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A guide for first-timers

How to order at Menya Le Nood

Nothing on the menu is pre-made. Every ramen and tsukemen is built in four steps — choose a bowl, pick a broth, pick a size, add toppings or a combo. Here is what each step actually means, what the Japanese words on the menu translate to, and what to order on a first visit.

The short answer

If it's your first time

Order this

Menya Ramen, black tonkotsu, Large

The signature bowl in the most popular broth, one size up. Chashu, ajitama, nori, negi and menma.

$21.00

Or this

Menya Tsukemen, black tonkotsu

The No.1 best seller overall. The noodles and the dipping broth come separately.

$20.00

Add

3 pc gyoza combo

Our most ordered combo, and cheaper added to a bowl than ordered on its own.

+$4.50

Step 1

Ramen or tsukemen?

A ramen arrives as one bowl: noodles sitting in hot broth, toppings on top. A tsukemen arrives as two: the noodles in one bowl and the dipping broth in another.

With tsukemen you dip a few noodles at a time into the broth and eat them — you do not pour the broth over the noodles. Because the broth is for dipping rather than for drinking by the spoonful, it tastes stronger than ramen broth, and the noodles are cut thicker to stand up to it. Tsukemen is the No.1 best seller here.

Both styles come with negi (green onion) and menma (seasoned bamboo shoots) already included, and both are priced within a couple of dollars of each other.

Step 2

Which broth should you pick?

Five broths. Three are included at no extra charge, two cost $1.50 more.

Three of the five broths are included at no extra charge.
BrothWhat it tastes likeBodyPrice
ShoyuTraditional Japanese soy broth — clean and light.LightIncluded
TonkotsuRich and creamy pork bone broth.RichIncluded
Black Tonkotsu · most popularSavory roasted garlic pork broth — our deepest flavor.RichestIncluded
GomaLightly roasted sesame pork broth — nutty and smooth.Rich+$1.50
Vegan GomaLightly roasted sesame vegetable broth.Medium+$1.50

Black tonkotsu is the one most people order: the same pork bone broth as the tonkotsu, deepened with roasted garlic oil. Pick shoyu if you want something lighter and cleaner, goma if you like sesame, and vegan goma if you are eating plant-based.

Step 3

How big should you go?

Noodle weights are measured before cooking. Large is the most chosen upgrade.
SizeRamenTsukemenPrice
Regular5 oz7 ozIncluded
Large6 oz9 oz+$1.50
Extra Large7 oz10 oz+$3.00

Large is the most chosen upgrade and costs $1.50. Tsukemen portions are larger than ramen portions at every size, because the noodles are served without broth.

Step 4

Toppings and combos

Toppings

AjitamaSoy-flavored boiled egg with a tender yolk — our most added topping.$2.50
KakuniThick sliced soy-braised pork belly.$3.50
NoriRoasted seaweed sheet.$2.50
Onsen EggSteamed egg with tender white and yolk.$2.50
NegiGreen onion (already included in every bowl).$3.00
MenmaSeasoned bamboo shoots (already included in every bowl).$3.00
SpinachBoiled baby spinach.$2.50
CabbageBoiled head cabbage.$2.50
4 pc LimeFresh lime wedges.$1.00

Combos

A combo adds a small portion of a side to your bowl at a reduced price.

The combo price is the same whether you add it to a ramen or a tsukemen.
ComboWhat it isCombo price
3 pc GyozaHouse-made pork gyoza.+$4.50
3 pc Chicken KaraageJapanese fried chicken with yuzu-kosho.+$4.50
3 pc Garlic Soft Shell ShrimpCrisp shrimp with garlic.+$4.50
Kakuni BaoSteamed flat bun with braised pork belly.+$4.50
Garlic Soft Shell Shrimp BaoSteamed flat bun with garlic shrimp.+$4.50
Mini Chicken Karaage DonburiHalf-size rice bowl.+$6.50
Mini Garlic Shrimp DonburiHalf-size rice bowl.+$6.50
Mini Kakuni DonburiHalf-size rice bowl.+$6.50
Dietary

Vegan, vegetarian and allergies

The Veggie Ramen and Veggie Tsukemen ($18.00) are the vegetable-forward bowls — cabbage, spinach, nori, negi and menma — and there is a vegan goma broth (+$1.50), a lightly roasted sesame vegetable broth.

Lighter vegetable bowls are also on the menu — Spinach and Cabbage Ramen or Tsukemen at $16.00 — and the Vegan Nugget ($9.00) is a plant-based side. Ask your server about the vegan goma broth and other plant-based options before you order, so the kitchen can tell you exactly what is in the bowl.

Gluten: the noodles are wheat noodles and the shoyu and tonkotsu broths are not gluten-free, so there is no gluten-free ramen. Please tell your server about any food allergies before you order.

Happy hour — Monday to Friday, 5:00–6:00 PM, dine-in only. Gyoza and chicken karaage drop to $7.50, spicy karaage and both shrimp dishes to $8.00, Sapporo to $4.00 and Orion The Draft to $7.50.

Glossary

The Japanese words on the menu

WordWhat it means
RamenNoodles served in a bowl of hot broth.
TsukemenDipping noodles. The noodles in one bowl, the dipping broth in another.
NegiFresh green onion. Included in every bowl.
MenmaSeasoned bamboo shoots. Included in every bowl.
ChashuSliced braised or roasted pork.
KakuniThick-cut pork belly, slow-braised in soy until it falls apart.
AjitamaA soft-boiled egg marinated in soy, with a tender yolk.
Onsen eggA slow-poached egg with a silky white and a just-set yolk.
NoriA sheet of roasted seaweed.
ShoyuJapanese soy sauce — here, a clean, light soy-based broth.
TonkotsuPork bone broth, simmered until rich and creamy.
GomaSesame. A nutty, smooth broth.
DonburiA rice bowl with toppings served over the rice.
PupuThe Hawaii word for appetizers and small plates.
KaraageJapanese style fried chicken, marinated then fried.
Yuzu-koshoA Japanese paste of yuzu citrus peel, chili and salt.
Chu-hiA Japanese canned or mixed highball of shochu and flavored soda.

Questions people ask before ordering

What is tsukemen and how do you eat it?

Tsukemen is dipping ramen. The noodles come in one bowl and the dipping broth in another. Dip a few noodles at a time into the broth and eat them — do not pour the broth over the noodles. At Menya Le Nood, tsukemen is the No.1 best seller and runs $14.00–$23.00.

What broths can I choose from?

Five: shoyu (light), tonkotsu (rich) and black tonkotsu (richest) are included at no extra charge, and goma (rich, sesame pork) or vegan goma (medium, sesame vegetable) are $1.50 extra. Black tonkotsu, a roasted garlic pork broth, is the most popular choice.

Does Menya Le Nood have vegan or vegetarian options?

Menya Le Nood has vegetable-forward bowls and a vegan goma broth — a lightly roasted sesame vegetable broth, +$1.50. The Veggie Ramen and Veggie Tsukemen ($18.00) come with cabbage, spinach, nori, negi and menma, and Spinach or Cabbage bowls are $16.00. A Vegan Nugget side is $9.00. Ask your server about the vegan goma broth and other plant-based options before you order.

Does Menya Le Nood have gluten-free ramen?

No. The noodles are wheat noodles and wheat is listed as an allergen in the kitchen, so there is no gluten-free ramen. Please tell your server about any allergies before ordering.

Can I make my bowl bigger?

Yes. Every ramen and tsukemen comes in Regular, Large (+$1.50) and Extra Large (+$3.00). Large is the most chosen upgrade. Ramen sizes are 5, 6 and 7 oz of noodles; tsukemen sizes are 7, 9 and 10 oz, measured before cooking.

What toppings can I add?

Ajitama (soy-flavored boiled egg) $2.50, kakuni (thick sliced soy-braised pork belly) $3.50, nori $2.50, onsen egg (steamed egg) $2.50, extra negi $3.00, extra menma $3.00, spinach $2.50, cabbage $2.50 and lime wedges $1.00. Negi and menma are already in every bowl at no charge.

Is Menya Le Nood good for kids or large groups?

The menu has mild, simple bowls such as the Basic Ramen and mini donburi that work well for children. It is a compact neighborhood restaurant, so call ahead at (808) 589-0634 if you are bringing a large group.