01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Step through the sliding door of Menya Ryu in the residential quarter of Nishi-Arai, Adachi Ward, and the first thing that catches your eye is the noodle-making machine stationed inside. The menu centers on 2 varieties of house-crafted noodles, each formulated with different wheat blends to achieve a distinct aroma and mouthfeel. The 100% domestic wheat thin noodles combine flours such as Haru yo Koi, Nishino Kaori, and Kitahonami with an increased proportion of whole-wheat flour, offering a silky glide and a fragrant toasted grain character. The high-hydration hand-kneaded curly noodles blend flours including Yumechikara, Mochihime, and Kinryu, yielding a springy elasticity and satisfying chew. Half the pleasure begins right at ordering when choosing between them.
Layered Soy Sauce Depth and Restrained Salt Harmony
Signature bowls like the Garyu and Soryu reveal intricate layers of dashi with every sip. The soy sauce base blends multiple shoyu seasonings, including raw-pressed shoyu, built over animal stocks of whole chicken and pork alongside katsuobushi, dried niboshi sardine, and kombu, creating a broth that is clean yet rich with gentle umami depth. The salt broth rounds out the sharpness, allowing the unadorned sweetness and refined finish of the dashi to shine. Chashu toppings feature varied textures across cuts like pork shoulder and tender chicken, while the special toppings add wontons and Okuda pastured eggs for a generous bowl.
Tsukesoba, Seasonal Specials, and a Thoughtful Side Menu
Seasonal and limited offerings frequently appear, including kombu water tsukesoba—where the noodles rest in chilled kelp water to be sampled plain before dipping—and broth made from akazara scallops. For an extra bite, diners often add a seasoned aedama noodle refill or rice bowls such as the seared chicken thigh steak don or the hearty chashu don. You can also linger before your bowl over plate wontons or a chashu platter paired with Heartland beer, a highball, or a gin cocktail.
Seating is centered on a calm counter, making it easy to focus on the dialogue between noodle and broth even when dining solo. Whether you choose the smooth glide of the thin noodles or savor the rich spring of the hand-kneaded curly style, each combination offers its own quiet appeal.
