Menkoi Ya Ramen in downtown Claremont is everything you want when you're craving a comforting, deeply satisfying bowl of noodles--and honestly, it might ruin other ramen places for you. The broth is the real star here. Rich, flavorful, and clearly simmered for hours, it has that perfect depth that makes you want to keep sipping long after the noodles are gone. Whether you go for tonkotsu, shoyu, or spicy miso, each one is packed with layers of flavor that feel both authentic and thoughtfully crafted. The noodles have the ideal texture--springy, chewy, and never mushy. You can tell they're made or cooked with care because they hold up beautifully in the broth without getting lost in it. The toppings are just as impressive: tender chashu pork that practically melts in your mouth, perfectly soft-boiled eggs with jammy yolks, fresh scallions, and nori that adds just the right finishing touch. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, the kind of place you can go alone for a comforting meal or bring friends for a casual hangout. Service is quick and friendly, and the staff seems genuinely happy to help you customize your bowl exactly how you like it. Portion sizes are generous, and everything comes out hot and fresh. It's also surprisingly consistent--every visit tastes just as good as the last, which is rare and really appreciated. If you're looking for ramen that feels both comforting and high quality, this place absolutely delivers. It's the kind of spot you start craving before you've even left. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Chashu Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

Super good experience today! We got seated right away and the staff were very attentive and helpful! We shared a fried gyoza appetizer. Perfectly fried but the sauce was a bit too sweet. One of us tried the strawberry yuzuade (which apparently had a strange after taste). We all ordered the chashu spicy miso ramen--two of us ordered level 3 spiciness (honestly level 2 which is the default spicy level would have been spicy enough!) Delicious!! read more

See all

This place became my comfort food spot fast. Nothing feels better than pulling up hungry and getting a hot bowl of ramen while the whole restaurant smells like broth and garlic. The chashu is insanely good too slightly smoky, super tender, and basically impossible not to finish The service honestly amazing. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

Enjoyed a quick lunch at this small and cute restaurant! Service was good and our spicy Miso Ramen was yummy . Love their pork belly in the bowl of ramen - it's not too fatty and love how they brown them a bit ! read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

Solid ramen, great takoyaki, nice vibes all around. Got the menkoi chashu ramen w lv7 spice and it was so good. Takoyaki was stellar. Piping hot, good chunks of octopus, tons of toppings as well. Food came out quick and the service was super - consistently checking in on us and making sure we were good. Definitely coming back when in the area 10/10. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Menkoi Chashu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

See all

I came here with my brother since we were in the area. My usual is the kotteri ramen which is pork back fat in the broth which gives it a rich taste. I bit heavier on the tongue than regular tonkotsu. We also got a small bowl each of mini chashu and mini karaage rice bowl. The ramen came with a sheet of nori, sliced bamboo shoots, black garlic oil, green onion, and sliced chashu. The broth was not too salty and the chashu was tender but still held together well. We came right when they opened so they were not busy but it can get packed during the afternoons. read more

See all

We came on a Saturday night and parking was relatively easy to find near the restaurant. We were seated at the bar because the tables were full. The staff were very friendly and checked on us often. We ordered the Takoyaki and the Menkoi Chashu Ramen lvl 10 spicy. The food tasted good and the spicy level was pretty good. I loved that the ramen came with 10 Chashu pieces. I would definitely recommend coming here! read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Takoyaki - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

See all

Stopped by on Sunday, 12/29/24 during lunch time with the family - enjoying some high quality family time during the winter holiday season. Located in Claremont Village, we ordered the following: - 1 Ika Geso Karaage = $10.95 - 1 Menkoi Ramen = $13.95 - 1 Tonkotsu Kotteri Ramen = $16.95 - 1 Chashu Miso Ramen = $15.45 - 1 Vegetarian Miso Ramen = $15.45 SUBTOTAL = $72.65 SALES TAX = $6.91 TIP = $10 TOTAL = $89.66 Quick service and amazing ramen - bowls were huge too. read more

See all

Ordered the Tonkotsu Kotteri Ramen and it had a unique, soothing flavor. It was very delicious and complimented the chashu nicely. Fast and friendly service! read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Tonkotsu Kotteri Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

My fav place In the world, Brandon, Angel, Eve, and Sally are the Goats! The best Ramen I've ever had thanks to you all read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Fire - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

I've passed by Menkoi Ya Ramen in Claremont a few times, and I finally got the chance to try it out. We went on a Tuesday evening around 6 PM, and it was already getting busy. Thankfully, our friend snagged a table before we arrived, so we were able to sit right away. The service was excellent! As soon as we arrived, the waitress greeted us and quickly took our drink orders. The menu is simple--just one page, front and back--which makes ordering easy. Here's what we tried: Appetizers 1. Fried Gyoza (4.2/5) Crispy on the outside and satisfying overall. 2. Takoyaki (4.6/5) These were flavorful and served piping hot, topped with plenty of bonito flakes for extra umami. Ramen 1. Menkoi (4.4/5) The pork broth was rich and flavorful, and the bowl came with five slices of chashu. 2. Menkoi Chashu (4.6/5) Same tasty broth but with ten slices of chashu--perfect for meat lovers! 3. Chashu Spicy Miso (4.6/5) The spicy miso flavor was deep and delicious, with just the right kick of heat. This one came with three slices of chashu. 4. Tonkotsu Kotteri (4.6/5) A bold and intense broth with black garlic oil and a strong pork flavor. It was a bit on the saltier side but still excellent. The ambiance is cozy, with a classic Japanese ramen shop vibe. My only minor complaints are that the signage outside is hard to see in the evening, and parking can be a bit tricky, but you'll find a spot eventually. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely be returning! My Personal Rating : 4.42 Food 4.5/5 Staff 4.3/5 Price 4.3/5 Ambiance 4.2/5 Cleanliness 4.3/5 read more

See all

This is the best Ramen restaurant around. We've been coming here for many years after our judo practices. Angel is a terrific hostess. I love their steamed gyoza! read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Last night's dinner group - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

Menkoi Ya Ramen is located in the Claremont Village near Keck Graduate Institute. It has free street parking nearby and lots of indoor seating. The ambiance is casual - good for small groups (coworkers or friends) or by sitting at the bar. The service was quick and the staff was nice, too. There's mini options for one person or bowls for sharing. We ordered the mini Chicken Karaage Bowl, the Fried Gyoza, Oyakodon Chicken Bowl, and the Chashu Spicy Miso Ramen. The mini Chicken Kaarage bowl was a good portion for the price and had a flavorful sauce, the fried Gyoza was seasoned well and crispy, the Oyakodon had runny egg in the dish, and the spicy ramen was the perfect amount of spicy and the noodles were cooked al dente. I'd try this place if you're craving Japanese food for an affordable price while in the Village. read more

See all

Pretty good ramen in the village! Service here is super quick, and although the space is small, they have a lot of counter seating if you don't mind it. They also have complimentary togarashi, pickled radfish, and other condiments, which was really nice. The ramen portions were very large and pretty reasonably priced. It wasn't the most mind blowing ramen I've ever had, but I would absolutely come back for the quick service and large portions! read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Tonkotsu Kotteri Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

Their gyoza and miso ramen was 10/10!! Definitely would come back. We've been looking for a good ramen spot in the Claremont/LaVerne area and this definitely took #1 spot. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Miso ramen 10/10!! Their gyoza was amazing too! - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

Food is always good, the servers are on point and the place is clean. What else do you need?

i got the menkoi ramen, so good and such a good price as well for the portions! Price:14.50 I rlly enjoyed the pork in the bowl as well, seating was easy to get and nice employees as well read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Menkoi Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

See all

The place is awesome. The food is awesome. Order the regular order of Japanese Karrage (Japanese Boneless Fried Chicken) bowl. You will be blown away. Please remember to squeeze the lemon on top of the bowl or you miss out. The Service is awesome. Never in a rush, the Ambiance is amazing. If you can come early for dinner and sit by the window. Highly recommend. College Town Favorite! read more

Located in the beautiful city of Claremont and is surrounded by great shops and restaurants. Always a good vibe outside. The staff are friendly and quick to get everyone seated in a timely manner. Restaurant is usually busy, especially during the cold and rainy seasons. Decor is beautiful and you'll enjoy the music and atmosphere while enjoying your meal. They have several types of ramen, all hot and tasty, with several flavors of broth. Highly recommend Menkoi Ya Ramen to all ramen lovers. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Chashu Spicy Miso Ramen. Great flavor. - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

See all

It was very busy when I went but the servers were extremely present, great service overall. The food came out quite quickly considering the fact that it's rush hour. I got the Menkoi Ramen and it was AMAZING, it comes with 5 slices of pork which I thought was plenty. The pricing is mid range, this bowl was about 20 dollars after tax and tips. The place is small but nice, there's tables of all sizes. If you're solo there's also bar seats. Highly recommend! Def check them out read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Menkoi Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

My favorite ramen spot! I will not go anywhere else for ramen. Love their broth along with all the different spice levels you can add to it.

Menkoi Ramen is something you'd find in L.A. Very good noodles and broth. Their pork medalions are cut thin, marinated and then torched for extra flavor. Their Karaki (sp?) chicken is battered just right, not too heavy over rice with green onion and a tasty cream sauce. Service is very good every time. read more

This is one of my friend's favorite ramen spots and I can see why. The ramen arrives quickly and is the broth is rich. This place is small so it gets packed quickly and there is a bit of a wait but overall worth it. read more

My friend introduced me to this nice ramen place in Claremont. The ambiance was nice and inviting. Our server was also very friendly and accommodating. We both ordered the Menkoi Ramen with extra soft boiled eggs which was $1.95 each. The broth was flavorful and the noodle texture was just right. The chashu slices were delicious too! Hope to visit this place again next time. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Menkoi Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

I ordered takeout from Menkoi today and enjoyed it! Since I didn't go there or eat there, this review is just based on the food. I am all about fried chicken of all kinds, so had to get the Karaage Chicken. It was a good size portion, crispy and had a nice flavor. Pretty standard karaage. The yum yum sauce on the side had a slight kick, and it went well with the chicken. I decided on the Menkoi Ramen, which has pork broth, shoyu, chashu, green onion, bamboo shoots, and seaweed. I almost decided to add some level of spicy to it, but decided to just try it as is for my first go around! I thought the broth was flavorful and noodles were pretty good and chewy. I loved the way they packed the togo order. It was all in one bowl, and the top separated the noodles and toppings from the broth. This kept the noodles from getting overcooked in the broth during travel. AND since I didn't finish, I packed it back with noodles separated for when I eat leftovers. All in all, I will definitely give this place another try in the near future! read more

See all

It is Always delicious!!! Come here all the time John did a great job ! Thank you!!! :) read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

It really pains me to write a review like this because I've come to this place so many times and used to enjoy it quite a lot. The quality has systematically gone down hill over the last few years. This used to be one of the best ramen places around. Now the meat quality is awful. It's tough, chewy, almost inedible. Broth is ok, but used to be much better. I'm honestly just really disappointed in the drop in quality of this ramen place. After the disappointment in our meal this evening I don't think we'll ever come back. And that's unfortunate because we used to be regulars until today. read more

Super yummy ramen and very quick service! I was in the door and 10 minutes later had my ramen. The servers gave the perfect amount of service without being overwhelming. It was busy which is a good sign. Will be my new go-to ramen in Claremont! read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Chashu Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

I have never been to downtown Claremont before this and took a chance on this place without even looking up reviews. Wow am I glad I did. The service was great and the ramen was top notch. Highly recommend. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Chashu Spicy Miso Ramen with 2 eggs added - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

The ramen here is delicious, but it's concerning that they serve takeout in thin plastic containers while the soup is still piping hot. By now we all know that chemicals from plastic leach into the food and when it's super hot, that's pretty bad We asked if they could use non-plastic packaging, but they said no, so sadly, we no longer order takeout from them read more

Went to this place. Not Japanese chief pretty decent flavor. Karate chicken was good. Need ginger . Good environment read more

See all

Brandon was so kind and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. I ordered the Gyudon Bowl and WOW! My jaw was on the floor after the first bite! The flavors were incredible. The tender meat that was paired with a brothy like sauce on the side, giving me the opportunity to add to my liking (I ended up using it all, delicious!) came along with an egg, and rice, really balances out all of the flavors. It's not only delicious but also a great way to hit my protein goals. I'll definitely be reordering. Thank you, Brandon! read more

Food is delicious and the service was great. The music was peaceful too. Worth the drive. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Chashu Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

See all

Solid ramen, better rice bowls, and excellent green tea ice cream. The servers for my last few visits, Angel and Jussy, were great hosts-they made sure I had time to pick what I wanted and swiftly served me my meals. In addition to great food, they have a calm atmosphere that lets you eat in peace. Would recommend it to anyone who wants to sit down and eat with friends. Or by yourself, the seating bar's great, too. Do note: They do tend to get busier in the evenings, so come in earlier if you have a small group of friends/family you want to bring. read more

I love this place. Usually go in for lunch when there's a bit more calm. Service has always been friendly and efficient. Food is amazing, especially the chasu plate appetizer. Their ramen is high quality and very rich. I do recommend. read more

The server was fast and on top of all the tables. Service was pretty quick and the food was great. They played good music which was a little loud but it was manageable to talk through still. I enjoyed their noodles! Those were my favorite. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Menkoi Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

Great food after hiking the claremont loop.Very satisfying.Prices increased, and the food portion shrunk too esp with the salmon with roe.It was our go to after the hike.I was initially going to get the salmon with roe but looking at the mini,it was a bit too small.Overall,would still recommend. read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

With all the cold weather and rain we've been having, I've been on a hot soup tour during the week ranging from chicken noodle to chicken tortilla or albondigas. Ramen was a must-do, and Menkoi Ya Ramen did not miss. It was perfect to end a work day, relax, and enjoy with hot green tea. The temperature was perfect. The amount of ramen was just right (but can you ever have too much ramen really?). No complaints with the pork, and I was happy with the hard-boiled egg. Moving from Pasadena and living in the area, I'm happy that I have this local and very authentic place for ramen. I remember when Daikokuya was one of two or three places that everyone would go to in Little Tokyo. Give this place a try for ramen or karage (see my other review), and hopefully the ratings align with your experience. Cheers! read more

Menkoi Ya Ramen - Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Claremont, California

I've only had ramen in 3 other places and I wasn't a fan, but this place has definitely changed my view! This was the best I'm tried so far. It was delicious and I will be coming back soon...like tomorrow haha. The lady who served us was also very speedy and attentive. I don't think my soda ever got to be empty because she was fast with refills and checking up on us. Remember ramen was not for me but this place? A definite for me! I ate it so fast I didn't even get to take a picture. read more

Great food! The rice bowls are delicious and I also like the tofu, tonkatsu vegetable ramen, and takoyaki.