Shin Shin Men Men

Oh, how I missed their noodle! This review was based on my last experienced eating at Shin Shin Men Men:
Decided to try the new ramen joint in Cupertino, Shin Shin Men Men, as I was lured by the promise of a potentially delightful burning sensation in my mouth from their spicy ramen.
Yes! They do deliver in that respect and it’s definitely a nice option for a ramen that kicks it up a notch.
Their menu is simple: First, you have to chose the broth flavors (tonkotsu, miso, soy sauce), then the spiciness level. It goes from non-​spicy to extremely spicy level 6, which comes with it’s own warning, «Eat at your own risk!». Lastly, for an additional cost, they have all kinds of extras and toppings to round out your bowl.
We ordered the tonkotsu ramen, spice level 3 (this is as far as I’d like to go), for $ 9.45. Flavor was good and the heat really hit the spot… okay, maybe a little more than I can handle, hehe. The broth was creamy, heavy and fattier than any broth I’ve had elsewhere, but it had the right amount of saltiness. The noodle was thick and really firm… too firm for my liking, but that may be a personal preference. The bowl came with only 2 slices of leaner-than-Santouka’s chasu pork, which was tender and clean tasting. The egg on the side was cooked just right; half runny and the yolk was bright yellow. Portions were generous and the presentation beautiful!
Overall, the ramen was pretty satisfying and I would recommend Shin Shin Men Men for anyone who wants to experience their range of spicy ramen.

Closed?
We dropped by yesterday with yet another neighborhood friend to introduce them to Shin2Men2 and was sad to read the shop is closed. My whole family is sad and disappointed that this shop closed. It looked like th business was really picking up… Regrets. I hope the proprietor sets out to open elsewhere. Their offering was worthy of cult following.

I do love their ramen. I’ve tried both level 5 & 6 spicy ramen in tonkatsu broth, and looved it. If you’re Korean and grew up eating spicy food, 6 won’t even be that spicy for you. But at that point, the broth gets way too thick and dense from the hot paste, so you can’t really taste the tonkatsu flavor. I’ll probably stick to 5 if you want to actually be able to taste the soup. Their eggs are usually perfectly soft-​boiled, which is a big plus too.
There’s one thing that REALLY bothers me about this restaurant… The girl who works in the front, Amber, is extremely unfriendly, and should NOT be sitting there to interact with customers. She had zero smile, no verbal response, no acknowledgement, and had a pissed-​off face the entire time we were there, which is a big no-​no in my book. When she wasn’t interacting with customers with her annoyed face, she was busy playing on her phone or the computer. What a service. Note to owner/​manager, train your girl to at least say «Hi,» because first impression really do make a big difference to whether people will come back to the restaurant or not…

Yay! Finally a pretty good food place at the Oaks.
This has become my SO’s and my little tradition after hikes, so here’s the lowdown (starting w/​a three star base)
(+1) Customization — I LOVE this. Everything is very well laid out and easily understood
(+1) Portion size — HUGE. Tricksy tip: You can easily split a large bowl of ramen with another person and come out stuffed. Just make sure you order an extra egg!
(+1) Yummy hot tea while eating inside
(+1) They take card (which seems to be a rarity for a lot of asian food places elsewhere
(-1) SALTY salty salty men men
(-1) the meat that normally comes in the regular bowl is kind of gross
(-1) Albeit delcious, the shin shin meat is sort of weird. They microwave it before serving it to you.

I’ve read some reviews here that they had slow service so either I got lucky and was helped accordingly and got my ramen in a decent time… or the service changed. Who knows!
I got the level 4 tonkotsu ramen which was pretty good! The level 4s and up come with spicy tofu I believe, which I feel like was unnecessary. The ramen noodles were thick and chewy, the egg was at a perfect soft boiled texture, and the broth was flavorful. You don’t get much pork meat and the slices aren’t that thick either.
There’s nothing great about it, but there’s also nothing bad about it so hence my 3 stars– it’s A-​OK.

2 stars taken off for their horrible, slow service! My friend and I waited for over 20 minutes to even get a seat. THEN an additional 10 for our ramen. I am not amused.
The only thing keeping them from a 2 star rating is their ramen – it is pretty good. The noodles are very thick and have a nice chewy consistency. I love the soft boiled egg, and seaweed. Although their pork is a bit too chewy/​tough; it has good flavor.
I might come back just because I live so close, and I often have a strong craving for Japanese ramen; but I’d have to put up with their service again which is a drag.
Might want to try ONLY if you’re in the area, but prepare to wait.

I got the tonkotsu broth, level 2 spicy. They put a heap of spicy powder in your noodles. I’m a pretty big fan of spicy stuff but I felt like the level 2 was a good amount of spice to be enjoyed.
You order at the front counter, take a number, and they call out your number to pick up at the counter. They wouldn’t let me carry two trays back to the table and forced me to make two trips to carry them one at a time. I felt like it took a bit long considering the fact that the restaurant was not packed. Also they need to invest in a microphone, or just bring me my damn ramen to the table.
Overall it was okay. The broth wasn’t super fatty so kudos on that, Shin Shin. I did think it lacked a little complexity to their flavor though. The noodles were chewy which I prefer over thin noodles, but these were a bit too thick for my taste. Decent job on the soft-​boiled egg. The meat was more char su styled than the traditional meat that goes into ramen.
My current Bay Area ramen rankings:
Orenchi– 5
Ramen Dojo-​5
Santouka– 4
Kotetsu– 3.7
Kahoo– 3.5
Halu– 3
Maru Ichi– 3
Shin Shin– 3
Ramen Ten Ma– 3
Ogisan Ramen– 2

You order with the cashier and you get a raffle ticket (which is your order number), then you get seated and wait until they yell out your number and you go up to the counter and pick it up.
I ordered the Tonkotsu Level 2. Noodles were thick and eggy and a good texture, you get a whole soft boiled egg, which was perfectly cooked, bamboo was crunchy and I enjoyed the seaweed. The chasiu wasn’t very tender but the broth was okay flavor. Level 2 is spicy! I love spice, but they really do mean business! Water and tea are self serve, bathrooms are single stalls. The place is small, like all ramen joints and is located in a small plaza with parking.

Definitely one of the better ramen joints! :D This place has a «fast food» concept — you order and pay first, then sit down at a table and wait for your number to be called and go collect your ramen. Drinks are also self serve with genmai tea (green tea with brown rice), iced water and some other options.
1. Pick the broth — tonkotsu, miso, shoyu
2. Pick the spiciness level — non spicy (level 0) to extremely spicy (level 6)
3. Choose to upsize/​add additional toppings at an extra cost.
Tonkotsu Ramen, spice level 3 — The noodles are chewy with a good texture (reminds me a lot of Orenchi’s ramen noodles). The soup was sinfully thick and rich. The egg was slightly overdone (not completely hardboiled, only the yolk was not as runny as it could have been). I read many reviews about how level 3 is the right amount of spiciness but I think I can probably go higher. I think I’ll try 4 or 5 next time :)
Miso Ramen, non spicy — The egg for this ramen was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of runny yolk :) The miso broth was savoury and creamy. The chasu had the right combination of fat and lean meat.
Portions here are slightly larger than Orenchi. Best of all, there was no line (on a Saturday at 6pm) so I definitely do see myself coming back more often… but I think this restaurant is gonna get popular really fast though!

If you don’t feel like waiting in line for Orenchi, then this is the place for you.
Unfortunately, they do not post their hours online but they do have a calendar on the door for their monthly schedule. The first time I came, they were closed and I left disappointed. From their calendar, it appeared they were usually closed on Tuesdays.
Now to the actual ramen… The Noodles are thick and chewy like Orenchi and you can choose your own level of spiciness from mild, spicy, and super spicy (levels 0 to 6).
Great place to go for a decent bowl of ramen without the fuss and wait.

I was really excited to try this place, and I was so convinced that the ramen would blow me away, but it didn’t. I’m not saying that it wasn’t delicious, because it was, but I guess I’m just picky about my ramen. It’s nothing compared to Santouka in the Mitsuwa Marketplace or Ramen Dojo in San Mateo.
You order up at the counter, and I like that you have your choice of how spicy you’d like in on a scale of 1 to 6. I got the level 5 spicy miso, but it really wasn’t spicy at all, and I wish I had ordered the 6. Service was friendly, but it took fooooooooooooooorever for my ramen to be ready. I was so hungover and impatient.
The noodles are more firm than I’m used to, and though some reviewers say they prefer it this way, I don’t. The hardboiled eggs were perfect. Still a little oozy inside. :) The broth was good; I just wish it was actually spicy! And lastly, I like it when places have options for the size of the bowl. I find a large bowl of ramen to be overwhelming and it makes it less appetizing, for some reason. Shin Shin Men Men has the regular size and a large size, but I like how Santouka has a small size that’s juuuuust perfect. ;)
***Since you order and pay at the counter, you’re not guaranteed a table! The first time I went here, I decided to leave because people were standing around waiting to order since there was no seating (and it’s not a really big place). So make sure you have a table before you order! Or you’ll be eating on the floor.

WHY WE WENT HERE:
— ramen craving to fulfill with old co-​workers
— a new place we haven’t been to before
THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE):
— in a plaza with Quickly
— small and quaint
THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE):
— clean and cozy
— long and narrow
HOW IT WORKS:
— STEP 1: choose soup flavor
— STEP 2: choose spice level (0 – 6)
— STEP 3: add extras and toppings
— after ordering you pay up front and you’re given a ticket
— seat yourself and wait for your ticket number to be called before retrieving your food at the pick-​up station/​table
— there is a self serve water/​utensil/​tea station/​table that you can help yourself to
THE MENU:
— simplified
— soup flavors = tonkatsu (pork bone broth; their most popular flavor); soy sauce (soy sauce based soup matured for 2 weeks); miso (a blend of 3 misos and 7 spices)
— ramen types = non spicy (spice level = 0; cha-​syu, bean sprout, green onion, menma, soft boiled egg, and nori), shin shin (spice level = 1 – 3; cha-​syu, bean sprout, green onion, menma, soft boiled egg, and nori), ultra shin shin (spice level = 4 – 6; cha-​syu, green onion, mixed vegetables, death mabo, and soft boiled egg)
— extras and toppings = bean sprout, cha-​syu, corn, kimchee, menma, small rice, soft boiled egg, death mabo, shin shin meat, mini death mabo over rice
PRICING:
— ramen types = non spicy $ 9.45 (large +$ 1.50), shin shin $ 9.45 (large +$ 1.50), ultra shin shin $ 10.95 (large +$ 1.50)
— extras and toppings = bean sprout $ 0.99, cha-​syu $ 1.50, corn $ 1.79, kimchee $ 1.50, menma $ 0.99, small rice $ 0.99, soft boiled egg $ 1.50, death mabo $ 2.00, shin shin meat $ 2.50, mini death mabo over rice $ 4.50
WHAT WE ORDERED:
— shin shin tonkatsu
— non-​spicy miso
— non-​spicy tonkatsu with corn
HOW IT TASTED:
— fresh
— filling
— GOOD!
— broth for both tonkatsu and miso get a bit salty toward the end
BATHROOM:
— clean
— fresh smelling
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
— professional
— polite
— grateful to customers
OTHER:
— I love the simplified menu, but I DO like it when I have the option to get starters (especially karaage!) at a Japanese spot
— overall, great food, clean and chill environment, good workers

My fiancé had tried to eat here a couple of times but failed because they were always closed on the days that he wants to go there — we finally succeeded one weekend when we were in the area for lunch. This place was supposedly better than Orenchi according to some Unilocalers, so we really had to take this seriously because we both agree that Orenchi is the best ramen yet in South Bay!
We were a little confused when we first arrived because apparently you order first and then you can be seated once the food is ready. I thought this was a strange system because you have to pay for your food first (which means you really have to wait no matter how long it takes), but I don’t always have the patience to wait 30+ min… we got them to agree to give us a refund if we end up not staying (we ended up staying), but I was still really baffled at their system.
Our food was ready faster than they had promised, which was great, and we were super excited to try out our ramen! I got ZERO spiciness because I can’t really eat too spicy or I’ll get sick, and my fiancé tried #1 spiciness (it goes up to 6). I thought #1 was already spicy enough, but I saw some other bowls that were a lot redder than my fiancé’s…I can’t even begin to imagine how people eat the higher spicy levels!
The ramen was good overall — decent broth, well-​executed noodles (but harder than usual), and my egg actually came soft-​boiled! I would definitely say their ramen is good enough to make it onto our list of ramen restaurants that are worth trying, but I can’t say that it’s better than Orenchi! (although I guess if you don’t want to wait as long, this is definitely a good alternative)
P. S. cash-​only!

Shin Shin Men Men… no idea how that name came around… sounds like something a Pokemon or animé character would say.
Japanese ramen made by chinese people right across from De Anza? Why not. Worth a try.
The way to order is no different than Santouka. You have to order and pay at the cashier first before seating. The menu is very self explanatory and has different levels of spicy. I had a level 3 tonkatsu ramen which was mas o menos hot, meaning I should have went up to level 5. I also ordered the mini mabo over rice which actually was pretty spicy and really good. The ingredients such as the egg, noodles, and pork slices were on point. The broth however, was just too salty for my liking. My friend had to pour water into her bowl just to finish the soup. Don’t get me wrong it tastes good but the saltiness is a bit overwhelming.
Verdict:
Would I give this place another try? Yes.
I’ll be sure to ask them for a little bit less salt in my broth or have a glass of water nearby to pan out the flavor if necessary.

****************************** REVIEW 865 *******************************
Thank you to Julie K. for telling about this ramen spot when I’m taking PE classes at De Anza College across the street and I didn’t even know!
Shin Shin Men Men is small about 25 seats max, pack at lunch time because of the college kids! I came around 11:45 AM, I waited 20 minutes before I got to see my ramen. Imagine you come at noon time, expect longer wait.
The menu is quite straight forward, you order, pay, then they give you a number, find a table and wait for your ramen. The service is efficient but not as personal as other ramen places I’ve been too.
— The broth: Tonkotsu, Soy, or Miso.
— The spicy: non spicy $ 9.45, shin shin $ 9.45 or ultra shin shin $ 10.95.
— Add toppings for additional cost: death mabo $ 2, corn $ 1.79, beansprout $ 0.99, etc, so it can add up!
I ordered the tonkotsu and Miso, both time was good, the broth could be tastier, but for a new spot open, this is pretty decent here. The ramen was medium size, curly and wavy, they give you a good size of ramen. I didn’t finish it, it was too much ramen. The char shiu is OK, wish it was more charred, but the egg was running good.
Shin Shin Men Men is good when I’m hungry after my ballet, Pilates and kickboxing at DAC, but I still prefer my ramen at Ramen Tenma, for the taste, the price and more personal service.
CASH ONLY

I loooooove my ramen, so I’m always down to try out new ramen places.
Waited about 15 minutes for a table on a Saturday afternoon. then waited about 35 minutes from the time we sat down to get our ramen. I was not a happy camper!
I got the Tonkotsu spicy level 1 with corn and extra cha su. They’re lucky the ramen was actually pretty tasty, or else they would’ve only gotten 2 stars from me.
The texture of the ramen noodle was on the chewier side, but I like that. The broth was definitely lips-​smackin good with fat, but the cha su wasn’t as tender as I would’ve liked.
The way it works is you order and pay up front, then you get seated. They’ll call your number when your order is ready. That was the part I didn’t really like, because I am a clumsy girl. Clumsy girl carrying a hot tray with big bowl of ramen having to navigate through the tiny restaraunt = BAD IDEA. I would’ve been so embarassed if I spilled the whole thing on the floor or on someone… but luckily that didn’t happen…(I held my breath the whole time while carrying my tray to my table… eek!)
This place is next to a Quickly, Jamba Juice, and some coffee spot.
Overall, this place is decent, price is alright. Would I come back? I’m not sure. I like Kahoo better.
CASH ONLY!

When I heard a new ramen opened locally, I was really excited to try it out. Much to my disappointment, it didn’t come close to my expectations.
I ordered the ultra level 6 with extra garlic and corn. I think I went wrong with the extra garlic because I felt like I was drinking crawfish sauce instead of soup, so maybe i’ll eliminate it next time around. The broth was a little bit saltier than spicy than I would’ve liked as well. The soft boiled egg was awesome but the meat had more fat than meat itself.
My first experience wasn’t all that great but I would love to give this place another try.

I’m definitely not a huge ramen fan, but I just don’t see a big deal about ramen in general or this place. The only ramen places that I give high stars to are ones that make their noodles. This place uses packaged noodles and gives a pretty average tasting broth.
I guess their uniqueness is that you can order it fiery hot and spicy? Umm, sorry, not by cup of tea.
So, if you’re in the area and want ramen, go for it. I would not drive too far for this place though.

Update: After the more solid reviews had to come back and try another version, this time with their spicy topping. Got the miso broth at the Ultra Shin Shin or very spicy level #4 (with an extra cost of $ 1 – 2).
The miso broth was decent and all the ingredients are pretty good, especially the soft boiled egg and pork slices. Overall though, I’m not feeling the mapo tofu placed on top. It didn’t add much to the broth, didn’t make it that spicy, and I was sweating more from the nice heat of the soup than the spiciness.
==========
Shin Shin Men Men is the latest ramen establishment to hit the Bay Area.
For those that have been to popular ramen favorite Santouka in the Mitsuwa Supermarket, the setup at Shin Shin is very similar.
Orders are placed at the desk near the entrance from a simple menu. Three broth options are available (tonkotsu, shoyu, or miso) and a variety of add-​ons and side dishes as well (corn, bean sprouts, mapo tofu).
Seating is open and water and condiments are all self-​serve. Orders are called by number and you go up to a table adjacent to the front desk to pick up your order.
Once finished, you leave your items at the table and a staff member will clean up for the next patron.
The marketing niche for Shin Shin Men Men is their spicy ramen and it extends to the décor (flames decorate the windows). Wanting to sample their broth quality, I opted for the tonkotsu broth at zero spiciness, unencumbered by what I assume is just chili oil that can be selected to a hot scale of 10.
Each ramen bowl ($ 9.95 regular) includes a whole soft boiled egg, three pork slices, two pieces of seaweed, and some bean sprouts. Add-​on toppings are available, but definitely at a premium (corn $ 2, extra bean sprouts $ 1.76)
A limited number of side dishes are available and I decided to try the «mapo death,» a small bowl of mapo tofu that can also be available with rice.
Tonkotsu ramen — solid broth that is neither excessively salty nor oily. Flavor is good though not at the level of lust-​worthy ramen establishments like Orenchi, Santouka, or the old Santa. The soft boiled egg was prepared perfectly and the noodles were good too. The pork slices, while tasty, weren’t stand out a la Santouka torinoku pork, but at least three slices were included. Overall, a solid bowl of ramen.
«Mapo Death» — the small bowl of mapo tofu was exceedingly disappointing. Obviously made from a pre packaged or mixed sauce, the tofu and sauce had some heat, but were incredibly starchy as if not enough water had been added. Overall, I’d skip this at $ 2.
Shin Shin Men Men’s focus is clearly their ramen and they serve a tasty bowl that will no doubt be popular among the nearby De Anza College students that frequent the place. With such a large demographic, it’s surprising that there isn’t more competition for Shin Shin or the nearby Phở-​licious. Ike’s is the only notable 5 star in the area, but Shin Shin is a welcome addition though Santouka and Orenchi fans have nothing to fear.
Shin Shin Men Men is cash only.
My Ramen Rankings:
1) Orenchi Tonkotsu Ramen with soft boiled egg
2) Santouka Shio/​Miso Ramen with toriniku pork
—–
3) Ramen Halu — Halu Ramen
4) Shalala — Shio Ramen
5) Misoya — Kome-​miso Ramen with Cha-​su
6) Dohatsuten — Shio Ramen (mild and less salty)
7) Ramen Dojo — Spicy Pork Ramen
8) Kahoo — Kotteri Ramen (spicy)
9) Santa — Tonkotsu Ramen with stewed pork (decadent pork)
10) Shin Shin Men Men — Tonkotsu Ramen
11) Ryowa — Butter Corn Ramen
12) Katana Ya — Butter Corn Ramen
13) Maru Ichi — Kuro Ramen

Being a Japanese, I take Ramen quite seriously.
I’ve eated Ramen all my life, so it’s in my blood.
Having said that, this place is a real deal and serves authentic Japanese Ramen. The broth is rich, intense and creamy. The noodles are curly and thick with great texture.
And oh my… but the eggs… their Ajitsuke-​tamago (soft-​boiled eggs) are divine.
So, skip the line at Orenchi and head to Shin Shin Men Men.
My favorite: Tonkotsu-​miso with extra corn Spicy level 2
Be careful when trying out the spice level.
Keep in mind they only take cash
Plenty of parking