Samurai Ramen "Menya Musashi" invades Taiwan, sets up shop in the prime battleground of Lane 216 in East District

▲ On its opening day, "Menya Musashi - Tiger Roar" drew massive crowds, with diners waiting over an hour to be seated. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Reported by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

Following "Ippudo" and "Yamatoya," another well-known Japanese ramen brand, "Menya Musashi," has officially entered Taiwan and opened two locations: "Menya Musashi - Tiger Roar" in Taipei's East District and "Menya Musashi - Kamiyama" on Qixiatong in Zhongshan District. "Menya Musashi - Tiger Roar" opened on the 5th, drawing large crowds who waited over an hour to enjoy delicious ramen from Japan.

Since its establishment in 1996, "Menya Musashi" has been known for its strong ancient samurai style, drawing inspiration from the "Sword Saint" Miyamoto Musashi’s dual-wielding philosophy to create the first W Soup (double broth) in the ramen world. The 11 branches in Tokyo each maintain their own unique character and style, but every Menya Musashi branch adheres to three ironclad principles: "Adaptability," "Execution," and "Creativity," constantly challenging traditional Japanese ramen concepts and developing seasonal limited-edition dishes.

▲ The pork bone broth-based "Tiger Roar Black Tiger Ramen," featuring uniquely flavored black squid ink. (Photo / Provided by Menya Musashi)

"Menya Musashi - Tiger Roar" is located in the foodie hotspot of Lane 216, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei. However, due to initial staffing issues, only the first-floor seating area, which can accommodate about 38–40 people, is currently open. As for "Menya Musashi - Kamiyama" on Qixiatong in Zhongshan District, it is still under adjustment and has not yet opened. Lin Zhen, marketing and PR manager of Menya Musashi, stated that "Menya Musashi - Kamiyama" is expected to open at the end of July or early August.

"Menya Musashi - Tiger Roar" opened at 11:30 AM on the 5th, but people started lining up as early as 10 AM to be among the first to taste the popular ramen that was previously only available in Japan. Ms. Chen, who had tried "Menya Musashi - Tiger Roar" in Ueno, Japan, had been following news of its Taipei branch and came with a friend on opening day. She felt the tsukemen (dipping ramen) tasted very similar to the one in Japan and plans to return. Ms. Xu, who accompanied her, found the flavor slightly salty but praised the thick yet tender and delicious char siu (pork slices) at "Menya Musashi - Tiger Roar."

Shop Information
"Menya Musashi - Tiger Roar"
Address: No. 4, Lane 11, Lane 216, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-8771-9222
Business Hours: 11:00–22:00
Reservations: Walk-in only, no reservations accepted

"Menya Musashi - Kamiyama"
Address: No. 18, Lane 121, Section 1, Zhongshan North Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2542-8222
Business Hours: Not yet opened