Menchanko-Tei

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Menchanko-Tei

Photo: Cititour.com

Contact Info:

Address: 43 W 55th St (near Fifth Ave)
City: New York, NY
Zip: 10019
map: View the Map
Phone: (212) 247-1585

Food Info:

Cuisine: Japanese
2nd Cuisine: Noodle Shops/Bars

Cititour Review:

My first experience with Japanese noodle soup was at a little place called Men Ken Tei. It was a favorite haunt for Japanese businessmen who crowded its counters gorging themselves on huge bowls of soup. The restaurant has since disappeared, a casualty of 9-11, but there are other places in town that offer a similar experience, although I still haven't found one that has topped it just yet. Menchanko-Tei is relatively close. While serving as a magnet for Japanese workers, the restaurant also welcomes tourists, and people like myself who simply like to taste foods of different cultures. The house soup - Menchanko - is served in a big cast iron bowl with a wooden ladle. The broth is rich and packed with thick ramen noodles, crisp vegetables, chicken, bits of tofu and two beady-eyed shrimps floating atop with their whiskers still attached. You'll also find a traditional fish ball and a sticky rice cake which, while interesting, was a bit gummy for my liking. At under ten dollars, the soup is fit for a meal, but diners are welcome to add from a list of extras including simmered pork and Gyoza dumplings. Other dishes on the menu include Oden, a hearty seafood stew, served with bundles of yam noodles, in a kelp-based stock. It's a dish that dates back more than 300 years. You'll also find sushimi and tempura, as well as several grilled fish dishes. Desserts include pumpkin pudding and a creamy panna cotta with strawberry sauce.

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