Menya Goku
Ramen restaurant · North Center ·
Specializes in spicy tantanmen ramen, pork belly buns, and sake
Specializes in spicy tantanmen ramen, pork belly buns, and sake
"Menya Goku in North Center is Wasabi's sister restaurant where the main draw is their tantanmen. Their take on this ramen (whose origins are rooted in the Sichuan province of China) is a nutty and savory pork broth spiced with tingly peppercorns. It’s also loaded with thin noodles, bok choy, tender menma, and nikumiso ground pork that's full of umami. Their brightly lit dining room is small and narrow, with mainly counter seats and small booths. It’s ideal for a solo meal on an April evening—because Chicago "spring" is basically just an extension of winter." - john ringor
"As the sister restaurant to Wasabi, it’s no surprise that the standard tonkotsu at this small North Center ramen shop is great. But the tantanmen is why we longingly whisper “Menya Goku” into our pillows more often than we’d like to admit. Each bowl comes with thin chewy noodles, bok choy, menma, and umami-packed nikumiso ground pork, all swimming in a pork broth spiced with Sichuan peppercorns. Each full-bodied spoonful has enough tingly spice to melt even the coldest of hearts." - josh barnett, john ringor
"Menya Goku is a North Center ramen spot from the same team behind Logan Square's Ramen Wasabi. The main draw here is tantanmen, a ramen whose origins are rooted in the Sichuan province of China. Their take on the dish comes with a savory pork broth that's spiced with tingly peppercorns, and has a slight nuttiness from sesame. It’s also loaded with thin noodles, bok choy, tender menma, and nikumiso ground pork. Their brightly lit dining room is small and narrow, with counter seats and small booths, so it’s ideal for a solo meal or date night. When you've turned into a human popsicle in the middle of December, it's the perfect place to help you defrost yourself." - John Ringor
"One of the city's essential ramen shops from the team behind Wasabi and Ramen Tekeya, Menya Goku serves Japanese rice bowls, buns, and ramen and has reopened with evening hours." - Naomi Waxman
"A ramen shop specializing in tantanmen from the operators of Wasabi and Ramen Takeya that temporarily closed at 2207 W. Montrose Avenue until further notice; the restaurant originally opened in December 2019." - Naomi Waxman
