Menya Shirakawa specializes in a type of ramen that is not my favorite. By all accounts, though, they are preparing this in a way that is authentic to the region and I certainly observed great care and pride on the part of the staff and owner. I enjoyed a medium bowl that provided me with plenty for lunch. My wife and her friend really loved it, and while I did not discover a new favorite for my individual tastes, I did learn yet again about the many ways delicious ramen can show up. There is clearly some serious craft put into the potent broth, and the ingredients all yielded a pleasant texture and contribution to the dish's flavor while also creating a memorable taste.

This is a warm and cozy place that provides the same positive energy many of the places I've gone in Japan tend to offer. Also, like many such places, a long queue comes with the experience. One big difference for me, though, was that we received multiple apologies for the wait, even though one doesn't need to research much to learn that a long wait here is typical.

Final take: Strike up a good conversation or something and queue up. If you're in this area, you'll see countless food options, and they're rather good ones. Still, few enjoy the reputation of Menya Shirakawa, and it seems to me that this is well-deserved. The owner is very proud of the business, and he might even offer to take a picture of you, happily posing for one with you as well.