Mensho Tokyo SF
Ramen restaurant · Lower Nob Hill ·
Rich, creamy chicken broth ramen with springy noodles
Rich, creamy chicken broth ramen with springy noodles
"Ramen from Mensho Tokyo is the ultimate reward for braving the line for returns at Zara. And while there will also be a wait at this tiny Japanese spot, at least phenomenal noodle soup awaits at the end. You’ll want to vacuum suck up the creamy chicken-based broth in one big slurp. The spicy lamb miso is always a must-order, but you can’t go wrong with the tori paitan with chashu slices and fried burdock root on top." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez
"There’s a perpetual line in front of Mensho Tokyo in SF, but it's one of the few places worth giving up an hour (or more) of your evening to wait. Their ramen with housemade noodles is the best in the city. The creamy and umami-packed chicken-based broth alone will single-handedly make you black out whatever time you spent standing outside. There are a handful of options, including soupless mazesoba and a version incorporating matcha. Go with the orange-tinted spicy lamb or tori paitan with chashu that you can barely pick up without falling apart." - anne cruz
"Eating ramen at Mensho Tokyo is back to standing in a long line, or hoping to get a reservation, as the famous Japanese restaurant is once again offering indoor dining. This is the first U.S. outpost from ramen obsessive Tomoharu Shono, which specializes in tori paitan, a rich, creamy, chicken-based broth. Expect pliant, springy noodles and rotating specials." - Paolo Bicchieri
"Listen, standing in line behind a retractable barrier for 45 minutes to over an hour is not our idea of fun. But we’ll gladly do it for what Mensho Tokyo is serving up. This Tenderloin spot makes a damn good bowl of ramen that very much lives up to the hype. The trick to possibly minimizing your wait time is getting here early (yes, even lining up before they open), coming with a very small group, and accepting a seat at the bar area if it’s offered." - julia chen 1, lani conway
"This ramen spot comes directly to San Francisco from Japan and specializes in creamy, chicken-y tori paitan ramen. In true Japanese fashion, this is a get-in-get-out type of ramen shop with communal seating and limited options. The ramen selections are all good, but if you’re in the mood for something rich and hearty, go for the spicy lamb miso ramen, which comes filled with ground lamb and garnished with chile oil." - Dianne de Guzman