Tokyo’s famous Menya Itto, also known as The King of Tsukemen, has officially landed in Vancouver – the first North American outpost for Japan’s #1 rated ramen shop. Known for its signature light, smooth, and umami-filled chicken and seafood broth that is slowly simmered for more than 12 hours, Menya Itto is ready for ramen lovers to start slurping up its famous dipping ramen and hot ramen bowls on March 16, 2022 at 1479 Robson Street.
“I am excited to finally open our first North American location this month and Vancouver is the perfect place for our debut, a city filled with people who love to eat ramen,” says Yukihiko Sakamoto, founder, master, and owner of Menya Itto, who trained under “Son of Ramen God” Koji Tashiro, a disciple of the legendary “Ramen God” and tsukemen inventor Kazuo Yamagishi. “Menya Itto means ‘house of ramen – one lantern’, and it is my mission to illuminate a path for others to shine and enjoy ramen all around the world.”
At opening, the menu will feature several ramen dishes and extra toppings, including Menya Itto’s most popular tsukemen, where guests dip cold ramen noodles into hot broth. Its ramen noodles are housemade from seven kinds of specialty flour, giving it the ultimate velvety texture, while possessing a pleasing chewy and toothsome character.
Menya Itto’s launch ramen menu includes:
Menya Itto Signature Chashu Tsukemen
Menya Itto’s Signature broth dipping ramen with shiso-infused crunchy textured chicken balls, three types of chashu (pork belly, pork shoulder, and sous vide chicken), generously thick and wholesome ramen noodles for dipping.
Menya Itto Classic Tsukemen
Menya Itto’s Signature broth dipping ramen with Ajisuke tamago, shiso-infused crunchy textured chicken balls, generously thick and wholesome ramen noodles for dipping
Chashu Noko Gyokai Ramen
Thick and creamy chicken and seafood broth with scallop oil and housemade thin noodles. Served with three types of chashu.
Shio or Shoyu Ramen
Clear chicken soup served with a slice of chashu in housemade thin noodles.
“I really wanted to create a unique ramen style that was lighter but still tasted balanced, rich, complex, while simultaneously intense and heavenly in flavour,” adds Sakamoto. “I hope the Vancouver people will enjoy my take on ramen and try our tsukemen and other dishes.”
Menya Itto Vancouver’s space is 1,800 square foot with 32 seats in the dining room and eight at the counter. The restaurant is warm and inviting, filled with custom wooden tables, design accents, and a Mount Fuji-inspired artwork on the wall. There is a square-shaped communal table at the front, highlighted by a tree centrepiece.
Menya Itto has ranked #1 in Tabelog Japan’s ramen listings for seven years in a row, a great honour considering there are more than 50 thousand ramen shops in Japan. Tabelog is voted through reviews from critics, food enthusiasts, tourists, and locals alike and is one of the most coveted awards in Japan, equivalent to the Michelin star and Grammy Awards.
Guests can begin experiencing Menya Itto in Vancouver on March 16, 2022 for its soft opening week. During this time, there will be limited bowls available starting from 11:30 a.m. until sold-out for lunch and from 5 p.m. until sold-out for dinner. At launch, Menya Itto will be able to serve 20 people at a time. Seating is first come, first serve.
For more information, please visit www.menya-itto-canada.com or stay up-to-date via its Instagram account at @menyaittoca.
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