Taishoken Ramen
Ramen restaurant · San Mateo
47 E 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401
Highlights
Signature tsukemen dipping noodles & ramen combos, beer & sake
Signature tsukemen dipping noodles & ramen combos, beer & sake
"The good news is that Mission tsukemen standby Taishoken offers happy hour every day of the week. The bad news is that the flawless tsukemen (and its excellent salty-sweet broth) isn’t part of the happy hour deal. But you can get discounted fried cauliflower and loaded fries, $6 yuzu and lychee mimosas, and a sake flight for $12." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"This spot is a sleeker alternative to the many casual ramen places across town—and a better date night than sitting on opposite ends of the couch, scrolling through Instagram. Couples and small groups of soup-loving friends flock to the Mission restaurant for the tsukemen with rich broth, the spicy pork miso ramen with perfectly cooked chashu, and garlicky miso cucumbers—and you and your date should, too. Round the meal out with shochu cocktails or plum wine." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"As the originator of the Japanese dipping noodle dish known as tsukemen, Taishoken is the real deal. Though the restaurant was founded in 1951 in Japan, this location in San Mateo is the first in the U.S. In demonstrating a commitment to the craft, the noodles at the San Mateo location are made fresh every day in a designated temperature and humidity-controlled room that houses machines imported from Japan. The Tokusei tsukemen is the signature menu item — fresh, cold, thick noodles are served with a rich dipping broth and topped with two cuts of sous vide Berkshire pork and a soft-boiled egg." - Octavio Peña
"Taishoken specializes in tsukemen, a dipping ramen you won’t find at most ramen spots in SF. Their version is one you should clear your schedule for and get to immediately. The broth is rich with an intense pork-y flavor, the noodles have an ideal chew to them, and the sous-vide chashu basically falls apart when you poke it with a chopstick. Other dishes, like spicy cucumber salad and chicken karaage, and the spicy ramen with thinner noodles are also deserving of your time. Add shochu cocktails, plum wines, and a swanky dining room into the mix, and you have a spot that’s great for quick date nights and group hangs in the middle of the week." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez
"The alternative to a triple-digit bill for a night of plates so tiny your stomach can barely register them? Filling up on ramen at Taishoken in the Mission. This spot is a sleeker alternative to more casual ramen spots across town, with its swanky overhead lights and bottles of sake gleaming on high-up shelves. They specialize in tsukemen, or dipping ramen, with rich broth that clings to the noodles beautifully. The spicy pork miso option with thinner noodles is also worth your attention. If you want to round things out with a drink or two, this spot serves shochu cocktails and plum wine." - julia chen 1
