DINING

2026.10.19

[Ramen Exploration] A 2-minute walk from Yokohama, Keikyu Tsurumi Station, visiting "Men Don" to eat char siu ramen

A 2-minute walk from Yokohama, Keikyu Tsurumi Station. At the long-loved "Men Don," I ordered char siu ramen on a Saturday afternoon. The hot bowl that arrived in 4 minutes was satisfying, with the fat clinging to the noodles, like a shoyu tanmen topped with char siu.

Two minutes on foot from Keikyu Tsurumi Station, to a shop I had been curious about

In Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, there is a long-loved local shop called "Mendon," just a short walk from Keikyu Tsurumi Station. The historical noren (fabric divider) caught my attention, and after learning about it through word of mouth, I had thought, "I want to visit someday." However, I had never entered the shop until now.

That day was a weekend afternoon, just before 1 PM when I usually get hungry, so I decided to take the plunge and visit. I was filled with anticipation as I made my way there.

As I entered the alleyway from the bustling street, the atmosphere quietly changed

Upon exiting the ticket gates at the station, a lively scene of restaurants lined up in front of the station spread out before me. Walking down the street where the shops are located, red lanterns, bento shops, and supermarkets lined the sides, with local people going about their shopping and riding bicycles.

The sidewalk isn't very wide, but I made my way through while passing by people with strollers and bicycles. The sky was clear, presenting a relaxed Saturday afternoon vibe.

As I turned into a narrow alley from the street, the foot traffic immediately decreased, and the scenery transformed into a quiet blend of buildings and residences.

In the middle of the alley, there was a coin parking lot, with a basic fee of 330 yen for 20 minutes, and a maximum fee of 2300 yen for 24 hours displayed. This is for reference if you are going by car.

We arrived at "Mendon," which has a noren for fresh soba and a rich menu.

As we proceeded down the alley, we saw a red Kirin beer sign with the words "Mendon."

The navy blue noren says "Fresh Soba," indicating it's more of a soba shop than a street Chinese restaurant. There are potted plants lined up at the entrance. From the noren alone, it’s clear that this is a long-established shop that has been serving the local community for a long time.

Handwritten menus lined up in the window and notices you want to know before entering.

There were several handwritten menus posted on the window next to the entrance. Nabe-yaki udon 950 yen, beer (medium) 620 yen, sake 520 yen. Even just for ramen, there are many types such as wakame, corn, and miso butter, along with menus for soba, udon, katsudon, oyakodon, curry rice, and yakisoba, making it possible for several people to enjoy meals according to their preferences.

Next to the window, there was a sign stating "smoking permitted" and "no entry for those under 20." This is an important point for those who are not fond of tobacco or are with children to know before going.

There are 7 counter seats in a Showa-era interior with the sound of a television playing.

Upon opening the door, my eyes fell upon the worn wooden counter and the shelves in the back lined with dishes, condiments, and small ornaments. There are 7 counter seats and 2 tables for four. The walls are decorated with handwritten menus on orange paper, and there is a television as well.

Since there were no other customers in the store at that moment, I settled into a table seat. The low hum of an old refrigerator echoed, and the sounds of the television and the kitchen overlapped, creating a peaceful atmosphere in the store. The retro ambience made me feel light-hearted.

I placed my order exactly at 1 PM, and the ramen arrived in 4 minutes.

The person standing in the kitchen appears to be the owner, a man. When I ordered the Chashu Ramen (820 yen) at exactly 1 PM, it was served just 4 minutes later.

The soup is generously poured into a white bowl with a blue line, steaming hot. Slices of Chashu are piled high above the clear soy sauce-colored soup, and it was immediately clear that it was substantial. In the middle, there is a Naruto, and around it, the garnish of chopped green onions is a traditional touch.

As I slurp the noodles, the fat clings to them, and vegetables stir-fried under the Chashu!?

First, I take a spoonful of the soup. The transparent amber-colored broth has a strong flavor overall and spreads throughout my mouth while still hot. On the ladle, a layer of fat floats glistening on the surface, adding richness.

I try lifting the noodles with chopsticks. They are slightly thick, yellowish, wavy noodles, and as I twirl them, the rich fat lightly clings to the noodles. The grooves in the curly noodles hold the soup well, and with every bite, a slightly rich flavor spreads.

From beneath the laid-out chashu, a generous portion of stir-fried vegetables appeared. Bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, and green leafy vegetables lifted along with the noodles, resembling soy sauce tanmen. Not only the chashu but the crisp texture of the vegetables provided a pleasant accent to the rich soup and curly noodles.

The flavorful chashu stood out, not losing its presence against the strong soup.

The main chashu might show a pale pink color on the cross-section, but its edges are grilled to a fragrant brown. Each piece is large, stacked several layers high in the bowl, presenting a luxurious sight unique to chashu ramen.

When picked up with chopsticks, it has a substantial thickness, and just lifting it conveys its presence. Once in the mouth, the flavor is well infused, and with each bite, the taste of the meat spreads. Even while soaked in the rich soup, the flavor of the chashu doesn’t get overshadowed; rather, it combines with the taste of the soup, creating a flavor that makes you crave rice.

Even after finishing one piece, there were still several pieces of chashu left in the bowl, allowing me to savor the meat thoroughly until the last slice.

The spiral of naruto sitting in the middle adds a nostalgic touch typical of old-style ramen, and just looking at it makes me happy. With chashu, vegetables, and noodles, each bite offers a different texture that makes it hard to put down the chopsticks.

Even without flamboyance, I find myself wanting to visit just to eat this

In a narrow alley just off a lively street, there was a shop that felt like it had the atmosphere of the Showa era still intact. Handwritten menus lined the walls, and time flowed slowly. And there was a steaming hot bowl.

Even without flamboyance, I feel like I understand a little of the sentiment of those who want to come and eat this.

While I was eating, a man entered the shop and sat at the counter. I realized that, including such ordinary daily scenes, this shop has been loved by locals for a long time.

When I finished my meal and left the shop, I could see the navy blue noren and the red Kirin beer signboard shining in the afternoon light. Next, I would like to try other dishes such as the katsudon and yakisoba, which were listed on the handwritten menu.

Men Don
Location: 4-12-8 Tsurumichuo, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Reporting and text by SYURI

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