Beijing Visitor Guide

A bowl of shio ramen often reveals the skills of a ramen chef. The version at Mengokoro Kunimoto is prepared by adding homemade salt sauce, chicken oil and scallop oil to a clear chicken broth, resulting in a mellow, smooth and delicately sweet soup base that directly reflects the quality of the ingredients. A thicker noodle is selected for this base and is served with slow-cooked pork shoulder chashu and slow-cooked chicken breast chashu. An elegant garnish of chopped scallions and a sheet of nori complete this simple yet unforgettable shio ramen. Tsukemen ($98) Instead of the more common thick tsukemen sauce, Kunimoto-san opts for a lighter dipping sauce made by adding garlic oil to fish stock. The combination of the hot and flavourful dipping sauce and the cold and thin noodles is a match made in heaven. After finishing the tsukemen, guests can ask for more fish soup to enjoy in one satisfying gulp. Maze Soba ($98) A great maze soba attaches great importance to the combination of ingredients and the texture of the noodles. For the maze soba at Mengokoro Kunimoto, a thick ramen is chosen for its firm yet al dente mouthfeel. The noodle is seasoned with garlic oil and soya sauce and is then topped with ten ingredients, including garlic, shallots, onion, bamboo shoots, bonito powder and slow-cooked chashu. A flavourful fish soup is served on the side and, depending on a guest’s preference, can be enjoyed with the noodles or separately on its own. Noukou Ramen ($118) This rich and robust ramen is made for those who love bold flavours. The noodles are served in a full-bodied soup base that’s made through a complex process that involves first boiling chicken feet, pork knuckles and pork bones until the ingredients are completely broken down. Dried fish is added, and the mixture is cooked for approximately 18 hours, during which it’s stirred regularly until it becomes thick and rich. This process yields about 30 bowls of soup. Bonito powder is added to this base, which is then served with thin ramen noodles, thick-cut pork belly chashu marinated in soya sauce, bamboo shoots and a generous heaping of onions to bring a refreshing balance that cuts through the soup’s richness. Each of the above ramen options can be upgraded with our Tokyo Special for an additional HK$38, which includes 2 extra slices of chashu, a seasoned boiled egg, and dried seaweed. Mengokoro Kunimoto’s Hong Kong branch recreates the aesthetics and experience of the original Tokyo location. With a simple design dominated by dark tones, the small shop boasts counter seating and tables that can accommodate 21 guests at a time. During the opening period, Kunimoto-san will be at the Hong Kong shop to personally deliver his popular ramen to guests. About Kunimoto-san Tired of the monotony of office life, Kunimoto-san decided to leave his job to explore a new career path from scratch. He became an apprentice at a famous ramen shop, where he realised that his passion was for creating things that could make people happy. He founded Mengokoro Kunimoto four years later and started serving his own unique ramen. Kunimoto-san has spent the past 12 years creating the best ramen experience for his guests and even remembers his customers’ preferences. This passion and thoughtfulness has helped Mengokoro Kunimoto garner a loyal fan base as well as many accolades. Mengokoro Kunimoto Hong Kong Opening date: June 12, 2023 Address: G/F, 12 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai Opening hours: 11:00am – 9:30pm Seating capacity: 21 seats (walk-ins only)