Hello travelers! It’s Ao,
your music-loving writer here at Sarukuma!

Today I’m taking you to a place tucked away in Shinshigai, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City,
hidden inside the legendary Live House Django —
“Meshiya Shoan” (pronounced “Meshiya Sho-an”).

Here’s a fun fact: Meshiya Shoan is run by Shotaro,
the drummer of the Kumamoto-based rock band Chaellotte (Charlotte)!

You’ll find it on the basement floor of the same building that houses Magosaburo! ♪

The entrance is right at the bottom of the staircase!
(I happened to visit during Halloween, so the lighting looks pretty spooky, haha.)

On this particular night, a DJ event was happening too —
so I got to enjoy my meal with live music in the background!
(Note: there’s a separate 1,000 yen entrance fee for events, which includes one drink.)

As you head down the stairs, you’ll see rows and rows of posters
featuring tour info from all kinds of artists —
though that lighting is honestly a little eerie, lol.
Inside, the Halloween vibe was in full swing!
Even the DJ booth was fully decked out for Halloween, lol.

Seating-wise, you’ve got a choice of counter seats or tables 😸

Recommended Menu

The menu keeps it beautifully simple with just three options:
・Shoyu Ramen (soy sauce ramen) — 500 yen
・Motsu Miso Nikomi (simmered miso offal stew) — 300 yen
・Edamame — 100 yen

This time, I went for the Shoyu Ramen.

And yes — Shotaro himself brings it to your table, lol.

The moment my ramen arrived…
as a former ramen shop staffer, my excitement was through the roof ☺️

Ta-da!

The toppings on top include:
・Bean sprouts
・Green onions
・Chashu (braised pork)

All finished with a generous sprinkle of black pepper.

But seriously — just look at the clarity of that broth!!

“Is this heaven in a bowl?!”

That clear amber-colored broth is honestly a thing of beauty.

One slurp in, and
the noodles and that soy-based broth came together so perfectly —
this is incredible!!!
Sooooo delicious!!

You know how shoyu ramen sometimes has noodles and broth that just don’t quite mesh,
like they’re each doing their own thing?

Well, here the noodles and broth are in total harmony — absolute perfection.

And the chashu — oh my.
Perfectly seasoned, beautifully tender,
with a wonderful balance —
truly the al dente of pork blocks…

Even the bean sprouts in between bites were fantastic.
Honestly, this was my favorite shoyu ramen I’ve ever had in my life 👍

One important note: “Meshiya Shoan”
operates on a very irregular schedule.

To check when they’re open, take a look at the event schedule
on the Django website, or follow Shotaro’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/shorhcp?s=21)
for the latest updates!

The ramen is seriously that good — if your timing lines up, I highly recommend giving it a try 😋

Follow us on Instagram for daily updates!
At Sarukuma, we share lunch spots, parks, indoor play areas, and more — perfect info for families exploring Kumamoto.
We’d love to have you follow along(*´∀｀*)

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.