MENSHO

This place is a 100 out of 10 in every way. The ramen is probably the best I’ve had in a while. There are so many options including 6 different vegan ramens, and you can add/remove toppings. The Service was impeccable and quick. You will almost always need to wait in line but the flavors worth every minute. I highly recommend the vegan tartan and vegan garlic knock out. The broth is rich with insane amount of depth/notes. A must try!!!

Everything about this place is A1. The food and service are the top you can get in the Bay. In fact, I would go as far to say that the Signature Smoked Toripaitan is the best I've had in the world. The UK, Vietnam, Japan, East Coast, and West Coast, there not been a single spot that has served me a more well-balanced and yet supreme ramen. The establishment is small and they have a waitlist that you can only join in-person. You will have to share the table with others, though there is a divider for privacy. The service is impeccable with a large wait staff to attend to your needs and readily clear your table. They operate on a everyone helps out if they're free style. They extremely quick with bringing out the food. Like minutes after you order, even at maximum capacity. Their appetizers are nothing to ride home about. I get my ramen quicker than my appetizers half of the time. Honestly, I could do without them and you could too. The ramen is the star. The spicy lamb miso cumin is exactly what it sounds like and hits all the notes of a rogan josh and ramen in one. The vegan miso is reminiscent of a comfortable ginger soup. The spicy vegan yuzu mizore is a slight miss being a bit more salty and sour than desired. The vegan tantan is creamy without the decadence that kills your appetite leading to a rich and carried dining experience. They're really good with allergies around here labeling what dishes have what and removing undesired ingredients from the equation. The noodles are cooked to provide a nice bite and the enoki crisps in the majority of the dishes grants a textural difference to keep the meal appetizing. And to end it all off, the matcha pudding provides the perfect balanced between an otherwise heavy meal. The pudding is extremely jiggly, cool, and light. The red beans are balanced. The texture is spot on and they keep the sweetness to a minimal for maximal enjoyment. I implore you, go.

Food is really tasty, quality ingredients. Mostly paid parking along the street. Fun neighborhood. No reservation option, had to wait about an hour for a group of 6, Friday at 6:30pm. Space is a little cramped. On the pricier side for ramen, like adding a staple like an egg is an extra topping charge. Appetizers are smaller size, especially for a group of 6.

I have a wonderful time with Belinda as my server! She was so friendly and explained everything on the menu for us. I had a wonderful time dining at Mensho. All the items we ordered were 11/10!

The ambiance was so great. Anusha was our server and she was so warm and welcoming. I got the Kani Tantanmen and added the egg. The egg surprised me and was smokey but so delicious, I’ll be thinking about that for a while. My partner got the Vegan Spicy Garlic Knockout and I couldn’t keep my spoon out of his bowl. The broth was amazing.

We visited Mensho — often praised as the best ramen spot in the Bay Area — with high expectations. Prices here are noticeably higher than other ramen shops, so we were hoping for a standout experience. We tried both the signature ramen and the garlic ramen. The broth was solid and the meat — especially in the signature bowl — was exceptionally flavorful and tender. Unfortunately, the noodles in both were overly thick and quite firm, which made the overall experience disappointing given the premium pricing. The Wagyu nigiri and hotate nigiri, on the other hand, were absolutely fantastic — fresh, perfectly seasoned, and easily the highlight of the meal. The biggest letdown was the tartare. It was extremely salty — so much so that we couldn’t taste the beef or the uni. The salt overwhelmed every other flavor. Honestly, it was the worst tartare I’ve ever had. For the price point, I expected more consistency across the menu. While a couple of items shined, the ramen — which should have been the star — fell short.

Mensho has always been my go-to ramen spot whenever I’m in the Bay Area. Im a regular at the San Francisco location, but this was my first time trying the Oakland spot— def didn’t disappoint. The menu is a bit larger but the staples are the same. I started with the garlic tuna hand roll and enoki chips. The hand roll came unrolled, which was a unique touch, I guess we assemble it ourselves? I can roll with it (lol). The presentation was great, and the wasabi was incredibly fresh—8.7/10. The enoki chips were crispy and flavorful as always. I’m not a fan of too much lemon garnish, but that’s just personal preference. I like saving a few crisps to dip in my broth at the end for an extra layer of flavor—8/10. For my main dish, I tried the Matcha Duck Ramen (yes, matcha!). The broth was thick, creamy, and surprisingly well-balanced—the matcha flavor was subtle without being overpowering but if you absolutely hate matcha, avoid it. I probably wouldn’t order it again but def would recommend it to anyone who loves matcha—7.2/10. The Spicy Lamb Miso Ramen is the vibe. The broth was rich and flavorful, the noodles had the perfect bounce, and the spice level was just right. I’d recommend adding an egg to elevate it even more, though that’s a personal preference. This bowl is as close to authentic ramen as I’ve had outside Japan—9.6/10. The Oakland location’s ambiance is cozier and more inviting than the SF location. While there’s no bar seating, they do have a designated section for solo diners, which I appreciated.

4/26 update - second visit I was a bit disappointed this time, it makes me feel the shrinkflation compare to last time. The service the broth is still good, just they changed the signature menu, and the quality and size of the meat is not as good as before . The signature ramen is so goooood. The noodle feels like handmade. I love the duck and wagu. We also tried the chicken karaage, very crispy and juicy!

Love this place! I think it's better than the SF location; too bad it's across the bridge. The quality of the ramen is a notch higher here, imo, but what sets it hugely apart is the vibe. It's a lot trendier and warmer - all around, a much more enjoyable dining experience compared to the SF place.

Disappointed by Unprofessional Hiring Practices I want to make it clear that this review has nothing to do with the food at Mensho Ramen Piedmont--which I've heard great things about and was genuinely excited to be a part of. Unfortunately, my experience with their hiring process left a really bad impression. I was contacted to come in for what I was told was a line cook position. When I arrived, I was informed the only position available was for bussing. When I brought this up, the manager, Mr. Matsuura, acted like the confusion was somehow my fault--even though he had clearly communicated that this was for a cooking role. I tried to brush it off, assuming maybe it was just a scheduling mix-up. But a few days later, they posted a new back-of-house opening. That made the situation feel less like a mistake and more like either a bait-and-switch or something more troubling, possibly even discriminatory. I wanted to like this place, and maybe the food really is as good as people say. But if they can't even manage a simple interview process with honesty and clarity, it raises real concerns about how the business is run behind the scenes.

Was here on a Friday night and the wait was over an hour even at 8pm. The funny thing was that it only took me 20 mins to finish my meal. Wished every patron would be as considerate. Lol. When I left, there was still a line. Their ramen was thicker than most places. It had a great bite/chew texture and was al dente. I ordered the matcha duck and the original flavors. For $24 & $25 a bowl, it was on a steeper side considering their portion size relatively smaller than the others. However, I didn't mind paying for the cost if it was delicious and made with great ingredients which they were. The original flavor came with an egg whereas the matcha didn't. My feedback would be to also include an egg with that ramen. Without that, it seemed incomplete. The enoki mushroom ($9) was delicious but a tad oily. But hey, it was deep fried after all. I would come back again, only without the wait.

【Kani Tantanmen（Snow Crab Meat）】 微辣、黏黏糊糊、奶香浓郁的汤底，由日式芝麻沙拉酱、昆布、椎茸、牛肝菌和蔬菜熬制而成 面条是用糯小麦粉做的，筋道和爽滑程度超级牛，无奈雪蟹丝太细，迷失在重调味中，已然没有了自身的鲜甜 以打碎的烟熏坚果作为点缀，使得每一口都伴随着清甜的油香，惊喜感十足！！！

So, I'm gonna keep it simple. Go. Just go. Amazing. The food, the service and the ambiance. Great. Trust me.

Everything about this place is A1. The food and service are the top you can get in the Bay. In fact, I would go as far to say that the Signature Smoked Toripaitan is the best I've had in the world. The UK, Vietnam, Japan, East Coast, and West Coast, there not been a single spot that has served me a more well-balanced and yet supreme ramen. The establishment is small and they have a waitlist that you can only join in-person. You will have to share the table with others, though there is a divider for privacy. The service is impeccable with a large wait staff to attend to your needs and readily clear your table. They operate on a everyone helps out if they're free style. They extremely quick with bringing out the food. Like minutes after you order, even at maximum capacity. Their appetizers are nothing to ride home about. I get my ramen quicker than my appetizers half of the time. Honestly, I could do without them and you could too. The ramen is the star. The spicy lamb miso cumin is exactly what it sounds like and hits all the notes of a rogan josh and ramen in one. The vegan miso is reminiscent of a comfortable ginger soup. The spicy vegan yuzu mizore is a slight miss being a bit more salty and sour than desired. The vegan tantan is creamy without the decadence that kills your appetite leading to a rich and carried dining experience. They're really good with allergies around here labeling what dishes have what and removing undesired ingredients from the equation. The noodles are cooked to provide a nice bite and the enoki crisps in the majority of the dishes grants a textural difference to keep the meal appetizing. And to end it all off, the matcha pudding provides the perfect balanced between an otherwise heavy meal. The pudding is extremely jiggly, cool, and light. The red beans are balanced. The texture is spot on and they keep the sweetness to a minimal for maximal enjoyment. I implore you, go.

Be prepared to wait on a Friday night at dinner time. Came here with my boyfriend, and we waited about 50 minutes for a table. They have a lot of shared table spaces here, many high tops, some low. They use a little separator on the table top to break up tables for 6 to be used for a group of 2 and 4. I've only been to Mensho in SF and it was many years ago, pre pandemic. I remember liking the clear broth (shoyu) which came with duck. This location (or maybe the menu just changed since years ago) didn't have that option. The shoyu option here came with A5 Japanese Wagyu. I ordered that, and my boyfriend got the signature smoked toripaitan. His was good, smoky and creamy. Mine was good but eventually became too oily for me to finish in one sitting. The quality of the ingredients was all fresh and tasty, but the oiliness in broth mixed with the fattiness of the Wagyu became overwhelming to me. I took half home and finished it a different day. If I go back, I might try the vegan version and add a different type of meat for protein. The prices are more expensive than I remember (not surprising) and also may vary by location. My ramen was $39, and then I added an egg, bringing it over $40! Service was friendly, but you had to flag someone down for a to go container and the check. Also, it does get very loud inside. I wouldn't bring people who are hard of hearing here.

This place was hopping on a Sunday night. Good thing we arrived for an early dinner (5pm) Although there were many in the que outside, the wait seemed to be about 20min. Service was prompt and attentive. Multiple wait staff would ask if we needed anything and they were quick to clear used dishes. The ramen was delicious! My personal favorite was the Kani Tantan. I have eaten at a variety of ramen places throughout the bay as well as east coast. I have never come across a ramen like this. I enjoyed the tantán (peanut sauce) broth with the veggies and crab. They complemented each other well. I will definitely come back again for it. We also ordered Garlic Knockout and the Classic Toripaitan. All very delicious. We tried the matcha pudding. It was light and refreshing, not too sweet. It's another recommended try. The ambiance was hip and lots of different groups. We were a party of four. Some of the tables were bar high seating. Tables could be a shared space but with a frosted glass partition between the other group.

Quick update: I went back recently the food was just as good as the first time and the staff remembered me which I loved. This time I went back with my friend and her baby. The staff provided a high chair, a plastic cup with lid and straw, baby bowl, and a baby fork. So cute, we all loved it.

This is in a busy area with street parking around, but you can't miss it because there's always a group of people waiting outside for their table. The restaurant itself is pretty small, so when you head inside, put your name on the waitlist and hope for the best. There's a lot of things to go see while you wait. Or if you're feeling like dessert first, grab an ice cream from fentons across the street. Our server was incredibly nice with a huge smile on her face, she gets a 10/10. Actually, all the servers provided excellent service here. The food was also 10/10. We started with enoki chips (my gf loves enoki mushrooms), calamari, and their corn wings. The appetizers were as advertised, appetizers; enough to give you a taste of what the restaurant had to offer and get your metabolism running, but not nearly enough to get you full. The moment I saw A5 Wagyu ramen, I stopped looking at the rest of the menu. It's easily the most expensive thing on the menu but worth at least trying. The flavor of the meat, broth and ramen coming together was amazing. The broth wasn't creamy or heavy like most other ramen broths are, so it's actually perfect for a rainy day without feeling like a nap after. Hands down one of the best ramen's I've had, especially so close to home. The Wagyu melted in your mouth and just added that extra buttery flavor to the soup without actual butter. The line in front of the restaurant should tell you all you need to know. Worth the wait if you're into soup.

The broth, the noodles, the alcohol...I loved it. Went in on a Sunday, there was no wait at three. Within the next 25 minutes or so the place was already packed.

YUM! Came on Tuesday night at 7p. Seated in 30mins. Aesthetically pleasing inside, various types of seating. Friendly staff. They've got ramen, nigiri, hand rolls, regular appetizers, seafood appetizers. Alcohol. -Ramen: noodles were thick & chewy with a bite. Broth was flavorful & rich. Definitely more than a simple shio broth. Egg good, meat good. -Handroll was sooooo good, fresh. Decent portion size. With fresh wasabi on the side. -Corn wings: as expected. Also a good portion. The seasoning on the side has a good spice to it. I actually dipped the corn in my broth & it absorbed all the flavor.

WOW WOW! Piedmont used to be our stomping grounds when we had a restaurant here. LE SIGH. so many turnovers and so many new places to explore. haha We wanted to take a pitstop before our final destination and decided to eat around here! Vaguely remembered the name Mensho, there's one in SF but we've never tried it. Crossed our fingers and hoped it wasn't too busy. We got lucky with street parking, and we were the first on the waitlist but parties of 2 were seated much quicker and easier. When we were finally seated, it took a bit to get our orders taken and we were skipped a few times, but food came out fairly fast so all is well. We ordered: karaage - it came out last but still tasty from what I remember. yuzu cucumber - refreshing. grilled hotate butter soyu - YUM. I saw many mention this in reviews, so we got it as well. MMMM can't go wrong with butter but the hotate was nice and chewy but soft. Classic Toripaitan - for the kids, added an egg. the kids gobbled it up! I had a taste and it was solid, but glad I chose my own dish. smoked toripaitan - my husband enjoyed it, rich and lots of flavor. I don't think he realized there were 3 types of chashu in there though LOL until I read the description. kani tantanmen - YO. this was DELICIOUS. I neverrrrrrr go for tantanmen. it's usually too spicy...too rich...too much for me. but this one was PERFECT! I loved it! Just mild spicy, lots of crab meat, lots of veggies. The broth was flavorful without being too much. Love the noodle texture as well! Extremely satisfied with our meal. Good service, great location. Would definitely come back. If this location is bigger than the SF one....CRIES. But I would make the trek out here, Piedmont is a cute area :)

Definitely a 5 star experience! Mensho has always been a favorite ramen spot of mine. One of my earlier foodie memories was waiting in line at 9 pm in the rain with my mom waiting for a seat inside of Mensho's SF location when they first opened in 2016! A little over 9 years later and finally getting a chance to try their newer Oakland location, I am still entirely impressed!! Mensho is like art in a bowl. This vibrance is fully displayed in their restaurants. The entire is cozy, almost being izakaya-esque. Very warm and dim, a nice vibe to be with people. I went on a date with my boyfriend here and it was a great atmosphere! Mensho is usually pretty busy, so be prepared to wait. There are a few seating spots inside, but we opted for walking around Piedmont! We waited about 30 minutes, and then were quickly seated and taken care of. We ordered 5 minutes after sitting and got our food about 20 minutes later. Very quick and fresh! I decided on the Garlic Knockout ramen and my boyfriend got the Spicy Lamb Miso ramen. The garlic ramen was insane to say the least. SO jam packed with flavor. The broth is so rich and viscous, perfectly coating your spoon. The noodles are perfectly cooked, still chewy and holds all the flavors in the bowl. The chashu is tender and flavorful. The fat renders perfectly and is not chewy, perfect!! All the textures in the bowl and perfect. The rich fattiness of the broth cut with the fresh toppings balanced perfectly with the many variants of garlic laced in this dish. If you are a garlic girl like me, this is a plus. Maybe not the most romantic choice on my part but I do not care it was delicious (sorry bae!). My boyfriend loved his ramen as well. Said the lamb was fantastic and had all the same compliments in terms of noodles, toppings, etc as I did. The miso broth was "so good and flavorful, balanced". I tried a bit of it (I do not like lamb otherwise I would have obliterated it!). The cumin is a fun choice for the broth. Adds a warmth to the whole dish which is really cool. Also perfectly spicy, not overpowering and enhanced the dish! Overall, Mensho is such a fantastic spot. I love everything I have eaten and I am so glad there is a location even closer to me now! SO so god, you have to go!

Pretty solid ramen spot! This place had been on my husband's radar for a while, so we finally checked it out with his dad for Father's Day. Everything we ordered was delicious and full of flavor. The service was also on point, super friendly and efficient. Definitely planning to come back next time we're in the area.

This review is just for my most recent experience - I finally bit the bullet and splurged on the Japanese A5 Wagyu Shoyu Ramen ($39)!!! It was a bit of a special occasion, so we also got a bunch of fancy nigiri to go with it. Although it was a Friday night, the wait actually wasn't as crazy as usual and we were seated within 30 min of arriving without being packed like sardines at the entrance. The ramen quickly arrived with familiar aromas. The broth was clear compared to the signature smoked toripaitan I usually get, but judging from the taste and smell, it was probably using the same base - one I am a huge fan of. However, overall, the shoyu was a lot milder, I'm guessing to highlight the star of the bowl, the A5 wagyu. There was one very large and thin slice slapped across the bowl. Great melt-in-your-mouth texture and fatty flavor! However, I have to say this particular bowl of ramen felt more gimmicky to me, where it was just for the sake of having one fancy ingredient. I personally think the signature ramen has a SIGNIFICANTLY better broth, and no fancy ingredients were needed to make it the most impressive ramen I've ever had. Even without the A5 wagyu, you could taste the quality in every topping and every bite for nearly half the price. Definitely just a one time thing for me to try for the bragging rights, and I'll be returning for the signature bowl from now on. At the end, the food totaled to $140 before tax and tip. The way payment works here is that the server will present a payment machine in front of you while holding it firmly. I'm not a fan of these business tactics meant to rush and pressure the customer into tapping very high pre-selected tip amounts, especially when we're spending more this time. We were not offered a receipt at the end, and prices are not posted in the online menu to compare any possible discrepancies on what was charged.

Had a bit of a wait before getting a table as this seems to be quite a popular restaurant, and was quite crowded. Ramen was tasty but was a bit on the pricey side.

The staff were extremely attentive and the food arrived quickly despite being super busy. We ordered the Garlic KO and the Smokey Signature ramen - both had spectacular flavors. The Garlic KO had fried garlic and black garlic oil garnishing the top which accompanied the pungent garlic broth deliciously! The Smokey Signature came with a trio combo of meats - smoked duck, pork charshu, and wagyu - had great flavors paired with the perfect jammy egg and a sprinkle of enoki chips! Their house made noodles were on the thicker side and had the perfect chewy bounce. Don't be fooled by the size of the bowl, it was beyond filling. For shared appetizers, we ordered the enoki chips, chicken karaage, and 2 handrolls to try! Only con I would have for the handrolls is that I would've liked more tuna in the garlic tuna roll. The fresh wasabi was an excellent component. I didn't realize the chicken karaage came with sauce and their yam in a pulp-like texture on top - I would ask for that on the side next time. The flavor of the sauce paired perfectly with the juicy, crispy chicken and the small pieces of fried eggplant and shishito pepper was great. The enoki chips are a MUST. Perfectly crispy and couldn't help but add some into every bite with my ramen. The restaurant is quite small so it was a cozy environment with the neighboring customers.

Came on a Wednesday at 8:15pm and there was a very short wait of 5-10 minutes for a party of 2. We were sat at a table for 4 with another couple with a divider down the middle. I was eating with someone who is vegan. We were quite happy about the extensive vegan options. I've never had vegan ramen before and it was just as lovely! Lots of mushroom based items. We got the mushroom karaage, vegan spicy garlic knockout ramen, and vegan shio ramen. The only ding was the menu inconsistencies that were posted outside and inside. We were looking forward to getting the enoki chips that were listed under vegan side dishes outside. However, the menu book inside had enoki chips listed on veggie side dishes but didn't have the vegan leaf symbol. Upon inquiry, the waiter said there was egg in the enoki chips. It was just odd that the menu posted on their door for one specific item wasn't consistent. Not sure if they changed their recipe or what, so watch out for that if you are vegan. Also weirdly enough, enoki chips are listed as an ingredient in their vegan ramen? Besides that, everything was great. The garlic knockout ramen was indeed very garlicky. The description for the mushroom Karaage said it would match the texture of chicken karaage. I'd say the breading and flavor? Sure. The texture? Definitely just a king oyster mushroom, not one of the mushroom-based fake meats that are designed to really mimic chicken texture. We loved the noodles. Very chewy with a good bounce. Service-wise, we were given water upon seating and the food came quickly. Unfortunately, no one came to check on us after that and we ran out of water about halfway through the meal. We failed to flag anyone until we were trying to get the check. It was very busy inside though so we understood. Could be improved a bit.

We were in the area and needed food. I was curious to eat here after seeing the good reviews on Yelp and Google maps. I ordered the enoki mushroom chips, Signature smoked toripaitan ramen, Garlic knockout ramen, chicken karaage. The Signature ramen was my favorite. I liked the variety of meats, the egg was perfectly cooked, the broth had a great flavor. The Garlic knockout was good, it had some spice to it. Like the karaage, I'm glad I tried it but I wouldn't order it again. The enoki chips were interesting, crispy and not too oily. I would order these again. We waited about 10 minutes to get seated after putting our name on the waitlist. Overall a tasty meal, I'd come back again for the Signature ramen and try some different things on the menu.

*4.5* Had a wonderful birthday dinner with my family on a chilly Sunday evening at Mensho. Parking is abhorrent, which is no surprise considering its location along the bustling Piedmont Avenue, but even the elation of finding a street parking spot was almost not enough to keep my dad from storming off to a nearby sushi restaurant when faced with the projected 45-75 minute wait. We were the 26th or so party in line and ended up waiting for around 55 minutes, which we spent poring through their menu. Their dining area is more of a long hall highlighted with various murals and large framed photographs that provide a modern but personable environment for eating - an ambience our host and server also carried well. Slight delay between dishes but nothing egregious (just had to nibble at crumbs a little longer). Pickled Yuzu Cucumber w/Ikura: you're mostly paying for the ikura. Surprisingly not super sour considering the citrus and vinegar that go into it. Enoki Chips: worthy of being bagged and sold en masse - crispy at first but they become satisfyingly chewy in your mouth, with a great kick from the togarashi. I don't know if it's because they don't feel heavy like typical fried food but we almost ordered a second one. 2 Crab A5 Wagyu: fun splurge courtesy of my dad. Crab was sweet and wagyu was delicious. Kani Tantanmen: mom enjoyed it! Unfortunately couldn't try this one. Duck Matcha Ramen: pretty much what you'd expect from the idea of turning matcha into a creamy, semi-savory soup. Duck was the slightest bit rubbery but flavor was there. Signature Smoked Toripaitan: really loved the assortment of proteins with this bowl. Broth was very creamy and savory and just about every ingredient had distinctly charred taste, which actually worked well with the truffle. Hojicha Pudding: silky and roasty tea-flavored pudding. What's not to like? Will return! Hit with the family and with me.

Strongly recommend this place no matter you prefer light meals or salted ingredients! You do not need to add any extra spices while trying the food in here because the broth is enough seasoning, and not that salted. The service is good also. The waiters and waitresses would come and check with you if everyone is good, and they do not bother you too much at the same time.

Had a an excellent experience during my first visit to Mensho recently. We ended up starting out with the vegan karaage which was excellent. The mushrooms were fried perfectly and the batter tasted very similar to your standard chicken karaage. I ended up going with the duck matcha ramen for my main. Wow what a fun, creative flavor profile. There's definitely a matcha flavor, but I found that it was balanced out by the poultry flavors in the broth. The noodle consistency was great and all of the toppings added to the flavor profile. It was a great bowl of ramen, but I think what I appreciate most about Mensho is the level of creativity they show in their menu options. I definitely want to come back and try the different bowls. The service was excellent and our waiter was prompt and courteous. The vibe of Mensho is a traditional Japanese restaurant. I will say that you should be prepared for a lengthy wait, so make sure you have a friend show up early to put you on the wait list!

Wanted to try this place out of state but found out we had a few close to home! Came on a Sunday in which they opened at 3pm. There was already a line forming so you know it was good. Ordered the garlic knockout and the Toripaitan Ramen and woooo was it rich, creamy and full of flavor and goodness. Lots of different ingredients inside for different texture. Service was great, they kept coming around to refill our waters. Inside was clean and there were plenty of tables. Would recommend!

Still my favorite Mensho location! In my opinion, SF have better broth but this location has way more options especially appetizers. I usually stick with their signature smoked toripaitan. The meat always come out very soft and tender. I'm personally a fan of the smoked flavor but it may not appeal to everyone. The wait for this was very long. We waited about 1 hr 20 mins before we got to our seats. The staff are quick.. maybe too quick because we just sat down when they took our order. The staff keeps things moving but they don't rush anyone. Anyway, hard to beat Mensho on a somewhat rainy Saturday night.

Located in trendy Piedmont Ave neighborhood in Oakland, service is ok when not busy, Food is very good, small portions at high price, dining area is cramped and loud but clean.

Wow. What a fantastic spot. Expect a line - check in via tablet for a spot and wait to be called. Mensho is one of the best ramen restaurants I've been to. They have a "farm to bowl" concept and noodles are fresh and chewy. Broths are umami bombs in a good way. Noodles are slightly thicker cut. Enoki and corn ribs appetizers are great too! Ambiance is lively, a little loud and small. Better for an intimate dinner, not great for large groups. Classic - thick and creamy tonkotsu broth A5 wagyu shoyu - nice and smoky flavor with shoyu broth Signature smoky - smoke comes from the meat. Broth is creamy. Good combo of the above 2 if you're not sure which one to pick!

Best ramen ever, and the wagyu sea urchin nigiri is what dreams are made of. The food was truly an exceptional experience.

When we were planning our day together, my companion suggested we get ramen for lunch. We debated between two spots but ultimately chose Mensho, as we enjoyed our experience at their location in the city. This spot definitely tops, and we're grateful there's a Mensho here in the East Bay! We came a little after their 3 p.m. opening on a weekend. We were seated immediately with no wait. This location is much bigger and spacious, though similarly, they make seats super close together. The vibes here are super casual, and the service was attentive and fast, which we appreciated. I was torn but ultimately got the Signature Smoked Toripaitan. This bowl left me content--the broth was warm and flavorful, the noodles had a bouncy texture, and the toppings were well-sized. I asked for some toppings on the side (since I can't eat beef or mushrooms), and they were happy to accommodate it! The bowl was big, and a struggle to finish, but every bite was so delicious! My companion had the Spicy Lamb Miso Cumin. I had a bit of his, and it was spicy, but the bowl was well-balanced. We were both left in a food coma and agreed we liked this location's menu options and location much more. For those in the East Bay, Mensho is so worth going to for its deliciously hearty and flavorful ramen. Prices are decent for what you get, and service is good. Their location in Oakland is easy to find, and parking is limited to the street or neighborhood. We will be back!

My boyfriend and I stopped by on a Friday night and ordered the nori calamari and signature smoked toripaitan. So much variety in the meat! The toripaitan came with pork chashu, A5 wagyu chashu AND smoked duck chashu. I loved the rich, creamy broth and even managed to eat some of the mushrooms (I hate mushrooms lol). The nori calamari was also tasty and the mayo sauce really stood out. The restaurant is located in a really cute part of Oakland with lots of small businesses. Although we waited around 45 min for a table, window shopping around the area helped the time pass by quickly. We had a great time! :)

Best vegan ramen I've ever had in my LIFE! Literally, you need to try the spicy garlic knockout.

They are always busy but very polite. The ramen was delicious and the broth was super good! It's thick so it is filling . They hand make their ramen, broth and dessert. They had this temporary item Hojicha pudding and it's so good.

One of the best bowls of ramen I've had of late. The Nori Calamari was so crispy and had a slightly oily but very light batter. The spicy mayo was very creamy and a little spicy and tangy. Also great portion size so I highly recommend. I was shocked by how good the Signature Smoked Toripaitan was. The broth had so much smoky flavor and was so creamy. The meat all had different flavors. One piece was so smoky, one was tangy, and one didn't have a ton of flavor but was so soft. Most ramen places like to do al dente noodles but I prefer softer, more cooked noodles and this was it. I argue it also soaks up the flavor better.

Arrived here early on a Friday before the rush! As soon as we were seated, we were greeted promptly by the friendly staff. In fact, we were greeted by at least 4 staff within our first few minutes of being seated, and were asked if we were ready to order before we had a chance to pick up the menu. Ambiance: fresh, lively, and fun; the walls are papered with info about their philosophy on ramen. Food: we both got the spicy garlic vegan ramen and spicy tuna and garlic hand roll, and shared the enoki chips. The food was phenomenal. I typically don't prefer vegan ramen because most places skimp on the both and veggies, but the broth had a lot of depth and layer of flavor. The spice level was excellent and wheat noodles were a perfect consistency. Service: this is where I had to dock a star. :( there is a difference between being friendly and checking in, and downright aggressively hospitable. There was someone checking in on us almost every minute (not exaggerating) between the moment we sat down and when we put in our order. Once we got all of our food, the aggressive checking in continued until we got up and left. That turned me off big time- felt like they wanted us to order, eat, and leave, without any time to consider another drink or side. I understand they have to turn tables, but this was excessive. I'll definitely return for the food, and while I appreciate the friendly and welcoming staff, hope to feel less rushed next visit.

Finally got to try Mensho! We came on a Saturday and checked in on the yelp waitlist at the tablet inside around 6 pm. I want to say we got seated around ~15 minutes. We took this time to walk around Piedmont street. Lots of cool interesting shops around. When we got seated, it was a 4 seat table and a plastic blurry divider between the other party of 2 next to us. There was a bit of a wait til we got our food and they seemed to be putting out same type of bowls so I got my bowl first and then maybe ~5 minutes my bf got his. Appetizer: we got the chicken karaage with the black vinegar sauce. This was so good! Usually other restaurants serve chicken karaage with some sort of mayonnaise sauce but this was way better than I expected! It had eggplant as well, we're not really big fans of eggplant but easy enough to avoid it lol. If you like black vinegar like me you'll love this dish! It was sweet, sour, and savory. Garlic knockout - my bf got this dish. If you're a garlic lover you gotta try this, the menu says garlic done 5 ways. It's also spicy. It's packed with flavor and the broth is so rich! Signature smoked toripaitan - I decided to go with their signature dish! It came with smoked A5 wagyu chashu and smoked duck chashu. This was my favorite. It was packed with flavor and the broth was very rich as well. Their mochi-wheat noodles were really good and chewy too. Had the perfect bounce to it. The bowl also kept the my food hot during my entire meal. Yes we will come back! So good!

Pretty long 50 minute wait on a Sunday around 530pm before Thanksgiving. Yelp sign in and check in made it easy to put a name down and check progress and mark your arrival once you got the text that your turn was next though, which is a nice streamlined perk. Servers were very slow to bring water to my extremely parched and thirsty kids or take out order but they were friendly and nice once they did come by. Our server said her favorites were the Toripaitan so we got two orders and the Garlic Knock Out. I definitely liked the toripaitan more as the garlic knock out was a little too flavorful for my taste. The broth was good for both dishes. The enoki chips were good. Kids enjoyed the crunchiness. Would love to come back and try their sushi hand rolls and other ramen options the next visit!

I had really high hopes of Mensho after hearing that it was Michelin recommended (or it has a star?) and seeing it on my Instagram feed. Service: 1/5, so so so bad & I didn't even feel like they deserved a tip :( Food: 4/5 Service: The service was really poor for some reason -- we had stood right outside in the waiting area for about 10 minutes even though there were a lot of empty seats. Two people had peered to look at us before seating us and 2 other parties that arrived later. They seemed to be understaffed that day, which is understandable, but they also took other parties orders before us even though we were waiting the longest and were ready to order pretty quickly. One thing that really irked me was they had made us pack our own take out food. We had placed one order of ramen to-go, along with the order that my sibling and I wanted to enjoy dine-in. They brought our to-go order in a regular restaurant bowl and provided our take out boxes separate. They did not pack it for us, or even offer to. 15 seconds after giving us our to-go order, they brought out our dine-in food -- and by then our table was extremely crowded with 2 take out boxes, one container for the ramen soup we had to pack, and a separate container for the noodles. It was just really weird that they gave us our to-go food with our dine-in food and expected it to pack it ourselves. I usually expect restaurants to give you your takeout food as you are almost done with your meal or paying, but this seems like something that I had to clarify? During the rest of the night, they didn't really check in on us until it was last call. Two different waiters had told us about last call, as if they weren't assigned specific tables and were just all over the place. We appreciated the reminder, but it felt unnecessary. What was supposed to be a quick dinner for my sibling and I dragged on for so long because it was extremely difficult to get anyone's attention. Food: The portions were very small for the price, which makes sense because it's supposed to be "high quality." For high quality ramen, it was pretty good but I was still hungry after (even though I am 4'10 and never finish my meals). The broth was delicious and warmed me up on the cold evening. :) Overall: I'm not sure if it was just a bad day, but I did not have a good experience or a full tummy here. :( I don't think I would come back unless someone rich took me here and treated me out. I would rather pay toll to go to San Francisco's location. note: this is a late review, I came in September 2024

We had such a great time on our first visit here we wanted to share the deliciousness with another couple. We lucked out with a short wait and were seated probably within 10 minutes of our arrival. The line definitely started to grow after we checked in. Drink choices for the night were the KYOTO Match IPA, an iced unsweetened green tea (came in a can), and a hot green tea. The hot tea was barely lukewarm, and it took me a long time to get someone's attention to replace it. I was also disappointed that it came with a tea bag. I wasn't expecting that. We love that there is an extensive vegan menu. I do not do well with spicy, so I ordered my Vegan Spicy Garlic Knock Out to be made not spicy. Two others ordered this same vegan ramen, but wanted it spicy and the fourth guest ordered Spicy Vegan Yuzu Mizore. We shared a table with other diners, but they put up a plexiglass (?) wall so you have some feeling of separateness when dining.

Seems like delicious authentic ramen with options for meat lovers and vegans. I say seems like because I have not been to Tokyo to eat ramen I'm from Japan but I can imagine it would taste like Mensho's!! They offer good appetizers options. We tríed the enoki chips and garlic edamame's. The enoki chips were tasty but I've had better/more flavorful garlic edamame's. I went here with a vegan friend so she enjoyed the miso vegan ramen and I had their meat filled signature one. I can speak for mine, it was delicious and they did not skimp on the toppings, tons of meat. The broth was Soo flavorful, I slurped the whole thing! I'd definitely recommend this place and will be back with my boo.

Love this place!! There was a lot of thought placed into the design of the interior. The broth was creamy and noodles were the perfect thickness and texture to it. I wasn't too hungry so I brought it home and ate it the next day (and noodles were still bouncy with the creamy broth). Coming back for the matcha ramen!

I loved this Ramen! My friend and I both got the Classic Toripaitan Ramen. The broth was creamy and so flavorful. The pork was a bit smokey. Everything tasted fresh. They do not do takeout because they believe Ramen is best when it's served fresh. I agree! The food quality was fantastic. It was very loud due to all the people and hard surfaces. They have dividers so pairs of diners can sit at the same table and somewhat hear each other. The food came quickly. It did take a whole to get our check It was nice not to feel rushed yet we were looking forward to getting outside so we could hear each other better. Highly recommend the food. If you want to hear go at an off time!

Very unique ramen! Very filling, thick, and rich broth. Noodles were cooked perfectly! Service was so quick and good recs made! Great spot for a small group or date night!

I've visited Mensho several times, and it never disappoints. There's usually a line before it opens so you know that's always a good sign. My top picks are the Garlic Knockout and the Signature Smoked Toripaitan. The Garlic Knockout is a must for garlic lovers as it has garlic prepared five ways: fresh, chips, flakes, roasted, and black garlic oil. The Signature Smoked Toripaitan is also really good, with a rich, smoky flavor. Both dishes are packed with FLAVOR! To avoid long waits, I recommend arriving right when the restaurant opens. I'd say it's worth the wait if you go during peak hours. Highly recommend!

The ramen here is very good. They have great flavors and the noodles are fresh. The wait is a bit long and the atmosphere can feel loud and overwhelming. I overall enjoyed the food and found it very unique.

From start to finish Mensho provides an awesome dining experience. The loud welcome as you enter is the fun start and rolling yourself out the door after the best meal is the satisfying finish. The atmosphere is lively, loud, and compact which is what I imagine big Japanese cities feel like. Servers are very knowledgeable and helped stir us in the right direction. As expected, amazing amazing ramen. Just be prepared, for the nest couple days all other meals will pale in comparison.

Came in on a Friday evening with a party of 3 and the place was busy! Waited roughly 20-30 minutes before getting seated which wasn't too bad. The restaurant appeared clean and waitress was attentive, and would check in to ensure our needs were met. We ordered the chicken karaage and it was served with small pieces of eggplant with some sort of sweet sauce drizzled on plate. IT WAS DELICIOUS! I should preface that I'm not a big ramen fan so i had my mind set that it was going to be subpar. But! We decided to order the signature ramen and OMG - it was good! The meat was exactly as described, "Smokey"! The food was definitely filling and rich! Would totally come back if I were in the area.

We've been to Mensho several times and we keep coming back now that we've tried a good portion of their menu here. I love that they paid homage to American bbq and veganism it makes their dishes more unique. The wait can be long, on the weekends it can take an hour to be seated. If you go on a weekday it's definitely easier. Street parking only. We've tried the smoked toripaitan, regular toripaitan, the wagyu shoyu, kani tantanmen, and the miso butter corn ramen. Our favorite by far surprisingly is the Kani tantanmen! The broth is savory and creamy from the sesame but not too overwhelming fatty since it's a vegetable based broth. The crab adds a subtle sweetness but doesn't make the dish fishy at all. My favorite small plates are the corn wings, enoki chips, and the teppan grilled hotate scallops. Service is quick and the waiters try to turn over tables fast so that people don't have to wait but the place is seriously so small I wish they had allocated some of the area for making noodles for more seating as I've never seen them actually make noodles during dinner service seems like a waste of space.

Mensho is, without a doubt, the best ramen shop in the entire Bay Area. I appreciate how extensive their menu is, making it accommodating even for picky eaters. The ambiance is lovely, and the staff is incredibly welcoming. Not only is their ramen phenomenal, but their small plates and drinks are also outstanding. It can get quite busy, so don't expect top-notch service every time; however, I assure you that the staff remains very attentive.

Mensho pre-covid was my favorite ramen shop. I had been to the SF location recently and was pretty disappointed. I heard that the Oakland location was better than the SF one, so I stopped by to try it out. Overall, I would say it's closer to what Mensho was for me pre-covid. I wish the duck chashu was still sliced thicker like before or had the option for it. I feel like since it's sliced pretty thin, it isn't as satisfying of a bite. The premium options for the wagyu uni nigiri and tartare were delicious, if you want to splurge! The rice kinda falls apart a little from the nigiri but the wagyu and uni was a great bite of decadence. The garlic knockout ramen wasn't overly garlicky imo, but I am someone who really really likes garlic. The noodles are on the thicker and firmer side of the spectrum. Service was really attentive and had many good recommendations for our first time at the Oakland location. The dining room is also much bigger than the SF location, feeling less cramped.