Set out on a journey of flavor with Sendai Local Bites. Each edition invites readers to join Sendai-based foreigners and local food specialists in uncovering hidden eateries, signature dishes, and inventive new menus.
Autumn in Japan is often called shokuyoku no aki—the season of appetite. It’s when rice, fruits, and vegetables are at their peak, and eating with gusto feels perfectly in tune with the season. Yet one dish remains beloved all year long: ramen. And in Miyagi, there’s one shop that draws attention not only for its taste but also for its setting. Men-gumi, sits within the grounds of Takekoma Shrine in Iwanuma City, southern Miyagi.
Takekoma Shrine is a popular place of worship, but it has also become a destination for ramen fans. Men-gumi has been loved for more than twenty years, even surviving three relocations. When its previous shop closed, owner Mr. Numata thought he would retire. But the head priest of Takekoma Shrine, a loyal fan, urged him to reopen in a newly available kitchen space on the shrine grounds. Tempted by the chance to make ramen exactly as he wished, Numata reopened Men-gumi in 2022.
Men-gumi’s hallmark is miso ramen. Its broth layers an animal-based stock—pork bones, back fat, and cartilage—with a seafood-based stock from niboshi sardines and soda-bushi. Into this, whole Sichuan peppercorns, select spices, and a house-made aromatic oil are thrown, then seared over fierce flames that sometimes leap dramatically from the wok. The result is a bowl both rich and fragrant, where miso’s earthy depth meets a lively, spiced kick.
Now working alone, Numata crafts each bowl by hand. “Before, we had to stick to strict procedures for efficiency. Now I can cook the way I want, and people still come. I’m grateful,” he says with a smile.
Visitors who come to Takekoma Shrine may first be guided by their noses—the scent of broth drifting through the grounds. Eating steaming ramen in such a sacred space feels unusual, yet that is precisely its charm: a blend of local devotion and culinary passion. When you go, don’t be shy—slurp it hot, the Japanese way.
