“Showa”, may sound foreign to us. But for Japanese, the Showa era (昭和時代) is their glorious period as it was when enlightened peace and harmony existed. The Showa era also refers to the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Showa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 until his death on January 7, 1989.
The Showa Era in Japan is known as the Golden Era. Many Japanese will talk with pride whenever they recalled this period. This is especially true for those who were born in that era as it makes them proud and nostalgic.
Menya Miyabi, one of the famous Hokkaido Ramen in Penang has now opened its 3rd branch in Prima Tanjung, Tanjung Tokong, Penang. The other 2 branches are in Queensbay Mall and Sunway Pyramid respectively.
Upon entering this restaurant, you will find yourself traveling back to the “Showa” Era. At the front counter there is a “Yatai” layout where customers can enjoy their ramen just like in a traditional Japanese mobile food stall back in the olden days.
At this corner, it displays all the collectibles from Takana-san (owner of Menya Miyabi Malaysia). They are not the normal Japanese memorabilia that you could find elsewhere. Some are being auctioned at high price as they are the original sign boards and newspaper articles from the Showa era.
This piece of newspaper article was successful bid by Takana San with high price. According to Takana San, this is the glorious moment during the Showa period which is worth the price.
In Menya Miyabi, the objective is not just about serving authentic and delicious Japanese Hokkaido Ramen to its customers, but to bring the culture of eating Japanese ramen to the people in Malaysia.
From the drawings on the wall, you get the warm feeling of Japan as a country and as a family. The first is the Nikka Building which is a famous sight in Sapporo, Hokkaido. The drawing next to it is the view from a Ramen Master over his customers who were enjoying the hot bowls of ramen in the cold weather. The third drawing is the customer’s view of the Yatai Stall. The last drawing resembles the culture of a typical Japanese home which they will say “Itadakimasu” before they begin their meals.
Hokkaido Fried Chicken (Zangi, is a Hokkaido language for fried chicken). 1pcs – RM3.00, 5pcs – RM15.00
From the first glance it looks just like a regular fried chicken. However, if you taste it carefully, you can feel the chicken has been seasoned with authentic Hokkaido recipe. It is served together with a slice of lemon to make it more zesty and appetizing.
Gyoza (Fried Dumplings). 6pcs – RM13.00, 10pcs – RM19.00.
The gyoza is one of the highlights here. The skin was thin and fried until slightly crispy. The inner filling was juicy and tasty. It has the right ratio of meat and veggie in the filling.
Kids Ramen Set – RM17 with Hokkaido Custard.
Each of the ramen broth has been boiled for more than 14 hours. The slices of pork were so tender and blended very well with the broth. The onsen egg was also perfectly seasoned cooked with the runny egg yolk on the inside. This kids meal is ideal for kids to have a complete and fulfilling meal on their own.
Burnt Garlic Ramen – RM26.00
This is a new dish on the menu at this branch. If you are like me who loves garlic, this is the dish that you should not miss out. The broth was already cooked with garlic, and on top of it there were slices of deep fried garlic sprinkled generously. This dish was full of garlic aroma and along with the pork broth, it was a perfect bowl of ramen.
Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen (Soy Sauce Flavour) – RM24.00.
Tonkotsu in Japanese means broth made from pork marrow. The soup has been cooked in long hours with pork marrow and served with pork belly slices and some bamboo shoots, onsen egg and a touch of spring onions. Ladies are encouraged to order this as this bowl of soup contains collagen which is good for the skin.
Overall, this new branch of Menya Miyabi is not only selling great Japanese ramen, but also to showcase the culture of Japanese ramen and to reminisce the Japanese “Showa” Era. I highly recommend the Burnt Garlic Ramen as it tasted unique and delicious which is somethingI would go back for. As for parking there is an underground private car park available as well as the surrounding of the complex.
Editor’s Review (5 Stars Rank):
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Quick Facts:
| Family Friendly |  |
| Parking | |
| Pork Free |  |
| Alcohol | |
| Credit Card | |
| Smoking | |
| Reservation | |
| Private Room | |
| WIFI Available | |
Operation hours: 11:30am – 3:00pm; 6:00pm – 10:30pm (Close Tuesday)
Contact: 04-645 3811
Address: 98-G-33A , Prima Tanjung, Jalan Fettes, 11200 Tanjung Tokong, Penang, 11200 Penang
GPS: 5.4509652,100.3027271