City Hall Station ramen dinner with bonito broth: Mentsuru

I stopped by my husband’s office around the time he got off work, and we went to Mentsuru City Hall Branch, a place known among City Hall Station office workers, for dinner. Mentsuru specializes in ramen, and it’s apparently quite famous as a good ramen spot near City Hall Station!! I’d heard lots of office workers come here, so I was curious—and after trying it myself, I could see why it’s so popular.

Mentsuru near Exit 9 of City Hall Station

Mentsuru is near Exit 9 of City Hall Station. Since City Hall Station is served by both Lines 1 and 2, it was definitely easy to get to. It was convenient from my husband’s office too, and it’s in a location that doesn’t feel like a hassle for an after-work meal.

Maybe that’s why there were so many office workers inside. There are lots of companies around City Hall, so plenty of people are looking for somewhere to eat lunch or dinner after work. I could understand why Mentsuru comes up so often as a go-to spot for City Hall Station office workers.

Ordering motsu ramen and black bonito ramen

Mentsuru had two main types of broth: chicken-based ramen and pork-based ramen. The menu was more varied than I expected, so I had a little trouble deciding what to get.

After thinking it over, I chose the motsu ramen! My husband ordered the black bonito ramen. When the two of us order different things and share, we get to try more flavors, haha.

There were regular tables as well as bar seats.

The subtly tangy yuzu pickled radish

One thing I quietly really liked at Mentsuru was the pickled radish. It wasn’t just ordinary danmuji (yellow pickled radish)—it was yuzu pickled radish. It had a subtle yuzu aroma and a refreshing tang, which was lovely. It wasn’t as strongly salty as regular danmuji, and its clean flavor made it perfect for picking at between bites of ramen!

Fried gyoza from the review event

They said we could get fried gyoza by taking part in the review event, so we tried that too. There were four gyoza in total, crisp on the outside and piping hot inside. Seriously, be careful because the filling is hot if you eat them right away, haha.

Still, picking up a warm gyoza and eating it with the ramen was a great combination. It was a nice side dish for when ramen alone feels a little incomplete.

Black bonito ramen with a bold katsuobushi flavor

After a short wait, my husband’s black bonito ramen arrived first. Even from the look of it, the broth seemed rich, and once I tried it, the katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) flavor really hit! I thought the strong bonito aroma might be divisive for some people, but it was more delicious than I expected.

The distinctive bonito flavor came through deeply, but it didn’t feel separate from the ramen broth—it blended in so well, which was interesting. It felt a little different from the ramen I usually eat? It was unusual but delicious, so I kept stealing a few bites, haha. It was my husband’s order, but I kept reaching for it—that kind of flavor, you know?

Motsu ramen loaded with beef offal and brisket

And finally, my motsu ramen arrived! The first thing I liked as soon as it came out was how generously loaded it was. There was quite a lot of beef offal with fatty filling, plus plenty of thin-sliced beef brisket. Sometimes ramen has just a few toppings and loads of noodles, but Mentsuru’s motsu ramen didn’t feel like that at all.

I loved that it was substantial from the start. I think people who like beef offal would really enjoy this menu. You could taste the rich, nutty character of the offal, and with the beef brisket added too, one bowl was seriously filling. I tend to get hungry again soon even after ramen, but that day I ate until I was quite full.

Tasty noodles and a generous portion!!

The noodles suited my taste too. It wasn’t just the broth that was good—the balance when eaten with the noodles was great, and above all, the portion was really generous. With lots of beef offal and brisket plus so many noodles, it truly felt like a proper full bowl!

My husband said the portion was good too. I thought it would make a hearty meal for hungry office workers after work.

If you’re looking for ramen at City Hall Station

That day, we tried the motsu ramen and black bonito ramen. Their styles were clearly different, so it was fun comparing them as we ate. The motsu ramen was filling thanks to all the beef offal and brisket, while the black bonito ramen stood out for its intense katsuobushi flavor. Most of all, both bowls were solid overall, so we were satisfied.

For anyone who works near City Hall Station, I think it would be a great place to stop for a bowl of ramen after work. I’d also recommend it to anyone like me, visiting their husband’s office area and looking for somewhere to have dinner. If you’re looking for a popular spot among City Hall Station office workers, give Mentsuru a try. And if you’re specifically looking for ramen near City Hall Station, the motsu ramen or black bonito ramen would both be good choices. Next time, I’m going to try another menu item too, haha.