Menya Shono opens in San Rafael with award winning ramen

The Tokyo based Menya Shono, which has an outpost in San Francisco (672 Geary St San Francisco), recently opened a new location in of all places, San Rafael (908 4th St, San Rafael). It took over the ramen spot Yuzu Ramen & Taproom which closed at the beginning of the pandemic and is one of three Ramen spots within a few blocks in San Rafael.

It is open for lunch and dinner and there is indoor and outdoor dining and you order via a QR code at your table from your phone. We tried the Toripaitan Ramen (pictured) which features a rich chicken-based broth. This is not a typical thin chicken stock or chicken soup, it is creamy and flavorful with that classic umami found in good ramen. It is topped with thinly sliced crispy burdock root and has a generous portion of Choshu within the ramen. The noodles have just the right amount of chew and flavor to them – this is not your college days Cup Noodles.

It was tempting to try the GKO Ramen (Garlic Knock Out) which also features a creamy chicken broth, but that will be for another day. They also have a vegan ramen, a matcha-based ramen and apps like spicy corn wings.

Menya Shono, 908 4th St, San Rafael.