Menya Shinsho — Restaurant in Hong Kong

My recent visit to a ramen restaurant left me thoroughly disappointed and dissatisfied. From the moment I stepped foot into the establishment, it was evident that this place fell far short of my expectations.

Let's begin with the food itself, which was a letdown in almost every aspect. I opted for a set that included BBQ pork soy sauce ramen and deep fried gyoza. Unfortunately, the noodles and soup were utterly underwhelming. The taste of the soup was weak and lacked the depth and richness that one would expect from a good bowl of ramen. To salvage any semblance of flavor, I had to resort to adding shichimi powder, which shouldn't be necessary in a well-balanced dish.

The BBQ pork, touted as a highlight of the ramen, was a major disappointment. Not only did it contain unpleasant bone knuckles, but the overall taste was lackluster and failed to leave a lasting impression. Adding insult to injury, the egg served with the dish was cold, forcing me to immerse it in the lukewarm soup in an attempt to bring it to an edible temperature. This lack of attention to detail and proper food preparation is simply unacceptable.

To compound the disappointment, the noodles quickly lost their desired texture and became overly soft after a short while. Instead of the firm and chewy consistency that characterizes good ramen noodles, these resembled Chinese egg noodles, which was a far cry from the authentic experience I had hoped for.

Moving on to the gyoza, which are traditionally pan-fried and served with a delightful combination of vinegar and soy sauce, my expectations were completely shattered. The gyoza here were deep-fried, resulting in an unsuitable pairing with the standard gyoza sauce. This lack of understanding of the culinary nuances associated with gyoza showcases a lack of attention to detail and a disregard for maintaining the integrity of the dish.

The size of the barley tea that accompanied the set was another letdown. While it was included as part of the set, the portion provided was disappointingly small. Considering that beverages are an integral part of the dining experience, a more generous serving size would have been appreciated.

Regrettably, the poor quality of the food was not the only disappointment during my visit. The service was abysmal, to say the least. Upon entering the restaurant, I was met with an utter lack of hospitality. The staff failed to greet me or offer any assistance, instead resorting to a mere gesture of pointing towards the interior, leaving me to navigate the seating arrangements on my own. It later became apparent that I was expected to choose my own seat, which was not communicated to me upon arrival. To make matters worse, the staff seemed overly eager to clear dishes, prioritizing their own convenience over providing attentive and considerate service.

Adding insult to injury, the absence of restroom facilities is simply unacceptable for any dining establishment. It is a basic requirement to provide customers with necessary amenities, and the fact that this ramen restaurant failed to do so is a clear indication of their lack of regard for their patrons' comfort and well-being.

To further exacerbate my dissatisfaction, I was charged a hefty 10% service charge for service that was practically non-existent. The staff's apathetic and inattentive attitude throughout the meal made it abundantly clear that customer satisfaction was not a priority for them. Additionally, rounding up the bill to the next Hong Kong dollar felt like an opportunistic attempt to squeeze out a few extra dollars from unsuspecting diners.

In conclusion, my experience at this ramen restaurant was an immense disappointment. From the underwhelming and poorly executed food to the lackluster service and absence of basic amenities, this establishment fails to meet even the most basic standards of a quality dining experience. I strongly advise against visiting this restaurant if you have any expectations of enjoying a...

My visit to Menya Shinsho, a renowned ramen establishment, provided a diverse culinary experience for both myself and a friend. We opted for the Black Garlic Soup Noodle and the Shrimp Soup Noodle, hoping to relish the flavors and the reputation of this renowned eatery.

The Black Garlic Soup Noodle, while eagerly anticipated, did not quite meet my expectations. The signature black garlic flavor, known for its robust and pungent notes, was disappointingly subdued. Moreover, the temperature of the soup was somewhat cooler than expected. This became especially problematic when I decided to add extra noodles to my bowl, as it led to a rapid drop in the soup's warmth. As a result, I found it challenging to complete the additional noodle portion due to the unsatisfying temperature.

Another aspect that slightly marred the experience was the texture of the noodles. They did not possess the desired level of tenderness, deviating from the high-quality expectations one would have at a renowned ramen eatery like Menya Shinsho.

On a positive note, my friend's choice, the Shrimp Soup Noodle, fared slightly better. The shrimp-infused broth delivered a more satisfying taste profile, although it too fell short of achieving the depth of flavor that we had hoped for.

In conclusion, my experience at Menya Shinsho, though marked by anticipation, ultimately left me with mixed feelings. The subdued black garlic flavor and temperature issues with the soup, especially after adding extra noodles, were significant disappointments. Additionally, the noodle texture did not meet the anticipated standards. While the Shrimp Soup Noodle provided a somewhat more gratifying experience, it still left room for improvement. It's worth noting that taste preferences can be subjective, and others may find the offerings more to their liking, but based on my visit, there is certainly room for enhancement in several aspects of the dining experience at...

Established by two brothers last December, Menya Shinsho serves up slurping-good ramen and tsukemen in its signature shrimp soup

It wasn’t as crowded as expected when we came for lunch on a weekday, but we did notice quite a few takeaway orders. Our food still came quite quickly (within 5-10 minutes) though. Each bowl of ramen/tsukemen comes with a spicy cucumber appetiser and soft drink.

Tip: get a seat by the floor-to-ceiling glass windows for natural lighting!

[Tomato Shrimp Soup Tsukemen] Selling limited bowls daily, this is a must-order as the acidic tomatoes alleviate the usual heaviness of the deeply flavorful dipping broth, especially when you’re more than half-way through. It also went really well with the soft-boiled egg, crispy basil paste bread, huge pieces of thinly-sliced pork and cold springy noodles.

[Spicy Shrimp Soup Ramen] According to my friend, the spiciness level of the shrimp soup was mild (level 7 out of 10) in terms of TamJai’s definitions, meaning it's definitely not for the faint-hearted (i.e. me).

[Japanese Fried Dumplings] We loved that the dumplings here are deep-fried, making the skin extra crunchy and golden brown when compared to the typical...