Menya Yamato / 麺屋YAMATO - Mitakadai

Menya Yamato (麺屋YAMATO) is a ramen shop located in Mitaka City, Tokyo, near Mitakadai Station on the Keio Inokashira Line. Opened on January 2021, it serves as the second branch of the popular ramen shop Chuka Soba Himawari (中華そば向日葵).

The shop features a modern yet cozy ambiance, featuring a wooden interior with a touch of café-like charm.

Menya Yamato was founded by Akihiko Ohashi (大橋昭彦), who transitioned from being a skilled chef to a ramen shop owner. Before opening Menya Yamato, he managed a local izakaya called "SAKABA YAMATO" in Mitaka City. However, due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the izakaya was closed in 2020. This led to the transformation of the space into Menya Yamato, which officially opened its doors as a ramen shop on January 18, 2021.

Menya Yamato specializes in a variety of ramen styles, including their signature shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, shio (salt) ramen, and tantanmen.

The broth is crafted with care, using high-quality ingredients and no artificial additives, resulting in a clean yet rich taste.

The noodles are made in-house with a blend of domestic wheat, ensuring a fresh and flavorful experience.

The chashu is prepared sous vide, which ensures a lot of juiciness. It’s not as soft and almost falling apart as more classic chashu, but this style has become more popular recently with high end ramen shops.

The shop also offers seasonal and limited-edition menu items, such as cold tomato-based ramen during the summer months, showcasing their creativity and dedication to innovation. With a focus on quality and customer satisfaction, 麺屋YAMATO has quickly gained a loyal following among ramen enthusiasts which is reflected in a quite high score on Ramen Database.

If you're planning to visit, the shop is just a short 2-minute walk from Mitakadai Station, making it easily accessible.