St.
Louing
Kishimoto Mendo
Rich, comforting Tonkotsu ramen
As a long time fan of Menya Rui, I’ve been hyped to try Kishimoto Mendo ever since it was announced. Kishimoto Mendo is the new Tonkotsu-style ramen concept from the chef-owner of Menya Rui. Tonkotsu is my favorite style of ramen, so although the Shoyu at Menya Rui is fantastic, I wasn’t fully satisfied with the STL ramen scene.
We ended up going to Kishimoto Mendo during opening weekend, and I have to say - it’s the best Tonkotsu ramen I’ve ever had, and I’ve had several across San Diego and Chicago (haven’t been to Tokyo yet, sadly). I really respect that the owner, Steven Pursley, delayed the opening until he was sure that the soup was up to his personal standards. We’ve been a few times and it’s been a complete 10/10 every time.
The pork broth is rich, flavorful, and comforting. The ramen shop vibes in the restaurant are great, and I love that it has twice as much seating as Menya Rui. I highly recommend stopping by and getting the classic Tonkotsu ramen.
I would put Kishimoto Mendo on my list of “must try” restaurants in St. Louis.
