely delicious, even as a to go order. The little chicken dumplings in it were so good, the broth was flavorful and rich but not too salty. Seriously some good ramen!!! read more

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Our first time here and let me just say it was 10/10 i enjoyed the vibes the server was very attentive food was brought out hot taste super fresh read more

Best ramen I've had since going to Japan. The homemade noodles are easily detectable and the broth was incredible. The interior vibes felt similar to a more modern spot you would find in Tokyo, and the staff was in good spirits the entire time. Have already been back since our first time and this will be a staple for us for years to come. read more

Menya Daruma - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Decent bowl of ramen but nothing special. Price is definitely competitive, and while the broth, pork, and noodles are decent, nothing really amazed. For reference I had the red. I do appreciate the whole egg which I don't always see. It was nice and gooey like it should be. 3/5 On the other hand the chicken wontons and gyoza were pretty delicious. I've had better wontons but the gyoza in particular were excellent. 5/5 I will say the service was extremely fast and I appreciated it greatly. Seating isn't ideal however. read more

We have been coming back to Menya since they opened and have found some gems. The OG abura soba has been my favorite for a while. The thicker noodles and thicker sauce is extremely aromatic. Bring able to add your spice and oil is a great addition. They could offer more rice after your done with the noodles to soak up the sauce. My wife's favorite is the tonkotsu red. Sure likes the addition of a little spice. The bowl has a very rich flavor and holds to the noodles very well. The spicy fried chicken Sando is a bit of a guilty pleasure with how oily and numbing it is. Always puts a smile on our face, but is heavy. The servers are very nice and welcome you back. I'm unsure if it changed but we have ordered and paid via phone and QR code since we started coming. Good to check with them if you don't have that available. read more

Menya Daruma - Spicy tokyo hot chicken sando, tonkotsu red - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Everything about this place was done with mindfulness. From the convenience of ordering on the phone to the speed of which the food came out, it was a very pleasant experience. Oh did I mention the ramen? We tried the shoyu and the tonkotsu black and red. Noodles were al dente and cooked very well, broth flavorful and porky ( like how it's supposed to be). The shoyu was light and comforting, especially after a day of activities. Gyoza fresh and juicy, with a freshly seared crust. I can't be selfish and not leave a review since I found this place here. Enjoy!! read more

I greatly enjoyed the Nagoya Taiwanese soba and love that it comes with a little bit of rice to add at the end. No need to waste all the flavorful sauce and meat when you still have some space in your stomach. The noodles, which are made in-house, are so good. The pork bao was a good appetizer. read more

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The best ramen place in Charlotte. The service is amazing, the food is top tier. Could not recommend more!!! read more

Menya Daruma - Tonkatsu tonkotsu red - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

My sister insisted that we check out Menya last weekend on a rainy and chilly Friday. We lucked out and it was not even half full when we arrived. We chose seats at the counter, which I loved because it felt like child seating but somehow also comfortable. I ordered the tofu bao bun ($4.50) and the tosi katsu sando ($9.50) while my sister ordered the shoyu ($15.50). We got front-row seats to watch the food get prepped and it was all ready quickly. I don't usually enjoy ordering from an app, but this app was user-friendly, intuitive, and had both photos AND detailed descriptions so we knew what to order. It was a nice middle ground between full service and self service. I would love to go back and try some of the karaage and ramen and to check out their hidden speakeasy! read more

Menya Daruma - tosi katsu sando ($9.50) - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I ordered the shoya ramen to go. It was really good and flavorful and I liked that they were quick and the ordering process was simple. I ordered at the window and my food was ready in 5 minutes. The only thing I didn't like was $2.50 for some chili sauce. It was powerful as well when I poured into my ramen when I got home. Overall 10/10 and other the chili sauce charge I felt the price of the ramen was decent and I love the egg. I used to live in Japan 20 years ago and always missed good ramen when I left. This one hits the spot for me! read more

Menya is a real deal. I see that they have a noodle machine in the kitchen. They make everything from scratch like a real ramen shop. You can taste the difference between their effort and other place with more easier cooking method. Haven't been to Japan for a while, but their setup is similar to Japanese ramen restaurant as I remember. Noodles are little chewy, broth are so flavorful and you can drink the whole freaking bowl. Portion is smallish, Japanese portion I would say. But it is worth the extra money you are paying for. read more

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Only the ramen in ALL OF THE USA and we've tried them everywhere. I really don't know how they didn't get a Michelin star bc it's that good. My GO TO for lunch or dinner anytime we're in NoDa.. truly a crazy taste bud experience!! read more

Menya Daruma - Spicy ramen - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Menya strikes a perfect balance between modern tech and traditional aesthetics, creating a unique dining experience. It's easily one of the top ramen spots in Charlotte! The food is consistently delicious and comes out quickly, which is a huge plus. I love the convenience of ordering through their QR code system, and the service staff is always so friendly and attentive. Despite its popularity, the wait has never been too long, which is impressive. That said, parking can be a bit difficult, which speaks to how busy and popular the restaurant is--definitely worth the effort, though! I've enjoyed the food every time I've visited and am excited to try their new Omakase offering soon. Menya is a must-visit for anyone craving exceptional ramen and great service! read more

Menya Daruma - Spicy Tan Tan - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Stopped in for a late lunch on our way home from shopping and genuinely there was nothing I could complain about besides I wish they had desserts! I consider myself a bit of a Japanese food snob as a chef myself but this place hit all the marks for a good ramen, the black tonkotsu ramen was hearty, filling and beautifully balanced. Not gonna lie I partially chose this place because I'm fond of Darumas ,haha! But def will be coming again when the weather cools down. read more

Menya Daruma - Gyoza, edamame, tonkotsu ramen(tonkotsu black) and a beer - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Went here a week ago and I'm craving it again. Realized I never left a review! It's a pretty relaxed place. There's a speak easy in the back, I forgot the name but it's Omakase style service ($$$). I sat at the ramen bar. You order and pay via QR code so interaction with your server is pretty scarce. I ordered sake, they serve you by the glass instead of by the bottle FYI. Only two options for sake and neither were sweet in my opinion. I ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen and it was extremely good! I would post my empty bowl but that seems uncouth for a Yelp review. The broth was great! I ate every drop and I usually have leftovers. Recommend for a quick ramen stop. Chill date spot even though it's not intimate. read more

Menya Daruma - Tonkatsu Ramen - Noodles Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina