With its main store located in Okayama City, the ramen shop "Mensake Isshoan" has received high praise from the Michelin Guide and the Okayama Ramen Grand Prix.
In 2024, Isshoan opened "Mensake Isshoan Tenmaya Kurashiki" at Tenmaya in front of JR Kurashiki Station.
The soup made from carefully selected ingredients, the specially crafted noodles, and beautifully arranged toppings.
One cannot help but be drawn to the stylish and appetizing visuals of the ramen.
Additionally, the selection of alcoholic beverages, snacks, and side dishes is also appealing.
Let's delve into the characteristics and features of Mensake Isshoan Tenmaya Kurashiki.
Mensake Isshoan was established in Nakayashita, Okayama City, as a place to enjoy ramen and sake
Mensake Isshoan (hereinafter referred to as "Isshoan") is a ramen shop located in Okayama City.
The first store was opened in Nakayashita 1-chome in Okayama's city center, and further, "Mensake Isshoan Seitenyagura" focusing on Kasaoka ramen has been developed in Nakasendo (Okayama City, Kita Ward).
The Okayama main store, which became the first store, opened in 2018.
At Isshoan, ramen is referred to as "Chicken Chuka Soba", characterized by a base soup that allows you to taste the umami of the parent chicken and the use of specially made noodles.
In the "Michelin Guide Kyoto, Osaka + Okayama 2021", it received the "Michelin Plate", and in the "Okayama Ramen Grand Prix", it achieved 1st place in 2021 and 3rd place in the Bizen area in 2022.
The Tenmaya Kurashiki Store opened in 2024.
It is located on the 6th floor of Tenmaya, in an area where restaurants are gathered.
The interior is spacious, with counter seats and table seats available.
The large number of seats makes it convenient for families and groups to use, which is a nice point.
Menu of Mensake Isshoan Tenmaya Kurashiki
Information as of July 2025. Prices include tax.
The ramen at Mensake Isshoan Tenmaya Kurashiki comes in four main types.
- Chicken Chuka Soba with Clams
- Chicken Chuka Soba with Raw Soy Sauce
- Chicken Chuka Soba with Salt
- Chicken Chuka Soba with Raw Soy Sauce, Spicy Version
All of them are ramen made with carefully selected ingredients, and the beautiful presentation is also a characteristic feature.
The side menu and value set menus are also substantial. There is a children's menu, so it's safe for families with children.
During lunch, there are also great lunch sets.
Additionally, as indicated by the name "Noodle and Sake," Isshoan offers not only ramen but also delicious snacks and a selection of alcoholic beverages.
Japanese sake and chuhai are also a focus. There is a "Today's Recommended Sake," which adds to the enjoyment of your visit. The "Three Types of Sake Tasting" is also recommended.
Furthermore, there is a all-you-can-drink menu unique to the Kurashiki location that is not available at other Isshoan branches.
It is also enjoyable as a place for a quick drink, which is one of the charms of Isshoan.
There is also a student discount service available.
Isshoan offers a wide variety of menus. For details, please see the official website.
Popular and Recommended Menu Introduction
Let's introduce the popular menu items and recommended dishes at Isshoan Tenmaya Kurashiki.
Chicken Chuka Soba with Raw Soy Sauce
The Chicken Chuka Soba with Raw Soy Sauce is a popular menu item since the establishment and is the second most popular dish.
On top of the brown soup, a beautiful ring of chicken oil (chiyu) floats. The animal-based broth used in the soup is said to be made only from old hens.
The toppings include mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley), green onions, thick menma (bamboo shoots), soft-boiled salted egg, and low-temperature cooked pork and chicken chashu, with the green onions cut into cylindrical pieces.
The noodles are thin, low-hydration noodles made with a special order from a noodle factory using "cutting blade number 22." They are known for their excellent bite.
The soup has a slightly sweet and spicy soy sauce flavor that spreads, and I also felt the deep flavor of chicken broth.
The thin noodles have a good bite, and the combination of the noodle texture and the soup flavor is excellent.
Additionally, having both pork and chicken chashu is a delightful touch, allowing you to enjoy the differences in flavor between the two types.
Moreover, because it is low-temperature cooked, the unique chewy texture is also enjoyable.
It was so delicious that I ate it eagerly and finished it in no time.
The Chicken Chinese Soba with Raw Soy Sauce is a ramen that allows you to fully enjoy the flavor of soy sauce, making it irresistible for soy sauce lovers.
It gives a different impression compared to typical soy sauce ramen.
Chicken Chinese Soba with Salt
The Chicken Chinese Soba with Salt is a menu item that has been available since the establishment, just like the raw soy sauce version.
The toppings include mitsuba, green onions, thick menma, soft-boiled salted egg, and low-temperature cooked pork and chicken chashu, with the green onions being shredded.
A distinctive feature of the salt version is the colorful arare (rice crackers). They add a vibrant and elegant appearance.
The transparent amber-colored soup is beautiful.
The noodles are thin and low-hydration, similar to those made with raw soy sauce.
The key to the deliciousness of the salt is seafood dashi!
Dashi is extracted from kombu, asari, katsuobushi, urume, saba, and iriko. Shiitake mushrooms are also added.
Thanks to the marriage of chicken and seafood dashi, you can enjoy a light yet punchy flavor.
Of course, the taste of chicken can also be felt. The flavor of the chicken is likely stronger than that of the raw soy sauce.
When you drink the soup, you can feel the taste of chicken dashi while complex and deep flavors spread.
You can also feel the flavor of chicken oil, and the umami can be enjoyed along with just the right amount of saltiness.
The crisp, thin noodles pair well with the soup.
The general image of salt ramen is light in flavor, and I had the impression that it lacks impact. However, the salt at Isshoan is light yet satisfying with a rich umami flavor.
Salt has a certain popularity and is said to have a fixed fan base.
Chicken Chuka Soba Clam
The Chicken Chuka Soba Clam is the most popular menu item at Isshoan and is a representative ramen of the shop.
It contains common ingredients found in all chicken chuka soba, such as mitsuba, green onions, thick menma, soft-boiled salted egg, and low-temperature cooked pork and chicken chashu. The green onions are white shredded onions.
In addition, it is topped with chopped raw red onions and shredded nori.
As the name clam suggests, the chicken soup is blended with dashi from clams, asari, and shijimi.
Additionally, homemade scallop oil is used as a fragrant oil. This allows you to enjoy an astonishingly rich harmony of chicken and shellfish.
The soup is a transparent light beige color. When you drink it, the umami of the chicken and the flavor of the shellfish intertwine, creating a deep taste that is addictive and makes you want to sip it repeatedly.
The noodles used are medium-thick noodles. They are custom-made medium-thick noodles made with a "No. 12 round blade" and are used exclusively for the clam.
The chewy texture of the noodles pairs perfectly with the soup.
By eating it with the soup, seaweed, and onions, you can enjoy a different flavor.
Additionally, on top of the seaweed is a garlic paste made from shelled clams, and on top of the chicken chashu is a powdered form of dried scallops.
As you gradually dissolve these into the soup, the flavor of the soup changes even more. It feels like a thoughtful way to enjoy the ramen until the very end.
I thought the Chicken Chuka Soba Clam was a highly satisfying ramen.
Aburi Mayo Oyakodon
The Aburi Mayo Oyakodon is a popular menu item among rice dishes.
The chicken chashu, marinated in soy sauce, is grilled to a fragrant finish and placed on top of rice, along with a sweet and spicy sauce. Additionally, mayonnaise and chopped green onions are added on top.
Originally, I wanted to create a rice dish that pairs well with salt ramen.
When I made the chicken chashu, I also thought of the oyakodon.
In fact, I have made several minor changes, and it was only recently that I started adding mayonnaise.
The combination of the sweet and spicy sauce, the grilled fragrant flavor, and the crunchy texture of the chicken chashu is excellent.
With each bite, the umami of the chicken is felt, and the rice keeps going down.
Aburi Shime Saba Meshi
The Aburi Shime Saba (grilled marinated mackerel) meshi is also one of the popular rice dishes.
Grilled shime saba is placed on top of vinegared rice, and chopped perilla leaves are sprinkled on top.
The Aburi Shime Saba meshi was inspired by a ramen shop in Wakayama Prefecture that serves Hayazushi (pressed mackerel sushi).
During my trip around Japan, I actually ate it locally and thought, "This is delicious," and "This is a great culture," so I incorporated it.
However, making it in the form of pressed sushi is burdensome, so I arranged it as a rice dish.
While it has a refreshing taste, you can also feel the grilled aroma. It's just the right balance. The flavor of the perilla complements it well, making it delicious. The acidity of the vinegared rice is mild.
Adding a little wasabi gives it a spicy accent.
The Aburi Shime Saba meshi is refreshing, so it pairs well with ramen.
Enjoy stylish ramen packed with the rich flavor of free-range chicken at Men-sake Isshoan Tenmaya Kurashiki.
We interviewed Hiroshi Ohno, the representative of Ichiterasu Co., Ltd..
Data for Men-sake Isshoan Tenmaya Kurashiki
| Name | Men-sake Isshoan Tenmaya Kurashiki |
|---|---|
| Address | 6th Floor, Tenmaya Kurashiki, 1-7-1 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-426-2639 |
| Parking | None Affiliated parking available at Tenmaya Kurashiki |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Last order at 9:45 PM) |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular Wednesdays |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservations | No |
| Seating | Total 41 seats ・Counter: 7 seats ・4-person tables: 4 tables ・6-person tables: 3 tables |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilet, barrier-free toilet |
| Childcare | Diaper changing table Child-friendly utensils available Strollers allowed |
| Barrier-Free | Barrier-free toilet, elevator Wheelchair accessible |
| Website | Ramen Izakaya "Men-sake Isshoan Kurashiki" |
The low-hydration noodles are boiled firm, allowing them to gradually absorb the soup, changing their texture and flavor.
As the temperature of the soup decreases, the umami of the chicken is complemented by seafood flavors such as "shotturu" (fermented fish sauce).
Efforts have been made to enjoy the changing flavors within a single bowl of ramen as you eat!