“Menya Musashi Nidai” – Limited Edition Single-Shrimp Ramen & Fried Star Eel Bigger Than the Bowl

▲ Nidai’s uniquely signature “Nidai Ichiban Ramen,” topped with rather pricey fried star eel (380 NT, per bowl).

Text & Photos /BearMao Rudy


Menya Musashi’s fourth branch, Nidai, breaks away from purely rich flavors to embrace a healthier vibe, offering three types of broth paired with fried sides that stay delicious even when eaten in large amounts.


I’ve known about the Menya Musashi brand for quite some time now. Ever since their first store in the East District, Huziao, I’ve been deeply moved by their ramen—chewy noodles, thick broth, and generously sized meat, all presented in such an honest style. It moved Bear and Mao so much that, aside from accepting invitations, we once waited in line for an hour on a hot summer night just to enjoy the nostalgic Huziao tsukemen...

Next up, also featuring dual broths but with a higher concentration of fish ingredients, we have Shinzan. With each spoonful of its giant Ichiban Ramen, besides experiencing the sweetness and fullness from the grilled topping, you can also feel Menya Musashi’s dedication and hard work (of course, there are occasional minor hiccups, but as long as lessons are learned, growth continues...).


And the third one, Bear even took a high-speed rail trip to Zuoying Station just to try Musashi Musou Black Thunder Ramen with its dynamic and bouncy texture. The dark broth paired with spicy crackers, in striking black and red, really whetted Bear’s appetite (and almost made him forget the wedding sake on the train, luckily thanks to the kind help of the Musashi staff).


From Huziao’s dual broths (pork bone and fish), to Shinzan’s enhanced pork bone and fish combo, and finally at Musou, Menya Musashi also uses a pure pork bone milky-white broth, combined with spicy and other textures to create a north-south flavor contrast—every detail carefully considered. While it might not suit every friend’s taste 100%, the willingness to change the entire series based on each shop’s unique characteristics is a spirit truly worthy of praise.


Then, at the end of the year, Menya Musashi actually opened a fourth store—the one Bear visited today, Nidai (located on the fourth floor of the New Taipei City World Guang Huan Shopping Mall). The location is actually pretty easy to find, just next to the internationally renowned H-brand ice cream!! So happy to be invited for the fourth time and to reunite with fellow netizens once again (just another gathering of two boring guys...).

Compared to the other branches, Nidai’s seating arrangement is quite unique. Since it’s in a shopping mall, there’s an open seating area right outside the entrance on the fourth floor.


The entrance also introduces Nidai’s signature dishes. At a glance, you can see Nidai is completely different from the other three stores—all featuring various fried sides, paired with lighter-tasting pork belly and loin (served in their original un-grilled form), offering a balance of rich and refreshing flavors all in one!! Of course, like the previous stores, Musashi Nidai also has its own exclusive omamori (good luck charm), so fans shouldn’t forget to collect points during their meal to get one!!


Moving on to the environment, the signage still follows the same series color scheme (the black-gold style is quite distinctive).


A different angle of the outdoor seating—it’s actually quite spacious.

Once officially opened, it’s sure to attract many ramen enthusiasts coming to pay homage.


We also took a quick look at the Musashi elements that Menya Musashi always emphasizes.


Sure enough, they’re visible everywhere—bushido (the samurai spirit) is definitely an indispensable element here.

At the very top, you can also see the names of the other already-opened branches, arranged from right to left in the order they opened!! (But all within this year)


Then, before stepping into the store, aside from the Menya Musashi introductory video playing on TV, the left side seems a bit different from usual?


Turns out, starting with this branch, they’ve also introduced a queue waiting crowd system, so everyone can easily see how many groups of different sizes are currently waiting, helping estimate wait times better (if it works smoothly, other previously opened stores may adopt it too!).

Finally stepped into the store!! The Nidai sign isn’t as bold but remains clear!! (It has a simple elegance...)


Most of the store space is dedicated to the kitchen area, so there aren’t too many seats (but there are still ten counter seats...)


There’s also room for about twenty people nearby, so the overall customer capacity is quite good (which also helps reduce waiting time...)

The number of chefs and service staff is very high, and Taiwan’s big boss (head chef) is naturally also here overseeing things.


Now, let’s take a look at the menu. This time, Nidai’s ramen concept is actually quite different from the other three stores. One major difference is the introduction of healthy elements—many people think of ramen as overly oily or salty (and the broth too rich), but traditional ramen is indeed made that way, though not necessarily loved by everyone.

So, aside from using fried sides, Nidai also serves the char siu in its original flavor (ungrilled and without sauce). The broth still primarily features dual broths (pork bone + fish), similar in base to Huziao’s broth, but the difference is that Nidai offers several types of noodles with three broths!! Including the dual broth plus vegetable and fruit simmered mash, or seafood broth infused with shellfish essence—both are quite impressive!! (The vegetable and fruit mash includes a mix of pumpkin, zucchini, tomato, and nine root and stem health vegetables...)

And the most iconic dish, Nidai Ichiban Ramen (380 NT, per bowl), features the dual broth paired with vegetable and fruit mash, along with two pieces of tender original-flavor loin and a mixed fried platter (shrimp, bacon-tomato, two chicken breasts, two small loins, fish cake slices, and green chili strips).

As for the noodles, you can choose between soft or chewy when ordering, and portion size can also be selected as standard or large—large portions come at no extra charge (but once confirmed, you can’t add more noodles...).


Then, Bear and Sui Er An also picked a bowl of Nidai Ichiban Ramen (380 NT, this is truly a limited-edition super amazing ramen...), plus a bowl of W Double Clam Ramen (300 NT, per bowl). These two bowls have the following features.(Top-left image)Aside from different toppings, both bowls also feature a trio of broths!(The Ni-Tian-Ippin is the same as the previous Ni-Tian-Ichiryu, while the W Double Clam Ramen is a combination of two broths plus shellfish!)

Of course, for those who prefer a lighter taste, there’s also the Ni-Tian Nong-Shoku Tsukemen (280 NT, per bowl) with a fresher, sweeter vegetable flavor.(Top-right image)And the basic Ni-Tian Ramen (260 NT, per bowl) still lets you enjoy the springy texture of lean pork and pork loin, with a satisfyingly firm bite.

Since Ni-Tian specializes in fried foods, the side dishes have also been expanded to include several different options. Xiong and his friend picked the Cod Patty Sandwich (150 NT, per serving) and Octopus Karaage (140 NT, per serving), among others, to see just how good Ni-Tian’s fried offerings really are.


The first dish to arrive was the W Double Clam Ramen (300 NT, per bowl), which combines three broths along with the essence of shellfish.

The lean pork (left) and pork loin (right), presented with their natural flavors, along with a half egg, make for a very filling meal.


Next, the focus is naturally on the noodles themselves, topped with a mix of shredded vegetables (the aroma of shiso is particularly prominent).


In a fairly large bowl of noodles, there are about fourteen clams and surf clams, and the aged sake broth simmered with shellfish gives off a rich and slightly bitter aroma, creating a deeper, more mature flavor (to be honest, it looked a bit strange at first glance, but it was truly amazing once tasted!!). The clams are genuinely quite large—pictures don’t lie.

The noodles are still mainly thick curly ones, and the taste is simply incredible (perfect for warming you up on a cold day).


As for the Cod Patty Sandwich (150 NT, per serving), it initially left Xiong and Sui Yu’an quite puzzled—what on earth is this? After asking around, they learned that it’s made with cod paste mixed with cheese ham, then deep-fried!! In short, it has a crispy outside and soft inside with a delicious fishy flavor, and the rich cheese ham inside complements it perfectly (this one is seriously super delicious!!!).

After the first side dish, we move on to the signature series: the Ni-Tian-Ichiryu Ramen (380 NT, per bowl). The base of the broth combines pork bone, seafood, and a blend of vegetables and fruits into a trifecta of umami, with a noticeably increased lightness.

Since Ni-Tian’s specialty is fried food, let’s talk about the sides before the noodles—you’ll quickly realize this platter of assorted fried items is no ordinary fare.


Given that every dish had to be photographed, Xiong wasn’t able to eat the fried items at their absolute hottest, but even after cooling slightly, there was no issue with the batter sticking to the mouth (the coating was very fine..). The platter included grass prawns, bacon tomatoes, two pieces of chicken breast, two pieces of lean pork, chikuwa slices, and green chili strips.

Personally, Xiong’s favorites were the grass prawns, bacon tomatoes, and lean pork!! (They were quite juicy, making him feel like Ni-Tian also wants to compete in the category of udon with fried side dishes..)


A bite of noodles, a sip of soup, and then a tender yet chewy piece of pork loin—truly refreshing and not at all greasy.

Next came the other side dish, the Octopus Karaage (140 NT, per serving). The not-so-large pieces of octopus weren’t tough at all, offering a pleasantly chewy texture that was quite fun.
 

Finally, the super signature Ni-Tian-Ippin Ramen (380 NT, per bowl) made its entrance!! Hearing the word “ippin,” Xiong’s eyes immediately lit up!! (Because “ippin” makes him think of the huge pork slices in the Ippin Ramen from Kamizan!!)

And Ni-Tian’s Ippin Ramen actually shares a similar philosophy with Kamizan’s—Ippin here is presented in the form of a fried item. So what’s fried? It’s none other than white eel!! The rather pricey white eel you find in many places!!

(Xiong would like to remind everyone that this is a true limited-edition item, available only after 6 PM on Thursdays and Fridays—first come, first served!)


First, let’s look at the broth—it’s still a trio of broths (paired with a concentrated vegetable broth), but with a slight variation. Beneath the mixed shredded vegetables, there’s a combination of fried eggplant, fried pumpkin, zucchini, and onion slices, which enhance the flavor of the broth and add aroma and texture to the noodles...


Let’s go straight back to the white eel itself!! Its thickness is truly generous!! Although it’s fried, the not-too-thick batter wraps around the tender flesh of the eel, and even just on its own, it’s wonderfully sweet.


Xiong really enjoys the feeling of the shredded vegetables and thick noodles together in one bite—the shiso really plays a great role in balancing the flavors. To be fair, although Ni-Tian is quite different in style from other Musashi ramen shops, it also offers a new option for those who prefer lighter tastes.
Author: Xiong Miao RudyA couple passionate about food, occasionally going wild spending big on eating and playing, but generally adhering to the principle of “limited money, endless appetite.” They run a blog of the same name.《Xiong Miao Eats the World》Updated simultaneously.


【Menya Musashi Ni-Tian】

Address:No. 122, Section 3, Zhongshan Road, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City (4th Floor, Uni-President Hankyu Department Store Zhonghe Branch)
Phone:(02)22223500
Business Hours:11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Open every day)

Recommendation:For ramen, Niten offers a lighter, healthier style that pairs well with fried items as well as lean and sirloin pork. The flavors are enjoyable without being overly greasy, making it a great choice for those who prefer milder tastes!!