Japan

Mensho Taketora: A Must-Visit Tokyo Ramen Spot

Hi everyone, I'm travel blogger Lisa!

If you're traveling to Tokyo, trying out the local food scene is an absolute must!

Among the many spots, I highly recommend checking out the Tokyo ramen gem I visited on this trip:

Mensho Taketora.

Since they stay open until late,

it's the perfect spot for a hearty Shinjuku dinner or a late-night craving.

I was actually surprised to see way more locals than tourists here!

Here is my honest, unsponsored review of this Tokyo hot spot.

Let's dive in! :)

In today's post, I'll share:

and more!

1. Tokyo Ramen Recommendation: Mensho Taketora in Shinjuku

The Shinjuku restaurant I visited this time is Mensho Taketora, located right in Kabukicho.

I wanted to try it during my last trip to Tokyo, but gave up because the line was just too long.

This time, I dropped by around 9:00 PM and only had to wait about 10 minutes before getting a seat.

⏰ Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:30 AM the next day

Closes at 5:00 AM on Mondays

☑️ Closed: Open year-round

Mensho Taketora has four locations across Japan, with two of them right here in Shinjuku.

I visited the main branch.

It's about a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station.

The nearby branch is also within walking distance, so you can easily head to whichever one has a shorter line.

By the way, they are open almost 24 hours,

making it the ultimate spot to grab some late-night comfort food after a few drinks.

It's also highly rated as a top dinner spot in Shinjuku.

Since many people come here for late-night cravings or after-drink ramen,

the line actually got longer around 10:00 PM when I was there. Keep that in mind!

2. Mensho Taketora Menu Recommendations

As you might guess from the name, ramen is the star of the show here.

Among their offerings, their Tsukemen (dipping ramen) is by far the most famous.

<📌 Menu Recommendations>

Since they are open so late,

they also offer plenty of pub-style sides like karaage and fried dishes,

along with a wide variety of ramen to suit everyone's taste.

I went ahead and ordered their famous Tsukemen, Tonkotsu Ramen, and a side of Gyoza.

3. My Honest Review

To be honest, since it's a ramen spot right in the middle of Kabukicho,

I didn't have super high expectations before going.

But I was so surprised to find it

packed with locals!

From the outside, it looked like seating was pretty limited,

but it turns out there's actually more seating further inside.

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Since there were two of us, we got seated at the counter bar,

and you can easily place your order using the self-service kiosk.

First up was the gyoza!

Crispy on the bottom, soft and steamed on top,

and bursting with savory juices—it was absolutely delicious.

It's exactly the classic flavor you'd expect,

but definitely one of those sides you'll regret not ordering.

It paired perfectly with the ramen.

And the Tonkotsu Ramen with an incredibly rich broth!

To be honest, Japanese ramen can be a bit on the salty side.

So I actually added a splash of water to mine.

And doing that made it taste absolutely perfect!!

Instead of a light, refreshing broth, this one is super deep and hearty, so

even though the noodles were on the thicker side, the rich broth clung to them beautifully.

If you prefer a lighter, easy-to-slurp clear broth,

this style might not be your absolute favorite, but personally,

I thought it tasted fantastic.

Next up was the Tsukemen (dipping noodles)!

Since it features a tonkotsu-based broth, the dipping sauce was incredibly rich too.

Yet, it had a completely different vibe compared to the standard tonkotsu ramen.

It packed way more savory umami.

The noodles were thick and delightfully chewy,

making it a much more unique and delicious experience.

Mensho Taketora definitely showed me

exactly why it's known as a top-tier Tokyo tsukemen spot.

4. Wrapping Up

When you search for Tokyo food recommendations, there are so many sponsored posts

that it can be hard to know which ones to trust.

But since this is a Tokyo ramen spot I visited entirely on my own dime (100% authentic),

I've written this review completely honestly, so you can head here with confidence.

Just keep in mind that the broth is incredibly rich and thick,

and I hope this helps you plan an amazing food adventure

on your Tokyo trip!

For more Tokyo Shinjuku food guides,

be sure to check out my other blog posts :)

Safe travels, bye for now! ~

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