Recent Reviews
A long-established, renowned restaurant in Shinjuku called "Manrai." Their "Natto Zaru" is a "natto tsukemen" with a generous serving of raw egg and natto. It's a unique natto-infused zaru ramen that you slurp up with gusto. The retro flavors evoke a sense of Showa-era nostalgia, and the noodles are smooth and delicious. The large chunks of char siu are also incredibly flavorful. A Shinjuku taste that I want to keep coming back to! You can also request a stronger flavor. Shinjuku has always been a fierce battleground for ramen, but for me, Shinjuku is synonymous with Manrai and "Wakazuki" (now closed) in Omoide Yokocho. These two are the best of the best in Shinjuku!
Located about a 4-5 minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station West Exit, and a 5-6 minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, I visited this ramen shop. On Sunday around 10 pm, I went there with 3 friends. After a mahjong game, we were in the mood for ramen, so we decided to try this place, Raamen Manrai. Since it was Sunday at 10 pm, the shop was empty. We bought a ticket for the raamen (¥1,100) from the vending machine. When we handed the ticket to the staff, we told them we wanted the noodles firm, and then we sat at the counter and waited about 8 minutes for the ramen to arrive. The first impression was that the portion was huge! This was my first time at Manrai, but I had heard that it was a popular shop and that even women eat there, so I went without doing any research beforehand, excited to see what kind of ramen it was. But I never expected the noodles to be so much! Haha. The way the toppings were arranged was also interesting! It was a unique arrangement that I hadn't seen before, and it was intriguing. First, I took a sip of the soup. Delicious! The slightly salty and slightly sour soy sauce soup was just what my body needed late at night. Lately, I've been eating a lot of soy sauce ramen with sweetness and sharpness, so this was a great experience. The noodles were medium-thick. They had a good weight to them, were nicely glossy, and were very tasty. The char siu was quite thick! It wasn't pork belly, so it had little fat and was lean and very delicious. I found a great ramen shop! The portions are large, so if you're not a big eater, I recommend telling the staff you want a smaller portion. Next time, I want to try their tsukemen, which is called 'zaru'. Thank you for the meal!
【2024.10】Ramen (¥1300) The unique presentation allows you to clearly see the noodles. The broth has a distinct, well-balanced animal flavor, with a perfect blend of saltiness and sweetness. The medium-thick, flat noodles, cooked for 3.5 minutes, have a slightly soft texture. This allows them to absorb the broth, enhancing their flavor. The thick, tender, and lightly seasoned char siu is a hallmark of the long-established Manrai restaurant.
I visited this restaurant craving a standard Chinese-style ramen. The noodles were thick and curly, offering a satisfying chew. The soup was a simple, light soy broth, well-balanced and delicious! Overall, it reminded me of the Kitakata ramen style from Fukushima. The char siu pork was also large and satisfying. I ordered a large portion this time, and it was quite a lot of food. After finishing, I'd say it was about the same size as a large portion at a typical tsukemen shop, or maybe even a bit more. (I'd guess it was around 400 grams, but that's just my feeling.) Even the regular portion seemed like a large portion at other restaurants. The price was a bit high, and I wish they had indicated the portion sizes, so I gave the service a 3-star rating. However, the taste was definitely good! The service was nothing to complain about. The restaurant was clean. Water was self-service, available at the counter. There were about 15 seats, all at the counter. There was also a waiting area with chairs for a few people.
This restaurant is a prime example of a refreshing, dipping-style ramen. It's one of the most popular shops in Shinjuku West Exit, where numerous ramen restaurants stand side by side. There's also "Horiuchi" on the same street, a shop opened by a former employee of this one, and they both compete fiercely. "Zaru" (¥1,150) The flat plate that arrived was piled high with noodles, topped with large pieces of seaweed that looked like they were about to be blown away by the air conditioning. I quickly plunged them into the dipping sauce. The sauce was filled with so much char siu that the noodles wouldn't have been able to get submerged if I hadn't eaten some first. It was quite a sight. With all that char siu, I think the regular "Zaru" is enough for me. The chewy noodles were slightly thinner than those at "Horiuchi," but the flavor and texture were quite similar. The noodles tend to stick together as time passes, so eat them quickly. The dipping sauce was the epitome of Manrai, with a strong, sour flavor that made me think it contained vinegar or plums. It's incredibly refreshing, perfect for hot weather, but it might not be for everyone. The best part is the generous amount of chopped char siu. It's almost entirely lean meat, thoroughly braised until it's incredibly tender. The juicy, delicate texture is unmatched. It's no wonder their "Charazaru" (char siu-focused dish) is so popular. The noodles are so filling that the dipping sauce ended up cold. It would have been even better if there was a way to reheat it. The price is a bit high, but it's a satisfying dish.