Menjiro

Food was decent, not incredible. A microwave was used a tad too much for my liking. Definitely worth experiencing this quirky, TINY little Japanese restaurant. Rating is a tad too high in our opinion. However, it gave us a nostalgic feeling of being in some tiny restaurant in rural Japan.

Authentic Japanese Ramen place run by an お婆ちゃん so you know the food is legit. Quiet yet it has a nice view of the marina and you have the option to sit in doors or outdoors in the patio. The draft beer was literally icy crystals cold as she poured it into an ice glass and it was quite refreshing as in "fresh" as I am used to the bottled Kirin but the 生 beer for me is a rare find. Chicken Karaage came first just crip on the outside and juicy in the inside as you savor the contrasting texture of just being perfectly fried. The Kobe Beef ramen is what I would call Hamburg steak Ramen with Chashu. At least that is not what I had imagined as kobe beef. Anyways, the broth was just right - not too salty and it had just the right blend of the flavor for the ending new broth that was pleansantly changing. Ended up finishing every last drop of it. Perhaps I was just really hungry. :D Thought I was in Japan for a while. The inside was enough for perhaps 8 persons total so I sat in the patio. It's a bit crowded but it must be this place's charm.

Hidden gem in Hayden Island/ Jantzen beach. An elderly lady was the chef and server of this quaint/ cute restaurant with overlooking views of the marina. Ramen soup was not too overwhelming in taste, but just right and perfect for a chilly/cool day. Would like to come back again and try out other items off their menu.

This little tiny restaurant had one amazing woman doing it all. Once you get in, you order at the bar and she will deliver to you. Not a lot of space for large crowds on the inside by they do have outdoor seating. The views are pretty fun and the food was pretty good.

Small, unassuming place with a beautiful dining area and some of the best food I've had in a long time. Very affordable for dinner for two. The lady running it alone was prompt and sweet. Will absolutely come here again.

Wonderful Kobe Beef Ramen lunch, very close by the hotel. I really enjoyed the meal and the owner/operator was on her own running the orders at the front, cooking, and delivering to tables- impressive. She managed to serve a busy crowd on an early Saturday afternoon. Right by the boat dock! I’ll go again when I’m traveling through.

I just ate at this location. I can say everything about it was fantastic. A lot of parking space, convenient location, great view over the bay, and fantastic high-quality food. The waitress was extremely polite and friendly. The service was quick and top quality. Free water was provided and the service was just great.

I lived in Japan a long time and I’ll tell you most Japanese restaurants in the states are not an authentic experience, they might be good, but they don’t have that homey neighborhood feel that is the backbone of Japanese cuisine. First off, most American Japanese restaurants are expensive and seem to be striving for some trendy zen concept. Menjiro felt like I was back in the Kobe neighborhood, getting a bowl of Ramen on the way to the train station. Unpretentious, friendly, reasonably priced. That’s pretty straight forward, isn’t it? Honest good food in a welcoming environment. It’s tiny and the prime table has a wonderful view of the boat docks, with plenty of room for outdoor seating. The cook/server was the perfect addition, cheerful and friendly, exactly like so many Ramen shops in Japan. To be honest, I have had better Ramen, but I haven’t had more authentic ramen. It’s not the place for your wedding party or a corporate merger. It’s a place you eat at regularly… with friends, or by yourself. You don’t have to dress up, or put your makeup on, you just have to relax and imagine you’re in a little harbor town in Japan and you’re dropping into your little neighborhood joint. And that, is amazing.

Wonderful ramen with tasty broth, noodles, and other traditional ingredients. It's a small place so if there is a line you may need to wait.

Small ramen shop by the water, but it delivers for the area. LOGISTICS Located in a small building by the water, there is plenty of parking available in the area. Cozy is the best way to describe the ambiance, as there are very few tables inside with views of the waterfront, with some outdoor seating outside the entrance for warmer days. We ordered at the front counter - at the time there was a friendly Japanese lady who took our order, prepared our order, and served it to us. Be patient as she was elderly, and I would recommend bringing your finished trays/dishes to the counter to help out a little. If you are staying at the Holiday Inn Columbia Riverfront, this place is within walking distance. Very easy to walk to (route was flat). FOOD Had a bowl of Original w/ Katsuoshoyu (fish soy broth) - I really liked the lightness of the fish based broth as opposed to the traditional pork based broth (which my dad had so I got to sample). Even though it was fish based, the flavor profile was very balanced between the soy and salt flavors. The slice of chasu that came with it was tender and the noodles were cooked just right with the right amount of bounce/chew. It was a well balanced ramen bowl on a colder day. I also got to try a little bit of my mom's order of the Cold Ramen, which had similar toppings but had a stronger soy based sauce that reminded me of dipping ramen. Definitely a good option to consider on warmer days when you still want to eat noodles. OVERALL Where I am from your basic bowl of ramen runs you $15+ ... for the quality and portions, this place was good value given the waterfront ambiance. "Homey" is really the word to describe this place. If you're in the area... definitely worth checking out for a hot bowl of ramen. Be sure to check their hours for when they're open.

Wow, what a pleasant surprise. One of the best places for non-sushi Japanese fare. The cold Ramen was excellent, the non-noodle ingredients were not a simple after thought. And the broth was scrumptious. Both the Ton-Katsu and Unagi Japabowls are definite recommends, such good flavor. All portions were more than fair. Service is stoic, not rude, but not entirely friendly. Super easy parking, no lines, and refreshing atmosphere.

Average at best. The food was bland and the potstickers came out of a freezer bag. Got their "house made" pork belly. Wasn't pork belly. It was microwaved pork. Don't understand how this place had so many good reviews.

10/10!!! Absolutely lovely place to stop. Small business, hard working woman running the place, would 100% come here again!! I'm visiting from out of state but when I find myself in Portland again I'll happily stop here.

Go here for a quick fix but don't expect the Ramen to blow you away. We came in as we were in the neighborhood running some errands and really wanted to eat some Ramen. Its located in a deserted spot on the Jantzen beach area and I wouldn't have even known it exists if not for Yelp . This place is really small and doesn't have much curb appeal but its right on the marina so you do get a reasonably OK view if you dine in. There was just one person working and she was doing it all -cooking ,serving ,taking orders .There is very limited seating so they cant really accommodate really big groups .Its a small operation but people kept coming in for takeout for the entirety of our stay . We ordered at the counter and sat down with our drinks - I got a Japanese beer and the hubby choose a soda . The Ramens arrived in reasonable time and were hot . I got the Chashu and he chose the Gekikara. For me the broth was good but very plain tasting the noodles were mehh ..the egg was hard boiled which I never prefer in Ramen. Now my hubby liked his Ramen which was a tad bit more spicy however I wasn't a big fan of that one either . There was plenty of pork in mine but his only came with just one piece . Overall for the price you do get a good meal but Portland has really spoilt me for choices when it comes to Ramen and I would prefer to drive a bit and go to one of my preferred spots next time.

Super nice lady cooking some bomb meal, great view of the marina and lovely vibe. Delicious food and I will definitely be coming back.

I work very close to this little gem. I waited months for this little place to open back up after that lab leaked man made biowarfare synthetic pathogen tried to murder us all. Anyways, this little yellow hut next to the dock is back! I'm not sure of their full business hours because I've only been there for lunch in the midweek. I've had the ramen and it was beautiful. I've had the salmon rice bowl and I'm hooked. Beer on draft and you're set. Banzai!

Found this place on Yelp and it was about a 15 minute walk from the hotel. A very small place with a one woman working the orders and cooking. I was hot from the walk so I went with the cold ramen and gyoza. The gyoza, I think, were pre-made but good. The cold ramen had chaushu, cucumber, egg, and noodles. The noodles were nice and had a good chew. The sauce was sweet and tasty. I would order hot ramen if I ho back when it's cold weather.

This small, quaint, ramen restaurant is a great find. The ramen is excellent. Tempura udon, outstanding. If you can, sit by the large windows. Great views of the water. It's a very small place, so don't plan on bringing a very large party here and expect to sit indoors. There are only 5 tables inside, but there is an outside patio area that can sit maybe 20 or so people. We will definitely return....

Taste great! And nice view! 1 man band, takes your order cools it and serves it! A++ thank you!

This was my second time here so I got the cold noodles this time... so, so good!! This place is more sketchy on the inside but I just really dig this place. Sweet old lady who runs it all by herself. Get the cold noodles!!

Wow, what a treat! Best ramen in the Portland area. The pork broth was so flavorful and the noodles had the perfect chew. I deeply regret only getting 1 slice of the delicious pork as it just melts into your mouth. This little restaurant has 4 or 5 tables inside overlooking the docks and a nice patio seating area in front. They offered ramen bowls and rice bowls with fresh salmon and veggies, they also had a few beers on draft!

Authentic ramen made with care. Tiny little spot in Jantzen Beach by the docks, but definitely worth the trip if you're looking for something quick and easy.

Great food in the middle island between Oregon and Washington! It's a relatively small restaurant in a very lowkey spot, it's very relaxing to bring friends and family and have a nice evening meal'

Adorable little spot. I came for lunch, having just bumped into it when i parked to complete a phone call. The definition of "hole in the wall.," with a nice view of the marina and river. Little old Japanese lady was running the place. Her English isn't good, which to me is a big plus for ambiance. The Ramen is not fancy, but is still a solid lunch. The broth and amendments were lovely, it's the noodles that were not impressive. 4 stars for it being such a cool little spot, worth a visit.

LOVE this place. Best Japanese food outside of Japan, in my humble opinion. The freshness of the fish, authenticity of the ramen, variety of the menu. The seating area is simple and no-frills, but the quality of the food and the view of the marina make up for it. The setting adds to its character and charm, too. Highly recommend!

Incredible food! Prepared by a hard working, gifted chef. The experience did not disappoint. If you love Ramen, look no further. Please stop by and enjoy the food and the view.

Delicious and quick to go order! Very authentic tasting and the owner works hard. Beautiful view of the water too. 10/10!

Yum yum! I'm no ramen aficionado but this ramen is legit. Hubby and I both had the Chashu ramen ($11.50), which our server said is their most popular, and a couple of beers. He'd never had ramen before and loved it, saying he'd come back here, which he doesn't usually comment about most restaurants we visit (not that he's supercritical, just doesn't love food as much as I do, haha!). Menjiro is a small, casual place right on the docks and you'll totally miss it if you trust Google maps to get you there, so keep an eye out. It's actually better to navigate to "Stateline Liquor Store" and then Menjiro is in the back of the same parking lot. The restaurant was empty when we showed up on a rainy Friday night. It seems like they probably do a lot of take-out orders, and my guess is that this place is much busier in the summer or when the weather is nicer.

This little place is tucked at the backside of a parking lot on the south side of the island, east side of the freeway sharing a parking lot with the liquor store. It's quite unassuming and had Yelp search not revealed it, I never would have known it was there. The inside is bigger you'd think when walking up to it, but still on the small-ish side. The bar-height tables and chairs along with one wall being floor to ceiling windows eliminate any feelings of claustrophobia. Were it daylight when I visited, I'm sure the view onto the Columbia and marina would have been wonderful. If you're new to Japanese food/ramen, you may want to leverage Google for some menu items (or just swallow your pride and ask the staff :-) ). The friends I was with mentioned they'd come here once before and were disappointed that their order was missing soup broth. It turns out items on the menu indicating "no soup noodle" are served without broth (like Yakisoba). I ordered the chashu ramen and my friend got the "plain" ramen. I think the main difference was the amount of pork in the chashu, because mine had so many massive slices of pork in it! Very filling, plenty of noodles and other veggies too. I'd say the broth tasted kind of plain (I may have been expecting some kind of artisanal bone broth - damn portland has messed up my tastebuds!), but it wasn't bad. The price can't be beat either! This place is a welcome change from the fast(ish) food places and chain restaurants that take up space on the island. Plus: Sapporo beer is on tap! I definitely want to go again.

Hole in the wall hole in the wall what do you see? OMG a super satisfied customer is what I see!! This place is amazing I walked 30 mins each way across the bridge from Vancouver to check this place out, super nice Obajan' serving and making the food, fresh ginger vegetables and spicy broth in ramen was amazing. I truly felt as if I was in a ramen shop in Narita again. A must for ramen lovers, don't be fooled by the appearance and location it's a must!! Gochiso sama deshita'

A tiny shop in Jantzen Beach. Ran by an older woman. Absolutely delicious food, I got kobe beef ramen and it was delicious. My boyfriend got yakisoba and it was also one of the best things I've ever had.

Great little hidden gem on Hayden Island. Fresh ingredients prepared perfectly and quickly. Highly recommend.

Really good ramen place right off of the water. It was within walking distance to where I was staying so it was a very convenient walk away. They weren't open too late but I was able to catch an evening dinner. They have some seating inside but it was a nice enough day to eat outside. There were probably half a dozen tables outside. Pretty simple menu. A few options of ramen and rice bowls to choose from as well as some appetizers as well. I had the spicy ramen and the tonkatsu rice bowl. Both came in very decent portions and I wasn't able to finish the rice bowl but was able to take the rest in a take away container. Staff was extremely friendly and accommodating as well. I will definitely be back when I am in the area again.

It's not the most amazing bowl of ramen you'll ever have, but for $10, what a deal! Thoroughly enjoyed my lunch, a bowl of wakame ramen, mostly because the whole time I was thinking about how inexpensive it was compared to other ramen spots. Really tasty if you're craving ramen and want to bring it home. Cute little shack run by one person, smells AMAZING, all in all great experience.

One of the the absolute best hole in the walls Portland has to offer. Make a point to try it. You won't be disappointed.

Excellent broth. The service was not great as I could not understand the cook/server. Nice view of the marina. We have stopped many times over the years. It appears to have new ownership. The food is still excellent.

Food is not good. Service doesn't exist. Not recommended. It is disappointing since we drove all the way to try it.

I've been wanting to try this place for a while and was super excited to give them a go yesterday. Unfortunately, the food was so gross I had to throw it away and buy dinner again elsewhere. The takoyaki came straight from the freezer aisle and my cold ramen bowl smelled like rotten eggs.

This is my ramen place to go if I'm in North Portland. Their food is scrumptious. I have tried ramen, gyoza, donburi, and takoyaki and enjoyed them all. Also they serve generous portions. I like their location too, nearby water. I recommend this restaurant.

Updated review: Menjiro has found its sea legs! Consistently delicious one dish meals and thoughtful service, Menjiro is a welcome addition to the island. Good view of the channel and a comfy patio in warm weather (no channel view from the patio) makes Menjiro a steady go-to for my family. Menjiro is intermittently open during their pre grand opening: Mon-Thus: 4p - 9p Fri and Sat: 11:30a -9p ​Sunday Closed The owners expect more robust hours within a couple of weeks. That's important to know because if you like ramen, you're going to love Menjiro. The broth for the pork ramen bowl was rich, tinged with mushrooms and perfectly seasoned (not too salty). The noodles were firm and plentiful. My son claims it's the best ramen he's had in Portland. That's high praise. The yakisoba noodles and chicken was also well seasoned and super tasty. Huge portions, but my husband managed it like a pro. What didn't appear on the limited-for-now menu was the organic kale salad with marinated red onion, thin slivers of lemon, a ginger-soy dressing, topped with sesame seeds. Truly a happy discovery for me. Three cheers to the friendly wait staff who offered the salad as an option. We're excited Menjiro is on the Island and predict after a few more visits and with an established menu, I'll need to update this review with an added star. Know that the interior is small, seating perhaps 20 people. We sat outside on their covered patio.

I ordered takeout, the lady works by herself, but the waiting is only about 15mins. Food is delicious.

This was a great choice. I've never had this style before and omg the fried chicken bits was awesome as well as the Kobe beef in ramen was soooo good !!! You must try this food it's worth the visit

Menjiro is in walking distance from the Oxford Suites in Jantzen Beach where we stayed during our trip to Portland. There's indoor and outdoor seating available & this restaurant has a nice view overlooking the Jantzen Bay Marina. The service was good, the girl serving us was very nice. I ordered tempura udon and a side of gyoza. The food was good, would like to come back one day to try one of their Japa Bowls!

It's like eating at your Japanese grandma's place if you had a Japanese grandma. It's not a 5 star restaurant but there's just something about it that feels like grandma's cooking at grandma's place.

What a delightful surprise. This sweet little bistro offers delicious, nutritious bowls with fresh veggies and fresh salmon (my preference) as well as beef and pork. It's overlooking the harbor with covered picnic tables. The food is really good. We stopped for a quick lunch on our way down the coast. So happy we did. Wonderful, refreshing lunch. Thank you.

Very good food the best ramen ever, I fully recommend you come and get a bite of authentic Japanese food right in our alley enjoy with a soporo

I dont understand how this place got such a high rating, I feel totally deceived! We ordered the chashu ramen, unagi bowl, karrage chicken and the dumplings. So, first off it's a cute little place right on the water. The dumplings came out first and the were the frozen ones you can get at the grocery store and the were cold in the center. The other three dishes came out at the same time. The chashu in my ramen was like tough fried out leather, there was no egg and the broth was just ok. The noodles and veggies were good though. The unagi bowl was tiny pieces of eel and mostly eggs and rice. The karrage chicken was dry and tough as well. Such a disappointment! The people working there were very nice, but the food was a total disappointment.

It was something quick and I was in dying need of ramen due to a terrible hangover and it was close enough meeting up a friend while heading back to Washington. So I ordered the Kobe beef ramen. Pretty basic, nothing too special, I guess I was expecting it to be a little bit better. Not a whole lot of flavor. For appetizers I got the karaage chicken and house special dumplings. The dumplings were pretty good but the chicken was very dry and no spice and no flavor, very bland. Anyways I've had better ramen before but as I said it got the job done lol

Good and close to home. We had spicy ramen, edamame, vegetable potstickers, and octopus balls. Our 3 yo ate the edamame and potstickers. The ramen was too spicy for him, but I enjoyed it! The cabbage and ginger were refreshing, and this spicy ramen was not a thick or creamy broth. Good to know, because sometimes you want that and sometimes you don't. Only request, I would like a half order of ramen with vegetables for my kids. I would come back again. With a menu full of options, a view that can't be beat, this quaint ramen cafe is a worth it. Cute inside and clean.

Great little place for a variety of Japanese noodles, Ramen and Rice bowls. Very fresh and authentic ingredients. I love everything on the menu. Very nice to have on Jantzen Beach

Best food on the island, very sweet staff....we're so grateful for Menjiro. Keep up the good work!

Came here today for the first time and was not disappointed. They have a simple menu which I really like. Food was flavorful but on the salty side. Serving size was shareable. The view was a plus. The place is small but cozy. Servers were friendly and prompt. We'll definitely pay a visit to this place again.

A new place in Jantzen Beach that is going to generate some serious Ramen buzz. I have been pretty much all Ramen shops that can hang in Portland's hot Ramen market. This place is no joke. I tried their signature Ramen which comes in a tonkotsushoyu broth ( pork born soy based ) with 5 pieces of very tender chasu, pickled ginger, bamboo shoots, fishcake, bean sprouts, green onion and ramen noodles. Flavor was excellent, plenty of noodles, artfully garnished, and plenty of protein. It also came out piping hot (my personal pet peeve). Service was great and I'm a fan from someone who has a serious Asian soup addiction. Here's looking at you Kao Soi. The only thing I would change is what is up with the hard boiled egg?

We arrived hungry and ordered the gyoza, a few Chashu ramen and a Tori soba for the gang. They were out of the chicken karaage. No pictures, boys dug in right away. Gyoza, 6 pieces were good and juicy. All 4 of us loved the flavorful ramen broth and enjoyed the thick chewy texture of the noodles. The chashu was too lean for my preference but the other 3 devoured their portion and mine. They did not mind. The egg in the ramen was nice...it had a nice touch of color with some flavored soy sauce with the yolk medium cooked. The Tori soba was alright but not as good as the ramen though. My boys assured me that we will be back again for sure.

The food here is good and I really like their happy hour menu because I can order a couple of smaller things to sample. I can eat for under $15 and get some fresh, good quality Japanese-fusion here. Service is always on point and friendly. I'd say this is the best food I've had at Jantzen Beach yet, though not the best Japanese food in the city. Only things I don't like are the location; it's cute and quaint, but there isn't enough seating inside. To get to the restroom, you have to go through the back where they are sometimes working, and I hate to be a bother. Also, one time I got the fried chicken bowl and the chicken was half-cold. Not raw, but seemed like it was hastily reheated. That might have been a fluke though, because the other ~four times I've been here the food was properly heated and fresh. I'm a fan though, and will return when I make my regular shopping trips to Jantzen Beach.

staff was kind, food tasted amazing, and service was really good definitely will be coming back soon

Outstanding! Friendly service, great food, beautiful view ... it just hit the spot. It was a cold evening and Menjiro popped up on Yelp. Ramen sounded like the perfect meal. I ordered the Gyoza and Chasu Ramen to go. The waitress gave me simple instructions on how to reheat, if needed. I didn't get a picture because it was sooo good and I couldn't wait! Stop in and warm up!