Stumbled upon this ramen place that happened to have a michelin star/ guide for the last three years! The wait was about 30-45 mins for a party of two at 7:30pm on a Saturday. Considering other reviews, I don't think we waited too long. We ordered two of their top ramens, although the matcha duck one was enticing, I did like the Garlic overload on my ramen. The fried enoki mushrooms were also good, I just wish the portions were a bit bigger for both dishes. Staff was also quick and helpful going through the menu with us first timers. We sat at a shared table but I like how they had a divider to separate the spaces. Pretty small restaurant and they only have street parking so if you want to try, I recommend going early! We were lucky to snag a spot right in the front! read more

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Yummy ramen would recommend the chain. I've tried this ramen chain at their Houston location as well. This time I ordered the signature smoked & Black Vinegar Karaage. The noodles are the highlight for me. They're bouncy and have a nice texture. The bowl is packed with flavor. The Karaage was good, crispy, absorbed the sauce well, there were also pieces of soft eggplant as well. I would go lighter on the sauce or have the excess on the side. The sauce became overpowering the more chicken I ate. I think the Houston location had better service. This location felt cramped, loud and cold. There is only street parking at this location, there is Fentons a few doors down but there's more parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Chicken ramen at Mensho is the best I've tried in the U.S thus far read more

The food was so good! The ramen broth, amazing. We continue to come back for more! My husband loves the garlic Ramen and I always get the signature. Raman never fails. It's amazing. read more

Mensho - Corn Wings - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

So glad I found this hidden gem in Piedmont. I came with two friends on a Friday night around 7pm, and as expected for a small spot, there was a long wait. We were seated about an hour later, but once we got in, the service was quick and efficient. We ordered a mix of items to share: * Enoki chips - absolutely addicting. Perfectly crispy with a great crunch, and the umami spice on the side took them to another level. * Chicken karaage - tasty overall, but the glaze was poured over everything. I would've preferred it on the side to keep the texture crisp. * Kani hand roll - super fresh and flavorful; didn't even need soy sauce. * Ikura & hotate hand roll - generous portion and very fresh, again no soy needed. * Garlic Knockout ramen - lives up to the name. Rich, deeply garlicky broth that was bold and delicious. * Signature smoked toripaitan ramen - flavorful without being overly heavy (which I prefer). The chashu was tender and the noodles tasted fresh. I was blown away by the food, I haven't had ramen this good in a long time. The restaurant clearly runs efficiently, turning tables quickly despite the wait. I'll definitely be back read more

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Best vegan ramen I've ever had. And that is wild to say, because I've had a boatload of vegan ramen over the years across several cities that boast serious ramen crafting prowess. There's always a line, so don't roll through at a peak time unless you can wait a bit. But that line is there for a reason. Grab a beer or a tea, chill where there's room, and patiently await your table because it's completely worth it. Such a slick little spot with bustling energy, minimal decor, fantastic smells, and a veteran staff that cranks through probably hundreds of bowls of ramen per day. I love the vegan tantanmen, but they also have several other vegan selections, plus an incredible list of toppings to customize with. That's really all you need to know. Excellent food from a place that knows exactly what the fuck they're doing. I've never had such a solid bowl of ramen in my life. Makes me wish I still lived in Oakland. read more

One of my fave ramen spots in Oakland! Always a line out the door even 15 min before it opened- good thing we were first in line. Interior is chill, intimate with community style tables, very attentive, prompt and friendly service, and delicious handmade mochi wheat noodles in a complex flavorful broth. The signature toripaitan is the best ramen I've had on the menu although I'm sure you can't go wrong with the others. The chashu melts in your mouth and the noodles are a nice chewy texture. Broth is thick, creamy, smoky, truffly, and addicting! They also have a substantial vegan menu that is equally creative and tasty, according to the hubz. We appreciate how well thought out the overall menu is and they also don't do takeout to retain the freshness of the product as it's best eaten fresh from the kitchen. Prices are a little higher - overall low to mid $20s, more for the A5 Wagyu - but worth every penny in quality and taste! There is free street parking in the nearby residential streets and paid street parking and lot close by. read more

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Decided to come to Mensho on a Saturday night based on many ramen recommendations. This is definitely one to add to your list if you are a ramen lover on the East Bay! The wait wasn't bad despite it being a Friday night, for a table for two it was about 20 minutes on the waitlist. When we arrived and were seated we were warmly greeted by staff and attended to immediately. The staff was very accommodating and provided their recommendations on the food and also sake. We started with the Enoki Chips and Chicken Kaarage. The Enoki chips remind me of shoestring onion rings (only healthier?) the Chicken Kaarage had a little bit of spice and had a good combination of flavors in the sauce. Though the appetizers were good, the Signature Smoked Toripaitan ramen easily stole the show. I had no clue that you could smoke the egg but they did, there were many combinations of flavors and each bite was savory. We loved the setting that makes you feel like you're in Tokyo, food and everything about this ramen spot. Easily earning a top 5 spot in Bay Area ramen; we will be back! read more

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Incredible vegan ramen. I will always come back to Mensho. It's also conveniently located in the best neighborhood. You will probably have to wait a bit for your table, but take a walk around the beautiful shops. It'll be so worth it!! read more

Mensho - Vegan garlic spicy knockout and regular garlic knockout - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Absolutely 10/10 ramen spot in the bay! I've always spoke so highly about Mensho as their first location was in SF. The ramen is so so good and so flavorful. This time we got the spicy chicken and it was delicious . We came about 30 minutes before closing and got seated within 5 minutes and enjoyed every bite on a cold rainy day. The staff was so friendly and often checked in on us. It's such a lively place with friends, family and date nights. The ramen is perfect and big in portion - feels so similar to ramen you'd find in Japan. read more

Mensho - Garlic ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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Cannot get enough of this place! I've had both their vegan and their meat based ramen, both of them are amazing and I couldn't pick out a favorite if you paid me to! Their appetizers are also delicious, I really enjoyed the corn ribs and the hand rolls, but note that some Ramen do come with corn ribs already. I've never had a long wait here, though it is always popular and I've never seen the place empty! They have larger tables that they can section out to seat two different parties, but it's always very comfortable. I'd say it's the best Ramen we have in the bay! read more

Mensho - Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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You can tell the chicken soup base is great quality since it's super thicc, as some have mentioned ~ and not in an oily way, but like a thick concentrated stock. We enjoyed the soups we got, but it did feel a little monotonously heavy, and wasn't a soup I'd slurp up. We got their garlic one & the duck matcha one, and I'd say the garlic one felt less heavy, with the garlic helping to balance the flavors. The matcha was very vibrant and seemed to be of high grade. Maybe something zesty would have helped balance the richness. We did enjoy their appetizers - fried enoki, and crab handroll; corn ribs were not bad. We came on a Saturday for an early dinner around 4:45pm and the wait was about 15 min for our party of 2 (I saw on the waitlist that ahead of us there was only 1 party of 2, and maybe 6 parties of 2+). Parking is a little tough, and it worked out that the spouse used 15 min to find residential street parking. read more

Mensho - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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Holy moly. How have I slept on this place for so long?! Tried this place last night with some friends who rave about their ramen and it is hands down the BEST in the bay. The depth of flavor in the broth - I am already planning my next visit. We got the enoki chops, daikon salad, and a couple hand rolls. Draft sake was super good. I initially was thinking wow I can't wait to order this in when I'm not feeling up for getting my lazy butt out of the house - but they're so committed to their food experience they don't offer takeout. read more

Mensho - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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The service is decent and overall quick. They are busy though so wait times can run long. The ambience, because of how busy they are, is pretty overwhelming and crowded. Food wise I messed up. I saw garlic and didn't even think, but I missed that it was spicy and I don't like spicy so it was already a bit of a disappointment BUT that's on ME and I know that. However, spice aside there were some issues with this ramen vs the places I enjoy. The soup wasn't very creamy, it erred on the oily side, there was way too much chopped onion as a topping that is almost overpowers the garlic. I also wish they didn't put the corn on the cob in the ramen as it makes it terribly unnecessary difficult to eat. The tuna hand roll was mediocre unfortunately, as was the karaage mushroom. I enjoyed the fried enoki but I have had better elsewhere because this too was on the oilier side. Price wise it was okay but the sides were not worth their cost. I would not come here again visit because the not spicy vegan options don't really call me. Also they don't allow take out because they claim it's best fresh but the two people I went with had their left overs about an hour and some later...and liked it more then lol read more

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Go around 5 PM if you can--you'll beat the rush and have a much more relaxed experience. The noodles are on the thicker side with a nice chew, and the broth is rich without being overwhelming, which I appreciated. That said, toppings are fairly limited and tend to get soggy quickly, so they don't quite hold up through the bowl. Matcha Duck: The duck was very tasty with a subtle smoked flavor. The matcha broth was interesting--slightly bitter but creamy--and surprisingly worked well overall. Garlic Knockout: Not quite a knockout. Definitely garlicky, but more restrained than the name suggests. Signature: The most traditional of the three. I especially enjoyed the egg, and this bowl felt the most balanced and classic. Overall, solid ramen with some creative options, best enjoyed early before the crowds roll in. There's a whole vegan menu too. read more

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Mensho is hands down my go-to date spot with my boyfriend, especially on a cold day. There's nothing better than walking in from the cold, sitting down, and immediately feeling cozy with a hot bowl of ramen in front of you. It just hits every time. The food is always on point. Every bowl is flavorful, comforting, and clearly made with so much care. You never second-guess your order here because everything just works. Between the cozy vibe, the consistently amazing food, and the fact that it never disappoints, Mensho is one of those places we'll always come back to. read more

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It's been a while since I last ate at Mensho, and the last time was at their SF location near Union Square. I remembered really liking their ramen, so I was excited to finally check out their Oakland spot. We arrived around 5pm when the restaurant was about a third full, but it filled up quickly within 30 minutes--and by then, people were already waiting outside to be seated. The space has a cool vibe with unique decor that makes you feel like you've stepped into a different world. Service-wise, things felt a little rushed. We were asked if we were ready to order as soon as we sat down, and then again a minute later. It seemed like someone was checking in every minute until we finally ordered, which made the start of the meal feel a bit hurried. As for the food, I really enjoyed the Enoki Chips and Spicy Kara-Age--both were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The cucumber salad, on the other hand, didn't leave much of an impression. For my ramen, I went with the A5 Wagyu Paitan. The toppings were great, especially the beef, but the chicken-based broth was a bit too thick and rich for my taste. Chicken Paitan is often rich but their broth was a bit over the top for me. The smoky flavor of the egg, which the menu mentioned, also wasn't really my thing. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and would come back--though this time, the appetizers stood out more to me than the ramen itself. read more

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We were here on a rainy Saturday night and it took us 1 hr to get in because it's so popular! The place has a very nice and lively vibe. The two of us ordered a bunch of stuff and everything was really good! The daikon salad and the enoki chips were unique. The handrolls were good. The nigiri was a little too "beefy" but still great. But the highlight has got to be the ramen. Very exotic! I don't think you can find ramen this kind anywhere! The broth looks creamy but it doesn't taste heavy at all! All the meats are very tender, and don't forget to add the roasted tomato! Some of the stuff took a little long to come out. Plus we wanted to order the ramen later so it comes out hot, but the waitress offered that we could order now and she'll hold it for us. The ramen ended up coming out 1 min after the appetizer. Overall, very good experience! read more

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We came just before 6 PM on a Sunday night, party of five, added ourselves to the yelp waitlist and were seated in an hour. This place is very popular so definitely expect to wait. Takeout is not available. The area is cute so you can kill time by walking around and browsing the stores, although most were closed at this time on a Sunday. The place is committed to its farm to bowl and house made Ramen. The philosophies are explained all over on the walls. My vegetarian friends, there are six vegan options for Ramen!!! This is unheard of. The waitress explained that she can make anything non-spicy if needed. She recommended two of the creamy options, vegan garlic knockout and vegan tantan. I went with vegan tantan, non spicy version. I was surprised by the hearty meaty mouthfeel created by the variety of mushrooms, minced soy protein and eggplant-- and appreciated the wealth of fresh herbs. One of the most unique vegan ramen I've ever had. It was definitely worth the wait and I will return. There is street parking. read more

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As good as Japan! I just got back from there ;) my husband said the unagi was fantastic. I had the signature ramen--very rich and filling. Basically I ended up having enough for two dinners. My husband got a spicy garlic ramen--he loved it. When you arrive put your name on the yelp waitlist--we only waited approx 15 min. 5 stars all the way. read more

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They don't take reservations here so come early or be prepared to wait a bit as they get pretty crowded! We put our name down around 6:15 and got a drink at the wine spot next door while we waited. Once we got seated, service was pretty quick. You can tell they really move tables fast. It smells so good in here. I got the crab ramen and the broth was incredible!!! The quality of ramen here is amazing. They have a lot of options, and many vegan options as well! The sake we ordered came out different than we imagined but it was really good. Definitely will revisit to try other dishes!! read more

Mensho - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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Mensho has my heart. This place is a 10/10. Their vegan garlic knock out Ramen is so complex, deep and rich in flavors. I haven't yet dipped my toes to try their other options but I am eyeballing their Duck Matcha next Service can be a bit slower but what does one expect when it comes to the best Ramen spot in town ‍. The host are attentive and constantly available for quick questions. Overall the Ambiance is slightly intimate and unsettling. The seating arrangement doesn't allow room for much movement. Be prepared to get real cozy with other diners. They implement privacy screens between tables sets of two but it not as efficient. Overall I will come back for much more. If you bring family or a group of friends everyone will love the experience to say the least. Advice to management consider body conscious accessibility. read more

Mensho - Enoki mushroom appetizer - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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We originally tried to go to their other location in SF but the line, the parking, and the locals creepers hanging out that night were less than desirable. So next day we opted to go hit Piedmont Ave over the bridge in Oakland, thank goodness we did. First time in the area being from out of town and wanted to give mensho a go! Quick service, small wait mid day but i can see why they've won awards. The ramens were so full of umami flavor, broth consistency was well balanced, not watery, not overly thick. The Beef tartare they had for app that day came in edible bowls and it was so cute. A5 Wagyu can't complain, a very refreshing dish. The lady got the Signature smoked toripaitan -- umami check, bouncy nice chew noods, check, broth slurpable check! I got the garlic knockout because i just love garlic haha my noods were perfect portion, nice chew and bounce and the broth was well balanced not overpowered with garlic, the perfect amount to give that slight garlic spice and umami melding in a bowl. Spicy karage chicken i felt was good, a tad over on the cook but still was a good appetizer, i always order it if it's on any menu to compare so not the best I've personally had but still very good! Vibes was popping, natural sunlight, a lot of people in and out. Glad we made it in on our vacation! Will be back, or better yet open on the east coast too haha read more

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Hands down, one of my FAVORITE ramen spots in Cali, and I frequently travel between Norcal, the bay, and Socal so I can say this with a lot of enthusiasm. I will say that there can be a long wait for Mensho, but it's worth it! Once you're seated, you're greeted pretty quickly and informed if there's anything that they're out of for the day. I had originally asked for the salmon roe wagyu but ended up with uni but I had just got off my flight and didn't feel like complaining. The mix up worked out as it was pretty good! The garlic knockout is my go to and is always a 10/10. The place has always been lively whenever I visit but overall I'd still say the atmosphere is comforting even with a larger group (we had a group of 5). read more

Mensho - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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We can here for a friend group dinner with 8 people, as soon as we got there @4:30 we put our names on the list and got called about an hour later. I was glad they could accommodate us. Our group got a few different ramens, including the signature ramen, the waygu beef ramen (extremely filling and we took half of it to go) and their garlic ramen which was super pungent, delicious but very garlicky. I got the waygu beef and duck chashu, which I thought would be cooked but turned out to be thinly sliced cured duck and beef, almost like a very juicy cold cut. The edamame was also a nice addition to share for the table. We ate along a long table and the waiters came out frequently to fill our water cups as the soups are quite salty. They only really serve ramen, but seem to have perfected it. read more

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Famous ramen chain, I hear the Oakland location is not as busy as SF, but still an hour wait on a Sunday evening. There's no way to book a reservation ahead of time so try to arrive early or on a weekday. Service was attentive, the restaurant was busy but the waiter took our order quickly. Food also arrived fairly fast. Our group got the enoki chips, corn wings, uni rice bowl, Japanese Wagyu shoyu ramen, Kani tantanmen, and a selection of nigiri. - enoki chips- crunchy, not much taste but good texture - Corn wings - buttery and sweet - Uni rice bowl - Uni was soft and sweet, portion was small but good overall - Japanese wagyu ramen - looks amazing, didn't try myself but my friend enjoyed it - Kani tantanmen - good flavor, not spicy at all for me but broth was flavorful and not too salty. There's a good portion of vegetables as well which is nice. Overall enjoyed my experience there, would come back but on a less busy weekday. read more

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We went at a later time so not a long wait for us. Food are very tasty and delicious! Will definitely go back and try other ramen read more

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Came in - after multiple recommendations - on a Monday at 6:30pm and got seated immediately. The space is modern and fun with ample seating (mostly shared tables for pairs/individuals). We ordered the spicy garlic chicken karaage, signature smoked toripaitan ramen, and garlic knockout ramen. The broth is by far the most flavorful we've had, and we eat a lot of ramen! The noodles were also exceptional - chewy and bouncy - and the toppings are so good. The karaage was also perfectly crispy with light breading and so much flavor, although next time we might opt for the non-spicy. Service was pretty fast and attentive from the start; took a bit longer for the bill, but we didn't mind sitting and digesting. For two people, the total came out to around 80$ including tip - not the cheapest, but worth it. Acoustics make it a bit hard to hear. Parking was not bad on side streets. We already want to plan our next visit back to try more of the menu! read more

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I've been to their Oakland location twice, but will always prefer the SF location because I feel like flagship locations always hit harder!!!! This location has a significantly shorter wait time, so if you don't feel like driving to the city, this is a good alternative. I usually order the signature toripan because it's objectively the best (source: me), and think if you're visiting for the first, second, or third time, you should also try this! I added spicy fried gobi this most recent visit, but think I'll stick to regular fried gobi next time so I can focus on the depth of the regular broth. I'm such a hakata noodle girly and would love to one day see Mensho offer thin noodles on their menu, but I'm not going to tell a chef how to run his kitchen, lol. Instead, I will just scream into the abyss and hope that one day, my prayers will be heard by the ramen gods, hahahaha. read more

Mensho - Late night ramen! - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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Menchos is good for the area. If you want a reliable bowl of ramen then this is the spot. I do wish they had more options/ flavors especially for chicken base broth. I got the lamb miso ramen and it was very flavorful, definitely a heavy thicker ramen but still delicious. read more

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Mensho-Oakland, I AM A BIG FAN! We originally planned to try the Mensho location in SF but the line was insanely long BUT luckily for us, we were able to find that they had another location just 20ish minutes away, over the bridge in Oakland! There's plenty of street parking available & looked like a much bigger place, compared to the one in Tenderloin area. There was still a slight wait when we arrived but it was only ~5-10ish min for two people. Here is what we ordered: Apps: -A5 Wagyu beef tartare -Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken Ramen: -Signature smoked toripaitan -Garlic knockout Everything was sooo delicious! Beef tartare was very fresh and the bowls used to hold the tartare are edible! I liked the tartare more than the karaage chicken, though it was still good just not the best that I've had. I personally had the signature smoked toripaitan ramen and it was full of umami. Highly recommend! Broth was the perfect thickness; sometimes ramen spots make the broth too thick and not drinkable but this broth was perfect, in flavor and thickness. The noodles were bouncy too, and probably one of the best ramens I've had. The garlic knockout was quite yummy too, nice flavor & not overwhelming. Our server was awesome and attentive for as busy as it was, when we went! I would totally come back again and hope they open a location soon on the East Coast ;)) read more

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I always see this place in passing and finally made it out this past Wednesday! It was ~30min wait when arriving at 7:30pm, so we put our names down on the waitlist and walked around the area. We ordered the enoki chips and the signature smoked toripaitan. Enoki chips were such a fun little snack while waiting for our ramen. The ramen itself is so beautifully presented, and each cut of meat was delicious. The signature comes with 3 different cuts, and my favorite was the duck. The broth was super rich, and the noodles were a perfect texture. Service was super kind and attentive, and it definitely added to the experience as well. I'm normally not drawn to ramen for my meals out, but I can see myself craving this again soon! Can't wait to try all their different types. read more

Mensho - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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I literally can't tell you how many times I have queued outside the Mensho Tokyo location in SF sooo when I saw a familiar name in Oakland, you know I had to go try it out! Came by with 3 friends on a Sunday night...after a giant weekend of eating. To be honest, I don't think any of us were really that hungry when we came it...but uh even at 8 pm on a Sunday, it was POPPIN off. The waitlist was huge and honestly we didn't sit until almost 9 pm? It helped us digest and get ready for food tbh :P I wll say the staff are super considerate, double check the waitlist, call out names multiple times and really try to get you in if they can. The entry area is a bit narrow but you can def huddle and wait there on cold/rainy days. Foodwise, my friends all got the signature smoked tori paitan whereas I went with the vegan tantanmen. We also got the karaage mushrooms to share and looooordt these were SO good. 10/10 would get again. The ramen was delicious, though a liiiittle less complex in depth than the SF location, but still pretty darn perfect for a vegan ramen. Perfect hit for a cold, rainy weekend and definitely worth the price. We all ate in silence aka the sign of really delicious food and were able to be in and out within the hour. Service was kind, attentive, and efficient without feeling rushed in any way. Do yourself a favor and head out to Mensho! Try to get there early to beat the wait oooor wait and smell the delicious food so you can be peak hangry when you sit down! read more

Some of the best ramen I've ever had! The broth was flavorful, the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the toppings were delicious! We also got the beef tongue appetizer, and it was also great! Not sure if it was amount they were charging, but still good to try! Just a warning, there might be a line but it moves pretty quickly. read more

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The food was delicious. 5 Stars. But !!! Where I was seated, the air conditioning was way too strong. It made the experience uncomfortable and unenjoyable. They weren't able / willing to move me to another table even though it was near closing and there were empty tables -- perhaps they thought more guests were still arriving. Experience is 1 star. read more

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I'm a regular here and tried the Miso Butter Corn Ramen for the first time. The broth had a lighter taste but still very delicious. The ground beef added the saltiness that was needed. I asked for some truffle oil and I added just a tad and the ramen was perfection after. Mensho really doesn't miss at all on the ramen. The matcha pudding was just on unfortunately. The flavor of the pudding had a good matcha flavor and it was slightly sweet but the texture was too firm and not pleasant to eat at all. read more

Mensho - Matcha pudding - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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Amazing food, huge vegan selection, and very family friendly. They have several high chairs and boosters and little ones get their own plastic bowl, fork, spoon, and training chopsticks read more

Mensho - They have several high chairs and boosters for little ones. Little kids also get a plastic bowl, fork, spoon, and training chopsticks. - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Took two of my adult sons for the youngest's birthday. Youngest is a ramen expert having been to Tokyo. I loved it and first time for me having non Tonkatsu broth (which I love). But A5 Wagyu and I believe a beef based broth ?! Oh and home in shop made noodles? I loved every bite and am thrilled they should be open in Walnut Creek soon. 30 minute wait on a Tuesday but worth every second. Oh and recommend a hand roll to start/very very nice touch. I'll be back. Thank you!!! read more

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Our favorite ramen in the Bay Area. Service is always excellent, lines are almost always long, and the dining room is warm and social. We have enjoyed the enoki chips and karaage, signature ramen, spicy lamb miso cumin, kani (snow crab), and mazesoba. read more

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We stopped in randomly recently and there were several people on the waitlist, however, it seemed to move pretty quickly. We waited about 10 minutes. They use a waitlist system but they're only going to call your name in the waiting area so you should stay nearby - at least 3 parties of 2 were called several times with nobody presenting themselves. I can see how it would be frustrating if you stepped away but check the app frequently and return when you are near the top of the line or you might get skipped. We tried the karaage mushrooms, the smoked toripaitan ramen, and the spicy lamb miso cumin ramen. While the mushrooms were good, I'm not sure if it's something we'd order again - mushrooms just have a ton of moisture and any battered/fried preparation is always destined to turn pretty soggy after a couple of minutes. The ramens here are incredible though. There were no options for specifying the richness of the broth or firmness of the noodles, but thankfully the noodles came out pretty al dente. The soup here is super rich and thick - almost more like a gravy - so it sticks to the noodles making every bite super delicious. The smoked toripaitan is probably most similar to other toripaitan ramen from other shops, but I think the broth is richer while not being overly fatty and greasy. It's got incredible balance that makes every slurp enjoyable. The lamb miso cumin was also really delicious. The ground meat adds a lot of flavor to the broth and while it does have a pronounced cumin flavor, it isn't overpowering. You can still taste the other ingredients. As it came, I wouldn't say it was terribly spicy, perhaps something like 4/10. There were no options for adjusting this, other than adding sides of chili oil or chili sauce. If you like spicy ramen, just be warned that this isn't very spicy so you may be disappointed. Service was very efficient and from the time we ordered, it only took a few minutes before everything arrived at our table. Overall, a great spot for ramen! read more

Mensho - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Visited on a Monday night around 6:30pm with a friend, restaurant was quite busy with a little bit of a wait. Friend arrived before I did and added us to the waitlist which took about 10-15 minutes before we were seated. Food: Enoki fries - good, super thin wispy fried mushrooms with a delicious togorashi seasoning for dipping along with fresh lemon wedge which we juiced on top for brightness, a little messy to eat but fun take on fried mushrooms Scallop nigiri - came with two pieces, fresh creamy sweet scallop on well prepared sushi rice and excellent appetizer if you want a little sushi with your ramen Vegan nori shiso ramen - super clear light broth, served piping hot with chewy thick ramen noodles ( a tad al dente for me wished these were cooked for 30 more seconds), a grilled tomato which added to the umami, mushrooms and a truffle sauce, very impressive for vegan ramen, complex layer of flavor Smoked toripitan - tried a sip of the broth which was super savory, creamy and rich was an elegant smoky flavor undertone Service was good, quick, friendly and attentive, staff refilled water throughout our meal, cleared plates quickly and dishes were well paced. Overall really enjoyed mensho Piedmont location, the more extensive menu makes this worth a visit especially if you enjoy sushi or are looking for more vegan options. read more

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