Menya Itto; Illuminating Ramen's Potential

Menya Itto originally opened in Shinkoiwa, Tokyo, in 2010. The name literally translates to "Noodle Shop, One Lantern." Menya is now one of the best choices for ramen in Bangkok. You can tell when you first enter the clean Japanese aesthetic restaurant that they put quality first. They have a simple menu with three main ramen choices, and most of the extras are separate, meaning the chilli flakes below had to be paid for separately from the ramen. Regardless of which ramen you prefer, you won't be disappointed.

Chashu Shio Ramen

Their two regular ramens, Chashu Noko Gyokai and Shio, have a deep umami flavour, the broth is made from a combination of different protein types. This incredible balance of chicken and seafood makes the ramen light while boasting unprecedented richness. I personally prefer the thicker Noko variant, which is infused with lots of collagen to make it more silky. Menya Itto was the first ramen place in Bangkok that took me aback and made me go, "Wow." Since then, I kept bringing my friends, and they all shared that it's one of their favourite ramen places to eat.

Tsukemen

I think they have the best Tsukemen broth in Bangkok, the second best being Tonchin ramen. Tsukemen, for me, is like your first love, and even though you're married now and have two kids, you can never forget the experience of that initial bliss. Seriously, though, it was the Tsukemen at Menya Itto's that made me fall in love with this form of ramen. There was something unique about it; it had a truly deep and thorough flavour that lingers on your tongue. The noodles are perfectly cooked, and the broth enhances their plain chicken and pork toppings. Every time I take a bite of the noodles soaked in the soup, I close my eyes and feel the silky broth enveloping my taste buds and the slight bounce of the noodles. You can finish the thick broth with their light stock, making it easy to drink, I always savour every last drop.

Gyoza

I think Menya Itto has excellent gyoza for a non-speciality gyoza store. The filling is well balanced between pork and cabbage; their skin is thin and has a slight crispiness.

Seasonal Tonkotsu Ramen

The key word is restraint. If you're looking for the strongest, thickest, and most garlic-filled ramen broths, I don't think this is the place for you. Menya is about refinement and elegance; each bowl feels handcrafted by meticulously adjusting the various ingredients that constitute the soup: shrimp, Hokkaido dried scallops, Rishiri kombu, dried fish, and mushrooms. That's what allows them to achieve this higher level of quality. My biggest complaint is their pricing structure, especially in a world where you can go to places like Tonchin and pay half the price for a really good bowl of ramen. If you want to treat yourself, this is a must-try for ramen lovers.