Hanam ramen restaurant with chicken karaage combo: Menji

Fall is on its way~ I was craving something warm and brothy for the new season, so I looked around and ended up at Menji Hanam Misa Branch, haha. I made a point of coming because the reviews were so good, and yep, that rich broth definitely did not disappoint!! The sets were generous too, so it was an easy place to pop into on a ramen-craving day ><

Menji Hanam Misa Branch hours and entrance

📍Hours📍 Daily 11:00–20:30; weekday break time 15:00–17:00. From the sign alone, you can see that the bakery and ramen restaurant are run together. Since they share one building, my first visit had me thinking, “Huh, what is this?” haha. If you come looking only for the ramen sign, the bakery appears first, so you might wonder whether you are in the right place—but just head inside!

Once inside, you enter the bakery first, and there is a separate doorway off to the side for the ramen restaurant. I heard you can wait in the bakery if there is a line for ramen. Luckily, I arrived in the early evening and got in without waiting, but a line formed afterward!! I guess this good spot is already well known 😲

A compact interior with a Japanese feel

The atmosphere changes completely once you step into the ramen restaurant. It is a compact place, but it had more seats than I expected. There were lots of guests when I visited, so I could not photograph every corner 😢 Totoro-like animation figures and movie posters were dotted around, giving it a real Japanese feel.

There are plenty of neat, modern ramen restaurants these days, but the little decorations here made it feel cuter and more comfortable. 🙂 The restaurant itself is not huge, yet the tables are arranged efficiently, so it is nice for a meal!

How to order a tori paitan set

Once seated, you order using the kiosk at your table. It was convenient because I could browse the menu slowly and choose without having to call over a staff member. They were also running a receipt-review event, with a free drink for writing a review. Skipping an event like that would be a loss, right? ><

The menu had not only ramen but also tantanmen, rice bowls, katsu, and plenty of other Japanese dishes. They were all classic, approachable Japanese menu items, but each had good reviews, so choosing was hardㅠㅠ😂 There were several ramen varieties too, and after debating classic tori paitan versus spicy shin tori paitan, we decided to order both and share!!!

There were set menus combining ramen and side dishes, which seemed great for anyone wanting to try several things. The signature set pairs ramen with mini tonkatsu, and you can choose ramen + mini tonkatsu or tonkatsu + mini ramen. The ramen combo lets you choose ramen + chicken karaage + a drink or ramen + mini rice + a drink~ If ramen alone feels a little incomplete, these sets are a good, good choice!! 👍

There was an event giving you one piece of chicken skewer when you order alcohol, and showing a student ID got you either mini rice or extra noodles. If either applies to you, do not miss these little deals 😆

💛What we ordered💛 Handmade ramen + mini loin tonkatsu signature set (with tori paitan ramen), and ramen & chicken karaage combo (₩500 extra for shin tori paitan, with cola). Ordering two sets meant we could have two types of ramen plus tonkatsu and karaage, which was the perfect combination for two people to share.

Each table had seasonings such as pepper and rayu (Japanese chili oil). There were also instructions for enjoying the ramen and tonkatsu. I read them closely while waiting for the food, haha. They suggested adding a little rayu or pepper to taste as you eat, and pouring ramen broth over the mini rice to eat it like risotto. They also use house-made fresh whole-wheat noodles, and after trying them, I could see why they are proud of them, hehe.

Rich classic tori paitan and mini loin tonkatsu

First up, the tori paitan ramen + mini loin tonkatsu signature set! It came with tori paitan ramen, mini loin tonkatsu, mini rice, one takoyaki (octopus ball), and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi). With so many things arriving together, the set was more substantial than I expected. Most of all, the chicken broth was incredibly rich when I first tasted the ramen, which really impressed me 😎 The broth had that full-bodied, nutty tori paitan character—so good ><

It had two slices of chashu on top. Maybe because they were house-made fresh whole-wheat noodles, but the texture was really good. They were thin noodles, yet they still had a pleasantly firm, springy bite, which I personally loved..❤️

Very thick noodles can sometimes feel separate from the broth, but these were thin and springy, so they went so well with the rich chicken broth!!!

The guide suggested wrapping ramen noodles in chashu, so I tried it exactly that way, haha. Twirling a reasonable amount of noodles into one slice of chashu gave me the soft texture of the pork and the springy noodles together, and it was delicious!! It felt different from eating the noodles on their own, so chashu lovers should try it this way 😆

Here is the mini loin tonkatsu that came alongside! Since it was mini-sized, it was not too heavy with the ramen, and the coating was nicely fried and crisp. The tonkatsu sauce was unusual too—not the usual sweet-and-tangy kind. I heard it was their special sauce, and its soft, slightly rosé-sauce-like quality went very well with the tonkatsu 😉 Taking bites of crisp tonkatsu between the rich tori paitan ramen was such a great combination, haha.

I ate the mini rice using the recommended method. I added about two or three spoonfuls of ramen broth, and it really did feel like risotto—more than I expected, haha. The rich chicken broth soaked into the rice and made it go down smoothly, so it felt more filling and satisfying than leaving the broth behind!! It was just the right amount to finish after the ramen, enough to leave even an adult man full~

Spicy shin tori paitan and a karaage combo

This is shin tori paitan ramen. Unlike the classic tori paitan, it includes Cheongyang chili peppers, giving the broth a spicy, sharp kick. The chicken broth remained rich, but the peppers made it definitely more intense than the classic tori paitan!!

If you usually enjoy spicy food, I think you would enjoy shin tori paitan too. Personally, though, I felt the classic tori paitan was a little easier for everyone to enjoy. Choose the classic tori paitan if you love the rich, nutty flavor of chicken broth itself, or shin tori paitan if you prefer ramen with a spicy, sharp kick!! 😊

I also tried the chicken karaage that came with the ramen combo. It was fried crisp on the outside and stayed moist inside—crispy outside, tender inside ❤️

If you keep eating only ramen, it can start to feel a little rich or plain midway through, but the karaage kept it from becoming tiresome and paired so well!!! If two people want one ramen each plus a variety of sides, the combo menu would be a great order, haha.

Classic tori paitan I want to eat again

☑️Food: The tori paitan broth was rich and nutty, so I especially liked the classic ramen. The firm texture of the house-made fresh whole-wheat noodles was great, and the tonkatsu and karaage were tasty overall too.

☑️Atmosphere: Sharing a space with a bakery was unique, and the interior was cutely decorated with Japanese animation items. It is a compact restaurant, but it has quite a few seats and a pleasant Japanese feel.

☑️Service: It was easy to order from the kiosk after sitting down, and the staff guided us kindly. Each table had seasonings and instructions for enjoying the food, making it easy to try the menu in different ways.

☑️Would I return?: I liked the rich chicken broth and noodle texture of the classic tori paitan ramen, so I would like to come back for it. Next time, I also want to try the tantanmen or other rice bowls, haha.

If you are craving rich tori paitan ramen in Hanam Misa, Menji Hanam Misa Branch is well worth a visit 🍜 I especially loved the springy texture of the house-made fresh whole-wheat noodles, and having tonkatsu and karaage alongside the ramen made for a hearty meal!! With its Japanese-style atmosphere too, I recommend it to anyone looking for a good ramen spot in Hanam Misa ><