Mensho Oakland

Anyone who chooses to hydrate with tonkotsu broth instead of water should beeline to Mensho. The Oakland ramen spot on Piedmont Avenue is pumping out the same phenomenally rich and creamy soups as its legendary SF counterpart. It’s also more laidback, and roughly triple the size of the Tenderloin location. And instead of having to spend an hour waiting for a coveted seat, you can walk right in for a bowl full of velvety broth, chewy noodles, and fall-apart chashu. The GKO (Garlic Knock Out) is a glorious (and breath-ruining) hit with three types of fried garlic and black garlic oil. And the slow-burning spicy miso lamb ramen is umami in a bowl. Get here for casual weeknight dinners, or when the predictably tepid Bay Area weather requires you to warm your body with hot soup. 

photo credit: Julia Chen