The Ikebukuro area, one of Tokyo’s major entertainment districts, is a fierce battleground where many ramen shops compete.
Among them, “Menya Hulu-lu” has carved out a unique position and maintained top-tier popularity for over a decade.
Menya Hulu-lu is located roughly a ten-minute walk from the west exit of Ikebukuro Station, one of Tokyo’s biggest transportation hubs.
Removed from Ikebukuro’s hustle and bustle, Menya Hulu-lu is a unique ramen shop with a space resembling a Hawaiian café. The owner-chef is a skilled veteran who trained for ten years at a restaurant that was the first ramen shop in the world to earn a Michelin star.
In 2012, he opened Menya Hulu-lu, blending his deep love for this Hawaiian atmosphere with his passion for ramen.
A flavor like no other, crafted with meticulous care
When asked about the ramen served at the shop, the owner-chef humbly says, “I’m not special; I simply respect producers daily and focus on connecting the pieces while bringing out the best of each ingredient.”
With that free-thinking philosophy, he creates a wide range of unique and inventive ramen dishes that frequently rank high on Japanese review sites. Many fans travel from far away for a chance to try them.
The base soup is made with carefully selected ingredients such as branded chicken and aromatic vegetables, combined with Hawaiian mineral water, slowly simmered to extract the umami.
The soup’s concentration is adjusted by changing the cooking time depending on the ramen being served.
As for noodles, the amount of water added is adjusted daily based on the temperature and humidity. On top of that, several types of homemade noodles—with varying thickness, flour blends, and moisture levels—are used depending on the dish
Soy milk tantanmen with cheese risotto: irresistible balanced spice
The masterpiece dish that put Menya Hulu-lu’s name on the map in Japan is the “Chinese Noodles in Spicy Soup.” This is a soy milk-based serving of tantanmen noodles (Japan’s popular ramen dish inspired by Chinese dan dan noodles).
The bowl even won the grand prize in the “Addictive Spicy Flavor” category of a major ramen competition.
Initially offered as a winter-limited item, it became part of the regular menu due to its overwhelming popularity.
“豆乳担々麺チーズリゾットセット,” Cheese Risotto set with Chinese Noodles in Spicy Soup 1,500 JY (tax included)
The combination of soy milk and tantanmen is standard in the ramen world. However, at Menya Hulu-lu, it doesn’t adhere to the usual sesame flavor profile.
From the first sip, you’ll notice how the carefully chosen spices and chili oil are wrapped in the creamy smoothness of soy milk.
The mellow umami of the soup spreads across your palate, leaving a lingering depth of flavor that resonates deeply.
The soup also pairs perfectly with the tender, rare-style chāshū (Japan’s version of char siu) cooked at low temperature, and the al dente thin noodles blend well with it.
Another highlight to enjoy with the noodles is the cheese-topped rice that comes with the set. The cheese is lightly torched until aromatic and melty—mix a spoonful with the remaining soup for an unforgettable risotto experience!
Once you’ve finished your noodles, pour the rice into the leftover soup to blend the flavors even more; this way you can savor the set to the very last drop.
Miso tsukemen: deeply rich limited-time dipping noodles
The most labor-intensive item at Menya Hulu-lu is the “Miso Noodles with Dipping Sauce” offered only on Fridays. As the name says, this is a tsukemen dish, where ramen noodles are served apart from the soup.
“みそつけ麺 ミニオニチャーSET,” Miso Noodles with Dipping Sauce Mini Onion Chashu Bowl set 1,450 JPY (tax included)
The dipping broth is a rich, flavorful blend of miso tare (miso-based sauce) and a cloudy white soup simmered for eight hours.
The miso tare itself is a complex mix of three types of miso, including red and white miso, peanut butter, doubanjiang (spicy bean paste), and garlic.
Miso Noodles with Dipping Sauce
With tsukemen, you grab your desired amount of noodles with chopsticks for each bite and dip them in the broth. Made with whole wheat flour, the straight, thick noodles Menya Hulu-lu uses for this tsukemen cling to the rich soup beautifully, offering excellent texture.
Each bite brings out the aroma of the noodles, the sweetness and umami of the miso, and a refreshing note from finely chopped yuzu citrus, adding elegance to the dish.
The tsukemen toppings are diverse and distinctive: low-temperature cooked pork shoulder loin and chicken chashu, seasoned egg, daikon sprouts, and edible flowers decorate the bowl.
The “Mini Onion Chashu Bowl” that is offered in a set adds another level of satisfaction to the meal. This rice bowl, topped with chopped chashu and a garlicky onion sauce, creates an undeniably delicious combination.
Mini Onion Chashu Bowl
“Duck Wonton SOBA”: savor a flavorful soup and juicy duck meat
The “Duck Wonton SOBA” is another popular bowl.
This is a soy sauce-based ramen made with a clear chicken broth (chintan soup) blended with a special soy sauce tare.
It features a light soup highlighted by yuzu koshō, a traditional Japanese condiment made using yuzu citrus and green chili peppers.
The combination of refreshing spiciness and the rich depth of the soy sauce is simply irresistible!
“鴨ワンタンSOBA,” Duck Wonton SOBA 1,350 JPY (tax included)
The star topping, duck wontons, have a silky-smooth texture. The juicy umami unique to duck meat spreads from inside the wontons with every bite, adding depth to the soup.
One of the key draws of Menya Hulu-lu is its wide array of limited-edition dishes, which rotate on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
With so many creative options, it’s no surprise that the shop has built up a strong base of loyal customers and repeat visitors.
This reputation for deliciousness has spread not only in Japan but also overseas, so it’s not uncommon to see international tourists at the restaurant. Because of this, Menya Hulu-lu also offers an English menu.
The shop’s interior is spacious and comfortable, with table seating and even room to store suitcases.
If you’re looking for a truly original bowl of ramen unlike anything else, Menya Hulu-lu is a must-visit.
Information
| Store name | 麺屋 Hulu-lu Menya Hulu-lu |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-60-7 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Ikebukuro Station 7-minute walk from Exit C6
|
| Phone number | 03-3983-6455 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment/th> |
|
| Service charge / Table charge | None |
| Hours | Mon. & Wed-Sat. 11:30-15:00 , 17:30-20:50 Sun. & nat’l holidays 11:30-15:30 on the 2nd and 4th Mondays, and on the 1st of each month, only a special menu is available (regular menu not offered) only tsukemen is served on Fridays |
| Closed | Tuesday |
| Seating | 11 seats 5 counter seats, 6 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | http://hulu-lu.com/index.html |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of April 2025.
