Menya NOROMA Main Store

Menya NOROMA. Given that the name includes the negative-sounding word “Noroma” (meaning “slow”), you might expect it to be a laid-back kind of place. In reality, however, it’s one of the most popular ramen shops in Nara Prefecture, boasting the distinction of being ranked No. 1 in the prefecture on Tabelog for three consecutive years. This popular spot relocated to a convenient station-side location in September 2024, and since I happened to have some business in Nara at the time, I decided to stop by during my train layover. So…

Convenience has improved dramatically with the move to the Yamato-Saidaiji Station complex! The new Menya NOROMA Main Store looks like this…

Menya NOROMA Main Store was originally founded near Kyotoku Station in 2012. To be honest, personally, it was in a rather inconvenient location that was hard to get to, but apparently, even in such a spot, there were long lines forming day and night, every single day. That shop has now relocated to the Yamato-Saidaiji Station complex, which boasts one of the highest customer counts in Nara Prefecture. With this move, I think convenience has improved significantly not just for me, but for many ramen lovers as well, don’t you think?

Anyway, I visited the relocated Menya NOROMA Main Store around 4:00 PM on a certain weekend. Even during this time slot, generally considered a lull, all 25 seats inside were filled, and there were three people ahead of me waiting to be seated. I bought a ticket from the vending machine and waited in the waiting area; after about 10 minutes, I was shown to a counter seat. If it’s this busy at such an off-peak time, I can only imagine how incredibly crowded it must get during the lunch and dinner rush hours…

It’s great that I can enjoy this on my way to work or school… Menya NOROMA Main Store’s Recommended Menu: Special Chicken Soba—How Did It Turn Out When I Tried It?

So, let me introduce the Special Chicken Soba, which was featured as the restaurant’s recommended menu item and what I ordered at Menya NOROMA Main Store that day. After sitting down and waiting about 10 minutes, the Special Chicken Soba was brought to my table, and this is what it looked like…

A large slice of rare chashu pork covers about two-thirds of the bowl’s surface, and it’s topped with a whole simmered egg—a truly luxurious presentation. Is the “no” character on the naruto fish cake meant to represent the “の” in NOROMA? I appreciate the playful touch; it left a good impression on me.

Now, let’s start with the soup… It looks quite cloudy, but when spooned into the mouth, the consistency feels just right. It has a light, creamy texture, and while the chicken umami comes through strongly, it’s not at all heavy on the stomach, so you can gulp it down to the very last drop. Well, there is a very slight hint of gamey flavor, though. I think this would be appealing not just to young ramen enthusiasts, but also to small children and the elderly…

As for the noodles, they’re homemade, medium-thick, flat, straight noodles. The soup clings to them perfectly, filling each slurp with rich chicken flavor. They’re firm and chewy, holding their own against the soup’s flavor, and they slide smoothly down your throat. The portion is generous, so you’ll never feel like you’re missing out.

And the star of the toppings: the rare chashu. It’s a type with a balanced ratio of lean meat to fat, and it’s tender and moist. Since there are four slices of this chashu, the premium meat’s umami can be enjoyed to the fullest. On the other hand, the boiled egg was cooked well beyond soft-boiled, but it was still soft enough to be easy to eat. When the soup is thoroughly absorbed into the yolk and popped into the mouth. . . the umami of the yolk melting together with the soup in your mouth is simply irresistible.

So, I finished Menya NOROMA’s Special Chicken Soba in about five minutes and left the shop. For 1,300 yen (tax included), this bowl offers incredible value. At this price, I’d definitely want to stop by as often as possible on my way to work or school. It would be even better if I could eat it quickly, like at a standing soba shop, but I suppose that’s asking too much…

Other Menu Items at Menya NOROMA Main Store (Prices include tax)

• Special Stamina Maze Soba: 1,350 yen
• Special Chicken Tsukemen: 1,350 yen
• Chicken Soba: 1,000 yen
• Stamina Maze Soba: 1,050 yen

Chicken Tsukemen: 1,050 yen

There’s also a great app for regulars… Menya NOROMA Main Store is located inside Yamato-Saidaiji Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line.

And Menya NOROMA actually has an official app…

It’s amazing that this app has surpassed 9,000 users. That means there are over 9,000 people who keep coming back to this restaurant. By accumulating points for each visit through this app, it seems you can get all sorts of great coupons. The requirement to visit 20 times to get a “free bowl of ramen” might seem a bit too high a hurdle, but for those who use Yamato-Saidaiji Station for their commute to work or school, it shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve.

Now, here are the shop details…

P.S. If you are looking for delicious ramens in Nara, please stop by this article below…