Standing-only ramen shop opens in Kagoshima – Offering street-food style noodles

PUBLISHED Jul 2, 2021

The exterior of Meizan Yatai Menya Gou

A standing-only ramen shop, Meizan Yatai Menya Gou, opened on May 17 in Meizancho, Kagoshima City. Shinyashikicho-based Satsuma Umaimon operates the shop.

Menya Gou has been known for its Kagoshima ramen, but its new shop is the first franchise to offer Hakata-style ramen. Its new offering was inspired by street food stalls (yatai) well-known in Fukuoka. Togo, the president of Gou Ikka, a company that runs Menya Gou noodle shops, and Akiba, the president of Satsuma Umaimon, developed the concept of the shop.

“In the beginning, we were planning to move a food cart around the city, but due to various reasons, we couldn’t make it happen, so we looked for a place for the shop around Meizanbori, which is full of retro atmosphere,” said Tajima, the manager of the shop. He also said: “The price of ramen in Kagoshima nowadays is over 800 to 1,000 yen, and at this price, it is no longer a dish that the ordinary people can eat casually. We wanted to offer more affordable ramen.” Two types of ramen noodles, Ramen and Kotteri Ramen, are available at the shop for 580 yen each.

“The soup of Hakata Nagahama ramen has a strong pork smell, and I think it is not for Kagoshima people. Our soup is based on Menya Go flagship shop’s soup, with the amount of fat in the stock adjusted to make it lighter. For the noodles, we use thin noodles shipped directly from Fukuoka and they can be served immediately. Ramen is ready in about 50 seconds after receiving the order. We decided on a standing-room-only style to shorten the time customers spend in our shop. This also serves as a Coronavirus measure,” Tajima explained.

In the evening, A Little Drink Set is available for 1,000 yen, which includes a choice of three snacks in addition to a drink. The shop also offers snacks such as Chaseage — Manya Gou special braised pork sausage — and handmade tofu with nameko mushrooms for 350 yen per plate.

“We want to make this shop a locals’ favorite. We hope our customers enjoy our tasty ramen while immersing themselves in the nostalgic atmosphere of the Showa era at Meizanbori, which has over 70 years of history,” Tajima added.

Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

  • Ramen noodles from Meizan Yatai Menya Gou

  • The entrance of Meizan Yatai Menya Gou

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