Mensho Ramen

Overhyped. As expected from reading the menu prior, this is not the place for a classic ramen. It's an "elevated" take on ramen with experimental flavors. As with experiments, they're either hit or miss. I found their "classic" toripaitan to be a miss. The broth had good flavor but was unusually thick and had some grittiness to it that was rather unpleasant. The noodles were obviously fresh but didn't add to the dish in my opinion. The smoked pork was a big miss. Usually, the chashu is a nice compliment to the other ingredients. Here, the very heavy smokiness was in direct conflict. I could not finish the pork -- tasted like pure smoke. Contrary to other reviews, I didn't mind the 45 minute wait. I thought the waitlist system was good. Service was very good. They were constantly checking in on us.

I will start by saying overall Mensho Ramen is very good! I think this location is definitely still working on streamlining the overall process so there were some issues in service when I went but honestly nothing very terrible. My friends and I all ordered the Special on the ramen menu and shared the fried enoki mushroom appetizer. We all ordered the special because it is the ONLY ramen on the menu that includes an egg (it's $4 to add on an egg ugh) The broth is so rich and flavorful and the noodles are so chewy and delicious. When we got our bowls I was a bit worried about the portions but I actually ended up struggling a bit due to how rich and heavy the meat + broth were. I was so excited to order the enoki mushroom appetizer but I was soso disappointed. Do not order. They just taste like fry oil and it comes with the smallest slice of yuzu you've probably ever seen- very disappointing especially if you think of the portion of fried mushroom is comes with. Service wise, we had to go out of way to ask for a water refill and they also accidentally charged my card for another table so that was an inconvenience. Again, I think they are still working on this aspect so I don't hold anything against them it gets pretty busy in there.I think one other con about this place is the seating. We got put into a corner table and it was actually so difficult to get in and out of our chairs because we were blockaded in by other tables. We had to ask the other guests to get out of their chairs so we could leave. Also, because there were three of us they just awkwardly added in a chair for a table clearly meant for two people only.I know i complained about a few things but the ramen is very good and if you want to treat yourself I def recommend! I would probably not come here again casually, maybe for just a small nicer dinner.

Food tasted great, service was excellent, ambience was nice. Went after 9pm so the wait was not too long. The pickled cucumbers were yummy & refreshing. The Spicey Toripaitan Ramen is what I ordered (very good) my daughter got the GKO ramen (I thought was delicious) someone at the table ordered the Signature Toripaitan liked it but didn't care for the juice at the end. I loved mine but it was salty I'll say that.

There has been a lot of hype around this restaurant so my fiance and I were eager to try it. I am glad we went with friends, as it allowed us to try a variety of dishes. I am also glad we went in a weekday, as there was no wait at all! Short review: it absolutely lived up to the hype! Although pricey, I actually do think the quality warrants the price tag. The A5 wagyu nigiri was possibly one of the best wagyu nigiris I've ever had. Generally A5 wagyu nigiris leave me with some buyers remorse, feeling like it was good but not worth the price. This one though was FANTASTIC. Don't sleep on the karaage either! It was super tasty, juicy, and perfectly fried. I love that it comes with eggplant as well. The fried enoki was probably the only item that was a bit of a miss. Presentation-wise it was very stunning and cool. It was a little over-fried for me to be enjoyed on its own. It does, however, act as a nice topping in your ramen (pro tip!). However, being sold as a side, it missed the mark for me. Now for the star: I got the Signature ToriPaitonAll their ramen broth is chicken-based, which I found interesting. Thats not generally my preferred both but wow. Mensho has completely opened my mind to chicken broths moving forward. You can definitely tell the broth is chicken-based: it's a little lighter bodied and cleaner tasting than a tonkotsu. But wow the depth of flavor they achieved is incredible. I loved it. Noodles were the perfect consistency, toppings were delicious. A special highlight for the meats: there was an assortment of different meats, not just chashu, and they were all incredibly tender and flavorful. I tried my friends GKO broth and wow. I will have to go back and order that next time. A garlic lovers dream! So don't skip out on Mensho! Definitely ready your wallet for a nice dinner, but it's by no means an exorbitant dinner. Even my cheap a$$ highly recommends it!

Food: I ordered one of the spicy ramens and it was delicious. Downside was the price. It was about $25 for one ramen Service: service was greatAmbiance: super cute place Misc: typically a long wait

Highly recommend coming before they open so you don't have to wait too long in line! We came here on a Sunday and got there 15 minutes before they opened at 11:45am. They officially opened at 12pm and we were seated by 12:10pm. Not a bad wait at all! The space is very small, but really cute. It makes me feel like I'm not in Arizona, but in a trendy, exclusive spot in New York or something. I will say though that this restaurant is hard if you have a large group. We had five people and were extremely squished in a space that's meant for four people. For food, we tried:- Enoki Chips appetizer: Tasty, crispy, and perfect as an extra topping for your ramen!- Signature Ramen: Comes with all meat options, good broth- Matcha Ramen: This typically comes with duck, but I replaced it with smoked porkMy husband and I both really liked each of our broths. I tasted both and I liked the matcha broth better. It's a little bit more earthy and delicate, but flavorful. But we were a little dissatisfied with the meat quantity and options. The slices are pretty thin and you only get a few pieces. My matcha ramen only had two pieces. I was expecting to have the typically pork chashu that is juicy and fatty and melts in your mouth, but this smoked pork reminded me more of American barbecue flavors. A little odd to me. But overall I think this is a place you should try at least once! I do want to come again to try different ramen options and see how they compare.

Was excited to try Mensho - a Michelin inspired japanese shop. The ambiance was nice and simple, great service, and delicious food. I got the Classic Toripaitan Ramen and the broth was exactly as described - rich and creamy! I thoroughly enjoyed the house made noodles! I ordered the edemame with garlic chips on the side. I was actually wanting a rice dish shown on their mensho az Instagram but nothing like that was available at the restaurant. Please update your Instagram to match what is exactly available on the menu in the restaurant. You cant find a website from Yelp so updating a link would be helpful. Premium ramen is not available. I do wish there were more appetizers to choose from like gyoza. I know the star of this restaurant is ramen but more starter options would nice.

We were first in line at 3:20 on a Thursday. Host came out at 3:40 with a tablet and took our info. We got a text at 4.Mensho is not like your typical ramen offering. The menu rotates often depending on what gets locally sourced that day, calling it farm to bowl. What you see on the website may not be available in store. I think this is the only reason that sets them apart from others and to justify their high prices of ingredients. And of course the reputation. We sat at the bar to see the chefs on duty at the center open kitchen and got the signature toripaitan ($27). Had various meats like chicken, duck, A5 wagyu, and smoked pork in a creamy rich broth. Thin not thick.GKO ($24) - spicy level 3 and OG spicy on the side ($2). Very garlicky with 5 kinds of garlic. Loved the gobo chips. Packed with flavor.Enoki chips ($9) were piled high like a bee hive. They were lightly salted and reminded me of crispy pork floss but airy and melts in your mouth. Such a huge portion that we shared it with a party of 3 next to us.Japanese carpaccio ($19): Delicious. Butteriness that melts in your mouth. You pour the sauce yourself and squeeze the lime. It's not just any soy sauce, it's traditional soy sauce curated in wooden vats from Japan! So smooth!Takoyaki ($6): I wouldn't say these were the best I've had but for sure had more octopus ratio.Worth a try but pricy. An extra smoked egg was $4. We loved the ramen we got but not a fan of the chicken protein because we don't like white meat in general due to its dryness. The chicken sliced thick, not necessarily too dry because it's been soaked in the broth. The wagyu melts in your mouth while the duck was a chewy fatty texture. Very filling.I loved the ramen noodles. It's locally grown wheat and mochi wheat from Japanese cooked to an al dente texture of slightly bouncy chewiness. If I'm joined by friends who are here for the first time then I'll be back to try the matcha version or something different.Chef David Vụ took the time to come out to greet everyone. We walked out at 4:40 and no one was in the waiting area. I'm sure people already got themselves on the waiting list and left until they get an alert to come back.

There's a lot of hype around Mensho right now, and I must say: it's well-deserved. This meal was a wonderful experience from start to finish!Sitting at the bar area alone is such a show. You'll smell the ramen broth wafting in the air and get to watch the staff operate with precision at each front station, all while greeting every new guest.We started off with the aji fries, which I highly recommend for any seafood lover. It comes with four delicately fried mackerel pieces that are crispy on the outside with absolutely no bones in the tender inside. Zest with the lemon and dip in the savory sauce, and it's quite a perfect appetizer!The Signature Toripaitan is a signature for a reason. It is so above and beyond other ramens in Phoenix, with nicely chewy, handmade noodles in a thick, truffled chicken-based broth. The jammy egg and meats are all smoked to perfection. I *savored* that wagyu piece and loved the duck. All the meats were so tender.We had a manageable 40-minute wait after checking in at 5:10pm on a Saturday. It was worth it. Time flew by after grabbing a drink from Xing Fu Tang using our 15% off discount for being on the Mensho wait list :)Keep in mind this isn't the best group spot since they only have about four tables for four, but it's fantastic for date nights or dinners with a friend.

I heard good things about this place so the bar was set high. I went late on a Saturday. I was told it was a good idea to come late to avoid the huge line that goes outside the building. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable of the product. The dining area is small and slightly cramped. I was very hungry so I decided to get two of everything which included drinks, apps, and ramen.Apps:Started with Carpaccio which was scallops and caviar. 5/5Wagyu with black caviar. 5/5Ramen:Wagyu Aburasoba. This was the best ramen dish I have ever had in my entire life. Full of flavor. The truffle was delicious. The wagyu was melt in you mouth tender. Noodles had the most perfect taste and texture. Ramen can not get better than this. 5/5G.K.O. Was recommended by the manager. The was also delicious. Garlic and a little spice. Again a ton of flavor. Broth was perfect. 5/5The place is relatively new. I would preferred if they had a bigger place. They serve beer and cold/warm sake. I hope they bring in sprits. Some Hibiki to wash down my Aburasoba would have been amazing. In the end MR was amazing. I can not wait to go back. If you appreciate quality and perfection in your food they have it here. Even the toothpicks are from Japan made of bamboo. I told the manager I wish I could give them a Michelin Star. Even if ramen is not your thing you need to try this place. I am sure you will enjoy it here.