Monohon Ramen in Islington

The big queue outside made me think this might be something special but unfortunately it didn't really hit the mark this time. Totally possible I just came on an off-day which as a former chef is something I know is very possible. The pork wasn't actually char siu but just seemed to be unflavoured cooked pork and the noodles themselves weren't great quality/texture. I will try it again in future but it wasn't really the tokyo style tonkotsu I was hoping it would be. Also quite pricey given the portion size, although the service was good and the atmosphere was great.

I had the vegan ramen for 18 £ and was quite disappointed - it contained too much peanut butter and sesame and I just felt quite ill and stuffed afterwards, it was also too spicy/ hot for my taste. Overall the atmosphere was very hectic and busy and I felt very rushed to finish my food as soon as possible. You got tap water for free which I thought was nice but I found the ramen not that delicious and the vibes quite off so I wouldn‘t recommend…

Very rude service. They would let bigger groups in before me and give me a table I didn’t like. They just don’t care about good service. I have been here many times before but was never treated like that. I always order a lot of food and would he sat at a normal table and not treated badly ‘ because’ they think they wouldn’t make as much money from me. Which is not even true. Despite delicious food, not planning to visit again :/ careless about customer service.

This is a great find. It’s tiny and you can’t make a reservation so if it’s busy you might have to wait (also worth noting that they will only seat you when your whole group is there) Their menu is short but what they do, they do to very high standards. If you’re a vegetarian then it looks like there might only be 2 options for you. I had the abura soba noodles which was delicious, and looked so pretty. Friend had the vegan tan tan men and tells me that was also great. The staff were very welcoming and service was quick

I wouldn’t usually choose a Japanese restaurant as my first preference but my friend recommended it and I’m up for a new experience so dived right in. So pleased I have friends with good taste! This place is extraordinary. Completely informal, no reservations, a small queue outside tells you that this is a bit of a hidden secret. We sat at the kitchen bar - perfect for seeing what’s going on. Everything is cooked to order, very fresh, delicious. And cheap for an evening out. I’ll be back!

Previous reviewers are not kidding about the queue. We were walking by at about 1715 when The Anthropologist (who lives nearby) said that if we formed the queue we would get a table. There were probably 10 people waiting by 1730 when it opened. They don't take bookings. It's tiny - I think my front room is bigger (and we don't live in a big house). Hence the tables are small, and packed in. However, if you can cope with that you will be rewarded with excellent ramen from a small menu. It feels authentic but I'm not an expert. It's a bit pricy for ramen but this is central London.

A comida excessivamente cara e enjoativa. Apesar de Staff ser muito simpático, a comida estragou a experiência toda..

Incredible vegan ramen- best in London I’ve had. You’ll have to queue outside but for very good reason! The broth is amazing

The best ramen I've ever tasted. The broth is delicious and the service is fast. I recommend everyone to try it! I LOOOOOOVE RAMEN

The best Raman I have tasted outside Japan. My wife told me about this place and knows I love a noodle or two. The queue was worth the wait, which was not long. We have been wanting to go for a while and when we got there was a very short queue outside. Five mins later and we were sat at a low bar. We decided to get a Shouyu Tonkatsu and a Mentaiko Cream Mazemen these where amazing. The broth was flavourful, deep and complex. The ramen was just perfect as it is in Japan. The atmosphere had a buzz and was alive. Everything just works at this restaurant

Lucky find! Delicious! Thank you for a wonderful dinner. My 12 year old son and I had shoyu tonkotsu, we'll be back to try the rest of the menu. Thank you!

first time for me to this restaurant and I was impressed: for a monday evening the place was busy. the head chef was making sure was made correctly. I had the JA JA MEN and that was a great recomendation from Masahiro. I will defenetly comeback.

If you want authentic Ramen then this is the place to go to! The beer is icy cold as it should be, the service is great and above all the food served will fill your heart with joy! It’s a real pleasure to visit a quality establishment like this and it reminded us of our times enjoying Ramen in Japan! Please put this on your list “to go to” when in London. We are already planning our next visit.

A small ramen restaurant and it does get busy so I recommend going at off peak hours or prepare to wait. Good selection of ramen and the regular portion size is filling.

This is my first visit and have always walked past on my morning commute, decided to make a visit for my ramen fix. Came here for my lunchtime break with ease, there are tables as well as a single bar area. Have ordered a soup Ramen with traditional ingredients which I believe it is made with skill, as the proof provided as their regular clients were mostly Japanese. Does get busy in lunchtimes so be prepared for some unresponsive services. Prices are above average. All in all a good place for a quick meal for a genuine Japanese flair.

Top ramen, no reservations, no fuss. If you know, you know. Clearly has a loyal following and with good reason. Plain and authentic in the Japanese side-alley style. Would return in a heartbeat when in the area.

We came to Monohon after initially intending to eat at another (more popular) ramen restaurant however due to it being the night before Lockdown 2.0 everywhere was extremely busy. We had a bit of a wait to get in but my god, it was worth every second! The most authentic fresh and tasty ramen in London. Staff, service and food were all amazing, would highly recommend and will most definitely be back.

I love this place. We went recently and though there was a queue it moved pretty quickly. It was like stepping inside Japan for a couple of hours. We got served almost immediately and the food was delicious. My boyfriend polished off his whole bowl of ramen but mine was too big so they gave me a doggy bag to take away. We loved how our sake was served - and it was good to be in a restaurant during covid times that felt so buzzy. Looking forward to going back again soon. The owner said that they're doing a vegan dish soon (I'm not vegan) but I'd be interested to see how that tastes. A great local find....

In a few words the Abura Soba i ordered looked good but it was somehow flavourless. I added a bit o spicy oil and it turned ok in the end. I have a big doubt the noodles were soba but rather normal noodles, tasty but did not taste or look like soba noodles. I can say paying 12.65 for bowl of noodles with a very very subtle flavour is just too expensive it in my opinion. Nothing really special.

Had lunch here recently and really enjoyed the food. They do a lot of soups and other Japanese food. I had the fat Men curry which was excellent! The problem is that this is a really small place., and the chairs are placed very close...

Normal place, attentive staff and good food. The size of the portion is great. Unfortunately, I think it's a bit pricey.

Amazing ramen! Been to Japan many times and this is like something you would find randomly wandering around a Tokyo neighbourhood. Going again very soon.

This is a great little spot for Ramen, not far from the underground. It's small and be aware that they wont seat your group until everyone arrives. Because space is tight you may have to wait outside until you can be seated. The night I...

Found this gem of a restaurant on a rainy Monday night in October... and it was full! Delicious authentic Japanese dishes and beers. Very limited menu with the choice effectively either with or without pork Great food, service and informal atmosphere.

A genuine gem.. the only place in London doing soup free ramen which is one of my favorite Japanese dishes. Very authentic and delicious.. make sure to get the mop up rice to ensure no yummy sauce goes spare

Had lunch here recently and enjoyed the friendly service, authentic tastes and very easy going atmosphere. The Ramen was delicious, well priced and also well presented. Definitely recommend

The staff seemed uninterested in our presence, the restaurant was cramped and hot and they took ages to take our drinks orders, even longer to bring them out and then at the end of the meal had added a few extra drinks onto our bill...

- Best ramen in London, by far - with my friends we used to live in Tokyo and we are delighted to find the real taste of Japanese authentic ramens in London. Everything is perfect, the food, drinks (Japanese style ice glasses!) and the staff...

Customer service / experience is pretty low on the priority list here. We weren’t allowed to sit down in spite of having almost our entire group present and being in a position to order immediately. The food is great, but I remain on the fence...

Bowl of ramen, no fuss and no frills. The Tonkotsu ramen broth with its characteristic cloudy white coloured broth lacked depth and finesse, there is still much more delicate refinement to have and for it to be executed well. As all Tonkotsu ramen broth lovers...

In summary, wouldn’t return. Quite expensive compared to other places to add all the toppings as extra. Everything is pretty average ramen wise and the service was very poor, totally 0 frills. If you factored in everything together I’d say even Wagamamas is better.

Omg it’s delicious ! So warm and hearty and full of flavor !! I prefer is more then soup noodle now . Regular size is way enough for a girl.

My boyfriend and I went for dinner last night and loved the food and the atmosphere. Frustratingly, they don’t take reservations, as is becoming increasingly common in London. We usually find the long queues are not worth it and go to a quieter place instead,...

We had an amazing meal here, a perfect example of Japanese ramen. Top top it all off, the drinks are also tip top. 10/10 all round. Highly recommend!

Came here the other night and thought the ramen was generally delicious and unique compared to other ramens I had tasted. If you enjoy tonkotsu broth, I recommend coming here because the bowl has a really unique taste without being as creamy as other top...

I've tried many ramen joints in London and Monohon tops them for me. The spicy tonkotsu is near identical to bowls I had in Japan

The food is wonderful and the service is exemplary - thank you for existing Monohon, you are my favourite place for lunch and the best ramen in London as far as I am concerned!

This might be the best ramen I've ever had (and I grew up in an East-Asian household that ate a lot of ramen). I had the spicy pork ramen (though there are non-spicy options): the broth had so much depth of flavour; the spice can...

Had lunch here a couple of times and its been really very good both times. Its a pleasingly short menu with everything done well and nicely presented.

Was down London for a business trip and thought I’d run to this place to try out the ramen...had a large tonkatsu with all the toppings as extras....noodles and soup were nice...egg was excellent! However the pork was not very nice...felt like it was just...

This place was recommended by a Japanese women i met in Japan. It's now my new favourite ramen spot in London. This will be a regular spot for me. I've found it difficult to find good Japanese ramen in London and i couldn't be happier...

After leaving Tokyo for a year, my colleague and I were craving really good ramen in London. And finally found a place we like! A bit expensive compared to Tokyo but it’s London so it’s expected. I really liked the shoyu tonkotsu ramen (w ajitsuke...

Decent and tasty soup less ramen. The prices are a little expensive but its London. The shop is small and I kind of like the vibe in there. For me it was a good experience and there is always space for development. Expecting to see...

Good point is accessibility. It's located at a convenient place. Overall, however, our experience was bad. First and foremost, ramens are bad. Quantity is small, toppings are miserly few and small, taste isn't satisfactory (characterless noodles and lame soup), and overpriced. Shop staff was getting...

The food was absolutely great and we also loved the plum wine and the Oolong-Hai. Only slightly annoying thing for me would be that it was a bit cramped and that the VAT was not included in the menu price, which added £6 to what...

You’ll love this place. Rather than having a menu that goes on forever and ever, Monohon focuses on doing just a few dishes really well. We’ve tried the tonkotsu and it’s delicious, but our favourite is the Abura Soba - a soup-less ramen that has...

Went to Monohon tonight with my girlfriend. Everything about this place defined perfection - ambience, hospitality and most importantly the food! Will keep coming back!

I'm gonna be honest: when I entered this restaurant and saw that the main chef was not a Japanese person, I got a bit sceptical, but still gave it a chance. Thank goodness I did! The ramen they serve here is, in my opinion, much...

My partner and I tried this place just before close the other night and their service was fantastic. Their soupless Ramen is out of this world! Great food guys!

I am a big fan of soupless noodles which is a popular dish back in Japan where I come from, but not so common in London, among its sea of Tonkotsu ramen offerings. Monohon just fixed that problem for me. This noodle joint offers not...

The place is small and unassuming, so we wandered in almost by mistake. The menu is also really small - but it turns out this is excellent! Because everything on your menu is delicious. I'm a vegan; my boyfriend is a meat-eater, and we both...

Having tried every other ramen chain and boutique in London, I was excited to find out if Monohon could knock Kanada-Ya (Panton St branch) off my #1 spot for tonkotsu in London. Monohon is a tiny and very cute restaurant, with limited seating and taking...

Staff were very accommodating trying to seat us as we were a large group. Best ramen I’ve had in London! Highly recommend you try for yourself.

I went with friends for dinner on Wednesday and there was a constant queue outside the small shop, which I could only take as a good sign. Food came quickly. I had the Shouyu Tonkotsu and my friends had Abura Soba (soupless). The Abura Soba...

Had a short wait to get in, which was a good sign. Service was excellent throughout. Drinks arrived quickly and after taste testing the pepper sauce, a short wait for the food. The flavour, quantity and appearance of the food was fabulous and all 5...

Hats off to this place Monohon is simply the best Ramen in London and I eat a LOT of Ramen What’s not to like, delicious soup base, extraordinary pork, soft egg. This place is a delight. Go

Just finished badminton in Finsbury Center and passed by this new ish ramen bar restaurant, looks authentic and went in for a try. First comment the soup is very very authentically made in Japanese style. Unprofessional point: the port piece is cut way too thick,...

This was my first time trying soupless ramen and I was not blown away ... It might be just me but I prefer the ramen at kanada- ya. My friend loved the ramen here though, I am looking forward to visiting again and trying another...

I’ve never felt more blessed to have chosen to live in Old St. Cause I live next to the best ramen in London holy hell. Seriously recommend the Abura Soba and the Spicy Tonkotsu. The atmosphere is amazing, cozy, homey, filled with Japanese Chilled Hop...

Wow! Never had a meal quite like this one! Went for the Taiwan Maze Soba - A Ramen with no broth. Understand very popular in Japan. Absolute Game Changer! Dropped in for a quick working lunch and enjoyed every bit so much flavour! Busy spot...

Visited with my daughter. Tried the Abura Soba (soupless ramen) and the Shouyu Tonkotsu (creamy pork bone soup based ramen - add an additional tasty egg!) Wow! Incredible flavours! And so filling! This was my first soupless ramen and I can’t wait to have more....

My college and I found this place by chance and it was an absolute success. Im not exactly an expert on ramen, but I can say what we had was absolutely delicious! The place had a very warm atmosphere and the staff was efficient and...

Being used to ramen shops in the US, the menu options were a bit different. We tried the Tonkatsu ramen and the soupless noodle. They were both delicious!

Eating ramen in Japan is at its best in small very basic noodle bars. I don't want to call Monohon Ramen basic but with its open kitchen and small space it somehow captures the feel of a Japanese ramen place, though somewhat quieter! The ramen...

This place is a gem. Don’t let the slightly out-of-the-way location (Old Street, near the Barbican) deter you. The creativity on display in terms of the food is quite amazing. The traditional ramen is superb, with generous portions of slow-cooked pork, noodles, seaweed, and spring...

I'd been on an exhaustive search for the perfect bowl of Ramen in London ever since I came back from living in Japan years ago, but wherever I went the noodles themselves always disappointed slightly as they didn't have the same taste & texture. I'm...

We went there with friends before going out on a Friday evening. Space is very very small and casual but we managed to get the big table at the back - we were greeted by the lovely stuff and ordered some beers. It may seem...

Our office discovered this little gem a few weeks back and ever since our office has become obsessed. The Aruba Soba tastes incredible - super vibrant with so many layers of flavour and super springy noodles. Can't recommend this place highly enough

I have been to this place a lot since I found it through friends a few months ago. I'm never disappointed with the food and everyone I took there with me was amazed. Best ramen in town, way ahead of Shoryu in terms of authenticity...

My friends took me here a couple of weeks ago because they had already been an almost concerning number of times in the last month and refused to eat anywhere else. I can't tell you quite how good the noodles here are, but you can...

The ramen here is so so delicious - I have tried the soup version but the soup-less version (the "Taiwan") is so tasty and filling (the regular size) without leaving me feeling bloated so you know the quality of the ingredients is very good. I...

I discovered Abura Soba here. It is very good, so good that I have it to the exclusion of other ramen. Noodles have great texture, sauce and garnish combine for perfect taste. Having done a little research on this dish my intuitions have been confirmed,...

A really first class bowl of noodles - fresh and tasty. It feels like a lot of care and attention goes into the preparation and presentation. Can't recommend enough.

Being slightly obsessed with Ramen, this is a place we have wanted to try for ages now. Our visit this week did not disappoint! The broth was on point and the noodles were 5star. I had the mild ramen, which meant I got a really...

Totally impressed with the tonkotsu soup ramen: the texture of the noodles to the saltiness/depth of flavour in the soup...it just came together so well. Would visit again anytime! A bit more charshu would have made it superb.

The location, venue and menu look unassuming, but boy do you get a great combination together. The Uwa beer with any of the Ramen dishes really warm up the soul. I cannot wait to go back for Friday lunch

I went there via recommendation from friends who also miss good ramen. The question of authenticity often raised in evaluating "ethnic" food is kind of offensive, and some of the reviews here, too seem to just use that term to mean it's run by someone...

Small ramen restaurant near Old St tube and the street market on Whitecross St. Close to the Barbican if you would like a good pre-theatre bowl of noodles. In the old Sedap location, I had a large bowl of noodles with the most delicious broth...

I went in when it was empty and the waiter was very friendly. I ordered the big boy ramen. You have a choice of two noodle hardnesses. I went for hard. The only issue I had with the ramen was the overwhelminglystrong smell of baking...

Unpretentious decor, but comfortable nonetheless. I'm no expert on ramen noodles but my dish, only one of four on the menu and their original dish when they only had one, was really good. Served in a large deep bowl with loads of stuff loaded in...

I live close by and I wanted to try the place for a while. I went once to japan, and I always missed the street joints with ramen. The taste, the venue took me back to japan. And even better, they reccomended me the extras...

The food is authentic super tasty and not at all uber-rich...it's just great! The service is also really good, fast and the staff is super friendly and polite. This restaurant was suggested by a Japanese friend of mine and I must say, I wasn't disappointed...

Very very good quality ramen. I first had the abura soba when they first opened. Pleasantly surprised how quickly they've added new ramen to the menu. The tonkotsu ramen is tasty but not overly greasy. Good job!

Finally, AUTHENTIC ramen hits London! The city deserves Monohon. The care and attention which goes into each dish is fantastic – these guys even make their own noodles. This is a small restaurant which has had a lovely ambience on the occasions I’ve been. For...

Beautiful amazing Ramen. Cute restaurant in a great location just beside Old Street station. Well worth a visit!

This was the second time that I had eaten at Monohon Ramen and was glad to see that additional dishes had been added to the menu. I had the soupless rahmen which was extremely well-presented and delicious. Looking around the restaurant, it appeared to be...

This newly opened(a few weeks only) Ramen bar takes no reservations and currently only serves one dish but that one dish is excellent and if it is a sign of things to come then you should go there and keep the place on your watch...

Noodle lovers must try this noodle bar. It's authentic, fresh and yummy. Their craft is noodle, it's not the cheap stuff, it's real noodle that has the right elastic texture and taste. Be brave, there are no choices on menu, let them take you on...