Category: | Restaurant, |
---|---|
Address: | 675 Paularino Ave C, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA |
Zip code: | 92626 |
Opening hours (Edit) | |
---|---|
Monday: | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 9:30 PM |
Tuesday: | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 9:30 PM |
Wednesday: | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 9:30 PM |
Thursday: | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 9:30 PM |
Friday: | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 9:30 PM |
Saturday: | 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM |
Sunday: | 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM |
Great quality Ramen and a very pleasant setting.
TL;DR (too long; didn't read) version: Solid Tonkotsu Ramen, excellent prices and delicious side bowls of fried chicken or chashu pork.
If you like Tonkotsu ramen and you like a good noodle that stands up to the broth, make sure to visit Mendoki. Its a small shop that is reminiscent of the ramen joints I've eaten at in Japan, capturing the nostalgia. The photo attached to this review is of their Tonkotsu ramen with extra menma and extra noodles. They don't have a large size so I opted for extra noodles right off the bat. You can always order kae-dama which is something like, $1?
I've also had the Tsukemen here which is absolutely incredible. Its rich, robust, super flavorful and the noodles really stand up to the broth very well. I really enjoy Mendoki because the noodles have a nice al-dente chew to them that a lot of other ramen restaurants don't have. I'm not sure if the noodles are made in-house but other ramen restaurants should look to Mendoki to up their ramen game. In a way, its almost like rice is to sushi. That delicate relationship between the two can make or break the whole thing.
Still reading? Hungry for ramen? Stop reading. Drive to Mendoki. Enjoy.
Love this place for their "tsuke" (dipping) ramen! The price has gone up slightly but that hasn't stopped me from coming to this place for my Friday lunch. I definitely recommend this place if you are looking something else other than regular "tonkotsu" ramen. Parking might br congested since it's located by Mitsuwa but nonetheless, you won't regret trying it!
Few of the Jiro-inspired ramen spot. I go for Zembu-mashi (everything extra ) on Zeero ramen.
Like the shoyu ramen. Really like the spicy paste.
Update: no more spicy paste after they change the name to Mendoki...missed that... however, they add more item to the menu