Menya Sign — Restaurant in Tokyo

2024 visit: Very unique ramen spot in Gotanda. We got the salt ramen and the anchovy oil. Both were excellent

The anchovy oil ramen is more like a dry noodle. The saucey-ness comes after you stir together the egg yolk and other mixins. They also provide a small bottle of anchovy infused vinegar that is optional to add. Without the vinegar, it’s creamy with a hint of nuttiness and anchovy. Adding a little vinegar gives it a kick with a touch of sharpness to contrast with the richness and creaminess. The more vinegar you add, since it is infused, the more anchovy flavor you get as well. I thought this dish was delicious and unique. I got the special which came with wonton soup which I would pass on nextime to save some space.

We also got the salt ramen which was also delicious. The noodle was really thin and al dente almost crunchy. The soup was very good and reminded me of an wonton noodle soup broth kicked up a ton of notches.

Definitely recommend

Edit may 2025: came again on a new visit. I got the soysauce/shoyu special this time and the squid with cod roe side that’s available on fridays. While the ramen was really good, I would say the standout and unique dish was the anchovy. If I would like a more traditional broth, I would probably try somewhere else. Or stick with the anchovy. Or get the shio which I thought was a more unique broth than shoyu. The squid and roe side was salty but helped kick up my shoyu ramen...

Overrated by wannabe food critics who use cringey clichés in their amateur food blogs. It’s alright — wonton is herby and tastes good. The chicken soup is a little too intense and a little oily though for such a reputable place. Noodles are average. Shouyu is better than the chicken soup. Definitely not Michelin star worthy — or maybe it is since these days that’s not a barometer for quality. Also inside it’s an uncomfortable environment as all the lights shine directly in the middle of the room and it feels like you’ve arrived for a job interview or something. Not intimate and discrete. Mukan nearby is better and more...

Visited in a weekday evening and surprisingly there wasn’t any queue - probably lucked out.

Had the shoyu and shio ramen. Prefer the shio version - it’s a great bowl that balances the complex flavour. The soup is nuanced and full of character, especially with the sesame oil and slight tangy twist. Noodles are excellent, as always, and the meats are well-prepared, if slightly simple.

The wantons are great so recommend to take the special version. It’s packed with minced meat and fragrant mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley), they bring a refreshing herbal lift with minty, peppery notes.

More detailed review...