MENSHO recently opened at Ka Makana Aliʻi, and we were lucky enough to be invited to a special media tasting event on a Friday night. Normally, Friday nights are tough for us schedule-wise, but once I read that Mensho was a Michelin-recognized restaurant, there was no way I was passing this one up.
We arrived right as the doors opened and were immediately greeted by the cheerful staff. First impressions? The space is beautiful — modern, sleek, and energetic without feeling overwhelming. The menus were already waiting at our table, and honestly, my stomach was rumbling before we even sat down.
To kick things off, we were served a bottle of Kikusui Japanese sake. Smooth, crisp, and exactly what we needed to unwind after a long week. It paired perfectly with everything that followed.
And then… the food started coming.
First up was the A5 Wagyu Uni Ikura.
Wow. Rich wagyu, creamy uni, bursts of ikura — amazing.
Next came the enoki chips. Fried enoki mushrooms? I had never tried them before, but somehow it totally works. Crispy and dangerously addictive.
Then came the corn wings. Yes, corn wings. The presentation alone had us doing a double take, but they were delicious.
But of course, the real star of the evening was the ramen.
We first tried the Shrimp GKO ramen, and let me warn you — you really have to love garlic. The flavor was intense, and garlicky. Garlic lovers are going to appreciate this one.
The MVP of the night was the Wagyu Truffle Shoyu Ramen. And this moment felt extra special because the owner himself, Tomoharu Shono, came to our table to shave fresh truffle directly over the bowl before we dug in.
I honestly cannot describe how good this ramen was. Everything just worked together perfectly. The broth was light, the wagyu was incredible, and the noodles?
Absolute perfection — chewy, springy, perfectly al dente. Every bite made me want to keep the bowl all to myself. Sorry to my plus one… aka my husband. LOL.
MENSHO's grand opening happened just a few nights ago, and from what we heard, the line wrapped around the corner. The word is definitely out. Since they’re currently walk-ins only with no reservations and open for dinner service only, I have a feeling the hype is going to stick around for a long time… if it ever dies down at all.
If you’re a ramen lover in Hawaii, this is one spot you’ll want to experience for yourself.
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