Menya Kumagai
Experience Sendai’s premier chicken ramen at Menya Kumagai in Tsurugaya, Miyagino-ku. Featuring luscious, potage-like creamy tori paitan (rich chicken broth), delicate Hinai-jidori chicken soba, and exquisitely sous-vide chashu in an in-depth review.
Traveler's Quick Ramen Guide
🔰 4 Simple Steps to Enjoy Ramen in Japan
- 1. Buy Ticket (食券): Choose your bowl & extra toppings at the vending machine.
- 2. Hand Ticket: Sit down and place your ticket on the raised counter for the chef.
- 3. Customization: When asked for preferences, "Futsuu" means normal/standard taste.
- 4. Courtesy: Place your empty bowl on the upper counter and wipe your space with the cloth.
Table of Contents
Shop Overview
Features & Specialties
- Nestled in the residential district of Tsurugaya, Miyagino-ku, Sendai, Menya Kumagai draws countless ramen aficionados from across Tohoku and beyond.
- Holding over 1,460 Google reviews with an outstanding 4.1-star rating and multiple ramen awards, it stands as the vanguard of Sendai’s modern chicken paitan movement.
- The flagship “Rich Chicken Paitan Soba” is brewed from whole domestic chickens and bones simmered intensely for hours into a velvety, creamy emulsion resembling a gourmet chicken potage.
- The alternative “Delicate Chicken Soba” showcases premium Hinai-jidori chicken in a crystal-clear golden broth, perfumed with fragrant aromatic chicken oil and premium raw soy sauce.
- Custom thin straight noodles produced by renowned Kyoto noodle artisan Teigaku offer an elastic snap and smooth glide through the soup.
- Beautifully crowned with two types of succulent low-temperature sous-vide chashu (pork collar and chicken breast), tender long hosaki bamboo shoots, seasoned soft-boiled ajitama egg, and Kujo scallions.
Basic Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-8-16 Tsurugaya, Miyagino-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi |
| Access | 6-minute drive from JR Higashi-Sendai Station / 2-minute walk from Tsurugaya 1-chome bus stop |
| Phone | +81-22-349-4191 |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM / 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Regular Holiday | Open every day (Irregular holidays announced on social media) |
| Special Holidays | Updates posted on official X (Twitter) |
| Seating & Facilities | Counter & table seating, completely non-smoking |
| Smoking Policy | Non-smoking throughout |
| Parking | Available (On-site & secondary lot, approx. 15 parking spots) |
| Official SNS | Official X (Twitter): @365ramen |
| Official Website | https://twitter.com/365ramen?s=09 |
| Other Gourmet Sites | Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?cid=7007739512713656395 |
Main Menu
| Recommended | Category | Menu Item | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Ramen | Special Rich Chicken Paitan Soba (Salt / Shoyu) | ¥1,150 |
| ★ | Ramen | Rich Chicken Paitan Soba | ¥900 |
| ★ | Ramen | Special Delicate Chicken Soba (Hinai-jidori) | ¥1,100 |
| ★ | Tsukemen | Rich Chicken Tsukesoba | ¥980 |
| - | Rice Bowl | Roast Pork Don | ¥380 |
Story & Background: Why This Shop Stands Out
Roots & Philosophy
- Trained under Master Artisans : The owner honed his culinary skills at legendary Tokyo ramen institutions like Menya Itto before returning home to revolutionize Tohoku’s ramen landscape.
- Unrivaled Extraction Craftsmanship : Meticulous temperature control and precise bone-to-water ratios yield a luxurious, silky soup free of any gaminess.
- Duo of Tender Sous-Vide Meats : The gentle cooking method locks in the natural moisture and umami of both pork and chicken cuts.
Recommended Dining Guide
- Sip the Frothy Golden Emulsion : Begin with a spoonful of the creamy soup to experience pure, velvety poultry essence.
- Relish the Teigaku Noodles : Lift the snappy straight noodles, savoring how the emulsion clings to every strand.
- Accent with Black Pepper : Grind fresh black pepper toward the latter half to impart a zesty kick that cuts cleanly through the richness.
Enjoy at Home: Official Products
Currently, there are no official instant noodle packages or nationwide mail-order options provided by Menya Kumagai.
To taste this immaculate chicken paitan and freshly sliced sous-vide meats, a visit to their main shop in Tsurugaya is an absolute must.