Menchanko-Tei

If you want authentic Japanese cuisine, then this is one of your best bet!
Their ramen is good. Good soup broths, good noodles, good food.
You can also make your ramen a combo for a small extra fee and it will come with a small side of rice and deep fried karage (chicken).
Although their dumplings are small, it’s still a nice addition to your soup as well.
Service is friendly and restaurant is small, but great food. Very filling. And not as expensive as other places.

This is my go to place when I can’t think of anywhere else to go. Parking can be a little hard to find especially during dinner since there are a lot of restaurants in that area. The menchanko dishes are excellent. The noodles are thicker than normal ramen but thinner than udon. I like the kim chee chige menchanko the best.

Good comfort japanese food (like your nihonjin mom would make for you at home) for very reasonable prices. If you want grilled fish, they got it. If you want ramen or nabe, they got it. If you want katsu, curry, buta kakuni, karaage chicken, they got it.
Nothing stands out as amazing but it just hits the spot. You know what I mean?
Service is very good considering the prices. Parking is decent in the back.
Will be back — especially when I don’t have much money but I’m craving japanese food.

WHY I DIDN’T TRY THIS PLACE EARLIER?! For years I passed by this place when I went wal-​mart or the mall, I just stared into it and think this is just another ramen place, but this, is not the same with ANY ramen place! My boyfriend and I were planning to go Gomaichi, but some how we got caught up by something and Gomaichi closed already, we Unilocal any ramen place near by and decide to give this place a try.
When we walk in this small restaurant, its nearly empty, we were quickly seated and offer the cute menus with hand-​drawing pictures of the lunch special, we ordered tonkatsu lunch combo and nanban don &mini hakata ramen.
The magic of this place starts to reveal once we have our first bite of fried chicken and tonkatsu. The breading of the tonkatsu melt in our mouth and the katsu sauce made it perfect! The fried chicken were neatly flavored and made out of tender chicken. The hakata ramen were favorable and I think it taste like paitan ramen, how ever the char siu included was really really dry, but at this point I’m totally distracted by the fried chicken and don’t care about anything else anymore.
Service were really good, we were offered refill of our rice and miso soup.
I slammed 20% tips on the table and about to say «JUST TAKE MY MONEY» to the waitress cuz the meal was that good!
I will totally come back again!

It is a family style resturant with every guest speak Japanese. Sitting is very fast. At 7, I have sit at the bar and it is a full house.
Menchanko raman is good. The soup noodle is served hot. It has got cabbage, chive, tufo, shrimps and sliced pork. The broth is pork based. I like the awesome noodle that is cooked to perfection. 4.5*
For $ 10, it is a pricey side, but you are in the island.

Stopped in for lunch — the pork katsu and ramen lunch specials were delicious. Pork katsu comes with white sesame that you grind then add katsu sauce so it’s very fragrant. Ramen noodles were thicker and extra chewy (our preference) with fresh ingredients (broth was rich and a tad salty if you want to drink it). Owned by mom and daughter who were super nice. Free parking in the back.

So glad my husband and I stumbled upon this restaurant. After passing it for many years on Keeaumoku we finally pulled in to give this place a try. Their tonkatsu is on point and really affordable. It’s not greasy and it has a crunch when you bit into it. I usually get the Loin set and it comes with miso soup, tonkatsu, rice, and cabbage. As an added bonus, they have an after 5pm menu. It’s mostly pupu type of items. Parking is located in the back so don’t get turned off thinking you have to find street parking.

This is me and my boyfriends first time here and the service is pretty fast and helpful to those whose first time it is eating in the restaurant. The miso soup is really good and so is the katsu. They are really friendly in terms of good costumer service. Can’t wait to come here again

Per Ramfis B.‘s description of this place,
Menchanko Rules!
Yes, It does! I agree!
This place has been bookmarked by me for the longest time!
I always wanted to check out Menchanko Tei but never had the opportunity to.
Thank you to my dr.‘s appointment, I was able to make it happen.
Last minute plans actually turned out great.
(I was able to enjoy time with Unilocal friend Kristine C.)
My dr. was near the area & near Kristine’s work place.
I text her that day to see if she was able to join me for a quick lunch.
I’m so happy everything worked out.
We were able to eat & chat, in less than an hour, so we can both head back to work.
This place is very cute!
Once you enter, Don’t let the crampy feel of the restaurant bother you
The restaurant looks small, but they have more seats & tables to your right.
Menchanko Tei is located at the beginning of Keaumoku, across of Mcdonalds.
Dining during lunch hours,
We were lucky to catch their lunch specials.
What a deal starting at 9.50.
Except I really didn’t understand what some of the items are on the menu.
The waitress had to explain to me a few times, Hakata & Kikuzo ramen are.
One is shoyu & the other is pork broth.
After studying the lunch special, I finally made a decision
My order: Nanban Don & Mini ramen (9.50)
It came out so nice on a tray with the following, bowl of rice with Nanban Chicken.
(Nanban is Karaage Chicken)
(3 pieces with premium rice), pork ramen, 3 pieces of fried tofu, salad, & tsukemono.
This is lots of food for 9.50!
I really enjoyed my food!
The ramen broth is so tasty & I just love the ramen noodles, its thin & cooked to perfection.
The Nanban Chicken is really tasty, it wasn’t oily, the chicken was cooked just right with the right flavor.
I took half of my chicken, tofu, & rice home. I was stuffed!
Thank you Kristine C. for having lunch with me! This is so nice!
Happy that my bookmarked dream finally came true!
Over-​all,
This Great place for a quick lunch @ a reasonable price & very tasty food!
Menchanko Rules!
I can’t wait for more visit to Menchanko Tei!

Great food, great service, at a reasonable price couldn’t ask for more!
Even though it was our first time here, the server was so patient with us, answering all our questions about the menu. It was very hard to decide what we wanted to order because everything looked good. (They had the combo menu drawn so you could actually see what it consisted of.)
We all ordered from the drawn combo menu and I was shocked at how big the portions were. On Maui, there’s no way you can get those kind of portions for such a great price! The tonkatsu was so delicious, nice and juicy and they even make a special sauce for you to add to your cabbage. The tonkatsu combo comes with tonkatsu and unlimited miso soup, cabbage, and rice. Our friend, who’s from Oahu, who took us there for lunch, told us that you can ask for more miso soup, cabbage, and rice if you would like more. How awesome is that? The rice was really good, it was a short grained rice and it had a pleasant fluffy texture, cooked to perfection. The miso soup was really good too with lots of flavor. (I hate when it is watery with no flavor, this was not the case.) My brother-​in-​law claims this was one of the best menchanko dishes he’s every had, with an authentic flavor, just like you’re eating it in Japan.
You can taste the quality they put into making their dishes. I can’t say enough how delicous our meals were. We enjoyed every part of our dining experience since the first step and welcoming «irrashaimase» greeting when we walked in through the restaurant’s entrance. We definitely recommend trying this place if you love menchanko and katsu.

The ramen here was blah, the broth didn’t have any flavor. The hard boiled egg that came with the ramen was cold. I will say that our waitress was very sweet, so service was great.

It’s been a couple years since I’ve been here. I remember thinking last time that it was OK, and couldn’t really think of a reason why I hadn’t been back. But since there was a long wait at another place, we decided to give it another try.
There is a parking lot but the spaces are tight and it was hard to get out of the car without banging the door. But we got seated quickly and noticed everyone seated around us speaking Japanese which is a good sign.
Decided to order the miso menchanko since the name of the restaurant is menchanko-​tei, after all. It was OK, as I remembered. The broth was OK, the noodles were OK, everything was just OK. I thought that it was maybe a little skimpy on the ingredients for a chankonabe. But it was a homestyle dish that reminded me of meals that my family would make at home. I guess that’s why I haven’t been back in a few years. The food is OK, but I can make something like it at home and not have to deal with the tight parking.

What can i say about Menchanko Tei? All i can say is that every time we come here, we always get great service from the older Asian Lady who is always smiling and is always cheerful and it’s qualities like this that make us want to come here when we have a hankering for some really good Tonkatsu and Menchanko if you are looking for noodles in a light and soothing broth. It always hits the spot for us.
Located on Koreamoku St, right in front of Yakiniku Don Day, Menchanko Tei was a very popular restaurant in Waikiki and lord knows why they moved, but i am very happy they did because i never liked going into Waikiki to eat in the first place. So it was like a blessing in disguise for me as the location they are at right now is perfect and the parking situation at times can be quite grueling but not that bad.
What Menchanko Tei is usually known for their Menchanko which means foods mixed together in one huge bowl and one of the items we always order is the Menchanko Tei which is noodles in broth topped off with Pork, Shrimp, Tofu, and Vegetables. I love the light broth and the texture of the noodles. This item is very subtle and not heavy like other types of Ramen Broth. That’s why i like it so much because it doesn’t leave me feeling queasy and bloated.
But you know noodles ain’t gonna fill this Big Boy up, so i always order the Pork Tonkatsu here. The Pork Tonkatsu here is always cooked to perfection and i always order the Prime Pork Tonkatsu and when you do, i highly recommend you order it as a set menu and i“ll tell you why. When you order the Tonkatsu Set, it comes with Miso Soup, Rice, and Shredded Cabbage. Now here’s the kicker. As in most Tonkatsu restaurant’s in Japan, you are always entitled to eat as much Rice, Soup, and Shredded Cabbage till your hearts content and the same rules apply here at Menchanko Tei. I love Japanese Rice and the rice here is always light and fluffy and so Japanese. And i will tell you something about the Shredded Cabbage. The dressing here for the Shredded Cabbage here at Menchanko Tei is F*CKEN AMAZEBALLS!!! The Onion Dressing that you put on top of the cabbage is sinfully delicious.
Believe me, if i had the chance to drink this dressing right out of the bottle i would. It’s that good. You will see what i mean when you eat it. The only problem with eating a lot of cabbage is that i get really gassy after eating it and the ride home in the car isn’t a very pleasant one for my other half who has to leave the car windows down throughout the trip or else…
As for the Tonkatsu, it’s always cooked perfectly and another reason i love coming here is that they have sesame seeds you grind up and then you add the Tonkatsu Sauce to it giving the sauce a nutty and fragrant taste and perfect texture. They even put a dollop of Mustard on the side of the plate if you want to add a little kick to it. I always leave here very satisfied.
As for the other items they have on the menu, if you want to order things on the menu, they do have Hot Pot if you wish and they also have an Ala Carte Menu if you want to eat Izakaya style. As for us, we are always a creature of habit and never order anything other than the usual which is the Menchanko Tei and Tonkatsu Set’s here at Menchanko Tei.
To some people, it;s just a ho hum place for them, but for me and my other half, we really love the friendly atmopshere and vibe here which makes us come back time and time again.
Menchanko Tei is at the top of our list for amazing Tonkatsu and Noodles and that Onion Dressing… I’M IN HEAVEN

The food is pretty good. We’ve had the Menchanko noodle dishes, some ramen, and the tonkatsu dishes. All are good and the portions are generous. They offer complimentary barley and cold green tea if you want. But I really like the service here. The ladies are always so friendly and very accommodating and that says a lot because I have three young kids who can be a handful at times. The main server has adjusted the seats quite a few times to make it more comfortable for my youngest (3 yo). We also recently celebrated my daughters bday there and they had some small plates and helped us with candles on the bday cake. All with a smile and a great helpful attitude.
I always appreciate good food but also love great service. This place has both so I heartily give it a 5 star recommendation.

I’ve driven by this quasi hole-​in-​the-​wall place so many times as it is along Keeaumoku (right across the street of McDonalds). I’m always on the lookout for good katsu and ramen places, so, while hunting for a go-​to place, I came across this gem.
Menchanko Tei offers ramen, katsu, and nabe, as well as various other appetizers to go along with the main entrée. I haven’t tried everything that they offer, but the items that I’ve tried are DELICIOUS.
APPETIZERS:
Gyoza — their gyoza is tasty. It’s not the same flavor as other ramen shops… it’s different. Not bad. Just different. It also has a chewier texture.
Nanban fried chicken — the chicken pieces are good pieces (not fatty or tough to eat pieces). They are perfectly fried to give a good crunch while they still have a nice, juicy inside. The chicken is served with a sauce that has been poured over the pieces. The sauce is what makes this appetizer amazing. It is a slightly sweet, thin sauce. I’ve never tasted anything like it. Highly recommend trying this.
ENTREES:
Pork katsu set — the pork katsu is good. It’s not my favorite katsu on island, but it is still tasty. Not oily, still crispy outside (and let’s face it, people love the crispy outside). Maybe it’s the katsu I had that one time, but the piece of katsu I had, had more fat in it than I would have preferred. The set included rice, cabbage, and miso soup (all are unlimited). Keep in mind that the pork katsu is about $ 12 and the set is another $ 3.
Zabu zabu ramen — cold ramen. I LOVE cold noodles, especially with this summer heat that seems to constantly suffocate me with its sweat-​inducing humidity. The zabu zabu ramen is perfect for this weather. The noodles come with cucumber slices, red ginger, ham, egg, shiitake mushrooms, and nori. The broth is what makes this one of my favorite cold noodles… ever. The broth is light and very refreshing. When tasting the broth with a bite of the ginger and noodles, there is the nice tang of citrus from the broth (or, maybe it’s all in my head…) and the spice from the ginger just works so well together. The noodles used in this dish is cooked perfectly where the noodles aren’t mushy and has a nice chewy texture. I could eat this dish every day, even during the winter season. I usually add one of Menchanko Tei’s hard boiled eggs to the dish to give it more protein.
The shop’s atmosphere is welcoming. The chopsticks and napkins for the customers are found in these glasses on each table. The waitresses are always friendly and accommodating.

Came here for lunch with mum. Okay let’s be short and brief … The Kaki (oyster)Fry… And ramen combo was a no Bueno rating from my mum.
I ordered the Nanba Don and ramen set. Quite disappointed. Not much taste in my agendas hi-​abura. By far salad and tsukemono was on point…
But that’s not the reason I came here to eat lunch for. But hey at least we tried some Hakata Flavor ramen. Just not the same as motherland tasting ramen.

A friend recommended this place for lunch since we only have one hour to walk, sit, eat and be merry and talk before our lunch hour is over.
Menchanko Tei is located on Keeaumoku across the street from the HMSA Center (literally across the street). This little hidden gem is not a very big place, however, the use of the small space is used exceptionally efficient with the little space they do have. Lunch was around 12pm and there were no waiting involved. We were seated right away after entering the establishment at a small booth for two. This cute ramen place had a good selection of ramen choices, gyoza rice and simple pork and chicken curry rice choices, to small simple desserts (Custard Pudding? Yes!) I ordered from their lunch special and decided on the Noodle E. Yakibura Bowl.
Wait, rewind! Before deciding on anything, I needed a translator to do some translating for me. I had no idea what Torikara Nanban Set or Kakuni Don is. The extent of what I knew on the lunch special was Katsu Curry Pork/​chicken… and that’s about it. My buddy, thank goodness has tried everything here and I was given a quick 101 on what was involved in my plate. Going back to my choice of the Noodle E. Yakibura Bowl, consisted of tofu, green onions, ramen, shrimp veggies and meat and along with some others I may have missed. This ramen bowl is served in a rather large metal bowl with a side of char siu pork over white rice. A friend of mine had ordered the same and we’ve had to take them to go and eat the rest at the office. This lovely concoction is the perfect meal for the hungry. Super flavorful and light to the stomach without leaving you hungry again for several hours. I will come back here again to try many of their other dishes for lunch and dinner.
This is a great place for lunch and for those working around the area. The wait time for your food to arrive doesn’t take long and it is possible to sit, eat, talk and be merry for a quick hour. The service is superb and the staff is welcoming.

Located in an area of Honolulu far from the glitz of Waikiki, this is the first place I went to after my long plane ride. I was so hungry I would have considered McDonalds a top-​notch experience at that point so the bar was low. Luckily the reviews were correct and the restaurant was awesome. I had the fried pork, which I learned is to be dunked in a dark sauce mix with sesame seeds I crushed myself in with a mortar and pestle.

Deep in the bowels of Koreamoku lies a ramen shop that is probably the one of island’s best at the moment.
Wife and I tried this place twice and were equally surprised each time how good it was.
The first time we came in for lunch.
You can find ample parking in the back if you want to avoid the Keeaumoku Interstate.
I had the lunch special with a small bowl of ramen and a piece of Saba (mackerel) that was grilled up nicely with little char marks.
It was oishi.
The second time we came, wife tried the Menchanko ramen which is a light and flavorful pork based broth.
The noodles have a nice chewy-​firm texture and we asked if they were house made.
The waitress said they were not, but Sun Noodle makes them with Menchanko Tei’s recipe.
Close enough to house made for me.
I had the Menchanko Miso ramen which is the the same as above with a richer miso base.
The décor is modern and the artwork on the walls and menu is hand drawn giving this restaurant heart.
Service was very fast and friendly and this place is open to 11pm for you late night shifters.
Dinner for two is less than $ 30.
They serve beer and wine here, but we did not partake.
You have to stay on your toes in this ‘hood.
Kampai!

This is me and my bf’s go-​to place when we’re craving noodles. We both absolutely love the regular menchanko. We’ve diverted from the usual order a couple times, but we always end up enjoying the menchanko the best. Menchanko is made up of thick, textured noodles (the closest thing I can compare it to is maybe Okinawan soba, but it’s its own classification of noodle). This has been the only noodle place I’ve been excited to frequent over the past couple years since the ramen scene is pretty dismal on Oahu. I love the yuzukosho (spicy yuzu sauce) that they make and serve alongside the menchanko. It adds a spicy citrus kick to the broth.
Mahalo Menchanko Tei for consistently serving quality food in a friendly atmosphere. You know we’ll be back. ^.^