Tucked away in a corner nearby Nijiya on 182nd, this store used to only be open for lunch when it first opened. When I visited this store with my dad, this was also around the time I went to Ichimi Ann, so my perspective on Monjiro was a little biased towards the other noodle shop, and the fact that Monjiro didn’t have a lot of their items they have now also put a damper on my honest review.
Months later, my brother comes into the house, raving about how he and his longtime friend had found a great place to eat noodles. Intrigued, we asked for the details; with this, my brother told me the restaurant, and I began to recognize and remember the noodle restaurant I had visited so very long ago. Eager for a second chance to taste what my brother was so enthusiastic about, we set off to the restaurant… At dinner time!
A lot of things had changed from the time I first came to now– although the interior, with its wooden decorating was the same, the menu had been altered, with more delicious recipes ready to order.
When my party had been seated, my brother was a little surprised that the restaurant was empty. He explained that he saw Monjiro packed with people usually, and so seeing it only have another party besides us eating dinner was a little strange.
Monjiro has a light and clean feeling to its interior, and the woodwork is aesthetically pleasing. As I surveyed the small eatery, I was pleasantly amused that their work station to make udon was made visible for their customers to view. Unfortunately, no one was making noodles at the time, but I could imagine watching the udon being meticulously made by skilled hands.
Looking towards the menu, I could feel myself salivate as I imagined the tasty possibilities that were laid out before me.
Many things caught my eye, like the beef tataki and butter corn, but it was ultimately decided to try out their squid sauteed in squid liver butter. When it arrived to our table sizzling, the entire restaurant smelled of the dish, rich and powerful, and I already knew I was in for a treat.
As I took photographs, I began to get distressed as my brother and my cousin (who tagged along) began picking off piece by piece. I quickly grabbed two, put it on a plate, and finished my work.
Now, for the taste test.
I gingerly picked up one steaming ring and popped it into my mouth. Immediately, I was smacked in the tastebuds with its flavorful, robust sauce, and was pleased with the way the squid felt between my teeth. Extremely tender, fresh, and slightly chewy, the squid was perfectly cooked and paired extremely well with the sapid, buttery sauce. I couldn’t resist and ate more than the two I had plopped on my plate. As I wiped the last ring in the warm glaze, the waitress came by and began to place our udon orders in front of us.
Along with the udon, my brother and cousin had decided to order their kakiage, which my brother highly recommended, stating Monjiro boasted the best kakiage that you can find around this area. I managed to sneak in a quick bite before they wolfed down the side dish, and knew my brother was right: this kakiage was– no, is— amazing.
I didn’t get to read the description, but the kakiage seems to have onions, sweet potato strips, carrots, and tiny scallops that are lightly battered and fried to perfection. The bite I had had a nice crunch to it, was not oily, and tasted super fresh.
In retrospect, I wish I had ordered the kakiage. Next time.
My beef udon came out hot, and the steam that wafted from the bowl carried notes of carmelized onions and marinated beef that made me salivate. Digging in, I admired the chewiness of the noodles, the fresh crunch of the green onions, the perfectly marinated beef, and the light, beefy broth that tied the whole thing together. At normal portion, this was perfect for me since I wasn’t too hungry. I later found out if you’re really hungry, they have a large portion size for $2 more.
Will have to keep that in mind.
With a contended sigh, all 3 of us were full and happy from this delightful experience. I listened to the Studio Ghibli soundtrack in the background and contemplated coming back again soon. Paying the check, the three of us rolled out of there, back to our homes.
Monjiro, in its entirety, has a great lineup of Japanese food and noodle selections to choose from. Blossoming from an only-lunch restaurant to now serving dinner, I can’t wait to come back and further my review of their items.
Until then.
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