Menya Shono — Restaurant in Union City

I can't remember the last time I had ramen this flavorful with its broth! I ordered the gko ramen deluxe that included various pieces of pork. As well as topping it off with fried garlic in a really unique pattern! Everything about it from the noodles to the egg and pork was done very well! Although it felt a little bit heavy it was manageable. There are also shoyou and lighter broths available. I also ordered takoyaki too, which was very piping hot when i bit into it, you would never really think about it due to how well put together the takoyaki balls are... I just liked how crispy they were and they're a little bit smaller than other takoyaki balls I've seen, but there's more of them here. I also liked the red ginger and other sauces they topped it off with. Overall, it's a pretty good ramen and their selections as well! The only two problems I may have with this restaurant is probably the location and maybe the service a little bit. First, the location is beyond the reach of multiple parking spots, but it gives an intimate feel compared to the other businesses around. But also is the server, I'm not sure if he is the owner or not, but was unnecessarily really blunt and straightforward. This made ordering easy, but he also can express displeasure to other customers such as unruly moms with children... Or impatient servers asking if you're ready to make a order in 5 secs of sitting down admiring how well the restaurant is laid out and all the decorations and wall paintings that they have put up to resemble Japanese style and how they're making the noodles with different equipment all over the place... At least he refills the water quicker than taking orders. Recently though he's been training in a new employee who I got the chance to meet with during checkout and she is a lot nicer than this man. It feels like this man should be working back in the kitchen making ramen and appetizers instead of doing serving stuff. If he is also a manager or owner, I understand if he needs to go in multiple positions maybe due to understaffed instances or rising costs and other stuff out of his control, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is also a culture clash with this guy as well. These mensho ramen's take pride in knowing they earned a lot of rewards from different Independent reviewers through the years, but it shouldn't be something that isn't on their mind everyday, as if they're just being a tryhard in a ramen industry or something... Either way, it looks like it's busy enough during lunch hours and it seems like everyone has a good time! Overall like wouldn't mind to come back here again. Maybe with a...

Updated review!

Okay, I had to update my review after my visit on 9/6/22.

They change the ordering process. Once you come in you are seated as usual. We were expecting the paper to order from but we weren’t given one. The waiter simply pointed to the QR code that is taped to the table and said this is the menu. Okay! Cool easier ordering process….

Upon checking out the menu, we assumed the waiter will come over and take our order. NOPE! you order and pay for your food right there and then via the QR code! Okay, here is my gripe. You are still charged for a gratuity.

Mind you, our interaction with the waiter was almost nonexistent. He sat us down, brought us water and our food. That was it. He didn’t come refill or check on us once.

And there was 3 other tables there that were having a hard time with their new ordering process because they were a little older.

One particular customer, she had placed her order and PAID via their new ordering system but they didn’t have karage(the fried chicken). Wasn’t being nosey but she was seated one seat over from us. Anyway, the waiter was telling her the situation and making suggestions on what she can get to substitute the chicken. She didnt want to make any substitutions because she stated she really wanted the chicken. So she decided she no longer wants her order and requested to cancel. It seemed that the waiter could not void her transaction because of how the order and payment was made. (Not sure if she got her refund)

And don’t get me started on the water that was served to us. I had noticed this from my first visit here as well. Waters are prefilled in cups and left on the counter, no biggie, but you can clearly see a few flys flying around.

I know some people may view the new ordering process as no big deal but to me they are charging for services that are not being provided. No complaints about the food, it was still good when we went this time around.

Original review———————————————-

Came here on a Thursday evening for dinner for a party of 5, we did not wait long at at all. Ordering was kinda of confusing but we just asked the waiter for clarification.

So you order from a sheet of paper that has options. NOTE that all ramen bowls does come with pork, roasted sesame, gobo chip, fried onions and something that is red.lol Anything that you add from the “EXTRA topping” is in additional cost.

Food came out in timely fashion and service was great. FYI, they say they are a gratuity free establishment but they automatically add 15% service fee nomatter how big or small...

They seriously need to work on service.

I went here twice. The first time, I went as a party of 2 on a Saturday night. It was about a 45 minute wait, which is pretty standard for ramen. Before you're seated, they give you a marker and sheets of paper for you to fill out your order. Our marker was dry so it was hard to read our orders; the party before us had the same problem. When we returned the marker, we let them know. The waiter said "thanks for letting me know" and put it right back in the bin of markers.

The ramen was decent the first visit. However, they got our order incorrect. We'd ordered an egg, garlic, and extra noodles. We didn't receive them. We did ask for the egg, which they apologized and later brought out. For the other two extras, we were confused and guessed the garlic and extra noodles were already in our bowls (no, if you get them, they come separately).

We went a second time with a larger party of 6. Again, it was about a 45 min wait on a Saturday night. When we were finally seated, they had our party sit separately across two tables and wouldn't push the tables together. Not ideal, but that's fine.

They got an order wrong. Again. One of our party members ordered the black garlic detox with cilantro. They gave green onions instead. The funny part is, when the waiter brings out your order, he rereads your order to you. "This is the black garlic detox with cilantro". But fine, it's just a small mistake.

The real dealbreaker was that three of our ramen bowls were completely tasteless... They basically just tasted like water. I didn't believe it at first, and was shocked when I compared the soups to three of the other bowls at the table. We think they forgot to add some seasoning or broth, or something. We let the waiter know. His response was "oh, sorry. I'll let the chefs know". That was it. He later came by to ask if we're "still doing OK". No. We weren't. I honestly felt guilty for suggesting it to my family for dinner.

I...