Mensho Tokyo Opens Fast-Casual Eatery With $17++ Ramen—Here’s A First Look

Mensho X offers tori paitan ramen from $17++ in Raffles Place

Ever since it opened in Raffles City last year, Mensho Tokyo has become one of my go-to places for toripaitan, AKA chicken broth ramen in Singapore. The brand, founded by chef Tomoharu Shono, boasts numerous outlets worldwide—including a San Francisco branch featured in the Michelin Guide—and has racked up accolades such as Tokyo Ramen of the Year and the Ramen Walker Grand Prix.

That said, it’s more of an occasional treat than a regular haunt, since certain bowls there can cost more than $40. So when I heard that Mensho X, a fast-casual spinoff in Raffles Place, would be offering similar ramen at more wallet-friendly prices, I was eager to check it out.

Mensho Tokyo Review: Michelin-Approved Ramen With Duck Matcha And Famous Chicken Broth

Food at Mensho X

Mensho X also specialises in Toripaitan Ramen, but a bowl here starts from just $17++. Furthermore, every ramen or tsukemen order comes with a free first serving of kaedama—extra noodles that give you more bang for your buck.

However, I was more intrigued by their Firebird Ramen ($20++), a tori paitan that’ll appeal to fans of all things mala.

Based on creamy chicken broth, Sichuan peppercorns, chilli paste, and black garlic oil, the soup really packed a punch. Fans may notice that it’s not as thick and creamy as the chicken broth at Mensho Tokyo, but it was still pretty robust and savoury.

The Sichuan peppercorn-chilli paste mix and black garlic oil added a piquant and earthy kick to the soup respectively, without overpowering the chicken base. And though the broth looked intimidating, it wasn’t all that numbing—you get more of that mala flavour upfront than the fiery aftermath.

Aside from the lighter chicken broth, Mensho X’s take on tori paitan features noticeably thinner noodles compared to the thick wheat-based noodles found at Mensho Tokyo. Whether that’s a plus or minus is up to the individual, but regardless, each strand was springy and soaked up the broth nicely.

This massive piece of Kurobuta pork ribeye chashu turned out to be absolutely fantastic, and best of all, we counted at least three of them in this bowl. Marinated with sake kasu, each slice was juicy and succulent, with umami depth and subtle fruity notes. Honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve had ramen chashu with texture this good.

Mensho X offers tsukemen versions of both their classic Toripaitan and Firebird Ramen. For our visit, we opted for the Toripaitan Tsukemen ($19++). The dish also features the same Kurobuta pork ribeye chashu as in the previous dish—it was similarly excellent here.

Less creamy than the soup at Mensho Tokyo, the broth here is saltier and more intensely flavoured, and that’s by design since you’re meant to use it as a dipping broth. There’s even a hint of zest, thanks to yuzu juice and a wedge of lime you can squeeze in to your liking.

However, a part of me feels that tori paitan works better as a smoother, more easily drinkable soup rather than a thick, concentrated dip; if you are of a like mind, you might be better off getting the Toripaitan Ramen instead.

If you’re not a noodle person, Mensho X also offers a few donburi options, including the Negi Chashu Rice Bowl ($8.80++). This dish sees a generous serving of rice topped with braised pork chashu, chilli paste, leek, green onion, seaweed and more. Though I appreciated the affordable price, this is not a dish I’d recommend unless you’re looking to dine on a budget.

The biggest flaw of this donburi was just how dry it is—the thinly sliced chashu was tough and lacking in moisture, and the rest of the dish could’ve used some kind of sauce to bring it together. We hear that sesame oil and a secret tare sauce are used in the dish, but despite that, each mouthful still felt incredibly dry. Nevertheless, those elements did provide a decent savoury base that anchored the flavours.

Ambience at Mensho X

Mensho X, which seats up to 46 people, is considerably smaller and more cramped than Mensho Tokyo, though that’s understandable given the fast-casual concept. Aside from a few tables, there’s a cosy bar counter for those who prefer to dine solo or enjoy a quick meal.

The eatery is a three-minute walk from Raffles Place MRT Station.

The verdict

Mensho X offers good, well-crafted ramen that won’t break the bank. If you decide to give it a try, we recommend going for the Toripaitan Ramen or Firebird Ramen—skip the tsukemen and donburi!

For other delicious ramen places, read our best ramen in Singapore guide. For popular ramen from $12.90++ in Tanjong Pagar, read our Brothers Ramen review.

Address: 6 Battery Road, #01-02, Singapore 049909
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11am to 8pm, Fri 11am to 9pm, Sat 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 8418 9921
Website
Danlao is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by Enze Kay and edited by Tao Zhi Tan.
This was a media tasting at Mensho X.