Osaka Mentetsu

Known as a branch of Toyonaka Mentetsu, this renowned shop in the Higashi-Umeda/Sonezaki area, with only 11 counter seats, specializes in refined, clear shoyu (soy sauce) ramen. Their signature Shoyu Ramen (1,000 yen) features a beautiful, clear amber broth where layers of chicken bone, kelp, bonito flakes, and other seafood dashi intricately combine, perfectly balancing the sharpness and sweet-savory notes of soy sauce. A hint of chicken oil adds depth. The noodles are thin, straight, and high in water content, offering a smooth yet chewy texture and wheat aroma that harmonizes with the soup. Toppings are modest: two large, thinly sliced char siu, shredded Kujo green onions, thinly sliced bamboo shoots (menma) with a very light flavor, and one sheet of nori seaweed. This simple composition highlights the soup's perfection. The Niku Shoyu (1,300 yen) is a hearty bowl with both pork thigh and pork shoulder loin, and it's popular when paired with their Pork Mayo Don. The Shio Ramen (1,100 yen) comes with large, tender slices of meat and meat dumplings, a welcome treat for salt ramen lovers. In summer, the seasonal 'Yama' (1,500 yen) appears; this cold ramen is topped with a mountain of grated yam covering the bowl, an egg yolk, and has chicken tataki and shredded char siu at the bottom, creating an exquisite match between the noodles' chewiness and the yam's creaminess. The shop has documented rules to ensure the best eating experience, such as 'order kaedama (extra noodles) within 3 minutes of the ramen's arrival' and 'no noodle hardness requests,' reflecting the owner's serious approach to ramen. This acclaimed establishment is a regular on Osaka's Hyakumeiten (Top 100 Restaurants) list.