Born from French cuisine, the salt ramen goes beyond the norm MEN SONAN SONAN
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MEN SONAN, located in Sannomiya, Kobe, has the theme "There's no end to ramen. Establishing a new ramen." The restaurant serves authentic ramen that was developed after extensive research by the creative Italian restaurant "Development cuisine" in the same area as the next new genre. The main ramen ...
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Table of Contents
- What is "MEN SONAN SONAN"?
- The noodles, soup, and ingredients are all handmade.
- It's not just about tasting "salt Ramen"
- Seasonal ramen is interesting!
- It's also nice to have a drink with some French-style snacks.
- Ordering Method and Manners
- A word from the female owner, Tomoko Sonan
- Souvenirs and mail order
What is "MEN SONAN SONAN"?
MEN SONAN is a salt Ramen specialty restaurant that opened in September 2022.
The shio Ramen is the culmination of extensive research by the owner-chef of creative French restaurant "Sonan Development cuisine." It is made with a well-balanced mix of shellfish, chicken carcasses, and aromatic vegetables, and is seasoned with a special salt sauce, resulting in a simple yet deep flavor. The restaurant has a stylish exterior that makes it hard to believe it is a ramen shop, and when you open the door, the interior that spreads out at the back is an inorganic space with exposed concrete, a vaulted ceiling, and black-and-white interior, making it more reminiscent of a Western restaurant than a place to eat ramen. There is only counter seating, and the tables are wide and open, with nothing placed in front of you, and necessities such as chopsticks, toothpicks, and pepper stored in drawers, making it easy to see the concept of the restaurant, which places the highest priority on "cleanliness." This is a high-quality ramen shop that has been designed to be welcoming to women alone.
Access to "MEN SONAN SONAN"
It is located within walking distance of Sannomiya , the center of Kobe city.
8-minute walk from JR Sannomiya Station , 8-10-minute walk from Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station , 8-10-minute walk from Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station , 8-10-minute walk from Trade Center Station on the Kobe New Transit Port Island Line
It's not very close, but about a 7-minute drive away, there is the theater-style aquarium " atoa (AQUARIUM×ART)". This is a new urban aquarium that combines aquariums and art, and features a symbolic tank that forms the theme of the zone, as well as numerous aquatic art pieces that can be enjoyed with all five senses. The highlight is the fantastical, original, and immersive worldview. Be sure to check it out too!
For details, click here↓
The noodles, soup, and ingredients are all handmade.
The second priority is to "cook everything from scratch in-house."
The noodle-making room is located at the very back of the store, and the noodles are made in-house, reflecting the store's commitment to quality. The noodles are made using whole wheat flour with a high water content, and are made with a rich wheat aroma, a chewy texture, and a smooth texture.
The soup, which makes the noodles taste even better, is exquisite, light yet rich, and it is no exaggeration to say that this is the key to the restaurant. It is a luxurious taste that allows you to feel the broth of Tanba chicken , the umami of shellfish , and the aroma of aromatic vegetables .
The sea of soup in which the homemade noodles swim is topped with two types of luxuriously handmade char siu, also prepared in-house! The two types are pork shoulder roast that is cooked over a whole day until it is meltingly tender, and chicken breast that is slow-cooked with a yuzu scent to create a moist finish.
In addition to the standard Shio Ramen (pork and chicken char siu + onion + wakame shell), there is also the luxurious, top-of-the-line Special (double char siu + seasoned egg + butter), but the shop also offers the polar opposite, the Dare No Kake (onion + wakame shell), which is a show of their confidence.
We are particular about the sense of speed and liveliness...
The owner-chef couple are also particular about the speed of cooking , and I can sympathize with their thoughts when they say, "We can increase customer satisfaction by not making them wait." In addition, in a shop with a good view, you can enjoy the live feeling of watching the ramen being made as the bowls arrive.
Attention to ingredients
The ingredients used are mainly from the owner's hometown of Okinawa and his local Hyogo prefecture. The restaurant's goal of achieving zero food waste is also reflected in the quality of its food.
It's not just about tasting "salt Ramen"
The toppings are simple yet well thought out. The simple salt is just an option that lets you feel the chef's desire for you to develop the Ramen to your liking.
The "seasoned egg" is TORORI and soft , soaked in the delicious flavor of pork . The Aguni salted seaweed is delicious whether you add it to the soup or wrap it around rice, and the crunchy onion topping, known as "four times the onion ," is also a must-try. There are also items available for flavor change, such as the free yuzu pepper, Snow Brand butter , which adds richness and punch, and the raw seaweed namul , which turns the soup into soy sauce ramen, which is especially recommended. The rice dishes on the side menu are also recommended, but you might also want to try the soy sauce flavor with the seasoned extra noodles .
There is also a wide selection of rice dishes!
For rice dishes, we recommend "Jushii," a rice dish with ingredients from Okinawa! (Limited quantity available at lunchtime)
The two types of egg on rice available, "Salted Raw Egg on Rice" and "Rice with Raw Seaweed on Egg on Rice," are so good you'll want to try them both.
Another great thing is that they serve free white rice during weekday lunch times!
Seasonal ramen is interesting!
Another fun thing about MEN SONAN is the seasonal ramen. They offer ramen that is perfect for the season. For example, many customers come to try their carefully crafted ramen, such as chicken broth, tsukesoba, and ramen that can be changed to taste with different toppings.
↑The photo is an example.
Spring limited edition: Salt-flavored tsukesoba (rich) / top left, Summer limited edition: Cold Ramen/ top right,
Autumn limited edition: Salted chicken soup/bottom left, Winter limited edition: Salted miso soup/bottom right
It's also nice to have a drink with some French-style snacks.
The beer they use is Sapporo Lager (Aka-Boshi), which is said to be the oldest beer in Japan. To go with this smooth drink, we recommend meat dishes that follow the French style. Toasting with Aka-Boshi, you can enjoy a nice drink time with "Otsumami Char Siu" pork char siu in a special soup or "Otsumami Chicken Ham" moist chicken ham with a special green onion salt sauce.
Ordering Method and Manners
Here we will introduce how to order and proper etiquette.
How to line up and points to note
When there is a line in front of a store, you will have to wait in line. There are a few things to keep in mind when doing so.
1. Line up at the back.
2. Line up once everyone is present.
3. Don't interrupt.
4. Do not block the entrances of other shops or homes.
5. Don't spread out too much on the road. Line up in a straight line.
Please follow the rules so that everyone can have a good time.
How to order
There are two main ways to order at ramen restaurants in Japan: buying a ticket from a machine called a ticket vending machine, or looking at the menu and ordering verbally.
If you order from the ticket machine, hand the ticket to the staff before sitting down and they will guide you to your seat. If you order verbally, you will be guided to your seat and you can order after you sit down.
At "MEN SONAN," you order through the ticket machine . After entering the store, select your preferred menu item from the machine and purchase a meal ticket.
Payment methods: Cash and QR code payment (cards and electronic money not accepted)
A word from the female owner, Tomoko Sonan
"Shio Ramen" is said to be difficult to make precisely because it is so simple. The owner took on the challenge to create this flavor, and will make each bowl with the delicacy that only a woman can have, so please come and visit us.
We also offer seasonal menus on an irregular basis, so stay tuned!
Souvenirs and mail order
"MEN SONAN" has an EC site so that you can enjoy it at home. You will be amazed at the quality, which is comparable to what you would eat at a restaurant. It also makes a great gift.
Store holidays and business hours
[Business hours] 11:00-15:00, 17:00-22:00 *Business hours may be subject to change.
【Store Closed】Irregular holidays: Posted on Instagram.
Please check Instagram for opening hours and store holidays.
Written by
Tokyo
"I want to spread the culture of women being able to eat ramen alone." With that thought in mind, she started eating out 20 years ago. She is a ramen-loving woman who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and eats more than 600 bowls a year. While there are many male ramen freaks, she is also known for her ramen life, which includes working as a TV personality and maintaining her figure. She organized "Ramen Girls' Gathering," renting out popular ramen shops, and in 2015 held the "1st Ramen Girls Expo" at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. The event, which brings together popular shops from all over the country, was later held in Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo, Kumamoto, and Shizuoka, attracting a total of approximately 750,000 people. In 2018, she founded Ramen Switch Co., Ltd. and released the world's first ramen jewelry brand, "ZURU+.". She produced and published "NOODLE SAKE -Spring, Autumn, Winter-" and "Rice and Agave Ramen-only Craft Sake," and "Tokyo Ramen Collection" (Shobunsha).
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