Men Mitsui

Men Mitsui, located near Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, is a popular restaurant in the Asakusa area, selected as one of the TOKYO Ramen Top 100 Restaurants in 2025. Its signature dishes are three types: Shio (salt), Shoyu (soy sauce), and Ginger Soba, all featuring a whole-chicken-based, additive-free soup combined with homemade, medium-thick, hand-kneaded noodles (temomi-men) freshly prepared by the owner right before your eyes. The irregular curls unique to hand-kneaded noodles grasp the soup beautifully, offering a chewy texture and a distinct wheat aroma. The soup, richer and more mellow than it appears, offers a nuanced experience: the Shio (salt) ramen features a mild finish with a fragrant chicken oil (chiyu) aroma; the Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen presents a layered composition of dashi sweetness and sharp soy sauce notes; and the Ginger Soba is a harmonious blend where the refreshing taste of ginger resonates with the umami of whole chicken. Standard toppings include two types of chashu: tender and moist large-cut slow-cooked chashu, and fragrant, thick-sliced pork belly chashu seared over a shichirin (charcoal grill); Kaga renkon (lotus root), menma (seasoned bamboo shoots), and green onions. The Kaga renkon is placed alongside the menma, and its crisp texture serves as a refreshing palate cleanser. The limited-to-six-servings-a-day Chashu-don (pork rice bowl) for 350 yen, featuring flavorful chashu and tofu, is a substantial and popular side dish that often sells out early. The interior is small and intimate, with only 11 counter seats, creating a chic and calm atmosphere. The attentive service from the owner and his wife (okami) is highly praised, and the wife can also assist in English. The queue management system using a numbered ticket machine allows customers to explore the nearby area until their turn approaches, which is ideal for a location in a tourist spot.