Jinrui Mina Menrui (人類みな麺類) - many feel they're the best Osaka ramen shop. They now have a shop in Tokyo too! This means the same delicious ramen featuring massive blocks of chashu pork.
Best Osaka Ramen?
On several ramen ranking websites, Jinrui Mina Menrui is at the very top. Run by the Osaka-based Unchi group, they’re also one of the top ranked in all of Japan.
Their new Tokyo location is in the swanky but ramen-competitive Ebisu neighborhood. They serve three delicious ramen – let’s see what these three are all about!
1. “Genten” Ramen
In all three of their ramen, the soup is chiefly chicken bones and asari and shijimi clams. However, in each of them they tweak a few things. This dramatically changes the flavoring.
The “Genten” ramen’s soy sauce seasoning is on the sweeter side. There are also subtle notes of bonito fish (katuso). As an oil, they pour this on top.
2. “Micro” Ramen
In the “Micro” ramen they employ a thicker and more concentrated soy sauce. If you’re seeking bolder flavors, this bowl is for you.
Furthermore, they mix white wine with this dark soy sauce (shoyu). It’s thick and sticky and will almost remind of teriyaki sauce.
3. “Macro” Ramen
The “Macro” ramen might be the most popular bowl. It has the lightest and most delicate soy sauce seasoning of the three.
This ensures that the clam flavor really comes alive. The chicken bones in the soup give it balance. But it’s the clams in this one that emerge victorious.
Massive Chashu Pork Slabs
In any of the ramen, you’re treated to massive slabs of chashu pork. Cooked in a pressure cooker, they’re wonderfully soft. It’s almost hard to pick them up with your chopsticks.
You get to choose whether you want 1 or 2 slabs. But they’re so good that you’ll definitely want to get 2.
Other Toppings, Noodles
As to the other toppings, you get thick blocks of menma (bamboo shoots). They’ve been marinated in a special soy sauce. In addition, you get get a big pile of negi (spring onions).
The noodles are special too. Infused with the same flour used in Sanuki udon, they’re thick and slippery…like udon. But they’re properly firm, as ramen noodles should be.
All noodles are made on site at their Tokyo shop – just like in Osaka.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you’re in Tokyo or Osaka, Jinrui Mina Menrui is not to be missed. While it’s fun to visit them in Osaka, they’ve made sure to serve the exact same fabulous ramen in Tokyo.
They don’t skip anything…and it shows in Tokyo too.
Tokyo Shop:
Osaka (Flagship) Shop:
Check out my video review below!