I came to Mensho Tokyo on a weekend evening and was able to eat before th rush came in. My favorite dish that I tried was their clam butter shio ramen, which had a clean, briny broth that included buttery richness and a good amount of clams. The portion size of the clams to the noodles were good, and the noodles were nice and chewy. I also loved the enoki chips, which were thin, light, crispy, and a good appetizer start. I also liked the premium kaisen don which had high-quality seafood over perfectly seasoned rice. read more

Mensho Tokyo - Clam Butter Shio Ramen, Premium Kaisen Don, Enoki Chips - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

This is my first time trying chicken ramen and I was blown away with how creamy and flavorful the broth was. We stopped by before the dinner rush and were seated right away. The restaurant is in culver steps plaza that has a parking lot underneath. We ordered the garlic bomb ramen, wagyu uni sushi, scallop ikura sushi and the crispy enoki. If you like rich broths, this is the place for you! read more

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I arrived on a quiet weekend late night and got seating for two at the counter with no wait. Food came out relatively quickly. You can park at the Steps for free for the first hour or metered street parking. Signature Ramen (4.5/5) Noodles are perfect and broth had a nice subtle flavor GKO (2/5) Burnt garlic flavor was overpowering. Very smoky and a little bitter. I wouldn't order this again. Wagyu Nigiri (5/5) Delicious! Great starter. read more

We went during lunch time during a work day and got there when they opened. The service was pretty quick and food was solid. However, I think the clam ramen wasn't as fragrant as other shops'. It's interesting that they have a lunch menu with only dashi broths and they bring out the tonkotsu for dinner. The mochi noodles were nice and chewy. It's nice to have at least one ramen restaurant in Culver. read more

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Mensho is my favorite ramen spot in LA, with Ramen Nagi in Century City coming in a close second. Everything about the ramen feels really well done, from the noodles to the rich broth and high-quality toppings. They only do dine-in and don't offer takeout. read more

Mensho Tokyo - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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5/6/2026 4 1/2 Stars First time here. I went for lunch. Lunch menu offerings are limited and different than the dinner menu. DUCK SHOYU RAMEN Slight smoky flavor of the duck, tender, juicy and moist. No weird gamey flavor. So beautifully cooked, I'm still dreaming of it while I write this! Ramen had a wonderful bouncy chew. The broth was satisfyingly rich, very clean in flavor. There was an oil from the chicken broth, yet it was not a slick oil that leaves an oily mouthfeel. But it was a very comforting broth. Loved this ramen experience! Recommend for anyone who wants to try something different and move away from the typical tonkatsu broth ramen. HIBACHI GRILLED CHICKEN DON Got this as a combo meal with the ramen. This was not good. The chicken had char grill marks, which appeared promising, but the char taste overpowered the flavor of the chicken. The rice had a spicy furikake on top, which had spicy flavors, which I did not like. The rice was slightly dry too. They added salmon roe, which was the only highlight of the dish. Did not finish it and I do not recommend this dish. CUSTOMER SERVICE It was okay. Only one server working. She was straight to the point. But was not rude. YOU CAN ORDER VIA QR CODE There's a QR code that can be scanned from your table. You can order and pay from that QR code as well. Haven't tried it, but it seems very convenient. It's a good option if the restaurant is busy and you want to hurry and place your order. INDOOR + OUTDOOR SEATS AVAILABLE Indoor and outdoor seats available. Bar seats, table for 4, smaller tables for 2. Outdoor tables might be able to accommodate larger groups. There was a group of 8 people (coming in and out of the group table) to my left and seated indoors. They looked uncomfortable and crammed together. Best to come in smaller groups or split tables. read more

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We stopped by on a weeknight before a movie, and the restaurant was not crowded, no wait. We ordered the unagi nigiri and the lamb ramen. I was especially excited about the lamb - the farm-to-bowl concept sounded great. I love lamb. Unfortunately, the lamb was disappointing. Both dishes didn't taste like they were freshly cooked that day. Food: 3/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 - loved the red carpet and attentive staff read more

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I got the W Ramen, the W stands for Wagyu. It was absolutely incredible. The egg was one of the best I've ever had, just look at that yolk color! I also added their house chili sauce which added a nice kick. read more

This was my second visit to Mensho, and I remember the first time I came here, I really liked it. I had just visited Japan last October, and the ramen here had reminded me of the bowls that I had while I was in Tokyo. This second time, I wanted to bring my husband and see what his thoughts were. This restaurant doesn't take reservations, so we took our chances and visited on a Friday night. We got seated in maybe 5-10 minutes, so...not too bad. Pretty decent casual date night spot. The restaurant itself was pretty busy, but it was warm and welcoming. The table was a bit wobbly, but not something that bothered us. I ordered the signature ramen, and my husband ordered the OKG ramen. We had sides of edamame and the corn wings, and I also ordered the wagyu uni sashimi. Everything was delish! My husband mentioned that he thought his ramen was a bit too salty, and I have to agree that the flavor of the broth is pretty rich. The only complaint is that the service was a bit slow. Perhaps a bit understaffed? It looked like the servers were pretty busy, but they weren't as attentive, and we needed to flag them down. Overall, though, I really like the ramen here, and I will likely come back again. read more

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Given the positive reviews and business of the restaurant, I had high hopes. But overall, it fell short for me and my husband. We both ordered the vegan spicy yuzu ramen. He added an egg and I added corn. For $4, you get a small egg that didn't even have a yolk in it. The broth was totally flavorless and there was only a radish and some sprouts in it as the "veggies." We also ordered garlic edamame, which was bone dry with crispy garlic sprinkled on top. No one ever checked on us and we sat with empty bowls for 15 min. When the server did return, she stood there and stared at the screen as we completed the purchase and entered the tip. Very awkward. Bill ended up being close to $70 for a big let down experience. Considering ippudo is across the street and has amazing vegan ramen and great service, I'd recommend visiting them. read more

We were having lunch with friends in Culver City and someone suggested Mensho Tokyo. We found street parking a few blocks away that was free for Sunday. The restaurant is only open a short window for lunch from 12-2PM, and we went right at opening for our party of 6 so were seated immediately. We ordered and paid directly through the QR code on the table, which made splitting the bill easy. Service was friendly but minimal. For lunch, there is mostly ramen. I ordered the Black Garlic ramen with added egg, as well as the uni rice bowl side. The creamy chicken broth was a bit thick for me, but I liked the chewiness of the mochi noodles. The uni was creamy and tasty too, but portion of the side dish a bit small for $20 in my opinion. Overall, the ramen was unique and tasty, and the interior was beautiful. read more

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Aburasoba is good as usual. Nice texture of noodles. Fragrance of spicy oil and onion is nice. Chashu is pretty good. Kaisen combo was a mistake. It's just ok. Duck ramen looked really good. Looking forwarded to try next time. read more

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Service was nice and fast. The waiter gave his recommendations on what the best sellers were and what his favorites were. The ramen quality was rich and thick while the noodles were soft and chewy in texture. The eel bowl was ok but the missing a bit of a salty kick to the overall bowl. In the end, an aesthetic place with quality ramen but i'd probably skip over the rice bowls next time. read more

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Came here for Saturday lunch and was expecting to try out their signature ramen, black garlic, and fried enoki but was disappointed upon looking at their limited lunch menu as all three of their top dishes were not available. Ended up getting the duck ramen, clam ramen, and the yuzu ramen. The broth was too salty and we requested some hot water to help dilute it. Overall the flavor was decent but not worth the price to come back. May give mensho another try for dinner but do not recommend coming for lunch. read more

Nothing to rave home about. I was really looking forward to an exquisite experience with a price tag of 30 dollars out the door for one ramen. I got the signature the flavor was ok I asked for some spice to spice it up a bit and they wanted to charge me 2$ for it? Strange im already spending top dollar at your place wheres the condiments? No hospitality... Won't be coming back- so many other fabulous ramen places out there. Have you tried red bone? read more

Mensho Tokyo - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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Slow. Small portion size. Hot plate diameter is the same as a 16 oz pint. Mini bowls are even smaller! Yowzers. read more

Mensho Tokyo - Mini bowl smaller than a pint. - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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One of the best ramens I've had in a while! My friends and I got lucky and came (around 6:20pm) before a bunch of people showed up, so we were able to get seated pretty quickly even as a group of 5. They had 4 vegan options, and I got the vegan cauliflower tan tan. The broth was creamy and very flavorful. It would have been better if there were more vegetables or even tofu, but it was still delicious. It's on the pricier side though. read more

Mensho Tokyo - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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For ramen die-hards, if you want it authentic, you'll get it here. Originally founded in 2005 by Tokyo Ramen Master, Tomoharu Shono, this concept traveled beyond the shores of Tokyo Bay to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016. Nearly a decade later, the idea to serve their Michelin-recognized ramen floated down to us, here in L.A., right at the heart of downtown Culver City. (Finally.) ** TOP RATED RAMEN ** The Infatuation rated Mensho Tokyo an 8.2 and claimed, "it's worth making an effort or crossing town for." Okay, that sounded like an invitation for this LA Eastsider to head over to the Westside for lunch. To avoid a long wait, I arrived a little before noon and luck'd out. ** EFFICIENT DINING ** Inside, it's simple minimalism at its best. Everything is stripped down so you can focus your attention on the food (and company). Point your phone at the QR code, order, pay, and wrap up lunch at your own speed. Table for 1? This place is exceptionally good for solo dining, as long as the wait is not too long. Weather permitting, the outdoor terrace is a decent option for people-watching since it's set on the same block as The Culver Steps. Need time to decide on which bowl to choose? Order a G-rated drink with your meal to stall. You can pop a marble down the hatch of a Ramune, sip on an Asahi Zero, or drink some tea. Still have an indecisive streak? Then read all the wonderful ingredients, close your eyes, and point to order. It's that simple. THE RAMEN I ordered the Black Garlic Ramen. It's bold, it's rich, and the noodles are worth every slurp. The ramen's made with a chicken broth base, chashu pork, mochi noodles, mushroom menma, green onion, nori seaweed, fried garlic chips, black garlic oil, and OG chili sauce. The chicken broth is quite rich & creamy. The meatier broth enrobes the chewy, house-made mochi noodles with a bold flavor. The pork chashu was thinly sliced and tender, in a good way. And I particularly enjoyed the mushroom menma for its texture. To top it off, I ordered a soft-boiled egg because what's ramen without it? Just soup. The egg was an extra $4 up-charge on top of a $21 ramen base. So I refrained from going ape-nuts on adding more veggies, though I was tempted. The possibilities for add-ins like spinach, cilantro, duck chashu, more soft-boiled egg, crispy burdock root, and shiitake mushroom chashu were all enticing. Since this was my first experience dining here, I kept my order to the original recipe. Promptly, about 15 minutes after pecking my order into my phone, the Black Garlic Ramen arrived. I smiled as I witnessed how it distracted conversations from neighboring tables. It might be because every ramen bowl is served with chopsticks and a wooden spoon the size of a ladle--demanding your undivided attention. My advice: Keep it simple. Focus on the ramen. Slurp & repeat. read more

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Coming down all the way from the Bay Area, Mensho occupied the space within arrays of restaurants/cafes in Culver steps area which I felt like rotating every few months, so hopefully it lingered muuuuch longer as I fell for it on the first try! We visited Sunday evening and surprisingly no line despite it's almost full house. The ambiance was just right, felt casual yet still giving bit premium feel compared to typical ramen shops. We obviously gotta try their Signature Toripaitan which featured a trio chashu of a5 wagyu, pork, and duck! The chicken based broth was so rich yet not overwhelming. I myself rarely finished my ramen broth because I wasn't that much into soup, but this one got me cleaning my bowl till the last drop. All meat slices were so tender with solid flavors. Personal favorite was the beef and pork, but TBH it's probably cause I didn't like duck. Ajitama egg cooked too perfection! We also got the Spicy Garlic Kaarage on the side, and boy that garlic did slap. Beware of strong garlic aftertaste but I would take it for the enjoyable taste on the palate. Did love that the juicy tender chicken combined with eggplant giving nice texture play. Also for me who was a tad mediocre in handling spicy food, this was okay-ish level. Quick tips, do try their A5 Wagyu Nigiri. We got the one with kani and ikura, which went beyond just gorgeous presentation into impressive spoiling delicacy with the beef literally melt in my mouth. read more

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As a small ramen restaurant in downtown Culver, Mensho faces stiff competition in the form of fried chicken, food halls, artisan ice cream, and so much more. Their ramen is high-end, refined, and very tasty so they are definitely worth a stop. The Signature is an excellent choice. The broth is fatty and creamy yet the chicken base makes it substantial without being overly filling. The noodles are house-made, another signature with a mochi texture. There's also several great meats and mushroom menma is to die for. Too many exciting choices on the menu, even one with lamb. I hate that I can only eat one bowl at a time - I think it's worth revisiting to try several more. read more

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Mensho Tokyo is a Japanese ramen bar founded in Japan in 2005. The ramen bar has over 20+ locations worldwide and opened the 1st US location in San Francisco in 2016. Michelin added Mensho Tokyo in the California Michelin Guide ( https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/california/san-francisco/restaurant/mensho ) and this Culver City spot is the 1st Southern California location. The ramen shop is known for toripaitan ramen (creamy chicken broth made with shio koji). [Parking]: Most of parking structures in Downtown Culver City (ABM Parking at The Culver Steps or Cardiff Parking Garage) offer free parking for the 1st hour. I parked at Cardiff Parking Garage and had no issue finding an available spot at 12:45 PM on Saturday. No parking validation from Mensho Tokyo so no additional free parking beyond the 1st hour. [Process]: This is a ramen bar, so customers can just grab an available seat at the bar and place an order by scanning the QR code. They also have laminated menus on the table. There is a self-service water station at the center of the ramen bar during lunch time. [Menu]: Has two separate lunch and dinner menu. The lunch menu is available from 12 PM to 2 PM and is a simpler version of dinner menu with no nigiri sushi + no side mini dish options. All ramen options are made from chicken broth. The Signature Ramen and Lamb Ramen are only available during dinner hours. The other Yelp highlighted ramen option is Black Garlic Ramen. *** Black Garlic Ramen (rich creamy chicken soup, house made mochi noodles, pork chashu, mushroom menma, green onion, nori seaweed, fried garlic chips, black garlic oil, OG chili sauce - $21): Wavy and chewy noodle with creamy broth. Chashu had a tender texture, but it didn't have melt-in-your-mouth texture. Mushroom menma definitely added an extra chewy texture. Garlic chips had some good texture, but I wasn't a fan of flavor profile. *** Overall expect a bowl of ramen with super creamy broth. Very solid ramen, but not exactly cheap. I will say this - I like Mensho Tokyo's chicken-based broth much better than Afuri's chicken based broth. read more

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Mensho, the best ramen maker from Japan operating in the US, in my opinion, recently opened their first SoCal location in Culver City. We've had and loved Mensho up north since owner and chef Tomoharu Shono opened the first US location in San Francisco back in 2016. He subsequently opened locations in Oakland and a slightly different concept restaurant, Menya Shono, in San Rafael and Union City. They're one of the rare ramen restaurants that has received recognition from Michelin in past years. This shop's menu and vibe most closely follows the original SF location minus the sketchiness of the Tenderloin. They have a broader range of dishes beyond ramen on their menu with more Wagyu nigiri options such as Hokkaido Uni, hotate (scallop) and Kani (crab). Unfortunately, this location is also packed and requires patience to get seated. Finding parking in the garage is also challenging as it is in a very popular district called Culver Steps right next to Amazon Studios which used to be the historic MGM, RKO and Cecil B. Demille studio lot. We almost left when we saw the line of about 16 people outside but decided to give it a try. I got very lucky someone was leaving just as I arrived, although I had to box out someone who was trying to steal the spot I was waiting for, in typical LA fashion. It took awhile to get from the garage and walk up to Mensho. The line looked hopeless at first with six parties ahead of us. But then a lot of people left around 8pm, so we were seated inside at the bar counter in about 30 minutes. I wanted to try the Kani Miso or Spiced Lamb but my throat was sore from working at a convention all day so I went with the Mensho Signature ramen. We also ordered fried Hinoki mushrooms, A5 Wagyu Nigiri with Hokkaido Uni and Kani (shredded crab). The nigiri was tender, perfectly seared and not overly seasoned, with some thinly sliced gari and a dab of wasabi. The Signature ramen is Chef Shono's own unique recipe that features a thick chicken broth rather than the much more common pork tonkotsu at US ramen restaurants. From there, you've got Mochi noodles, fermented pork chashu, duck chashu, smoked custard-like Ajitama (marinated egg), fried Gobo chips, green onion. What really sets Mensho apart from many ramen shops in the US is the attention to detail down to the visual presentation within the bowl. You can really taste the extra preparation that goes into the ingredients such as the smoked and marinated eggs and chashu. There's also a hint of truffle and mushroom flavor. The chicken broth is really thick and gravy-like. If I had one bone to pick, I wish the broth had been served a bit hotter than it was. Service was difficult to obtain at the counter, since we had our backs turned and the servers were rushing to get to the many people seated at tables and on the heated patio. There are definitely a lot more seats at this larger location, similar to the Oakland shop. I really enjoyed the ramen and Wagyu nigiri and felt a lot more comfortable in the safer area of the Culver Steps. I'd definitely return when I'm back in LA. read more

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I didn't realize that there were 2 menus and that the lunch menu was limited compared to the dinner menu, so I was unable to try the dish I wanted to try which was their signature toripaitan ramen. Instead, I got their ajitama ramen and it was okay. I liked their firm almost al dente like noodles and creamy broth, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the ajitama egg. It had this smoky flavor which reminded me of texas bbq and it overpowered the flavor of the entire ramen bowl. It wasn't bad, just not my cup of tea. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. You order and pay by scanning the QR codes at each seat. I'm unsure if they validate nearby garage parking. My rating reflects my preferences and I would still come back to try the other dishes since the ramen generally seemed that of good quality. read more

Mensho Tokyo - Ajitama ramen - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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I liked their ramen! The garlic broth was really flavorful and rich. Signature and Kani Miso broths were light, but still tasty. Service was quick and friendly. Went on a Thursday night and we waited about 15mins for a party of 3, which wasn't too bad considering this place just opened and always has a line. The place was clean with a god amount of tables and bar seating. Definitely worth trying! read more

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Really surprised that this spot didn't get top ramen 2025, food wise is top notch and variety of Wagyu, pork and duck easily should be up there. We fell in love with the flavor, noodles and meat quality. Highlights was duck chasu. Give this place a shot and you will be back. Good thing also that this place in a nice hip plaza and many other dessert ad food available. You will find your liking there. Service is minimal, you ordered on the app then you paid first then you get you food. It's like you have to tip in the beginning if you paid by card. But take it for me. The service was great. read more

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There is a nicely decorated indoor and outdoor area. It's spacious. I went with some colleagues for a lunch and we ordered using the scan code on the table and the food came out promptly. I got the yuzu ramen and would definitely come back and get it again! read more

Mensho Tokyo - Yuzu - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

We came upon this ramen shop in Culver City with a line waiting - you know what they always say - if here's a line, it must be good. And it absolutely was excellent. The lines moved quickly and we waited less than 20 minutes before being seated. We ordered the classic ramen - the house made mochi noodles were nice and chewy - just the right amount of firmness. The broth was rich but not too heavy. The enoki chips were excellent - not something I expected but totally enjoyed. The garlic edamame was good but it didn't standout for me. We will definitely come back to try their other ramens on the menu. read more

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We heard good things about their ramen, so we came with high expectations but were fairly disappointed. The ramen here were pricey with a small portion, yet the taste did not justify the cost. The signature ramen was unimpressive, as the soup base was rich in texture but lacked in chicken flavour. The toppings were good though, with the smoked duck chashu and tender pork chashu being my favourites. On the other hand, the soup base of Garlic Knock Out was a bit too salty yet the garlic flavours still weren't strong. Overall, both bowls of ramen were quite mediocre. Service was fast and the restaurant was small but nicely decorated. We parked in a parking garage down the street, but the restaurant does not provide any parking validation. read more

Mensho Tokyo - Garlic Knock Out - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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Good ramen place! It was my first experience with tori paitan ramen and it did not disappoint. The creamy chicken broth was amazing. I ordered the Garlic Knock Out, and the broth mixed with all things garlic was delicious. My experience was a bit tampered by the limited lunch menu. They only have limited ramen options (no signature or lamb ramen) and did not have any appetizers, which we did not know until we got there. Also, it was odd that we had to order and pay (including tip) through a QR code to get our orders. The ambiance was nice and the food was good enough to entice me to come back for their full dinner menu. read more

Mensho Tokyo - Garlic Knock Out - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

Popped up on this place after a late night stroll. The place was pretty busy and there was a small crowd outside. For a Thursday night I was impressed. Once inside, it was a bit cozy. Tables are strategically placed with enough room to slide by the next table. Food Appetizer: Garlic Edamame ($7) combination of salt and two kinds of fried garlic This was underwhelming. Lukewarm and lacking any seasoned garlic or salt flavor. The garlic was mearly shredded and tossed on top. It must have been frozen because it was sticky when chewing. Entree: SPICED LAMB ($23) Rich Greamy Chicken & Lamb Soup, House made Mochi Noodles, Spicy Grilled Ground Lamb, Miso, Chili Onian, Eggplants, Mushroom Manma, Red Onion, Kasuri Methi, Smoked Nuts, Chili Powder, Garlic Chives, Shishito Peppers. This was actually pretty tasty. Had a very nice lamb crumbles and good flavor. Broth had a good flavor as well. Food Side Dish: Una-Tama Don ($12) Grilled Unagi (eel), Unagi Sweet Sauce, Japanese White Rice, Kinome Leaf This was too sweet in my opinion. The sauce was much sweeter than normal unagi drizzle. It was baked and glazed into the meal. It was more a rice bowl with fish pieces on top. Not something I'd rush to order again. Drink: Green Tea I was disappointed with this one because I was hoping for fresh brewed tea. Instead, I received tea from a tea bag. Overall, it's decent. read more

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Oooh that creamy chicken broth is amazing! I don't normally like a creamy ramen but this might have changed me for the better. I was so happy that I could swap out the pork for chicken in my ramen. The chicken was juicy white meat pieces. The ramen was the perfect texture and the right amount of chewy. Also, LOVE a dedicated vegan menu! It's so great to have more places to eat out where everyone can be catered to! We showed up on a random Tuesday night and I was shocked at how crowded it was. The air for a table for two was only about five minutes which was very nice. They have one large table in the center of the restaurant that I believe can seat 8. We will 100% be back. read more

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-Ramen here was good, really enjoyed the fried mushrooms. -Crowds came at opening and it was really packed; should be ready to wait or get in line early. Would come back. read more

I enjoyed the food! It's overpriced for ramen and for the portions. However it was still a very enjoyable meal. The signature ramen had a little bit of wagyu that was truly tasty, it definitely tasted like real wagyu. The garlic ramen was great too. I honestly kinda preferred the broth on that one. We waited approximately 30 minutes to get seated read more

Mensho Tokyo - Signature ramen - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

Great ramen. I got the veggie yuzu and the flavor of the broth was nice. And the veggies that were in there were fresh. The service was quick and the server was attentive and answered any questions we had about the menu. My only complaint was I wish there were more veggies in the bowl already. I know you can add in but a lot of places include more veggies in the vegan bowl already without add on. The corn appetizer was unique, had a nice flavor and worth trying. Overall would come back if in the area. read more

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My favorite Bay area ramen restaurant is Mensho Tokyo SF and I was so excited when this Mensho opened up in Culver City. Ambiance: Compared to Mensho SF, Mensho Culver city has a shorter wait line and is in a much nicer/safer area. Food: Mensho SF ramen is superior as it contains more variety of texture and more options for varying price points. Mensho Culver city's best ramen is the signature which contains multiple meats including duck and a very rich umami broth which can be a little heavy. The noodles are the biggest difference as in SF the noodles were more QQ and bouncy whereas in culver city they're more similar to traditional ramen noodles. read more

Mensho Tokyo - Old school - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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wow! the ramen here is a 10/10. the classic ramen has a smooth creamy broth and the noodles are perfectly chewy and slurpable. the garlic ramen was tasty and the pork chashu is cut thin and is extremely tender. the unagidon bowl was great although the portion was small. the service was wonderful. the inside is a vibe. read more

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A friend recommended this Michelin star ramen shop in Culver City. With family in town sightseeing this summer, we met up there for dinner. Rather unassuming ramen shop exterior along a little strip mall, but wow, I was surprised by the presentation of the dishes and the flavor! My family visitors were suitably impressed. I really liked the enoki chips, and the Old School Toripaitan. Located in downtown Culver City, walkable to other shops and dessert spots. We saw a commercial filming while there. read more

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Mensho can just take all my money at this point. That's it, that's the review. JK. I have so much more to say! I am constantly on the hunt for the best bowl of ramen in LA, and dare I say that Mensho may currently top the list? I was so excited when I heard that a new ramen joint would be opening up in downtown Culver earlier this year, and I was curious to see how it would compare to the other new ramen spots in the neighborhood. At this point, I've lost track of the number of times I've been here this year, so that should tell you how I feel about Mensho My go-to order is the Garlic Knock Out ramen, and every component of the bowl was expertly done - from the chewy mochi noodles, to the perfectly cooked soft-boiled marinated egg, to the insanely decadent broth. I was initially curious about the chicken-based broth, since I'm so used to pork tonkotsu. I'm so pleasantly impressed with how rich and umami they're able to make a chicken broth! No matter how stuffed I am, you best believe that I will finish every last bite of noodles and soup The service here is attentive, friendly, and professional, and the prices are a little steep but still worth it (at least for me). Parking is available in the downtown Culver parking garage. I'm already dreaming about my next visit read more

Mensho Tokyo - Garlic Knock Out Ramen, 100/10 - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

I found a bug in my soup but they were very gracious about it! They offered to remake it for me but I was already pretty full at that point, so they instead comped my meal. This review is about the food regardless of this experience. Toripaitan is like tonkotsu but made with chicken bones instead of pork bones. Despite generally preferring chicken over pork, I find that the chicken flavor is a little overpoweringly strong -- but that might just be my general indifference to the taste of meat. The soup wasn't hot enough on the top so it felt heavy, contrary to a lot of other reviews who felt this was light. It definitely tasted better when it was hot at the bottom (which was probably hotter from the noodles). I was expecting the noodles to be more chewy given their "mochi" name, but they weren't particularly memorable. I was also a little taken aback by the spinach, which conflicted a little with the soup. I liked how the different types of chashu were distinctive in taste and texture, reminiscent of the original kind of meat they came from. Chicken was lighter in color and tasted ... chicken-y, for lack of a better term; duck was a little darker and slightly drier; pork was fattier and the most traditional. I also liked the mushrooms in the soup, which replaced the typical bamboo shoots. The wagyu nigiri was fantastic, though. I'd characterize it as halfway between toro and salmon in terms of butteriness. Overall, the price point was quite high and the food was quite heavy, so I'm not sure I'll be back. read more

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2nd visit since the big opening - Food still top notch AND they lowered the price of the ramen a little bit since the last time we were there, which you don't normally see. Service was really slow as I watched multiple people try to track down someone to help them. They insisted on keeping the front door open and it's 'cold' in LA in November. No beer/alcohol is a let down.. read more