Menya Tori no keiji Main Store

In the residential area of Nakamozu, Sakai, Osaka, there’s a popular ramen shop called Menya Tori no keiji. Having just celebrated its 10th anniversary since opening in December 2015, its signature “Pure Toripaitan Soup” broth is incredibly well-received. The shop has now expanded beyond Osaka to Kyoto and Nara, capturing the hearts—and stomachs—of local ramen fans.

I rarely have occasion to visit Nakamozu, but ever since learning of this shop’s existence, I’ve been waiting for a chance to enjoy ramen there—my first visit since the Ramen-so Rekishi wo Kizame Nakamozu event. Recently, I had business taking me to Kawachinagano via the Nankai Electric Railway, so I decided to get off at Nakamozu and head to Menya Tori no keiji main store. I’d heard it was quite the line-up spot, so I braced myself for a wait. But how did it actually go…?

Menya Tori no Keiji Main Store: The Restaurant That’s Been Runner-Up in the Kansai Ramen Derby for Three Consecutive Years

I arrived at Menya Tori no Keiji Main Store around 3:30 PM one day. As expected, during this so-called “idle time” period, there was no line. However, the restaurant has a total of 24 seats, including counter and table seating, and almost all of them were filled with customers. Customers kept coming and going even after I arrived, making it clear this place is seriously popular.

Now, inside Menya Tori no Keiji Main Store, they display commemorative plaques from past Kansai Ramen Derby wins…

Three consecutive runner-up finishes from 2017 to 2019… How do I put this? Just looking at this makes me feel a “Ugh…” and tense up. Is it just me? Somehow, the frustration of not quite clinching the win really comes through. I find myself thinking, “Come on, let them win at least once out of three tries!”… Well, even if it’s just runner-up, it doesn’t change how amazing this shop is.

The shop’s signature pure Toripaitan soup… How did the Chicken Soba (Salt) at Menya Tori no Keii Main Store actually taste when I tried it?

So, let me introduce the Chicken Soba (Salt, ¥930 including tax), the standard ramen I ordered that day at Menya Tori no Keiji Main Store. About 5 minutes after ordering, the Chicken Soba (Salt) arrived looking like this…

A large piece of rare chashu pork sits right on top of the milky white chicken broth! Even though it’s the default ramen, its visual appeal is undeniable.

Let’s dive right into the soup… They call this broth “Pure Toripaitan Broth.” It has a nice thickness and creaminess, though the saltiness is perhaps a bit strong. The chicken umami comes through strongly, but it’s not at all cloying, so you won’t get tired of eating it even towards the end. As a Toripaitan soup, it feels slightly mild, with no off-flavors—just a simple broth of salt and chicken umami. Its mild concentration makes it suitable even for young children, which makes me think it fits well in the residential area of Nakamozu.

The noodles, in contrast, are flat, straight, medium-thin. Cooked firm with a strong bite, they hold their own against the chicken soup’s flavor. They slide down smoothly, gliding effortlessly into the stomach, while the chicken flavor gently wafts back up the nose. The portion is substantial, leaving no sense of being underwhelmed.

Then there’s the rare chashu topping. Even on the default ramen, it came with two huge slices. They were thick and incredibly meaty. They were moist even on their own, but dipping them in the soup to fully coat them in chicken umami before popping them in the mouth was ideal. That said, since it’s chicken broth, personally I prefer chicken chashu over pork…

Like this, I finished the standard menu item at Menya Tori no Keiji Main Store, the Chicken Soba (Salt), in about 5 minutes and left the shop. The flavor is excellent, and for a standard ramen, it feels quite luxurious. Plus, the price being under 1000 yen is incredibly appealing. Adding to that, the shop seems to be exploring new flavors for chicken broth by incorporating things like Parmesan cheese, garlic oil, and chili oil. I really love that spirit of challenge. They also offer great value set menus, so it’s no wonder they’re popular…

Other Menu Items at Menya Tori no Keiji Main Store (Prices include tax)

• Light Niboshi Chicken Salt Soba 850 yen
• Chicken Soba (Soy Sauce) 930 yen
• Chicken Soba Fromage 1030 yen
• Torinotori Black 980 yen
• Torinotori Red 980 yen
• Torinotori White 980 yen
• Rare Chashu Pork Soba (Salt or Soy Sauce) 1230 yen

Across the tracks are sister brands Menya Keiiji and Kaiji… Access to Menya Tori no Keiji Main Store: 5-minute walk from Nakamozu Station (Nankai Electric Railway Koya Line / Osaka Metro Midosuji Line)

Right near Menya Tori no keiji Main Store, across the tracks, sister brand ramen shops Menya Keiji and Kaiji operate. As the name suggests, they serve ramen featuring a double soup base of chicken white soup and shellfish broth. Adding a different flavor to chicken white soup is a great challenge. As far as I know, this blend of chicken white soup and shellfish is unique to this place, and I’m looking forward to my next chance to visit Nakamozu.

Now, here are the shop details…

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