Menya Rui

Menya Rui is a very fun spot! I’ve gone a couple of times now and I feel like it’s the closest I’ll get to a real Japanese ramen bar in STL. The food is great! My first trip I ordered the Tsukemen, house cucumbers, and karaage. The noodles were cold and had a nice chewiness that made me feel like I was eating a made from scratch noodle dish. The broth was flavorful and so warm. I finished up dinner by adding warm water to the broth and sipping it up. My husband order the pork shoyu and let me tell you!!! The chasu was tender and the eggs were jammy and so tasty. Be prepared because there is almost always a line out the door for this place. Literally. There’s no spot to wait inside so you’ll have to stand in line. Don’t worry too much! The line usually goes pretty quickly, so bring some friends to chat with or a book to read while you wait.

Overrated. I’ve tried everything on their menu from karaage chicken appetizer to all types of ramen: broth, dipped and brothless on 2 different visits. Karaage chicken: dry and salty. The mayo that comes with it is also pretty mid. Ramen: dipped > brothless > broth. The broth itself is very good, but the thin noodles are too salty, and the pork still has a strong pork smell. I’ve had ramen elsewhere where they sear both sides of the pork slice, and it makes a big difference in flavor. Overall, I kept trying it from time to time to understand the hype. The last time we went was because our friends wanted to try it for the first time, and we also wanted to make sure our previous visit wasn’t just a one-off experience. We waited for 2 hours and still felt the food wasn’t worth the hype.

As everyone else says, GET HERE EARLY. I showed up at 5 when they opened and we waited for about 2 hours to get in. Tables of 4 or less are recommended, though we were able to get a table of 5 by splitting our party; eventually we got to move and sit together at the same table. Food is incredible. The pork ramen and karaage are incredibly delicious. I would imagine everything to be just as good.

Small and cozy spot! The ramen was delicious. Waiting time was about 45 minutes, so plan ahead. Don’t miss the chicken wings for appetizers

The ramen was quite good, albeit a bit salty. Good flavors, good toppings, and good noodles. The chicken karaage was excellent though, crunchy and juicy. My gripe is the atmosphere. I was stuck sitting at the bar staring at the strip mall parking lot and the line that formed to get in.

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!

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.

Great little place. Excellent ramen. Good atmosphere. Lines are often long, but tend to move quickly.

Well worth the two-hour wait on a Saturday night. Thankfully, we planned ahead. They've added a QR code for the queue, which is super smart, and the line moves reasonably quickly. This is a great spot for authentic ramen. We also love ordering the cucumbers and karaage. Keep in mind this isn't the place for a leisurely dinner. You're encouraged to eat efficiently to make room for fellow patrons. That said, it's truly a gem, and we've enjoyed every visit here.

Hot take: if you can get in within 30 minutes of waiting then this is a for sure. But we ended up waiting almost 2 hours on a Sunday night on the waitlist, and while good there's very little food that is worth waiting that amount of time. We got their karaage and house cucumbers for appetizers - the karaage was nothing special, but I really liked the house cucumbers that came marinated in 2 ways. My favorite was the tsukeman (dipping ramen) as I could really enjoy the texture of the noodles. My friends got the pork shoyu, which had great broth, and the tantanmen, which was good but I didn't think was extra special compared to other places. They also have chicken broth to add to the tsukeman dipping broth after you were done with the noodles, although at that point I was already too full. The restaurant isn't that large and they really try to get people seated, fed, and then out the door to get people in before doors close at 10. They are always polite, but if you don't like eating food in a rush (or just a very slow eater), then I'd try to catch them on an off hour. They have an online wait list, smaller parking lot in a plaza area but plenty of street parking on the street next to it. I'd recommend getting on the waitlist early and then doing something else if you really want to wait on a weekend.

We've stopped in Menya Rui multiple times and every time it's been fantastic! Given the size of the establishment, the line outside the door does move fairly quickly as they turn over the diners. However, expect a 30 minute wait on nicer days during dinner time (worth it in my opinion). The restaurant is quaint and cute. Lots of Japanese signage and it's so neat to have a window seeing into the kitchen. Food and drinks are served very quickly after ordering. The staff are always so kind and quick! We always get the pork shoyu ramen with karaage and house cucumbers as an appetizer. The cucumbers are refreshing and crisp! They're served with a rice vinegar pickle on one side and a miso dressing on the other. My preference is the rice vinegar pickle. The karaage are always hot and crisp, which is a great contrast to the cucumbers. For our entree, we get the pork shoyu ramen, which is our favorite. The broth is rich and slurpable, the noodles are a great texture, and their marinated ramen egg is so worth it! Love stopping by when in the area and will continue to do so in the future!

Shoot!!! Based on the 40 minute wait and line out the door and down the sidewalk I had really high expectations. Sadly, I don't get the hype. I've eaten ramen all over the world and I've lived in Tokyo and Menya Rui (translates as noodle store base) just didn't do it for me. Somewhere between the overly salty Shoyu broth and the fact I had to get my own water from an orange Igloo water cooler reminiscent of a contractor job site reality smacked me: the ramen isn't that great! I've had significantly better ramen with significantly less wait in significantly better ambiance.

What an amazing experience. Tucked in a little strip mall, with a line winding around the building, Menya Rui serves the best Ramen I've had in St. Louis and it's not even close. I ordered the pork shoyu-- a modest amount of meat, but done pretty well; great menma, ajitama, and broth; and excellent noodles. I enjoyed this so much and can't wait to come back. If you don't like having to wait for your food, or small somewhat loud/crowded spaces, this may not be the place for you. But if you like ramen, this is a must try in St. Louis.

I'm not a ramen connoisseur and I enjoyed my meal! They communicated the wait time well and the ramen was SO fast once we ordered! I'd recommend checking out this place in stl!

Their FAQ says it all: there are only 24 seats, and they do not offer takeout, as to-go ramen is virtually nonexistent in Japan for maximum quality. This is for the nights you want something warm, comforting, and delicious but don't have the energy for a full night out. Bring a coat and prepare to wait in line outside, but it moves quickly. Plus, you have the promise of warmth waiting on the other side.

Food was very good. Had the karaage, pork shoyu ramen and the original aburasoba. The karaage had a light crispy exterior and was juicy inside. The shoyu ramen was good, BUT the aburasoba was fantastic. Well seasoned and the noodles were cooked perfectly with a nice and bouncy consistently. The service was non-existent. We came around 8 pm on a Wednesday night. The line was out the door, and we waited approx 45 minutes. You can serve yourself water while you wait. The server was very kind and quick in getting our food once we sat down. The interior vibe is a cozy, dimly lit Japanese bar. Probably not great for large parties but perfect for a date night!!

I really thought going at 8:40 on a hot, Thursday evening would diminish the line but there was still a line :). It wasn't bad, we probably got in within a half an hour. The space is tight but run like a well-oiled machine. The dining director - she totally had control of the dining room and kept it swift and light, indicated we could take chop sticks, napkins, and water at the front station and sat us at the bar. We watched what we could of the action! Looked around to see the other diners slurping up the goodness. I ordered the same Pork Shoyu I typically got before and it was delicious as usual; I was mad at myself as I totally forgot to add an egg! I won't forget that again. I swear I am going to try something different next time!

This is by far the best Ramen in STL. Authentic, bold flavors. Almost as if you are eating grandma's cooking. Our son ordered Pork Shoyu (pictured), Tantanmen (which is the chili oil & sesame paste. Also pictured) , the brothless tantanmen (not pictured. My husband started eating right away a good sign) & we also ordered the two appetizers karaage (fried chicken bites) & house cucumbers a nice fresh bit to accompany the Karaage. Every time we go we are I awe of how good the food is. It feels as if you are going to a little local joint in Japan. Waiting in a line until a line a table opens up for your party. You order food & pay on your phone and then the waitstaff brings your items to you. Quick service & delicious food =10/10 experience

Meh. How was this #2 out of 100 in the US in 2024? Service and ambiance were fine. No issues. Food however did not wow my taste buds. Had the Pork Shoyu. Not worth the wait. Show up by yourself - you will likely get seated faster.

We waited in line for an hour. The place is small and very cozy but honestly I don't get the hype of the food. My husband got the pork ramen, the pork was very tender but overall, I think the food/ flavor was average. Not worth the hour wait at least.

Let me start by saying that I have never been to Japan and am not a culinary expert by any means, but this place really wasn't anything special for me. I know it's gotta be almost impossible to live up to the hype they've garnered, but between the wait (understandable), the desire to turn tables quickly (also understandable), and the food itself, I was really underwhelmed. The karaage, I will say, was excellent. And you can't go wrong with a little Kewpie on the side. But between the three of us at dinner, only one of us really cared for their ramen. I got the Original Tsukemen, and enjoyed the nice chew of the noodles but thought the broth was too funky in the wrong way, and the dipping without a big soup spoon was sorta fiddly. My husband enjoyed his but our friend got the pork ramen and said the broth was fishy in an unexpected and odd way. Again, I know the experience and the menu is meant to reflect an authentic Japanese ramen shop, but there are so many great options in STL that I don't think I'll be back here.

Not just delicious, but an experience. It's small and intimate, and the open kitchen allows for a look at the chefs operating as a well oiled machine. The smells, the vibes of the music, and the flavors of the food when it arrives at your table are a feast for the senses! My tantanmen with added egg was the best ramen I've had outside of LA, and the karaage was so simple but packed a punch. The service is very minimal, but it certainly doesn't feel lacking - the staff are quick to clear dishes and quite friendly for how busy it is.

Holy cow this was excellent. My daughter and I got there 6 minutes after they opened and there was a line of about 20 people out front. We waited for almost an hour to get in. It's tiny. Maybe seats around 25 inside. This was worth the wait. Started with the House Cucumbers and Japanese fried chicken. Both great. My daughter had the Pork Shoyu and I had the Tantanmen Brothless. So good. Don't be scared by the line. Tough it out. This is the real deal. Nothing like it in Saint Louis.

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.

This was my first time going to Menya Rui after hearing the hype for what feels like forever. We had a group of 3 and waited in line for around an hour (the line curled around the corner when we first got there), which is probably the max I'd be willing to wait again. The food is really nicely portioned, reasonably priced, and very tasty. The inside is very cozy and mostly self-serve-- they will bring the food out but you get your own water, napkins, etc. Overall we enjoyed our time and I will likely be back when I can afford to wait a while again!

A great place to grab some simple Japanese foods! The karaage was super crispy and tasted great with their special pepper. The ramen broth was super flavorful and the abura soba was packed with different textures and spices. Some of the dishes were a bit too salty for my liking but overall was a good experience. Be prepared to wait in line, no reservations allowed.

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!

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Menya Rui is the Beyoncé of noodle shops: limited appearances, massive talent, and absolutely worth waiting for. Yes, the line is long. Yes, you will question your life choices around the 20-minute mark. But then your bowl arrives and suddenly you're like, "Oh... THAT'S why half of St. Louis is standing outside in the heat/cold/rain like we're waiting for concert tickets." The menu is small, but don't mistake that for basic. Every single item is crafted with the kind of precision that says, "We don't need 40 options -- we only need the right ones." It's like the chef edited out all the nonsense and left only the greatest hits. The noodles? Absolute perfection. The broth? I'm pretty sure it's legally classified as a controlled substance. Each bowl tastes like it took a decade of practice and possibly a pact with the culinary gods. The space is cozy, the energy is great, and the food is so unbelievable it makes the wait feel like part of the ritual. By the time you sit down, you've earned that bowl -- and trust me, your taste buds will thank you for your service. If you haven't been, go. If there's a line, join it. And if someone tells you the wait isn't worth it... they're either lying or trying to keep the line shorter.

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

*Wish I could give this a 2.5 because it wasn't terrible, just wasn't my preference in taste* We went today (Wednesday) at 6pm and waited about 25 min outside--which wasn't too bad of a wait at all. The inside is fairly small and can only hold up to 20-25 people so I wouldn't recommend going with a huge group. You will most likely be seated with other people next to you at the same table. We got the Karaage, Tantanmen, and Tantanmen Brothless. The Karaage was alright--a bit too dry for my liking. The batter wasn't too crunchy, but it wasn't soggy either. The chicken was thick and the texture is similar to chicken breast. It wasn't really anything special. The Tantanmen was bland and a bit too oily. It wasn't spicy at all but the ramen seasoning and pepper on the table brought out the flavor a little more. The Tantanmen Brothless was extremely salty and I was unable to finish it because I felt like I was eating noodles and salt. It had a deep sesame taste to it and it was really rich. At first, all I could taste was the sesame paste, but after putting in the black vinegar provided, it made it a bit easier to eat. The ground pork was flavorful and I added chasyu to it and those were the best parts of the ramen.

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.

Always a great experience at Menya Rui! I tried something new this time and I loved it. The Tantanmen Brothless is spicy but not out of control. We had about a ten minute wait getting there around 5:10. We were out of there in less than 30 minutes. The staff is so quick and helpful with everything. Always highly recommended!

The food, the service and the ambience felt like you were in Tokyo and it was delicious

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 :)

Delicious, Flavorful. Great service, food comes out pretty quickly. Nice for an intimate night especially when it's cold out!

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!

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

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!

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.

Honestly for the hour wait this was whatever. I've had plenty of different ramen across America and this didn't really hit the spot. The space is also super small for a popular spot like this and I think they should invest in more comfortable seats for there guests. Nudo house in creve couer is so much better.

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!

Pork shoyu add egg, chicken karage, cucumbers. No notes. You do have to wait 30-60 mins but it's 100% worth the wait. I have not had a single bad experience. It's definitely eat your food and go type of a place. It's delicious it's life changing I've got no notes minus the fact that I want menya rui every day of my life now

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!

this is the best ramen in Saint Louis! and I know I'm not alone when I say it everything was delicious and came out quick. the atmosphere was casual with music playing in the background. the food was perfect and the head chef made sure everyone was welcome and everything was made special for everyone.

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.

Absolutely delicious pork ramen. The broth was rich and flavorful with a tender slice of pork. The ambiance of the restaurant elevates the meal and is complimented by quick and friendly service

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.

We were so excited to try this place after finding some amazing ramen on vacation. We decided to find the best ramen in STL, home. This place was rated number 1. When we arrived, it was cold and rainy, but there was an awning for the wait outside, which was literally all the way down the block. We got there around 7:15 and were finally let in around 8:40. But it was a Saturday night, so we were fine with that. Once you go in, you are seated at a communal table or bar-type seating. They cram about 25 people into this place. To be honest, it kind of adds a cool vibe like, wow, this place is so great, people are fine with being packed in like sardines to eat here. You order on an app. It's expeditious, so we get it. We ordered the cucumbers for an app. The ones like bread-and-butter pickles were amazing, the miso ones were just okay. We both ordered the pork shoya -- you have to remember to add the egg because it's not automatically included. You need the egg. Excitement built and we didn't wait long for our food to arrive. The pork was good. My husband said that he thought it was "okay." The broth had a lot of lumpy fat floating around that was kind of a turnoff. The noodles didn't have much chew and were okay. I didn't care for it because it had a strange fishy taste. When I've had pork shoyu before, it seemed more like a really well-developed chicken broth, so this was a little unpleasant and disappointing. I actually enjoy fish, but this was just...off. I ate most of it and really tried to like it, but for me, it missed the mark. Hubby said he'd eat there again, but wouldn't wait in a line like that for it again. I don't like giving anything but stellar reviews, but this was pretty much a miss for us. But everyone has different tastes and apparently other people love it, so I'd give it a try. Now we will continue our hunt for a ramen locally that fits our tastes better.

This is my go to ramen spot in stl. Definitely allocate at least 30 mins to just waiting before getting seated inside since the shop is quite cozy. Like others said, not really suited for groups larger than about 4. My boyfriend and I love their tantanmen and pork shoyu ramens WITH EGGS!! Their karaage and cucumbers for small bites are great too.

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!

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!