01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
The clear scent of dashi rising from a piping-hot bowl can stop you in your tracks. Tucked into a residential pocket of Nishi-Sugamo in Toshima Ward, Ramen Mentatsu (ラーメン 麺たつ) is a calm ramen shop that lights its lanterns in the evening from 17:00 into the night. Meticulous craft shines through each unpretentious bowl, making it a natural choice for an after-work dinner or a quiet solo meal.
Clear Dashi Broths: Chicken-Oil Shio and Deep Shoyu
The menu centers on two core pillars—shoyu and shio—both defined by a light, gentle spread of savory dashi flavor. The staple Shoyu Ramen leaves no lingering heaviness, making a quiet impression with broth you will want to sip down to the last drop. For the Shio Ramen, fragrant chicken oil accents a limpid broth that clings naturally to thin noodles, delivering a gentle, soothing richness. On days when you crave extra aroma, choosing a bowl topped with fried green onions is another appealing route.
Hearty Special Orders and Savory Toppings
When you want a more substantial meal, ordering the "Toku Mentatsu" style is a satisfying choice, generously crowned with seasoned soft-boiled egg, nori seaweed, and tender chashu pork. Simmered until it easily flakes apart under your chopsticks, the chashu soaks up the broth wonderfully, and pairing it with a small bowl of rice makes the meal even more gratifying. You can also spend an easygoing evening nibbling on side dishes of chashu or seasoned bamboo shoots over a medium bottle of beer before finishing with a bowl of noodles.
Seating is compact and centered around a counter; payment is cash only, and neither seat reservations nor takeout are accepted. On an evening when the mood strikes, dropping in to enjoy a bowl through the gently rising steam offers a calm way to unwind from the day.
