Menya Jiro - Cambridge

Great restaurant. I will say. Legacy place location is better but this is still a solid ramen spot in Harvard

Not mindblowing by any means, but a solid option to get some ramen in the area for decent prices.

A decent ramen spot in Harvard Square good for a quick meal.Overshadowed by other ramen options in the area, Menya Jiro hasn’t been under my radar for a while, but I recently took visits to take advantage of their weekday deals. All the appetizers I tried were great. The crispy chicken skin skewer, takoyaki, and shrimp tempura all delivered on expectations, offering great taste and value.However, the main courses don't quite follow through with the same impact. The beef curry don was a bit off-kilter in its proportions, with an imbalance between sauce, toppings, and rice.The Sakurajima ramen also failed to impress. The mixed pork and chicken broth lacked the rich, deep flavor, and while the chashu brought some smokiness to the dish, it couldn't quite elevate the overall mediocrity of the ramen.Menya Jiro also has weekday deals, such as free appetizers with an entrée on Mondays and Tuesdays and free desserts on Thursdays. This strategy, likely aimed at drawing in more customers on quieter days, added some appeal to my past two visits.In an area like Harvard Square, which isn't short on good ramen joints, Menya Jiro doesn't stand out as a top choice. The restaurant seems to have lost some of its initial allure and now sits in the shadow of more popular establishments. It's a feasible option for those seeking a quick and reasonably priced meal, but there are better options available in the vicinity. As it stands, Menya Jiro is decent, but with the competitive dining scene in Harvard Square, I’m not sure how long it will last.

I went to this place with a group of friends the other night. The first thing I noticed was that the water had an oily aftertaste that I found off-putting. The chicken livers we ordered as an appetizer were initially burnt, though the wait staff was able to provide us with a fresher (and delicious! serving of it soon after. I ordered the Chashu Don for dinner, which tasted wonderful and was plated beautifully. Aside from the issues that I mentioned earlier, my dining experience was pleasant overall.

Karage wasn't like anything you'd eat in Japan, noodles and broth were mid with a poor aftertaste. I really appreciate the vast non-pork options on the menu.They have a Monday/Tuesday special where a free app is available with the order of a main dish, but you have to mention it when ordering so they can present you an app half the size of a regular appetizer. Otherwise, you get a full size appetizer and full price. Naturally, this requirement isn't brought up on the menu, in the restaurant, or by the waiter, so customers beware when using a dine-in special.Dietary restrictions: Great non-pork options