Mensho Tokyo Ramen Melbourne

Overview

Mensho Tokyo is the relatively new kid on the Melbourne ramen block, and as far as debuts go, it made quite the splash in 2023. Two-hour lines are not hyperbole, they were par for the course if you wanted to nab one of the 28 seats available inside. But thankfully, that's no longer the case. The hype has passed, but the quality of ramen has not.

Mensho opened its first store in Tokyo in 2005, and has since gone on to open over 14 more locations spanning the US, Thailand, and India — with Melbourne its first venture in Australia.

Once inside, expect to be greeted with the warming collective greeting of "Irasshaimase!" — synonymous with any ramen joint worth its miso. Every seat in the house is a front-row ticket to an exclusive ramen-making masterclass as the kitchen is completely visible to all patrons — unless you happen to be assigned a seat upstairs. Seating is luck of the draw, and while the handful of tables upstairs aren't bad, the atmosphere is not on par with downstairs. If you're willing to wait longer for a spot downstairs, staff are willing to accommodate.

The menu features six types of ramen, including the elusive and premium wagyu ramen (limited to 20 bowls per day), the powerful GKO (garlic knockout ramen) which features three types of fried garlic, and, finally, the aesthetically stunning matcha ramen. The menu also features an assortment of classic ramen sides (the karaage chicken and spicy corn 'wings' are to die for).