Archive for 'Menchanko Tei'

65% Humidity Means It’s Cold Noodle Time!

Pro Hot Korean
Bi Bim Naengmyeon from Pro Hot Korean (on 56th btw. 5+6th)

It’s starting to get gross out, which makes eating hot ramen less and less appealing.  Thankfully summertime means Hiyashi chuka at Japanese restaurants, and Naengmyeon at Korean restaurants. Luncher Mark sends word that Pro Hot Korean (on 56th btw. 5+6th) is not serving their cold noodle dish yet, but what about the Japanese spots?

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45th Street Menchanko Tei Is Closed: Less than two weeks after welcoming back the 55th Street branch of Menchanko Tei (which had been closed for more than 3 months following a fire) Lunch'er Brian sends word that the 45th Street branch has now been closed for rennovations.

Menchanko Tei on 55th is Back Open

This just in from Lunch’er Daniel re: Menchanko Tei (on 55th btw. 5+6th) which was closed by a fire at the beginning of the year. “I was walking back from dinner last night, and realized the lights coming from the restaurant weren’t the renovators’ but actually diners. I stepped in to say hello, and most of the old staff was there and greeted me. It’s wonderful to see them up and running again, and just in time for a cold spring.”

WTF: Menchanko Tei on 55th is Still Closed

Hakata Ramen
Hakata Ramen from Menchako Tei. Posted to the ML Flickr Photo Pool by Pabo76

This is starting to get ridiculous.  The branch of Menchanko Tei (on 55th btw. 5+6th) that was closed by a fire in December is still “closed for renovations”.  They had originally said they were going to reopen a week after the fire- which makes this lengthy delay even that much more puzzling.  No word on what the hold up is or how long it is going to be closed for.  In the meantime, you’ll have to make do with Men Kui Tei (on 56th btw. 5+6th), Sapporo (on 49th btw. 6+7th), or the other branch of Menchanko Tei (on 45th btw. Lex+3rd).  Or you can just sit at your desk, staring longingly at the photo above until you cry.

Related:
Fire Closes Menchanko Tei & Five Guys
Original Menchanko Tei Post (10/23/06)

Confirmed: Five Guys is Back Open


Photo by occam

The Five Guys (on 55th btw. 5+6th) has been confirmed by lunch’er Daniel, who sent along this photo. Menchanko Tei, which is just to the West and was closed by the same fire last month, is saying they will reopen in March.

Related:
Fire Closes Menchanko Tei & Five Guys

Five Guys May Reopen Tomorrow; Menchanko Tei 1-2 Weeks Away

Thanks to Lunch’er Harry who sent along this photo of the window of Five Guys on 55th btw. 5+6th, which along with Menchanko Tei was closed three weeks ago by a fire in the building above.

fiveguys
 

“I walked by Five Guys today and I noticed it was clean, with the lights on, and a huge stack of potato sacks. Then I saw this sign. It says that they will be open by the end of the week and that they’re waiting for Con Ed to turn the gas on. Considering today is Thursday, maybe it will be tomorrow.”

I called Menchanko Tei, and they said it will still be another week or two before they reopen. This is actually a reversal from what we heard in the immediate days following the fire. Five Guys said they would be closed 4 to 6 weeks (it’s been 3), and Menchanko Tei said they hoped to be open the very next week.

If you work near there, let us know if it’s back open by commenting, emailing, or twittering… as soon as it’s confirmed open, we’ll post it. (After all… friday is a big hamburger day for Midtown Lunchers.)

Fire Closes Menchanko Tei & Five Guys

Fire on Fifty-Fifth
Photo courtesy of Occam

Wednesday morning, there was a fire in the building that houses Menchanko Tei on 55th btw. 5+6th, forcing them to close along with Onigashima and the Five Guys Burgers and Fries on the same block.  Menchanko Tei says they’re hoping to be back open in a week, while Five Guys is not answering their phone.  Five Guys is always packed on Fridays, so I’m guessing there will be a lot of disappointed people today. Another prediction: Burger Joint (on 56th btw. 6+7th) and Men Kui Tei (on 56th btw. 5+6th) will be mobbed…

Menchanko-Tei

In my quest to search out the best Ramen in Midtown, I feel like I’ve gone backwards… Sapporo was first, because it was right next to my office building.  A longtime favorite of the area, the Miso Ramen is delicious- but the quality of the ingredients (especially the pork) I found to be less than great.  I followed that up with Men Kui Tei, which I found to be a notch above Sapporo.  The Miso Ramen was also delicious, but the pork and other ingredients in the soup were of a much higher quality.  It probably worked out better this way- because if I had gone to Menchanko-Tei first, I might not have enjoyed the other two as much…

Menchanko-Tei has two locations in Midtown (one on 45th btw. Lex & 3rd and the other on 55th btw. 5+6th) which have a few differences, but are essentially the same.  They both have a small front room with a bar, and they both have a second small room… the one on 55th is in the back, the one on 45th is an upstairs balcony.  Much like Sapporo & Men Kui Tei, you have to get there early or you are going to wait.  By 12:30pm, both locations are full.

But enough about the similarities.  The differences that set Menchanko-Tei above the fray, more food porn and the +/-, after the jump…

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