Menbaka is one of the most overrated ramen places we’ve been to in Japan.
The ramen itself was bad. Not “overhyped but decent” bad, genuinely bad:
✔️ broth tasted like salty water with oil floating on top
✔️ noodles were undercooked
✔️ everything was greasy and overfried
✔️ ingredients tasted cheap
✔️ absolutely nowhere near the quality you expect in Kyoto
The only reason people hype this place is the fire gimmick. That’s it. You get a few seconds of flames for Instagram and then sit down to eat ramen that would struggle to survive without the social media bait.
We paid around $340 / £270 for the set menu for 3 people with little sake and water, which honestly felt ridiculous. Luxury pricing for food that tasted low-effort and tourist-focused.
The whole place felt greasy, outdated, loud, and built to cycle tourists through as quickly as possible.
Japan has incredible ramen everywhere. That’s what makes Menbaka laughable. In a country known for attention to detail and food quality, this place felt like pure spectacle covering mediocre food.