I've been going to Menkoi for years & it's the best ramen I've found! I highly recommend the spicy (beef) ramen. They are always quick and consistent. For more eats & adventures follow me on Instagram @thesodascene read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Spicy chicken ramen, spicy beef ( 4. Spicy Ramen ) - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I have mixed feelings. I ordered a ramen soup with pork. It tasted 'ok'. Not the worst I've had, not the best. I was happy to try it though. What I didn't really like was their policy of charging money for tap water. You don't expect this in America. I went to their soda machine to get some water, thinking there would be some cheap $0.01 plastic cups, and that's when I saw a sign saying you have to pay for water. NOT what I expected after ordering and paying for a ramen soup. I asked if there was any way to get a free cup of water, thinking maybe they kept the cups behind the counter, and they said no, you have to buy a cup for the tap water. In my mind, if you have to nickle and dime us $0.50 for tap water, you're doing things wrong as a business. Charge what you have to so people don't have to ask about paying money for tap water and you don't have to put up stupid signs saying you have to pay for water. I mean, come on. That looks SO PETTY and CHEAP! This place was so low life, they even had signs saying don't sit down until you order something taped on the walls all around the restaurant. That really made it look cheap. Where am I, China? Pakistan? Didn't feel like Japan... and certainly didn't feel like America. I didn't try to use the restroom. I don't know if they charge a fee for that... or the toilet paper... I think we as a society need to strongly push back against this type of 'fee' trend in restaurants. Yea, it's their business and they can run it the way they want, but I can also give a poor review and not come back. Your choice. I would of tipped the worker $3-4 based on service. Instead I was charged $0.50 and won't come back. read more

We received so many noodles, it was amazing! I wish I had a little bit more stock with my Ramen, but to have more noodles was nice. Food came out really quickly and everything tasted amazing. It was a super packed, they did have two tables left open, so we're able to sit down and enjoy our food on the inside. We chose fountain drinks and the person that took our order. Also, I took our plates away. They were super nice and patient. read more

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We came here after a show at the Koger Center and was pleasantly surprised to find a number of restaurants in the area to be opened between 1030 and 2am in the area of the theater. This is a ni fluff noodle house. We ordered the spicy ramen with pork and the pork tonkatsu ramen. The spicy noodle was really good, not too spicy but had a decent kick. The tinkatsu had an unpleasant aftertaste. I am used to a more umami depth of flavor but this one had a salt flavor with no depth. The service is fairly quick and they are polite. This spot gives late night comfort hangover vibes. I am not sure I would be back when there are so many other options. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Tonkatsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

If I could leave no stars I would! Went there is past Saturday 5.16.2020. Was fine before I got there, but when I left I was vomiting ALL day/evening. When I got home and look at the meat it was discolored, I think the meat was OLD. I've ate here before, but this time it's a 0/10 do not recommend!! read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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This is a cozy ramen house that stays open late. I had the veggie ramen which is soy based and plentiful. I had enough to take home and eat the next day. I love their variety of not just food but drinks and desserts that you can't find elsewhere. This is counter service though they bring your food to you; our server/attendant was very nice & helpful. Will definitely go back again read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Veggie ramen - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

We came here for lunch and got a good parking spot in front of the restaurant. The inside is pretty modest and pretty basic. We ordered at counter upon entering and they suggested for costumer to order first before choose a table. We ordered edamame as an appetizer and 3 ramen bowls. We ordered spicy ramen, miso ramen, and chicken ramen. The condiments and drinks are on the side of the restaurant and easy to access. The portion of the ramen was pretty big and my kids can definitely shared a bowl of ramen. The broth was pretty flavorful and spicy ramen is American spicy. It's a good spot for ramen in downtown Columbia, SC. I would come back and eat here again if I stop by in Columbia, SC. read more

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This is my favorite restaurant! Anytime my husband and I go to sandhill we have to get ramen. It's always fresh and hot. Great atmosphere and clean. read more

Arrived a few minutes before 11:30 AM on a Thursday and was lucky to get the last paid street parking (max two hours) in front of the restaurant. There were not that many people, so they were plenty of tables open. It was easy and quick to place my order at the cashier, then wait at one of the tables for the food to be delivered. Ordered tonkotsu (non spicy) ramen and gyoza appetizer. It was good, hit the spot, but could have been richer in flavor. Ramen was filling, I couldn't finish the whole thing. Not a ton of spinach, but there was a ton of bean sprouts, slightly cooked from the hot broth. The pork slices were tender and the marinated soft boiled egg was good. My toddler and I both enjoyed the gyoza. I liked the dipping sauce for the Gyoza, had a hint of spiciness. My mother-in-law enjoyed her chicken ramen. They had packaged milk bread yeast rolls from Japan, which was good and hit the spot after eating the Ramen. Not the healthiest ingredients, understandably, but it was delicious. It was so soft and had just the right amount of sweetness. Worth getting and eating! Wished I got more than one. High chairs are available. If I'm in the area again, and craving ramen, I would come back! read more

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I think for affordability it was great to have a ramen place nearby! Prices were great and food was good but could have used some more kick/spice to it for the traditional tonkotsu. Overall it was a nice homey place with quick service, but sometimes limited seating in the busy days. read more

Menkoi is a cozy little spot downtown, with good food & sweet service. Did an online order, which was quick and easy. In 20 mins my food was ready for pick up. Staff were helpful and sweet. Restaurant was easy to find and clean. Looking forward to retuning to try new things. Chicken ramen (8/10) dumplings 7/10. read more

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Small dive on busy Gervais Street. Menkoi offers a variety of ramen bowls along with a few Japanese Apps. Like most Ramen bowls, portions are large. All bowls are served with Pork and the Traditional Soft Boiled egg. While the egg was cooked perfectly, I found the Pork to be a bit tough. Broth was good and not overly salty but not I have definitely had better. For the low price point I think it is worth a try. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Miso Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

This restaurant has a hole in the wall vibe. I ordered the spicy ramen and an order of gyoza. My appetizer came out after my meal, but my meal came out quick; within 5 minutes of me sitting down. The food was decent but not the best ramen I've ever had. By the time I ate my gyoza it was cold so it was not the most enjoyable. I don't think I'll be trying this restaurant again. read more

My boyfriend and I wanted something quick to eat as we were starving and saw that this ramen shop had good reviews. Unfortunately we didn't think it lived up to the hype. The ramen was super cheap $10 for the bowl, but it wasn't great. The broth and noodles were just ok. Not bad, not great. I could see why in a college town it would be a hit. The service was pretty fast and it was pretty quiet inside. It definitely didn't have any aesthetic appeal but it got the job done as far as filling up our bellies. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - 5. Shoyu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

This is a pretty reliable and standard Ramen place. I came on the recommendation of my friend and we chose to both get Ramen with the salmon rice balls. I ordered just the regular miso Ramen, and he ordered the spicy Ramen, but really, I felt the miso Ramen was missing flavor so I asked for the hot sauce they use for the spicy Ramen and added that. The food was plentiful and really tasty, the salmon rice balls were a bit bland and not really worth the $3. If you want hot sauce or even takeout containers, you do have to pay extra, so be mindful of that. read more

I've had some amazing ramen in my life, and Menkoi doesn't meet that level. That said, Menko is some pretty good ramen, and it's fast and very reasonably priced, and when we are talking ramen, that's a lot of what matters! Inside the shop is very "hole in the wall", but it's comfortable and would be a good spot to hang out with friends for a bit. Staff was friendly. I've been here a few times ago, and I happy coming here again. J.ja read more

From the outside looking it, there isn't much to see, just a small hole in a wall on a busy street. But the food is excellent and fresh! Try the curry. It's Japanese style served on a bed of rice. The sauce is spiced excellently, with a hint of heat. And the veggie are soft but not mushy. This going to be my go-to winter dish! read more

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yummy ramen, not too pricey! i loved the tonkotsu ramen and deeply enjoyed it. the restaurant was clean cute and simple with clean bathrooms. the staff was kind. great place! read more

Menkoi Ramen House - 3. Tonkotsu Ramen after i ate a good bit! delicious - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Great ramen, great service! Little pricey, but worth it! Their rice balls are amazing too!

This place isn't with the hype. I was so excited for some tonkatsu ramen and was sadly let down. It isn't rich or flavorful at all, verging on bland. The pork and noodles were fine. read more

Quick stop on my long city trek during my visit in Columbia SC! Awesome service that was quick and the waitress was extremely sweet and awesome. ! My to go order for a ramen to go (plus an appetizer of shumai) was delicious! Would def eat there again if I'm ever back in the area. read more

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I love this place. It's great for a nice big bowl of comforting ramen. Their spicy chicken ramen is my favorite. It really has a hole in the wall feel to it. The service is fast as well. Overall recommend if you love ramen. read more

I personally loved the stuffed tofu rice appetizer! My daughter is Vegan/ vegetarian and loves Ramen however she didn't care for the veggie ramen as she said it tasted like fish. We specifically asked if it had anything animal or fish in the base broth and they said no but after a few bites she was done even though she was very hungry. Probably an honest mistake but she was not happy. So we went somewhere else and got her some food. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Looks like we have some choices - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Wow! What happened? My husband and I used to come here all the time when we lived in the area and it was our top ramen shop of all time. We'd literally drink the dregs from the bottom of the bowl because it was so rich with layered flavors. We were passing back through on a trip and we're excited to go to our favorite place only to discover it was *not* good. Like a previous reviewer mentioned, the shumai was still the best we have ever had (probably because they are pre-made), and is what made this 2 stars instead of 1. However, both the spicy ramen and tonkotsu missed the mark big time. It has gone from our favorite to now we prefer literally every and any other ramen place we've gone too. The staff is super attentive and the food was speedy. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Tonkotsu---watery and lacking it's usual layers of flavor. - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Understanding this restaurant is in the city but not having access to parking except a $20 parking for one hour blocks away. I literally refuse to pay $20 to eat here before I even get a chance to see what exactly I'm looking forward to....4 customers lost...just like that. I suggest, working on your parking situation or at least pick up the phone for 5 seconds to say "hey you can park cheaper or find something here". Customer service is key. read more

I've recently taken a trip to Japantown in San Francisco, with some of the last remnants of the Japanese population in the city - I gotta say, although the quality of the ramen at Menkoi is less, when you include the low price it evens out. I would appreciate it if they took a little more time and care to prepare the ingredients since, it makes you wonder how long they've been sitting from prep in the containers. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

We came here at the perfect time! My nephews love ramen and during a trip to Camden, we all went out for some noodles and broth. I say we came at the perfect time because it was a bit of a lull and as soon as we ordered, the place got hella packed. We luckily snagged a table that fit all five of us and a stroller. They brought our food to the table. I had their spicy chicken ramen which was good. I also ordered some shumai which was tasty. Everyone's face was planted in their bowl. read more

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Menkoi never disappoints whether it's warm or cold outside. We love coming here and getting the spicy tonkatsu ramen which has a spicy creamy clean broth I love eating this when it's raining or cold outside and the rice and beef curry one of our favorites the beef is very tender and the curry it is so flavorful! It's a small location not many tables so be prepared to wait for a table after you order firsts. When it gets busy during prime dinner time hardly anywhere to sit. Wait time on the food does not take long at all. As for parking there is street parking and lots need the restaurant. The cooks and servers are all friendly here. Very happy with the customer service and cleanliness of the overall restaurant. read more

We found ourselves in Columbia, South Carolina on a Sunday evening. What we learned is many restaurants apparently are open for brunch, but not for dinner. After driving for around 10 hours we were starving. Through roundabout means we were directed to Menkoi. Lucky for us because it was tasty and the service was great. You do have to wait in line to place your order at the counter and then find a table. We were meant to eat at Menkoi as we were seated at the "Party Table." See our pic. My wife and No 4 ordered a No. 1, which is Cha Shu Man. it was a Ramen with pork. My wife said she liked it "even though she isn't really a Ramen person." No. 4 said It was really good but the bowl was too big. That didn't stop him from eating most of it. No. 3 had the No. 3, which is Spicy Ramen. She said it was very good, and it was not too spicy. So she did add that it made her mouth burn a bit. And she likes Ramen so she thinks you should take this to heart when ordering here. I had the No. 7, which is Vegetable Ramen. I agree it was a lot of food, but it was quite tasty. It also was the only dish on the menu for someone who doesn't eat meat. We had a good experience at Menkoi. If I find myself in Columbia again I will return because the rest of the time we live approximately 2000 miles away. If you live closer or are visiting, I suggest you make your way here for some tasty Ramen. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - No explanation needed! - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

I've been eye balling this place for about 2 years now and I've watched reviews go up and down about this place. So today I decided to try it and I am so happy I did. The young lady at the counter helped me out by schooling me on the non-pork options.....or how to create non pork options. I chose chicken ramen. I got it spicy and I am so happy. It is really good! I can do without the egg and next time I will not get it but it's so flavorful. I would also ask for more chicken next time too! I was in and out. I parked right on Gervais and had no issues. My daughter and I will be returning on Saturday so she can try it out. Hate that I wasted 2 years debating on this place and not just walk in. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - 8. Chicken Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I went to the Statehouse to see the African American Monument and wanted to find a place to have lunch. I saw this ramen house on the way and said I would stop here and I'm glad I did. I ordered the vegetable ramen and a salmon 'onigiri' rice ball. The broth for the veggie ramen was really good. Very tasty, not salty. I liked that they didn't have a lot of stuff in the ramen. You know how some places overload it everything?! This ramen had spinach, green onions and mushrooms. They made it spicy for me and that made it even better. I did not try the rice ball. When it arrived, the salmon was fresh. A little too fresh for me. It smelled really fishy and I didn't want to try it. I should have but it was a bit overwhelming. All in all, it was a good healthy lunch. I would visit them again. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Veggie ramen - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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The food was amazing. Good prices, portions, and flavors. My fiancé and I have been going every Monday and Wednesday and we've tried almost every flavor of Ramen they offer! We've never had any issues ordering and it's very convenient! read more

The ramen were just ok. My family tried a few different ramen and they were not that tasty. Not the best in the area as well.

Loved this place so much. I went there twice in one week. The Inari is excellent. I got the vegetable ramen extra spicy. Everything was prepared well and fresh. The service was excellent both times. I highly recommend read more

Enjoyed the #4! Very welcoming, quick, and delicious. Can't beat the price and the amount of food. I will be coming back when I'm in town read more

Menkoi Ramen House - #4. Spicy Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Awesome little spot! Service is great and food is great! I had the chicken ramen and it was great! read more

Menkoi Ramen House - 8. Chicken Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

They don't answer the phone, advertise they close at 2:30 We walk 20 minutes and tell us they are closing at 2. Not just us but the people behind us as well. I would give them zero stars. I guess they are the only business these days that does not need customers read more

Ever since learning that there used to be a Menkoi location in Charleston but it ended up closing, I've been eager to try this place. I never got to try it before it left the city and was honestly very sad about it (even though Charleston has great cuisine, good ramen options are lacking), so when I got the chance to go to Columbia, I had to go! I came here at 11:30 on a Tuesday. At this time, there was only one other table occupied. You order at the counter and then pick a seat. The food is brought to your table very quickly. I had the Tonkotsu ramen with pork. There were bean sprouts and a piece of seaweed inside as well. The broth was flavorful and tasty, and the ramen was a good consistency as well. It was very hot when it first got to our table, so definitely keep that in mind when you take your first bites. Also, if you come here with kids, they will provide you a small bowl for them so you can scoop some from your bowl into theirs, since an entire big bowl to themselves is probably too much. They also provide "trainer chopsticks" for kids as well. Very nice of them to do this! I would say this is the best traditional style ramen I've had in the south so far! I'd definitely come to Columbia again just to visit Menkoi. I'm also really looking forward to coming back to try the spicy ramen. read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Tonkotsu ramen with pork. - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Service was pretty okay, kinda iffy at first then the experience got better, ood was pretty good but flavor town needs to be a little stronger!! read more

Menkoi Ramen House - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Stopped in for a quick dinner with some friends who had been wanting to try some noodles for a while. I had been to the ramen house before, but everyone joining was a first timer. I love ramen house because their menu is pretty versatile, while the ramen choices might not look all that different, but you can definitely customize any bowl in a number of ways. If you're like me you don't eat pork, so you can swap pork broth for chicken or veggie, and you can also up the heat by asking to make any bowl spicy. I always go for the chicken ramen, but make it spicy you know. Great food, cheap prices and lots of flavor... if you love ramen you definitely need to stop by the ramen house! read more

Menkoi Ramen House - 8. Chicken Ramen (spicy) - Japanese Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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