Tabelog ratingTantan-men Men Sansho (担々麺 麺山椒) has earned a reputation as one of Kanagawa's top ramen destinations for one reason: its masterful use of Japanese sansho pepper. Milled fresh daily on a stone mill in the shop, the pepper imparts a bright, floral, and intensely numbing aroma that sets these bowls apart. The menu is focused, offering just two choices: tantanmen with soup (汁あり) and tantanmen without soup (汁なし).
Reviewers consistently praise the harmony of flavours and textures. The creamy sesame and chicken paitan base provides a rich foundation for the star sansho. This is paired with distinctive hand-massed, flat and wavy noodles from Masuda Seimen that have a satisfying chew. Praised toppings include the plentiful minced pork and the smoky, charred bamboo shoots (炙り筍). Many regulars recommend adding the optional soft-boiled egg (味玉) or house-made chashu pork to elevate the experience further.
The main drawback is logistical. The shop is tiny, with only seven counter seats, leading to very long queues of 30 to 120 minutes at peak times. It also operates on short daytime hours and frequently sells out, closing early. While weekdays are walk-in only, weekends and holidays require a reservation through the TableCheck system, which can sometimes add a booking fee.
Despite the potential wait, most find the bowl itself to be excellent value. Reviewers in 2024–2026 typically paid around ¥1,200–¥1,250 for the standard tantanmen and ¥1,100–¥1,250 for the soupless version. Common extras include a seasoned egg for ¥150 or two slices of chashu for ¥190.
- Booking: Walk-ins are accepted on weekdays, but expect long queues. Reservations are required on Saturdays and holidays, made via the TableCheck service, which may charge a fee.
- Hours: The shop is only open for lunch and often closes early once the soup sells out. It's wise to check the restaurant's social media before visiting.
- Ordering: When called inside, you purchase a ticket from a machine. When you hand over your ticket, staff will ask for your preferred spice (辣) and numbing (痺) levels, from 0 to 5.
- Payment: Cash only. Credit cards, electronic money, and QR code payments are not accepted.
- Seating: There are only 7 seats at the counter.
- Getting There: The restaurant is a short walk from Oppama Station.
- Parking: No dedicated parking is available, but there is a promotion with a nearby coin-parking lot: show your parking receipt for a free topping.