Mendokoro Ao
麺処彩和
Overview
Mendokoro Aoi (Ao) is a niboshi ramen shop located right outside the central ticket gate of Sakae Subway Station, in the Sakae underground shopping street. Open continuously from 7 AM to 10 PM, it is known as one of the few places in the heart of Sakae where you can enjoy 'asa-ra' (morning ramen). The asa-ra offers high satisfaction with a half-portion of noodles and a mini-donburi for 500-600 yen, making it convenient for breakfast during business trips or travel. Their signature niboshi ramen can be chosen from soy sauce, salt, or rich ('cement-style') varieties, and is crafted to bring out the pure umami of niboshi while being easy to drink. The noodles are thin, low-hydration, firm, and snappy noodles from Hayashi Seimen, which have excellent compatibility with the niboshi soup. Another appealing aspect is the continuous introduction of creative and experimental limited-time menus, such as rich squid liver, smoked mackerel, and seasonal variations. In the evenings, they also offer carefully selected sake and oden by the owner, allowing it to be used like a ramen izakaya. It belongs to the same group as 'Sowa' in Kanayama and 'Wa nico' in Meieki.
How to Order
(Check the official account below in advance for irregular closures and updates)
Official SNS：https://www.instagram.com/mendokoroao/
1Before entering
Located in the Sakae underground shopping street, right outside the central ticket gate of Sakae Subway Station, you can reach it without getting wet from rain. Open continuously from 7 AM to 10 PM, with "Asa-ra" (morning ramen) from 7 AM being a specialty. Although there are only 8 counter seats, the turnover is fast, so you often get in quickly even if you have to wait.
2Purchasing meal tickets and ordering
Orders are placed using a touch-panel ticket machine. It's easy to choose because there are photos of the dishes, but the menu display may sometimes differ slightly between the signboard outside and the ticket machine, so it's best to check the ticket machine's display. Choose from dried sardine ramen (soy sauce / salt / rich), Asa-ra sets, lunch sets, seasonal limited menus, etc. In addition to cash, credit cards and QR code payments are also accepted (e-money is not accepted).
3Seating and receiving
There are only 8 counter seats. Due to the low-hydration thin noodles, boiling time is short, so food is served quickly.
4Other
For Asa-ra and evening rice bowl sets, a popular way to finish is to pour the remaining soup over rice, like dashi chazuke (tea over rice with broth). In the evenings, the owner offers a selection of carefully chosen Japanese sake and oden, so it can also be used like a ramen izakaya.
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Seating
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Voices
栄駅の中にある「麺処 彩和」の濃厚煮干し+たまねぎトッピング
— oɥɐʍ (@waho_) November 22, 2025
酔った体に染み渡るスープ😭🙏
朝から終電前までやってるの有り難すぎ・・・
酒津屋の向かいにあるので、ここで全てが完結します。ごちそうさま。 pic.twitter.com/FNKY61JMUD
麺処彩和
— まっつん (@MaTttttuNn) February 15, 2026
朝ラー（醤油）
煮干の優しい出汁が香る半ラーメンに刻んだレアチャーが乗ったご飯のセット🍜🍚
ストレート麺にスープがよく絡んでうっま😋
コレで600円は相変わらずやばすぎ👏
ご馳走様でした😋#麺処彩和 pic.twitter.com/WuQchtOS7x
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Business Hours
Crowd Calendar
| Lunch | Afternoon | Dinner | Late night | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | - | - | - | - |
| Weekend | No waitRef. | - | - | - |
* Dashed cells = reference data from past visit examples (replaced once enough reviews arrive)
Dietary Notes
No dietary data yet
This information is based on user reports and is not official information from the shop. Cross-contamination in the cooking environment cannot be guaranteed. If you have severe allergies, please confirm directly with the shop.
Animal-free menu available
Reports received (1)
No MSG
Reports received (1)
Gluten-free menu available
Reports received (1)
Halal options available
Reports received (1)
Dietary information is verified through blind consensus. Reports become public when 3 or more independent users agree.
Ingredients & Allergens
Allergen info coming soon
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