Simba take’s Menya Mori!

I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the end of a semester than with a bowl of hearty ramen! In the heart of downtown Edmonton lies a cozy basement ramen shop worth every penny. Menya Mori is what I consider to be a diamond in the snow. After shopping for a good luck charm at Ascendant books, the bitter cold sent me and my partner-in-crime fellow GAPSS member Izzy to this basement ramen eatery where we were served an excellent meal located at 10350 - 124 Street NW Edmonton, AB. Menya Mori from the interior design to the menu scheme is Japanese minimalism. Luckily, we managed to snag a seat during Menya Mori’s peak business hours. With only six tables, business tends to fill up fast and with how delicious their food is, you won’t want to rush this dining experience. 

With how limited their menu is, if you have chronic indecisiveness (just like me), dining has never been easier! Menya Mori’s entrées are solely ramen and I've never been known to reject a spicy challenge, so of course I ordered the spicy tonkotsu ramen with a side of chashu don and a refreshingly cold sapporo to wash down my semester’s sorrows. In spite of their busy business, I was surprised by how fast the food arrived at the table. Less than five minutes had passed before my bowl of chasu don and spicy tonkatsu arrived.

Steam spiraled out from the bowl, as the broth erupted pockets of rich flavours. The broth was a rich burnt sienna that housed thin and firm noodles that were topped by a bed of green onions, tender pork, stewed bok choy, and a soft boiled soy-marinated egg. Between each bite, I doused the liquid fire with a swig from my cool beer and resumed filling my gut with lava. But, I couldn’t help it. That rich broth exploded with spice and heat; I drank my fill of liquid gold until a hole burned in my stomach. In a fit of fiery anguish, I downed the entire sapporo in one gulp. My spice-induced ache was barely extinguished. Across from me, Izzy hadn’t even finished half of her shoyu tonkatsu. Thankfully, I still had my chashu don on the side eagerly awaiting to be devoured. After the mouth-burning tonkotsu, the fresh spring flavours of the chashu don was a refreshing respite; sweet mayo, green onions, and soy-marinated pork mixed with white rice is the perfect remedy to a spicy evening. For $5, get ready to experience a stellar combination of mouth-watering flavours in a humble bowl of white rice. The tender pork soy sauce marinade bleeds into the rice and is then elevated by the tart mayo drizzled over the bowl. It’s all so simple, but mix it all together and you produce one of the best bowls of rice I’ve ever tasted!!! 

I have to say, did I expect to find a newfound cherished eatery in Edmonton this weekend? No. Am I glad that I did? Yes! For $38.04 (including tip), Menya Mori has delivered a form of culinary excellence that I’ve never tasted before in Edmonton. If you ever find yourself downtown fending off the bitter cold, sneak away into this eatery for a healthy evening meal to give you strength to face the brutal winter.

Meal: 10/10

Spicy ranking: 4/10

Written by GAPSS Media Committee Member Simba M.