Menya Rui

I got there right when they opened (at 5) and there was already a line. This was due both to their popularity and their small eating area. The menu only has about 10 option on it, and you will have to grab your own water, napkins, and chopsticks. Due to the small location you will likely be sitting between strangers. This may turn some people off, but I promise you when you bite into any of the food, all of that melts away. I loved and savored every single bite I took. The karaage was perfectly fried, the cucumbers were a good mix of sweet and savory, and the ramen was superb in every way from the delicious base to the crispy pork. I cannot recommend this place enough, and hope it thrives for years to come.

I’ve heard about this place for the longest time and finally came with my friend. We were told to go before opening so we went there 30 minutes before opening and yes the line had already begun. We waited in line for about 20 minutes and we were the 6th place in line. As soon as we got seated, I ordered on my phone and paid which was very convenient. However I did see my neighbors struggling because they weren’t tech savvy and used to online menus and ordering. I got the regular ramen and I had super high expectations and I feel like they weren’t met. It was way too oily and greasy for my liking. I’ve had plenty of ramen before but it didn’t make me feel good. I still finished it all but definitely needed two to three glasses of water from the oil and salt. I would come again and try something else and maybe get the cucumbers to balance the oiliness but overall not bad!

Very cool minimalist Ramen place. We’re talking to serve your own water grab your own napkins order off a QR code. On Hampton just west of the hill. The Japanese version of a greasy spoon. Really tasty food friendly service. You’ll probably have to wait at least a half an hour, but the move line moves fairly fast. Cucumber appetizer has two different types of cucumbers. Preferred the pickled ones. Go Flyers! 😉

One of the most authentic ramen spots in the St. Louis area. My tantanmen was a bit salty—possibly adjusted to suit American tastes—but overall, everything was great.

Incredible ramen, amazing service, and the atmosphere is super cute and cozy. I didn’t know there might be a line but we came at a busy time and got in within about 20 min. I loved the pork ramen, deffffd get an egg, there’s some sweetness that makes it amazing. Would 10000x come again.

This is a great ramen shop. It's the perfect Japanese ramen. The noodles are moist and smooth. The soup has a fragrant dashi stock. The staff are all friendly and helpful. We paid in advance, but if we had paid afterwards we would have paid more tips. I'll come back here again. The Karaage chicken and cucumber were also excellent !

Make sure to get here at least 30 minutes before opening otherwise you’ll have to wait for an hour!! My family and I got here about 40 minutes before it opened and we were the last people to be seated. They have a very small dining area that seats about 20 and once 20 people are seated they close the doors while the seated people order and eat. You order on your phone by scanning a QR code and then about 20 minutes later your food is dropped off. The service is impersonal, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s clear after tasting their food that time they’re cutting from service is going to cooking their delicious food. Everything on the menu is knockout good. Make sure to order extra eggs with your ramen, you will not be disappointed!!

In January 2025, we visited Menya Rui in St. Louis, a city that may not be one of the largest but surprised us with one of Yelp’s 2024 Top 100 restaurants, ranked second on the list. We waited 90 minutes for a table, but the host was polite and welcoming. The space was cozy, and the menu was minimalist, offering only two appetizers. We started with the cucumber salad, available in miso and plum flavors. Both were excellent, but the plum dressing offered a rare, unique taste. That said, we both preferred the subtle and elegant flavor of the miso option. Next, we tried the Japanese karaage chicken, which was incredibly crispy on the outside yet tender and juicy inside. For the ramen, we ordered the shoyu chashu pork ramen. The broth was rich and flavorful, with Eric noting hints of mushroom. The springy noodles soaked up the pork fat and broth beautifully, making every bite delicious. We added a soft-boiled egg, which was cooked to perfection. We also tried the dan dan noodles, which would appeal to anyone who enjoys bold, spicy, and peppery flavors. The total for this meal, including tip, was $55. It was definitely worth trying, though if the wait is always this long, we might think twice about coming back.

Super recomendado muy buena comida delicioso, muy buena atención, exquisito Está ubicado en un muy buen sector

Best ramen, no doubt. Chicken bites are also delicious. Can't go wrong with the broth less tantanem

We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit here. So worth the (not very long) wait. The service was as high level as the delish food. The cucumber app was a perfect starter-- some pickled and some with a yummy and light miso dressing. We were super impressed with the noodle quality and flavors overall. Chef Tobin has it going on! We will look forward to a return trip!

I'll keep this short. Menya Rui is the only place in STL you should ever go for ramen. It is the only ramen place in STL that has ever made me nod "yep...yep...finally" in terms of how a legit bowl of ramen should taste. The pork shoyu is deep, flavorful, and I absolutely love that it is full of fatback, as it should! It is neither heavy nor too rich that you can only have a few slurps and get sick of it. No, you will ingest the entire bowl, wanting more. If anything, their portion size is not very generous. Their chasu is cooked to perfection and in hindsight, I wish I had ordered an extra portion of chasu. My husband ordered the tantanmen mazemen and we loved it as well.P Their mazemen had a great bite and my shoyu ramen noodles could've been more firm, but at this point, I'm just being nitpicky because eveyrthing else was executed well. Oh, get the pickles.

i want to emphasize that this place isn't good for japan level, it's truly an amazing ramen restaurant period. i've tried the tantan men and the chicken base, but the pork i think is really the best option. karage is good too im not sure how tip is supposed to work here. there isn't table service, though they do bring the bowl to you, sort of. does this really warrant tip?

Very small space but quick! The girl was friendly and explained how to order - we got our food super quickly. Mine was the tantanmen and it was great

The food was amazing, definitely get there early as they do not take reservations and they always have a line outside waiting. The place is small, and you most likely will be sat next to people you don't know. Service is quick and you are in and out!

Everything was perfection. Need I say more? The noodles with the best flavor and spices. The karage was the chewiest yet still tender!!! And the cucumber salsa I loveeee. Will definitely come back. Only downside is that you will have to wait in line, but depend on the hour you visit, might not be so bad. Good size parking lot. Inside environment gives typical Asian restaurants where you sit closer and can have conversations with each other, it's also fun to match with stranger so you can share your mutual love for food!

I have been waiting to try Menya Rui for a long time now and finally had the opportunity to do so last night. I've read reviews about the line, so we went about 30 minutes after opening. There were several parties in front of us, but the line did indeed go very quickly, as other reviews have stated. Inside, the restaurant is very small and bustling. You can see directly into the kitchen, with bar seating at one end and seating at the window at the other. You order using a QR code, and the chopsticks and water are self-serve when you enter. We started with the house cucumbers, which includes both miso cucumbers and pickled cucumbers. They were tasty and a nice palate stimulator before the ramen. The cucumbers did lack a bit of crunch, but overall I liked the fact you got two different flavors. For my entree, I ordered the pork shoyu. Overall, it was packed with flavor -- the broth was rich, and the noodles were perfectly chewy. The ramen was also topped with pork shoulder chasyu, menma, scallion, and nori. This was my first experience with traditional Japanese ramen, and I loved it. My only critiques are the broth was a bit too salty for me, and I would have loved to have more meat with the ramen, instead of a single slice of pork. Although I came into the night with very high expectations, I did really enjoy my experience and meal at Menya Rui and do think I will return!

I've heard about this place for the longest time and finally came with my friend. We were told to go before opening so we went there 30 minutes before opening and yes the line had already begun. We waited in line for about 20 minutes and we were the 6th place in line. As soon as we got seated, I ordered on my phone and paid which was very convenient. However I did see my neighbors struggling because they weren't tech savvy and used to online menus and ordering. I got the regular ramen and I had super high expectations and I feel like they weren't met. It was way too oily and greasy for my liking. I've had plenty of ramen before but it didn't make me feel good. I still finished it all but definitely needed two to three glasses of water from the oil and salt. I would come again and try something else and maybe get the cucumbers to balance the oiliness but overall not bad!

I went to Menya Rui a few times now ever since they opened and it's amazing how the line is still as long as when they were new to the block. Pro tip for anyone who's never been here: avoid the weekend since it would be at least 45 to an hour wait. I think the best thing on the menu is the dipping noodles (tsukemen). The texture of the noodles is chewier than the ramen noodles so it could soak up all the flavor. The ramen is also good. Chicken shoyu broth is less fatty than the pork shoyu but tastes very similar. Their broth is a little salty to me so I like to add the pure broth that used to thin out the tsukemen to the ramen instead. Their pork chashu very tender. Highly recommend ordering add ons like eggs and extra chashu. I think for the price Menya rui is super amazing and they stay pretty true to the authentic ramen experience.

The hype is real. The line was out around the corner by the time my friends and I got there around 5:30pm on a friday in 50 degree weather. I think my friend perfectly described the wait time outside when she said that you've talked so much during your wait that by the time you get inside, you're done talking about everything you wanted to discuss so you just eat and your hangout is done. We waited for a little over an hour outside. If you're in a bigger group you'll have to wait longer for the tables to clear up. You wait outside until someone comes out to get the next group. It's QR code based on the table where you order and pay. Then they bring out the food to you. You have max an hour to eat so the next group can come in. Food comes out FRESH and surprisingly fast! My friends and I all ordered different items and everything was so good. I couldn't focus on what my friends were gabbing on about. I honestly said, "I'm sorry, but I am SO into this ramen that I cannot think straight and listen to what you're saying." Definite MUST GO! Worth the wait, worth the hype.

I made it out to Menya Rui and tried the Tantanmen Ramen that is scrumptious with the amazing broth and noodles that are so fresh and made in house. This bowl of ramen was incredible and is in the same highest class of ramen that I used to get in the three years I lived in Okinawa, Japan. This ramen joint was #2 on Yelp's restaurants for 2024 so I was dying to get here and I'm glad I did. I started out with the Japanese fried chicken and house cucumbers appetizers that were very flavorful especially the dipping sauce for the fried chicken, so yum! I hope in the future more appetizers are added to the menu a such as Japanese gyoza dumplings that I'm a big fan of. I'm glad I got there early before it opened since it's a small, but cozy 24-seat Japanese Izakaya-style restaurant that filled up fast. The menu isn't extensive menu or a large choice of beverages it does so is pretty limited in that regard. Also you pretty much need to order dinner on a smartphone that I'm not a fan of that kind of service but it doesn't matter to me since I'll be back, those noodles and broth are so worth it.

This was such a fun experience and I'll certainly be returning! We knew what we were getting into with the wait time and the website's warning but we *did* still end up waiting for an hour and a half, but the meal was well worth it. I will admit this was my first time having ramen ever, and it set the bar pretty high. The noodles themselves were delish, but the pork was a bit flat in our party's opinion. It was fun, quick once seated, and so yummy though! I liked their drink options, loved the environment and the community seating as well as the staff! I'm already excited to go back. If you're going on the weekend I'd either recommend coming 15+ min early or waiting until after 7pm if you don't want an hour plus wait :)

Came here around 6pm on Wednesday and waited an hour til we were able to get inside. Nice seated there's a QR code you scan and order and food comes out pretty fast too. Water station is in the front where you grab yourself. Tried the pickle both flavors regular and miso, chicken karage, and got the pork, tonkatsu special, and tantaman. Everything was so good! My favorite was the pork ramen will be back and try the other ramen

For those looking for an authentic Japanese ramen stall experience this is it! Not my absolute favorite ramen but I want to go back and get the chicken and see if my opinion changes because you need to order like you're making a cup of ramen at home it's basically an elevated fast ramen so don't go expecting the typical ramen you get ordering out like I did. Regardless flavor has depth and the appetizers were to die for the chicken is something I could eat all the time. It is a veryyyy tight squeeze inside and you will have a guaranteed wait of 20-30 min most likely more but the decor is very nice and completes the experience.

I love my Day 1's so much. This ramen place is probably one of the best ramen places in the world, which is crazy because I've never been! But my friends have! And my friends mouths are my mouths. I love my friends.

Yummy ramen spot! Things to note: space is small (24 seats) and no reservations allowed so don't be surprised if there is a line out the door. It moves quick and is worth the wait! Guests are encouraged to order and enjoy your noodles promptly (not a challenge when after you enjoy your first slurp!). Highly recommend the fried chicken starter and shoyu! I did chicken this time but will try pork next!

Best Ramen EVER! Had the Tantanmen Ramen and it was the best ramen I have ever had. Perfect blend of spice, salt and savory flavors. The service was super prompt and friendly. The small space has a local vibe and the line moves fast. Must try in St. Louis.

I'd read in an article that Menya Rui had THE BEST Tantanmen Ramen, so I felt the neeeed to check 'em out. It's taken a while (a couple of failed attempts..), but I finally made it! And I'm SO glad I did. Showed up at 5PM when they opened on Wednesday and we got the last 2 seats. Ended up at the window, looking out at the LINE waiting to get in. Minimal service here. You order and pay from a QR code. Get your own chopsticks and napkins (paper towels). They have a very small menu. It's extremely crowded but I guess this makes it feel real authentic? I don't feel like it took away from the experience and the ramen was OUTSTANDING! Glad I finally made it.

I just moved back to STL after spending 12 years in Vegas and was MISSING a good ramen spot! I was so very nervous that I wouldn't find what I had, but baby let me tell you...this place? YES! It's that hole in the wall, limited seating, not a lot on the menu, kind of joint that is the BESSSST! I would give 10 stars if I could. Everything we had was spectacular, service moved fast but was awesome, no one missed a beat, and even the guys behind the counter making your bowls were kind enough to thank you for coming. The line was long, but the place was worth it. Can't wait to go back.

Finally!! I've drove past this place a million times but see a line around the corner and didn't have the time to stop BUT off early one day me and the hubby went for it and I was first in line . This place is great and it really doesn't take long to get in even in line. We tried the Chicken ramen and house made cucumbers. The ramen was fantastic flavorful broth, not too salty, yummy chewy noodles. The only thing I wish is I had more Spice, chili oil, or something out on the tables. There was a seasoning but it didn't do it for me. House-made cucumbers were crunchy and great, one a little more tart the other with bean paste. The wait staff was super nice and get your items out quickly. No complaints we I'll be back for more!

My fiancé and I came to Menya Rui with our two friends the other night (it was all our first time) and it was spectacular! It's no wonder people come from across the country to eat here! Don't be intimidated by the long wait time (45-60 minutes), it goes by quickly and is absolutely worth the wait! The setting is intimate but in a cool/cozy way - great vibes for winter time. The servers and host are very friendly and professional as well. The food was DELICIOUS!! All of our ramen was incredibly fresh and bursting with flavor! We also got the miso/pickled cucumbers and they were fabulous and refreshing! It's a great spot for a small group (4 or less) and because you want to eat the noodles as soon as they arrive it makes for a quick meal and no phones out (your focus is on noodles!). Overall, an exceptional experience - we look forward to coming back soon!

Si first and foremost I waited in line and it brought back my days of being selected to go into the club!!! I felt 23 again!!! The space is spall with community seating!! The bouncer aka, Anton was witty and polite!! The food is definitely worth the wait which was not super long!! The karaage, think chicken nuggets, yum!! House Cucumbers Pickled / Miso dressed. Yum!! Pork Shoyu Shoyu ramen with aromatic rendered fatback. Topped with pork shoulder chasyu, menma, scallion, and nori. Yum!!! All the meats are pork!!! The broth can be chicken!!! Give them a try

Had heard amazing things about this place and finally got to try it!! I got the brothless original aburasoba which was delicious. I don't eat pork so I wish they had an option with broth that didn't involve pork but it is what it is. They were accommodating in removing the pork and adding egg instead. We got the cucumber and karaage appetizers to share among four and they were both absolutely delicious. The service was quick once we were in and had seats. Though we did wait ~ 2 hours in order to get our party of four seated on a Saturday night. Wouldn't wait that long again but since we had someone visiting from out of town we were okay with it. I would say I'd wait maybe 30-45 minutes in future visits. The location itself is very small. It feels super intimate and truly like you walked into a ramen shop in Japan!

Seriously confused as to what all the hype is about? I guess maybe people find it trendy, to say they go to Menya Rui where there is a line out the door seemingly everyday during business hours. Why is there a line though? The answer is because 1. The restaurant holds only 20 ( I think I read somewhere exactly 24) people. And 2. they refuse to employ a modern waiting system such as no wait, or even to let you put your name in and be text/called close to the time you'll be ready to be seated. To me this is super off putting, so I definitely went into my first experience at Menya Rui with some skepticism. Really, we went solely based on the fact we had heard from several people, that no other ramen spot came close to what Menya Rui delivered with their food. We arrived about an hour after open, and as expected a line was formed at the door perhaps 20-25 people deep. We ended up waiting in line for about 50-55 minutes before we were let in. The inside of the restaurant is nothing to write home about. There are 2 communal tables, and the rest of the seating is bar style lining the perimeter of the place. It is super cramped, with people shuffling in and out and extremely loud. My girlfriend and I agreed, neither of us really were able to relax during our dining experience. Worst of all, where we were seated there was an electric air conditioning unit that was blowing on us the entire time. The food was really good. Was it leaps and bounds above several other noteworthy ramen spots in St Louis? No...it definitely was not. Sadly too, the rest of the experience we had doesn't come close to warranting a 2nd trip back to Menya Rui. I struggle to give 3 stars, but do so only because of the food.

If I could give a 4.5 I would. On one hand, the ramen here is authentic, delicious, amazing, and I can't believe it's located in St. Louis. On the other hand though, despite all this, I still feel this place is overhyped and not at all worth the one hour wait we endured. But is the hype really the restaurant's fault, probably not, hence the 5 instead of 4 rating. Getting here at 5:08, we were quoted a wait time of 40 min, it ended up being closer to an hour. The parking situation here is atrocious. Had one person literally standing in a parking spot trying to save it for someone who wasn't even there yet. Then the one way neighborhood street was also packed, which I'm sure the neighbors aren't happy about. I saw one person use traffic cones to block off a space so they could just park in front of their house. Anyways, I ordered the tsukemen, one of my favorite ramen formats, and mazemen, a format I tried relatively recently in LA. I will say hands down, this place gets the noodles right in terms of bounciness and chew. The tsukemen is good, the broth is more seafoody (I believe they said they use scallops) than I liked, but still not bad. The mazemen was delicious. It is a bit more oily and heavy than the tsukemen, but still relatively light somehow. I did have a taste of the pork broth and chicken broth ramen, pork over chicken. One thing I don't love is how the char siu comes in decently large chunks of meat, some of which are fairly tough, depending the fat distribution. I prefer other places that do thinner slices of spiraled char siu. But while others have said they were surprised how quickly their food came, I was actually a bit surprised how long it took. It took about 20 min to get our food, but given everyone else's reviews and the site saying turn over should be in the 15 min range, 20 min from order to receiving the food seemed a bit long. This review is already way longer than it should be, but all in all, the food here is great, but I just don't think it's worth a one hr wait. It's like waiting an hour for really good mac n cheese.

OMG. The brothless noodles were amazing! The wait wasn't bad either at 35 mins during prime time dinner time on a Thursday. The menu is simple. You can't make a reservation. And you cannot do to-go. Apparently our local friend said this is the #2 spot for ramen in the nation... You basically wait in line. Ordering is via the QR code which is where the payment is made. Water, utensils, and napkins are at the front left for you to grab. Everything else is brought out to you. House cucumbers: There appears to be two types of pickled, rice vinegar cucumbers. It was coated with mayo that added a nice fatty flavor profile. It was good, but these are cucumbers so there's not much to rave about. Original aburasoba: Get this if you're wanting to try something different. IT'S A MUST TRY! Despite it being brothless, the noodles were coated in a scallop oil and house shoyu that coated the noodles super well and provided really nice flavors. The pork shoulder chasyu also added to this interesting dish's unique DNA. It felt a little salty towards the bottom where all the oils were, but that's also where all the flavors were. There was also an additional bottle of rice vinegar (?) if you're daring for more flavors -- of which I went for. Tantanmen: The hubs ordered this chili oil and sesame paste ramen with ground pork. It's a regular ramen with broth btw. There was definitely a unique flavor profile. It was really strong though imo. It was good, but not one of my top choice. There was almost a curry flavoring to it when I tasted this. I also sampled the pork shoyu, and by golly the broth was super duper rich. Too rich almost. Good but over powering. The karaage was pretty good. It was juicy and had a nice outer breading.

I dare you to find a better, more authentic ramen shop in St. Louis! Don't be discouraged by the line -- it moves quickly and you will be rewarded for your patience with a big delicious steamy bowl of ramen. On super chilly nights, they offer a virtual waitlist, so once you check in, you can leave and come back or wait in your warm car. Once you're in the door, help yourself to water, napkins and utensils before settling in at your designated spot at one of the communal tables or at the kitchen bar. Don't skip the Karaage (yummy fried chicken with kewpie mayo, what's not to love?). It's probably my favorite thing on the menu. The ramen is solid and hits every time. Want to try one of the dipped or brothless noodle dishes on a future visit.

Starting with food, I got Chicken Shoyu and split an appetizer of their lemon fried chicken with a friend. I thought the Chicken Shoyu was delicious, I am still pretty new to ramen so everytime I order it's still very experimental to me as i'm not familiar with all the bases and add ins. I really liked the broth and it comes with a piece of pork in it which wasn't my personal favorite but again I am still figuring out what I like to order. additionally, the lemon chicken was wonderful and comes with a little mayo sauce, very good starter. Everything is self service and you order using the QR code, they bring out the food and take plates and that's all there is to it. I don't mind that i'm sure it makes everything go faster which is especially good because I was not expecting there to be a line outside the restaurant, which there was. You can either see that as an inconvenience or the sign that the food is really good, either way it atleast didn't take too long to get inside. Once in, the place is pretty small and every seat is filled which means you might have some neighbors at your table. The ambiance inside is very nice, it's dimly lit and they got some music on. Again, not very roomy so you might get some people squeezing in behind you. Most of these things really did not bother me too much but I understand it would probably deter people from going. overall, I enjoyed the food and the feeling of the restaurant, but not so much the tight space

Moving back to St. Louis from San Francisco had me searching for great ramen. This place was recommended many times and by the look of the line, I had to try it. It's a small place with just a few spots making for an intimate meal. We were sat at the counter and enjoyed looking in on the chefs cooking. We ordered the karaage chicken which was delicious. It was perfectly crispy and cooked to order. My partner had the Tantanmen and thought the broth was good but wished it was spicier. I had the Tsukemen which I enjoyed. Adding the chicken broth at the end was perfect!

I realize I'm probably in the minority here, but I did not find Menya Rui to be anything special. It was overcrowded and very, very salty. They have a limited menu; all of their ramens are shoyu based. Also: should note this is not vegetarian friendly; their broths contain meat. My boyfriend and I were originally super excited to go to Menya Rui after seeing all the rave reviews and lined up early before the restaurant opened on a weekday. We still had to wait about 45 min to enter and were seated in a cramped table wedged in between 2 other groups. I wouldn't have minded if the ramen was truly good, but it was disappointing. We ordered a chicken and a pork ramen -- both which were extremely salty. I wish I kept the photo to show how brown and overly salted the noodles were. I've been to Japan twice and can say this does not live up to the standards. It was edible but not worth the wait. Sadly, I've had better packaged ramen including ones I can get at Costco without having to wait in a 45 min line!

Favorite restaurant in STL hands down!!! I come here at least once a month, and sometimes multiple times a week. This might be one of the best ramen spots I've ever been to (including top rated ramen spots in SF, LA, NY)! What I love about this ramen is that it is not super heavy or oily, the noodles and meat are cooked PERFECTLY, and the ramen and broths are so flavorful. My favorite dishes are the tantanmen ramen (w/ broth) and the tsukemen (dipping ramen). The broth is sooooo good and I love the way the pork is cooked in the tantanmen. My partner loves the brothless ramens (aburasoba, then tantanmen). We always get the cucumber appetizers - they're so fresh and perfectly sauced and crunchy. The karage is also very popular and good. All the broths are meat based, but on all the dishes you can request no pork if you like. It is first come first serve, and there's usually a line, but it goes by pretty fast and it's worth the wait. The vibe is fast paced - meant mainly to allow the line outside to move fast, but the restaurant does have a nice homey, warm feel to it. Service is great, the chefs are sweet. 10/10 spot, defs a must try!

Small place and small menu, very efficient. Food is delicious, only place that reminds me of Japan. Expect long wait times, but they keep the crowd moving.

the broth was too salty, the amount of meat was good But too little for it too be worth it though the noodles were great. the service was pretty decent nothing to complain about there, and the ambiance and vibe was pretty good for the store.

Heard about this place through recommendations of STL natives, and the recent Yelp list ranking this place #2 across the nation. I was already expecting a lot and this place definitely matched some of the expectations (although I still think some places in LA, Houston, NY are better than this). Overall, it is excellent, especially for being in STL. The line will always be long, so we came here around 4:40pm on a Wednesday, and we were about 2nd in line (although as soon as we got in line, everyone left their cars and joined the line. When we got in, it was a nice intimate ambience. We ordered the karaage, chicken shoyu, and tsukemen. All of the dishes were excellent. The karaage was very juicy with a very soft crunch on the outside. It was extremely pleasant texture, and very flavorful. The chicken shoyu was extremely delicious. It was a delicate balance of umami-rich soy sauce, hearty chicken stock, and subtle hints of aromatic spices. The pork slice was also very rich and fatty (may not be for everyone). Finally, the tsukemen is amazing as well (although I think not as good as the chicken shoyu). It came out as a bowl of piping hot dipping broth accompanied by a separate plate of springy ramen noodles and nori strips. The noodles had an unbelievable texture and I couldn't get enough of. The broth itself was very good, but I feel like it might not have been the best tsukemen I've had, so it falls short to my expectations. Overall, an excellent place to go for dinner. Can't wait to come back to try the brothless ramen. 4.5/5 stars!

The ramen here lives up to the hype! We first attempted to eat here in shortly after St Louis Post-dispatch published an article about it...we waited 40 minutes then left after realizing we wouldn't make it into the restaurant in our limited timeframe. 2nd attempt was yesterday, a few months after the buzz had died down a bit, and this time we got there 40 minutes before the restaurant opens at 5pm. We were first in line and were quickly seated at 5:02pm. There were about 20 people in line by the time the restaurant opened. They don't take reservations or do takeout. When you enter, you grab water and chopsticks then order using the QR code. Our food arrived within 10 minutes and we finished eating after another 20 minutes and we quickly exited so that the next customer could enter. The pork shoyu ramen was incredibly flavorful with rich creamy broth, perfectly cooked pork, scallions, and chewy noodles. I thought the ramen was comparable to Nudo Cafe's, but has even more complex and rich broth and flavors. I also enjoyed my aburasoba which is a brothless ramen with savory sauce, pork, nori, and beansprouts, as well as dried fish powder in a little pile on the side. I mixed it all together in my bowl, and the waiter provided a container of vinegar which helped cut some of the richness/saltiness of the shoyu sauce. The noodles are thicker in the aburasoba than the pork shoyu ramen and super filling, so I ended up bringing some leftovers home.

Absolutely the best ramen at Menya Rui! I ordered the chicken appetizer which was delicious. Large pieces of two-bite chicken in a light fried batter with seasoned mayonnaise dipping sauce and lemon to squeeze over the chicken. I also ordered the broth less ramen with pork and added an egg. It's the best I have ever eaten! Be prepared when you go because the line was 30 people deep at 4:30 and they open at 5:00. Seating is all high top/counter height backless stools so be prepared. Tables are shared too.

Can't emphasize how much I love this place. Best ramen in STL. Always a line out the door and does not offer takeout. Favorite dishes: Mazemen (Arubasoba & Tantanmen), Tsukemen, Karaage

i'm from San Diego and I've had multiple ramen and this was really good specifically the japanese fried chicken and brothless tantamen! So worth the wait and drive.

Is the hype legit? Yes it is!! Went on a Thursday night. Arrived at 5:10pm. About 22 people in line in front of us!!! The wait was about an hour. Didn't feel like it goes fast but we waited. Parking lot fills up. There is a lot next door and across the street. The place is small (cozy). There is a place to hang your coat. Otherwise there is a communal table in the center, table against the window and table against the kitchen (fits 6). Water, napkins, chopsticks up front. Scan the code and order in phone. So convenient and so fast! I like this. Cucumber. Delish. There were two prep, one pickled and one traditional. Both were so tasty. Karage. Get it! Great flavor. Not greasy. Moist. Crunchy. Great mayo based sauce. The dip. Noodles are cold and you dip it into the broth. It was good. The brothless noodle dish. Full of flavor! The chicken ramen. The depth of flavor was excellent. The egg was excellent. The flavor was good. Was not too salty. It was served hot and streaming to the last bite. The broth is so delish. The line at 7 looked to be 1.5-2 hours. Is it worth the wait? Yes. Yes it is. Staff was super friendly!!! Highly recommend!

Waited 30 mins at 6:30 on a Sunday night - it was cold out but the ramen was worth it! It was all so efficient and easy too. Definitely add the egg to the pork shoyu if you get it - it's so good!

We stopped by Menya Rui on our little St Louis getaway and we're so glad we did! It's hard to find a good ramen shop reminiscent of the ones we've had in Japan and I must say, it was pretty darn close! We tried the Chicken Shoyu Ramen, Cucumbers and someone graciously sent Chicken Karage to our table as well so we got to try that. The ramen broth was very flavorful without being overly salty or oily, the chashu was tender, and the noodles had a nice bounce. The cucumbers were a refreshing side dish, and the karage was pretty good -- I think the batter could have been a little more crispy but overall, not bad. But the star of the show was the ramen. We had a 2nd stop after this so we didn't want to fill up, but the next time we come back to visit, we will most definitely be coming back to trying more of their menu items. It was BUSY on a Wednesday night. So, come early and you might be able to snag a seat quickly. Otherwise, there will be a wait. Staff was friendly and ambience was just as you would imagine a ramen shop -- buzzing with energy with folks slurping downright good ramen. Definitely a keeper on our Yelp bookmarks.

This place is phenomenal. Super authentic and great experience overall. We were so excited to try this place after hearing it was on the top 100 restaurants list. We came in on a Sunday night for dinner around 8pm, and the line was around the corner. We ended up waiting about 45 minutes, but it was well worth it. Once seated, the restaurant is self-service, where you grab your own utensils, napkins, water, and order via QR code. Minimal interaction with staff, similar to an authentic ramen shop in Japan in terms of service and ambiance. We did some research and saw that the owner studied ramen in Japan. Definitely best ramen in the midwest. - Dipping ramen (5/5): I had been wanting to try dipping ramen for a while, and was so excited to see this on the menu. It was AMAZING. The noodles were super thick, chewy, perfectly cooked, tasted so fresh. The broth was super concentrated, savory, perfect for dipping. Pork was tender and delicious. And the egg was perfectly soft boiled. - Pork ramen (5/5): Also so yummy. The broth was the perfect amount of salty and flavorful. Noodles were more thin but equally delicious. - Chicken karage (4.5/5): Portion was a bit small but okay to share between 2 people. The chicken was crispy with great flavor.

I wish I could just leave a single sentence as a review and it would be "just go." I've been to menya 10 times and through them all I've experienced waiting in line for an hour, not waiting in line, and waiting in my car during the winter. Every single time has been absolutely worth it!!!! If anything, some of my favorite times have been experiencing the long wait outside. I remember once I had my husband leave and go get us hot chocolates and it was just so special and I'll forever remember it. The space is small, the menu is small, but the vibes are HUGE and the taste of food is extraordinary! This is in my top 5 favorite places to eat in all of STL and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Also get the dang cucumbers!!!!!!!

We went for dinner on a really cold night and were worried about waiting in line. They were doing a digital check in when we got there, so people could wait in their cars. Very helpful! I counted a total of 24 seats in the entire place, they have them packed in and turn tables quickly! If you are looking to hang out and have a quiet dinner, this isn't the place for you. Once they give you a spot, you want to get chopsticks, water and napkins and sit where directed. You use a QR code to order, and an app to prepay and tip. It's crowded seating, so be friendly and get out when you are done. The food was great. Came out fast and was delicious. We got both appetizers (chicken and pickles) and enjoyed them. The chicken was very good, but I'd probably skip the pickles next time. The ramen was hot, seasoned really well and filling! We saw some of the other versions and are looking forward to trying them soon!

Get in line! Make sure you are there well before opening in order to get in line. There is always a line outside. The food came out at a decent rate. It is a smaller restaurant with little seating which is why there is a line. The food was okay to me. I would prefer more options and the ability to customize my ramen more. I know people that come here every week so it's definitely a personal preference. This also isn't a venue for socializing. Its expected that you eat and leave and not dwell at your table for too long.

Best ramen I ever had and it was quick. I came at 8pm on a Thursday. It's a narrow dining area and everything but the food is self-service.

Authentic ramen experience that's truly worth the wait. Line is out the door but don't be discouraged. Small and cozy. Their housemade noodles and rich broths are standouts; the pork shoyu was fantastic.