Mugi to Mensuke- Osaka’s Top Ramen
My journey to Japan’s best ramen continued in Osaka. I encountered a place named Mugi to Mensuke which is the highest rated ramen in Osaka according to Tabelog, and it also earned Michelin Bib Gourmand accolade. I was excited for it, and it turned out to be one of the best ramen bowls I’ve had in Japan!
Mugi to Mensuke- Location
Mugi to Mensuke is in the north of Umeda district. The closest station is Nakatsu, so you’d want to take the Midosuji Line to get there. It’s around 20 minutes walk from my hotel Waldorf Astoria Osaka which takes just as long as if I’d take the metro instead.
Mugi to Mensuke- Queue Times
The restaurant has no reservation or fast pass system. Thus, you’ll have to wait in line just like everybody else.
In highly-rated ramen shops, there tend to be people who’d wait 30 minutes before 1 hour before the shop’s opened to get better chances in not having to wait too long. But, if everyone applies the same idea, then it wouldn’t be a nice strategy right?
I queued up at 11am on a clear Thursday and waited just about an hour to finally get into the store. The queu was split up into two sections: first is right besides the restaurant, and the other is placed just after a parking garage next to the restaurant’s building.
Mugi to Mensuke Special Kiji Shoyu Ramen
Once inside the restaurant, you can order either the Special Kiji Shoyu or Iriko (shio ramen) at the ticket machine. They only accept cash, so please bring them with you. You can also order add-ons like chashu rice.
After getting my seat, chopsticks, spoon, and cup were already placed neatly in front of me!
I got the special kiji shoyu ramen for around 1500 yen. The broth base is chicken with shoyu tare. It’s a beautiful bowl particularly with chashu, wagyu wonton, and a small crispy duck sprinkled with black pepper which the chef did as the bowl came to me.
The noodles had the perfect amount of chewiness and absorbed the soup very well! I finished it all including the broth.
Simply an amazing ramen bowl that was worth the hour-long wait! I’d love to return here and try their Iriko shio ramen.
