Try this is authentic 🇯🇵 ramen in downtown San Rafael! There is enough capacity for small or large groups. There is seating at the bar. ★★★★★ for the chefs at Menya Shono.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sergio Covarrubias
I went for a business lunch. This place opens at 11:30am and we got there right at opening on 8/20/2025. We were not greeted at the door. We were not told that we would be helped soon. The staff just ignored us. After 30min of waiting we left and went to eat at Sol Food. I was really looking forward to eating ramen.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Courtney
Restaurant was cute inside. We got a window seat and the waitress who was with us for our meal today was delightful. She was helpful with the menu and so we ordered 2 bowls of ramen, one dry noodle and one noodle soup.
Maria Gomez
Today Aug 20 we were looking around to something good there a couple places to eat we decide to and try this restaurant I bought my dinner and a guess it came with a soup when I was going to pay I only had a $100 bill first he said he did not have change i had a cc but didn't want to use it then he changed his mind he said he did have change he came came by with my change a whole bunch of $1 bills i was asuming he had normal chang3 like $0$5 $20 I told i didn't i did not want only $1 bills that I would pay with cc he got all upset and yelling at me that he already hasd put it in the system and a custermer started yelling
Steve Rockoff
Delicious authentic ramen. Had the Ginjo, it was so rich and creamy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ben Snyder
Bomb! Absolutely delicious tantanmen ramen! Wow, still dreaming about it a day later. Staff also delightful and nice vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Oskar Pav
Fantastic Ramen.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fred Fang
I didn't expect this quality of ramen outside of SF. It's great and you should try it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Danny K (DSKO)
I’ve been going to Menya Shono and Mensho for years so a review is long overdue for this San Rafael location. Chef and owner Tomaharu Shono opened Mensho in 2005, and the first U.S. location was opened in 2016 in San Francisco. 5 years later, he opened a location in San Rafael, then Union City and Oakland in subsequent years. Clearly Chef Shono has some affinity for the Bay Area. And the Bay Area is fortunate for it! His ramen is some of, if not the best outside of Japan.
The San Rafael location is much larger than Mensho SF with vaulted ceilings and an open kitchen. It has a large stainless steel bar back with many taps for beer with about a quarter of them actually in use. Perhaps it used to be a brewery space. There are crates printed with Mensho and large wall-painted explanations their farm-to-table approach and the properties of the grains used for the noodles.
Starting from the appetizers, there are the Corn Ribs which are buttery, roasted, and cut into bite-sized strips. Then there are the Enoki Chips, an airy mound of delicately thin and fried enoki mushrooms. Perfectly fried chicken karaage with a slice of lemon. There’s also Mentaiko Takoyaki, Nori Calamari, Chashu Rice and Vegan Karaage.
Then there’s the ramen. Chef Shono is known for his signature Tori Paitan, a thick and creamy chicken broth, fried garlic, chashu, sesame and burdock. The SF location has a matcha variant of it, but San Rafael does not. It is unique to the U.S., where Tonkotsu pork broth is the most common ramen-style you’ll see at Ippudo, Santouka, Nagi, etc. There is also Mazesoba, Tsukemen, Miso Ramen, and a vegetarian Tantanmen. But my favorite that I just drove 2 hours for this weekend was the Chintan Shio Ramen. There is so much craft that goes into it from the chewy and thin wheat noodles, roasted duck medallions, smoked chashu, perfectly marinated and custard-like ajitama and clear flavorful complex and sublime broth, it’s as good as it gets outside of Tokyo. If it takes a bit longer than the average ramen place for it to get to your table, it’s because they are taking extra time to make it perfect. Sadly, the much closer Union City location’s Chintan Shio does not compare favorably to the San Rafael location. Me and my partner both felt that it doesn’t taste as fresh, and the broth and noodles of the Shio there have somewhat of an oddly packaged ramen taste.
I have traveled for a few weeks to Tokyo and Kyoto trying different kinds of ramen in Ginza, Roppongi Hills, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku. Menya Shono holds up well to native Japanese ramen. It’s the most authentic Japanese ramen you’ll find in the U.S. I’d reckon many San Rafael residents don’t know how lucky they are to have one of the best ramen restaurants in town. I wish we had one in the South Bay, except that the lines would be ridiculous. It would definitely thin out the lines at Ramen Nagi and Tsujita.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Corn Wings, Original Menya Shono Ramen, Enoki Tempura and Karaage Chicken
Nelson DaLuz
This was the best ramen I have ever had. The flavors were so complex and spicy. I could eat here everyday
The mushroom has a meaty texture and the kale and cilantro adds a healthy balance. Popular local vegan option worth trying, memorable
FD DM
Very small and limited menu.
Carlos Arturo Monsalve
DON'T GO HERE!!! -unless you want any other ramen experience ruined— because this will change the way you see ramen forever! – No other ramen will ever be as good as Menya Shono
The broth... THICK, RICH, CREAMY, AND PACKED WITH FLAVOR !!!!
the noodles. THICK, CHEWY, DELICIOUS!! TASTE FRESHLY MADE, unlike any ramen noodle you had before.
MY GOODNESS... WHAT A DELIGHT.. The meat is THICK, juicy, tender, and SMOKY.... so so so good..
highly recommend the DELUXED OPTIONS GKO for garlic Lovers Blaze for spicy fans ...
* their sister branch in SF (Mensho Tokyo) also has a different selection alongside some of the classics
Try this is authentic 🇯🇵 ramen in downtown San Rafael! There is enough capacity for small or large groups. There is seating at the bar. ★★★★★ for the chefs at Menya Shono.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I went for a business lunch. This place opens at 11:30am and we got there right at opening on 8/20/2025. We were not greeted at the door. We were not told that we would be helped soon. The staff just ignored us. After 30min of waiting we left and went to eat at Sol Food. I was really looking forward to eating ramen.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurant was cute inside. We got a window seat and the waitress who was with us for our meal today was delightful. She was helpful with the menu and so we ordered 2 bowls of ramen, one dry noodle and one noodle soup.
Today Aug 20 we were looking around to something good there a couple places to eat we decide to and try this restaurant I bought my dinner and a guess it came with a soup when I was going to pay I only had a $100 bill first he said he did not have change i had a cc but didn't want to use it then he changed his mind he said he did have change he came came by with my change a whole bunch of $1 bills i was asuming he had normal chang3 like $0$5 $20 I told i didn't i did not want only $1 bills that I would pay with cc he got all upset and yelling at me that he already hasd put it in the system and a custermer started yelling
Delicious authentic ramen. Had the Ginjo, it was so rich and creamy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bomb! Absolutely delicious tantanmen ramen! Wow, still dreaming about it a day later. Staff also delightful and nice vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic Ramen.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I didn't expect this quality of ramen outside of SF. It's great and you should try it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ve been going to Menya Shono and Mensho for years so a review is long overdue for this San Rafael location. Chef and owner Tomaharu Shono opened Mensho in 2005, and the first U.S. location was opened in 2016 in San Francisco. 5 years later, he opened a location in San Rafael, then Union City and Oakland in subsequent years. Clearly Chef Shono has some affinity for the Bay Area. And the Bay Area is fortunate for it! His ramen is some of, if not the best outside of Japan.
The San Rafael location is much larger than Mensho SF with vaulted ceilings and an open kitchen. It has a large stainless steel bar back with many taps for beer with about a quarter of them actually in use. Perhaps it used to be a brewery space. There are crates printed with Mensho and large wall-painted explanations their farm-to-table approach and the properties of the grains used for the noodles.
Starting from the appetizers, there are the Corn Ribs which are buttery, roasted, and cut into bite-sized strips. Then there are the Enoki Chips, an airy mound of delicately thin and fried enoki mushrooms. Perfectly fried chicken karaage with a slice of lemon. There’s also Mentaiko Takoyaki, Nori Calamari, Chashu Rice and Vegan Karaage.
Then there’s the ramen. Chef Shono is known for his signature Tori Paitan, a thick and creamy chicken broth, fried garlic, chashu, sesame and burdock. The SF location has a matcha variant of it, but San Rafael does not. It is unique to the U.S., where Tonkotsu pork broth is the most common ramen-style you’ll see at Ippudo, Santouka, Nagi, etc. There is also Mazesoba, Tsukemen, Miso Ramen, and a vegetarian Tantanmen. But my favorite that I just drove 2 hours for this weekend was the Chintan Shio Ramen. There is so much craft that goes into it from the chewy and thin wheat noodles, roasted duck medallions, smoked chashu, perfectly marinated and custard-like ajitama and clear flavorful complex and sublime broth, it’s as good as it gets outside of Tokyo. If it takes a bit longer than the average ramen place for it to get to your table, it’s because they are taking extra time to make it perfect. Sadly, the much closer Union City location’s Chintan Shio does not compare favorably to the San Rafael location. Me and my partner both felt that it doesn’t taste as fresh, and the broth and noodles of the Shio there have somewhat of an oddly packaged ramen taste.
I have traveled for a few weeks to Tokyo and Kyoto trying different kinds of ramen in Ginza, Roppongi Hills, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku. Menya Shono holds up well to native Japanese ramen. It’s the most authentic Japanese ramen you’ll find in the U.S. I’d reckon many San Rafael residents don’t know how lucky they are to have one of the best ramen restaurants in town. I wish we had one in the South Bay, except that the lines would be ridiculous. It would definitely thin out the lines at Ramen Nagi and Tsujita.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Corn Wings, Original Menya Shono Ramen, Enoki Tempura and Karaage Chicken
This was the best ramen I have ever had. The flavors were so complex and spicy. I could eat here everyday
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The mushroom has a meaty texture and the kale and cilantro adds a healthy balance. Popular local vegan option worth trying, memorable
Very small and limited menu.
DON'T GO HERE!!!
-unless you want any other ramen experience ruined— because this will change the way you see ramen forever!
– No other ramen will ever be as good as Menya Shono
The broth... THICK, RICH, CREAMY, AND PACKED WITH FLAVOR !!!!
the noodles. THICK, CHEWY, DELICIOUS!! TASTE FRESHLY MADE, unlike any ramen noodle you had before.
MY GOODNESS... WHAT A DELIGHT..
The meat is THICK, juicy, tender, and SMOKY.... so so so good..
highly recommend the DELUXED OPTIONS
GKO for garlic Lovers
Blaze for spicy fans ...
* their sister branch in SF (Mensho Tokyo) also has a different selection alongside some of the classics
Best ramen ever
Noodle= good
Karaage/Chicken = delicious
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