Nestled in the heart of San Francisco’s bustling Geary Street corridor, Mensho Tokyo SF brings an extraordinary slice of Japanese ramen artistry to the city, redefining what a bowl of ramen can be. Specializing in rich, soul-warming Japanese ramen, this intimate restaurant is beloved for its bold flavors, innovative ingredients, and meticulous craftsmanship, offering a truly immersive culinary experience for ramen aficionados and newcomers alike.
Mensho Tokyo SF’s menu is a delightful exploration of depth and nuance, showcasing several standout dishes that tease and satisfy the palate. The Organic Shoyu Ramen offers a masterful balance of savory soy-infused broth with tender noodles that cradle perfectly cooked pork chashu. For those craving indulgence, the A5 Wagyu Shoyu Ramen elevates the experience with melt-in-your-mouth cuts of premium Wagyu beef, harmonizing beautifully with the rich, umami-laden broth.
Adventurous eaters will appreciate unique options like the Spicy Lamb Ramen and the Matcha Tori Paitan Ramen, the latter boasting a velvety, creamy chicken soup base infused with aromatic matcha, creating an elegant twist on tradition. The vegan menu is equally noteworthy, with the Vegan Tantanmen featuring a robust, spicy broth bursting with plant-based flavor and textures that rival their meatier counterparts.
Appetizers such as the crispy, delicate Enoki Mushroom Chips and their spicy variations provide a crunchy contrast, offering playful bursts of heat and umami that perfectly complement the complex ramen bases. Their Spicy Corn Wings are a deliciously addictive snack that brings a comforting, slightly sweet spice to the table, ideal for sharing with friends in the restaurant’s cozy, community-driven seating arrangement.
Diners will notice that Mensho Tokyo SF thrives in an intimate setting, where the seating design encourages a shared culinary journey. The cozy space may be snug, but it’s buzzing with warmth, making you feel part of a dedicated ramen-loving community. The vibe is down-to-earth yet energetic, matched by a staff that genuinely cares—highlighted by guests who have praised the team’s hospitality and seamless service, especially during busy peak hours.
Expect to wait for this culinary gem—it’s part of the charm. Patrons commonly report queued lineups, a true testament to the restaurant’s reputation and quality. But as many customers attest, every minute spent waiting is rewarded with bowls of ramen that explode with layered flavors: from the smoky notes of black garlic oil in the G.K.O Ramen to the spicy, aromatic punch of chili pork chashu in the Blaze variety.
In sum, Mensho Tokyo SF is not just a meal—it’s a heartfelt expression of Tokyo’s ramen culture transplanted into San Francisco. Whether you are savoring their signature pork chashu or sampling the luxurious Wagyu beef offerings, each bite evokes satisfaction and warmth that resonates long after the last drop of broth. For anyone seeking ramen that is innovative, passionate, and deeply comforting, Mensho Tokyo SF is an absolute must-visit on the city’s culinary map.
Great Ramen, but average sides. Went to the fabled Ramen shop on a Sunday night for dinner and the queue was about half an hour long. Not too bad. When you are queueing up, they will give you a menu so that you can decide what you’re going to get. Everyone on the table must order a ramen is the rule. The space is tiny, so the seating is pretty intimate. Not great for large group, but worked out well for four of us. Food comes within five minutes, so service is pretty fast. Got the Edamame, which was kind of bland. The whole point of having edamame is to taste the seasoning, salt or spice, but this did not have any. The Enoki chips were crispy, but extremely oily. The Ramen however was amazing. We went for the signature, which came with Chashu and duck with chicken broth, which is very unique. Most places will have a pork broth. The broth was extremely umami and the noodles were chewy and had a bite to them. Also was perfectly spicy and was the perfect portion for one person. Just keep in mind that they don’t have any substitutions. You don’t have any tofu or chicken as protein replacement. Over overall, I would definitely go again, but just get the Ramen this time.
FOOD WAS AMAZING Got the GKO (mildly spicy). The flavor hits you like a truck but every bite from then on is soothing. Added the egg & duck chashu which were both amazing! Atmosphere is made for community (including seating arrangements). Everyone was hospitable and Sue was an absolute sweet heart (she let us know to come around 9pm and we only waited 15ish minutes to get in. Will definitely be coming back to try another menu item!
Mensho Ramen does not play. The Wagyu beef is so fresh it could file its own taxes, and the broth is richer than half of San Francisco. The line is long but the flavor is disrespectfully good. And yes—my photo basically is their secret menu, because once you try it, you’ll never look at regular ramen the same again.
We waited about an hour on a Saturday evening, but as always, it was well worth it. The food here is fantastic—my top picks are the Lamb Ramen, Enoki Spicy Chips, and the Miso Butter Ramen. Each dish is packed with flavor and never disappoints. Also, if you enjoy sake, their Mensho sake is incredibly smooth and pairs perfectly with the meal. Definitely a spot I’ll keep coming back to!
Omg the ramen here is incredible! The weekend line is insane — we waited 1 hr 45 mins, but it was totally worth it. We tried the spicy vegan ramen and the extra spicy lamb ramen. The vegan one was the star: rich, flavorful, and that garlic bomb taste was unreal. The lamb ramen had great flavor but wasn’t very spicy, even though we ordered extra spicy — more like mild. Still, the overall vibe and quality were amazing. Definitely coming back to try more of their vegan options!
Mensho Tokyo SF is my favorite go-to ramen restaurant ever since I first went in 2022! I take all my friends and family here, and they love it too! My favorites are the Spicy Garlic Knockout with Ajitama, and the Spicy Toripaitan with Ajitama. Everything about the ramen is very delicious: the broth, egg, noodle texture, and toppings! I also like the Enoki Chips appetizer. Service is great, extremely kind and attentive servers! Thank you Mensho for such a great ramen experience!
Wanted to try this spot because all the reviews. Tried the matcha broth with duck and the vegan tantamen since we don’t eat pork. The duck one is an interesting taste and something you got to try at least once. We prefer the vegan tantamen - it was creamy but not overpowering with crispy veggies. The star was actually the corn appetizer for us though! The location is a bit on the questionable area at night but since there’s a long line and many people - we felt safer. Although the line is long, we only waited for 25 mins and got seated in our own table by the door which we loved. Staffs are very attentive and efficient. Once we got seated, food arrived less than 10 minutes after. They have a rule that each person of the party need to order at least one bowl. The portion is actually great size for us (Indonesian, asian) who are not used to US big portion. I managed to finish the whole bowl!