Tabelog ratingThe signature bowl at Menya Deko is oi-niboshi soba, a ramen made with dried-sardine broth that is brewed twice. The soup is clear and powerfully fishy, yet almost free of the bitterness niboshi usually brings. Alongside it runs an unusually inventive rotating line-up: a creamy rich oyster soba (also served cold), a mackerel-and-shiso soba and a crab mazesoba served without broth. There is also aedama, a seasoned extra portion of noodles that you eat on its own or dip into the leftover soup. The shop has been listed in Tabelog's Ramen Kanagawa "Tabelog 100" in both 2024 and 2025.
Nearly every reviewer praises the clean broth and the firm, thin noodles. The oyster soba is the most-mentioned limited bowl, and many call it one of a kind. The mackerel-and-shiso soba is often named as a highlight. The two kinds of chashu, pork shoulder and chicken breast, come up again and again, as does the ginger aedama. Staff are described as warm and patient, and one English-speaking reviewer says they helped foreign guests order.
The main complaints concern the ticket machine and the seasoning. Its many cryptic buttons are hard to read. Some find the aedama, the nikumeshi (chashu rice bowl) and the cold bowls salty. A few find the oyster or niboshi flavour too fishy, so newcomers to seafood broths should be warned. Some also think the portions are small for the price.
Reviewers in 2024–2026 paid around ¥1,000–1,050 for oi-niboshi soba, or ¥1,150 with a seasoned egg. Rich oyster soba cost about ¥1,250, or ¥1,650 with the full topping set. The special mackerel-and-shiso soba ran ¥1,600–1,700. A half portion of ginger aedama was about ¥250, limited aedama about ¥500 and nikumeshi ¥530. Expect to spend roughly ¥1,000–2,000 at both lunch and dinner. A topped bowl plus aedama usually lands near ¥2,000.
This is not cheap ramen, but most reviewers consider it good value for the craft. One says they would gladly pay ¥2,000.
- Getting there: 3 minutes on foot from Shin-Maruko Station (Tokyu Toyoko Line), or 5 minutes from Musashi-Kosugi Station (Tokyu Toyoko, JR Nambu, Yokosuka and Shonan-Shinjuku lines).
- Payment: cash only. Credit cards, electronic money and QR payments are not accepted. The ticket machine inside takes notes up to ¥10,000.
- Ordering: buy a ticket from the machine before you queue. Ask staff for help, or check the menu and limited specials on the shop's X account beforehand.
- Booking: reservations are not accepted, so just walk in. Short queues are common at lunch.
- Seats: 11 in total (7 at the counter, 2 tables for two). There are no private rooms, but the whole shop can be hired.
- Children: welcome. No age restriction.
- Portions: no large size is offered; order an aedama if you want more noodles.
- Smoking: non-smoking.
- Parking: none on site; coin parking nearby.
