Matsuchan
5990 N Sheldon Rd, Canton, MI, 48187
Matsuchan Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Canton for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Canton for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Canton for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5990 N Sheldon Rd
Canton, MI, 48187 - Phone (734) 459-1770
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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usman m.
Great place for lunch if you want a huge, delicious, hot bowl of ramen noodle soup!
(5)Michael S.
This small shop sits in the back of a mall you hardly notice it. what a find. The food was so good I wish I could have been allowed to pay with my Blue Cross Card I ordered the Chicken Teriyaki, Udon and Pork and Tofu, they were great Japanese cooking is way different than most of the boring Chinese fare available in the area. It tastes lighter and does not leave you with the feeling of having a rock in your stomach after you ate. Prices were very reasonable about a 1/3 less than the Sushi joints in Canton I did take-out, the restaurant is really small (8 tables) which were all occupied at the dinner hr. They were super helpful at the counter so if that hold true than service must be great as well...
(5)Thai H.
RESTAURANT It is a small ramen shop that looks like a small family business. Don't expect it to look like one of these Japanese ramen chain restaurants you will find in California, Toronto, London or Tokyo. SERVICE Despite being a Japanese restaurant you won't be greeted like one. I haven't been greeted at all. They asked me if I were alone and then showed me a table. I immediately got a cup of tea free of charge. Nice. While I waited for the food I observed the service and kitchen staff. There was one girl who smiled from time to time and was looking a bit shy. The other one did her job. I haven't felt any warmth coming from anyone. But that is true for the big boys in the ramen industry as well. I expected more coming from such a small "family" business. Maybe it was too crowded... Simple tables, simple chairs. Nothing standing out. FOOD I ordered the spicy ramen for $12. It was quite a big bowl but most of it was just the broth. I also got rice as a free side. I haven't seen ramen served with rice anywhere I have eaten before and I've been too many ramen shops across the world. Here are the things I really don't like. You get surimi (listed as crab meat but really is crab meat imitation...) and a hard boiled egg (seemed to have been cooked many hours ago). Usually the egg will be cooked per order and the egg yolk is soft and melts in your mouth with the soup. Surimi is a no go! I like Surimi but it doesn't belong in a good ramen. A high quality ramen would never include crab meat imitation! The fish cake... it had no taste... the spicy broth was done with kimchi. For my taste the use of kimchi is too much. The problem with kimchi is that it will make the broth bitter over time. I would love to eat a spicy ramen made with spicy spices and kimchi only added as a topping at the end. It wasn't even listed on the item description... CONCLUSION I guess it is alright to eat here if there is no better option around but there are too many flaws to make it even come close to those ramens I had so far.
(2)Lisa N.
I stumbled on this little gem after a visit to Ikea, and my stomach craved something other than the 50 cent ikea hot dog. Within 15 minutes of opening, the restaurant is full of locals! That's the first sign that you know this place is legit. I got the ramen set which comes with a small bowl of ramen, fried rice and 3 dumplings. The ramen is flavorful and the fried rice mixed with homemade mustard was great! The space is small and eclectic with different states license plates tacked on the walls. The complimentary barley tea or hot matcha green tea is a great touch to your meal. Absolutely love this find. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Aldrin S.
One of the few Japanese spots I've enjoyed since moving from Japan. My girlfriend and I were actually looking for a different Japanese restaurant we enjoyed previously, but accidentally stumbled upon this gem. It's a surprisingly small location, but packs a huge punch. One of my favorite Japanese dishes of all time is ton-katsu curry (breaded pork cutlet and curry on top). Unfortunately, most places have either one, the other, or them as separate menu items. This place had the katsu and curry as separate menu items, but they were nice enough to combine them for me. It was delicious! Maybe if I order it enough, they'll just add it to their menu. Haha. My girlfriend ordered a bowl of ramen. The broth was amazing and the portion size was huge. I'm definitely going to be a regular at this establishment.
(4)Dan O.
Working in Livonia this weekend and decided to try Matsuchan for lunch. Got there a few minutes after it opened for lunch. Not crowded at first, but it filled up rapidly while I was there. It is a small mom-n-pop hole in the wall, only 8 tables (half of them only for 2 people), and it won't win any awards for the decor. But that is secondary to the food! Ordered a curry ramen with extra noodles and side of gyoza. It soon arrived and my mouth started to salivate when I smelled the curry. The taste was on point, just like some of my favorite ramen restaurants in Honolulu and Tokyo. A good amount of garnishes such as nori, egg, chicken, and corn. The bowl was huge and I had enough to take home as leftovers. The gyoza was hot, tasty, and nicely carmelized. The price was reasonable - $16 including the extra noodles and gyoza. I think I've found my go-to place for ramen in Michigan! Matsuchan is a little too far away to eat there on a weekly basis, but it's only 20 minutes away from DTW airport. I'll have to put it into regular rotation when I drill in Livonia or come back from a trip through DTW. Will definitely repeat and highly recommend!
(5)Katie D.
A fantastic, hole in the wall ramen shop! My friends and I love this place, and have made it a Thursday tradition. They open at 11:30 on weekdays, and fill up in about 15 minutes, so we come early and wait outside. They only have about 10 tables, and people will wait in a long line that stretches out the door until tables open up. The service is fast and friendly, and the ramen is authentic and amazing. Some choices are more flavorful than others.. the hot and spicy and the champon are favorites for us, while the seafood and curry ramen have been bland in comparison, but it depends on your individual tastes. Lunch comes with free iced tea, and most bowls come with a side of white rice. They have a few more traditional "non-ramen" dishes as well, such as yakisoba, curry, and rice bowls, but the real draw for this place is the ramen. They close from 2:30 until 5:30 pm for dinner, like most asian restaurants in the area do, so be sure to get there in time. They do take credit cards and cash.
(5)Phil O.
Finally ramen that reminds me of back home in hirakata :) the place and service are great looks almost like a little ramen shop from Kobe has a lot of anime you can read when you come in. The only down side is no beer but that's fine. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen and gyoza and onigiri and It was great the chef was really taking his time with every plate would love to visit again on my next trip to Michigan
(5)Arianne N.
Let me preface this review by stating I know next to nothing about what traditional Japanese ramen is supposed to be like. My somewhat limited scope of ramen knowledge comes from eating at Mentatsu Ramen, Ramen Yamadaya, Santouka Ramen, Kosuke, Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen, and Daikokuya in Southern California. My personal preference runs along what Shin-Sen-Gumi and Daikokuya are known for: a rich, porky broth and a particular style of noodles. Given this past experience, I'm slightly disappointed with Matsuchan. I know we're in the Midwest and not Little Tokyo in Downtown L.A. but the glowing reviews got my hopes up that I'd find something similar to what I enjoy back in California. Matsuchan's ramen noodles are yellow. The boyfriend says Matsuchan's ramen style is more like what we've had at Mentatsu. I honestly can't remember so I'll take his word for it since he's the one that's actually obsessed with ramen. He ordered what Matsuchan calls the porksoup ramen (we're guessing it's the tonkotsu style) whereas I got the butter corn ramen which came with a clear broth. I tasted his broth and I'd have to agree with other reviews that it's a touch too salty. I don't think it's downright inedible though; however, I like salty foods. He also ordered extra pork, but only got 3 pieces like I did. We were charged the additional $4 for the extra pork, but they were closing up and our waitress was so kind that we decided it wasn't worth the fuss to bring it up. Pork was of a decent thickness but rough and chewy. I honestly wasn't a fan of my clear broth ramen at all. It didn't really have a flavor and was borderline too greasy for my taste. I've had corn butter ramen before at Kosuke and it wasn't like what I had at Matsuchan at all. I wish it was easier to customize what add-ins you can put in your ramen as I'm personally not a fan of all the add-ins that automatically came with every bowl of ramen. Despite the 2 star rating, the boyfriend definitely wants to come back and try something else. I agree that it's worth it to return and at least try something else. Current hours on Yelp are accurate. They accept CC but not Discover (can't recall if they accept AmEx). Restaurant is on the cozy side - less than 15 tables is a fair estimate. Our waitress was new and couldn't answer all of our questions, but she was nice.
(2)Sarah C.
I feel like that this place has the potential to be as popular as Aijisen if they did some remodeling and cleaned up a bit. Yays: - The ramen was very good. The broth was uber flavorful. - They offer a variety of ramen. - A lot of noodles! - Authentic Japanese ramen - Decent service for a small family owned restaurant - No wait - Good prices. Nays: - The place is a bit old. Can use some remodeling and new everything. - There were giant flies hanging out. Ew - Some of the ingredients aren't fresh like the bamboo shoots. I can tell they are from the can. Overall, I definitely want to come back.
(4)Yethiraj C.
Great Ramen shop! We were just looking for a new place to have food at and this worked out to be a great experiment. Food is awesome and the prices very reasonable. No more sleeping turtle in Ann Arbor for me. this is my new spot :) I got the Hot and Spicy Ramen. I can also vouch for the Fried rice, chicken teriyaki with rice and the Spicy yakisobo noodles that my buddies ordered.
(4)A D.
As someone who has lived in Japan, I will say this is the real deal! I have tried to find ramen all over the state like what I found in Japan, an Matsu Chan is the only one that passed the test!
(5)Sanae W.
Love their Tonkotsu ramen. Go everytime I'm in MI! I also like the home made gyoza. They're totally different from frozen ones, like they serve at many of the Japanese restaurants.
(5)Joel C.
You can tell a good ramen shop by the smell that greets you at the entrance. Walking in, I knew I was in for a treat. This mom and pop stop was packed with people waiting for tables. The shio ramen was very tasty. Will be back!
(5)Sarah K.
Good food, pleasant service. Love having a ramen place in the area. Wish they had more options on the menu, but what they have is tasty. I prefer spicy stuff and stronger flavors, so I found the butter corn boring, but the curry and the hot and spicy were great.
(3)Sala W.
After my last journey to the center of the earth AKA Canton led to NO RAMEN I found myself quite nervous that they would be closed again as I approached the storefront. Seriously though who gets nervous about Japanese food? Me apparently. Rest assured gentle readers it was open, I basically skipped inside. We only had to wait 10 or so minutes for a table to open up, the whole time pretty much salivating over other patrons meals. When we were seated we decided on curry ramen, chompan, a side salad, and small fried rice - I hadn't had breakfast yet so chill people. Ramen was amazing as expected, I wanted to bathe in it but resisted. The curry had such a rich flavor and the chompan was loaded with seafood and pork. The side of fried rice is a great value - you get a heaping bowlful for like a buck and change I think it was. If this place was closer to my work or home....well I can't even imagine such a fantastical thing could be possible so we will not even go down that road. In summary: Matsuchan makes getting dragged to Canton worth it.
(5)Stefanie D.
I can't believe Matsuchan has been in Canton since the 1990s! I had been looking for a good ramen restaurant besides going to Tomokun in Ann Arbor. I recently had the buttered corn ramen but I've tried most of their ramen. The flavor was good but I felt like something was still missing. Maybe it's because my taste buds are always comparing ramen to Ippudo in NY. The ramen was still good nonetheless, just not the best I have ever had. Come early for lunch. There is not much seating and it gets pretty busy.
(4)Rachael N.
I can't believe I've never been here after living in Ann Arbor for 6+ years! It took me moving away to come here! A group of 4 of us stopped by here on our way back east. We were seated right away (8pm on a Saturday) and was served right away. The ramen is utterly delicious here! The bowls are gigantic as well! I got the curry, others at my table got the miso ramen, the hot n spicy, and the pork soup. The flavor is outstanding and the noodles are great. The broth is just right too- a win all around. Oh how I wish this was in Cleveland! If you're looking for a quality ramen place outside of LA, definitely stop at matsuchan. Utterly delicious!!
(5)Yace H.
After all these years I've been wanting to try out this gem. Heard about it during my college years but never ventured to get there. Today after a round of golf nearby I stopped in. Hole in the walk joint. Master chef cooking in open kitchen. From outside the place looks dead, come inside and it's packed. Between the 8 tables that is. Expected a lot from the ramen. It came out hot and steamy and had a huge aromatic smell of garlic. Soon as I sipped that first broth, I knew it was game over. Broth was weak. No richness. No depth. I can see that he tried, but it didn't cut it. Pork was ok. Bamboo was hard. I'm glad I tried it, but I won't be making my way out here for it again.
(3)Melissa L.
If you like buttery soups, this is for you. However, I was hoping the ramen to be more of a clear broth. It is just a preference. It is a cute little place tucked inside of a strip mall. It does pick up around lunch time. I will give this another shot, but for other dishes.
(3)Jason C.
On the last few visits, I been getting the chompon.... their version is a lot different then the Korean-Chinese version.... the soup brother is cloudy, whereas the Korean-Chinese is spicy... I also like the lunch specials they have.... on my last visit, it was on Sat and I got there at 12:40pm, the place was full and I was waiting in line... as I waited, about 10 others came and as my friend and I sat down, more folks kept coming... the secret is out! The cook was busy making ramen after ramen, specials, etc.... but every time, the taste is the same... I just learned that you can pay for more toppings - thus moving forward, I'll be adding more toppings to my orders!!! Just a note, I noticed they had adjusted their hours.... I didn't get a clear view, but they have few evenings when they are closed... they also have more staff working there now.... it's great to see this place busy all the time!!
(5)Mina A.
Small but family run Japanese authentic restaurant. This place always remind me of family restaurants in Japan. Ramens are good and tasty, I also love their rice set too. Prices are also reasonable. I can't wait to go back again next time.
(4)Tulio P.
Make no mistake - the restaurant is small but both service and food are excellent. This is an authentic Japanese ramen place, I highly recommend!
(5)Rodrigo T.
So far,, with all the ramen joints that are in the metro detroit area.. This spot is the best of them all. It's not some fancy joint,, it's a mom and pop shop that destroys all other ramen spots. NOTE: This is not a sushi joint... it's a RAMEN restaurant.
(5)Coryanna K.
Don't be fooled by the tiny space. My friend and I went for dinner, were greeted and sat right away. Their ramen is authentic and GOOD! The price is just right, the ingredients were fresh, and the service was friendly. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Grace L.
I thought this place would be crowded for dinner but we were one of the only ones in the restaurant for a while around 5:45/6. I have been wanting to try this place after reading all the reviews and hearing people rave about the ramen. It's a mom and pop type of shop - pretty nondescript and in the middle of a pretty empty plaza in Canton. We ordered a butter corn ramen and a ramen set which came with a small ramen (we chose soyu), some small shumai, and a plate of fried rice. The fried rice was okay and the shumai looked like they were frozen and popped out of a microwave. The soyu ramen was tasty - you get a huge whiff of garlic. The broth is rich, salty, garlicky, and full of flavor from pork. My butter corn ramen tasted like regular pork broth until I saw the chunk of butter that I need to mix in. Then, it tasted more full and flavorful. I don't get the corn - it didn't add flavor. There were some fish cakes, seaweed, pork slices, sweet bamboo, and bean sprouts. The size was huge - a great deal for 9$! I couldn't finish it. I would definitely want to come back to try other ramen flavors but overall, I wasn't over the top impressed and I'm currently really thirsty. I've tasted better ramen but foR Michigan, this is a great find!
(3)Eric U.
Our first visit to Matsuchan was in August 2013 and at that time I was not active on Yelp. I had their miso ramen and cha-han set. Matsuchan is the closest ramen-ya to us so I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Growing up in Hawaii and living in Japan I had many opportunities to eat delicious ramen. I'm not going to complain much because the portions are huge and you get great value for what you pay for. This time around I tried the hamburg dinner set that came with a mini shoyu ramen. It was good. My wife had the yakisoba which she really liked. Next time we visit I need to try their other ramen such as tonkotsu and corn butter. A simple menu item of onigiri to go made me smile.
(4)Ivan J.
Probably one of the most authentic ramen in SE Michigan. Although it's not comparable with those of big cities like Chicago or LA, the taste is pretty good and reasonably priced. Recommended!
(4)Valerie B.
Yum, yum, yum! I'm so glad one of my childhood favorites hasn't changed. I love this place like a fond and warm memory... the cornbutter ramen is my favorite, as well as the seafood ramen. The noodles are always chewy and fresh, everything's hot and made to order, and the fried rice is SO GOOD. Don't miss this tiny place, it's easy to just pass right by-- do yourself a favor and try Matsuchan-- you won't regret it!
(5)Christie M.
We were here last weekend. I've been dying to try this place out after reading all the reviews and bookmarking it. :) Finally we went. So good. We ordered a rice ball for everyone! I had the miso pork ramen and my bro in law ordered the seafood ramen, while my husband ordered the chasui (sp?) ramen. I was sad to see no takoyaki as pictured in the reviews. :( My favorite but out well. It was yummy and I think it is the best ramen in Michigan. My favorite ramen place is still in California at shin sen gumi. yelp.com/biz/shin-sen-gu… Please have takoyaki again!! I'll travel all the way back just for that alone. BTW I love the family atmosphere at this place.
(4)Juliana M.
I was so disappointed with this place after reading all of the rave reviews on here. For starters, all of the food was extremely salty, to the point where the broth was undrinkable and I left with a stomachache (and a headache - how, even?). This is pretty uncommon for me, especially since I love salty, spicy, flavorful food. The broth in the udon noodles was the worst offender; the corn butter and seafood (which didn't taste like seafood) broths were at least safe for consumption. For me, the only redeeming quality was the portion size (very large), however, even that is clouded by the fact that there is hardly any meat in the bowl to justify the price. There were two meager pieces of tough meat in my corn butter ramen, as if it were an afterthought or garnish rather than part of the meal. Yes, I was full after finishing just 1/3 of the bowl, but was I satisfied? Certainly not. The absolute worst part of my experience was when I looked over to the serving counter, eagerly awaiting my ramen, and saw a bowl with a piece of noodle hanging over the edge and onto the surface of the counter. I watched in absolute horror as the waitress casually flipped it into the bowl with her finger (rather than say, taking that piece out with a chopstick and tossing it). I immediately lost my appetite. Yes, I do realize that quite a few people touch your food with their bare hands before you receive it. But that is not something you do right in front of the customer immediately before you serve it to them. Oh, and just because I'm picky - they brought my mom a tea, and my brother and I water. I've never been to a restaurant where they just make assumptions about what you would like to drink without asking you for your preference first. I realize that it looks like an adult with two kids at the table, but come on, I'm old enough to drink alcohol. At least ask if I'd like tea or water (hint: I always prefer tea). Next time I'm in the mood for ramen, I'll make the drive to Tomukun in Ann Arbor. PS. They're closed on Mondays.
(1)Olivia P.
After a couple of years here, one would've expected me to have tried Matsuchan long before this week especially since many friends I know tout it as the best Ramen within a decent driving radius from AA. Long story short, I finally made my way here to satisfy my Ramen craving! Initially, I thought that it was because my expectations were possibly too high, but after the entire bowl, I am decided that it was not me, it was the food. I had the miso pork soup ramen. My problem was not with the noodles or the toppings, but the soup. The soup was overly garlicky, which made it almost unpleasant because it was so overpowering. I did manage to taste just the miso-based soup and that was a lot better (hence deserving of not less than a 3 star review). It was less salty and definitely less garlicky. I also had the fried chicken wings. These were ok and are available at a decent price point. 6 pieces for $4. They come out piping hot but were very ordinary. Overall, a disappointing experience. I did like the authentic feel and the ramen (just the miso, not miso pork soup!) is ok, but is it worth the 30 min drive from AA? Definitely no, especially since there is Slurping Turtle now!
(3)J. R.
A friend recommended Matsuchan earlier this year, I finally got a chance to go there last week. I tried the Champon noodle. It was so salty that I could not finish my noodle, not even to mention drinking the broth. At least three times saltier than a typical miso soup. The broth was also way too garlicky. Noodle itself seems to be good quality, but the shrimps had a strong unpleasant taste and pork was extremely chewy. Actually, most of the so called "seafood" in the bowl were some weird taste fishcake slices. Not sure if they use MSG or not, but I got a big headache after the dinner there, which usually happens after eating a meal with too much MSG. Maybe the other noodles with different broth base are better. But if you don't like very salty food, this place is definitely not for you. Overall, after reading so many good reviews here and with friends' recommendations, I am very disappointed about Matsuchan's ramen.
(1)Jenny K.
For people like me who crave Santouka year-round (yelp it! closest is Chicago), but can't seem to find anything even remotely resembling real ramen in Michigan--the high rent kind with al dente noodles and fatty, smoky broth-- this is the closest to satisfaction you'll find. The miso-tonkotsu broth is really good: they combine the miso broth and the fatty white pork broth to make a nice balanced soup. The toppings are pretty basic: chashu pork, bean sprouts, menma, and green onions; you should pay the extra 75 cents for the egg--no ramen is complete without an egg on top. This will add up to $10.25. A side salad here is a $1 (i'm not kidding!) and their chicken wings are pretty nice too. I'd avoid the "shio" here, known as the "clear soup," which tasted literally like the salt broth it is without any body. They also have meat and rice bowls (oyako, pork & ginger, sukiyaki and rice) that looked good. I'll have to try those next time.
(4)Seoung L.
Great Japanese noodle shop. Mostly gourmet ramen on their menu and I recommend getting noodles over other items. Tried the sesame chicken and it wasn't too good. However, my spicy ramen was excellent. Had kimchi in it! It's a small place with bad lighting and not a great place for a romantic date but a great place for just getting decent food.
(4)Phaedra Y.
i really want to like this place as it seems to be the only decent ramen place in MI state. Coming from NYC, this place does not even compare close to IPPUDO. I ordered the Tonkatsu ramen. Broth was just garlicky without any depth from the pork bone. It was not rich like the broth from Ippudo. The pork slices were not fatty and melt in your mouth, rather it was the wrong cut of pork - pork loin used. BIG NO NO! The ramen over all is just below average. The price was cheaper for the food (as it should be) $9, which was fine for trying a new place, however, I will not go back. The reason I bump this to 2 stars instead of 3 was bc I had my leftovers to go. Now, I only ate half- still had ramen and some pork slices left over. I was a little skeptical about how small the foam cup that they put my leftovers in considering the amount of portion of broth and ramen I had left. When I got home, I realize I was right! They apparently dump out all the ramen and pork and gave me broth and BEAN SPROUTS! WTF! Either they accidentally toss my ramen out and realize later that it was meant for it to go or they gave me someone else's order. GROSS!
(2)Kensey W.
kind of hit or miss but the good was so so good. i came to this random little place in the middle of a strip mall with five other friends on a sunday right when they opened at 11:30am, the day daylight savings began (so really felt like 10:30am) and it was already pretty full. after we ordered, there was already a wait beginning at the door. we started with the conch salad, which i thought was really lame and no one else really liked. it was just like their regular iceberg lettuce salad with ginger dressing except that it had a few pieces of flavorless conch on it. meh. i got the hot and spicy ramen and it was amazing! so so spicy, with pieces of tender pork and very springy chewy delicious noodles. the broth wasn't too salty and it was just super satisfying overall. it was also huge and there was no way i was going to finish it even though i can really pack away soup noodle. my friend said his seafood ramen wasn't that good and didn't have a good seafood taste to it, but my other friend's ramen with the rapeseed was really good. the pork soup ramen with the creamy looking broth was intensely salty and neither person with us who got it could finish it because of how salty it was. one person also got an entree, the curry beef, and said it tasted like the curry flavoring that comes in a packet, whatever that means, we also tried these little octopus balls. it was fun to watch the squirmy stuff on top wave around but, taste-wise, they were just okay. that was the first time i had them though, so i'm not sure how it compares to other places or what it's supposed to taste like. the service was really good, and they were nice enough to split up our checks. while the wait for those who were waiting while we ate didn't seem horrible, the place is small, so it'd probably be a pain to stand around too long if there was a huge wait. they did have a bookshelf of magazines and books to read, so maybe that would help. i can't totally see why this place is popular it's a bit of a drive from detroit, but i can't wait to come back!
(4)Johnny W.
Freshly cooked on d spot. The best in mid west if you want true Japanese ramen. I've all their ramen, and they are all delicious. Price: very affordable portion size: You'll guarantee to be full. Timing: Fast Popularity: extreme ( Try to get there early).
(5)Julia K.
I'm from the Grand Rapids area and I've been disappointed that even the Ann Arbor area doesn't have many authentic Japanese restaurants, but this place is the best yet. Serving sizes are good, food is great, prices are cheap, and I always leave happy. This place is always packed whenever I go, and for good reason!
(5)Meagen H.
I love that this is a little hole in the wall place. There is seriously one guy cooking on one stove in the whole restaurant. The spicy yakisoba is delicious and I love their gyoza. My boyfriend loves the curry ramen. I have never had a bad meal!
(5)Jack M.
Even though I have driven by this place many, many times I never even knew it was there. It is very small and tucked by into the corner of a strip mall. Then I found out it has been open since 1991. So after reading some reviews here I stopped in yesterday. The firs time I drove by they were closed. They are open for lunch and dinner but closed for a couple of hours in between. When I walked in the place has 6-8 tables and I was the only non-Asian in the joint. Always a good sign. Locking at the bowls everybody was eating I knew I was going to like it here. I was getting a carry-out but next time I will dine in. I ordered the seafood noodle and the hot and spicy. They cam in nice containers with the fresh ramen noodles packed in a different box. So we put the noodles in at home. In very simple terms is was just a dam good bowl of fresh ramen noodle soup!! I had a huge bowl of each and loved them both. I can`t wait to go again and try something different. The menu is somewhat small so I should be able to get through most of it on a once a month basis.
(4)Tim W.
If you're looking for an authentic ramen noodle spot in Canton then this is it! The soup base along with the pork slices are just quality. Parking is a bit tough during lunch time so come early.
(5)Tom W.
Been here 3 times now and each time has been great. The only hesitancy I have to writing this review is the fear of this place becoming too popular and not being able to get a seat. It's a tiny place maybe seats 20. You can easily tell the authenticity by the clientele. I would say 90% Japanese. It's so Japanese that different parties share tables when there's no open table available. The food is very Japanese with Ramen and lunch sets to choose from. The spicy ramen is one of my favs. Fried rice is excellent and they use short grain rice unlike Chinese fried rice. Portions are huge so don't expect to leave unsatisfied. Although $12 for a bowl of noodles is a little steep but they pack it with plenty of accompaniments like fish cake, hard boiled egg, stewed pork and seaweed depending on which item you order. I only deleted one star because it's a little on the salty side. If they could cut down the salt a little it would be perfect.
(4)Karina S.
Absolutely delicious. Ordered take out, for 9$ i got a big bowl of ramen , fried rice and 3 shrimp wonton thingies. It was perfect amount of food and also perfect for the weather. i will definitely be back again! DELISH!
(5)Adam K.
So if you are American you get water. If you are Asian you get tea. You don't seem welcome as I would be at the local coney. Last time I will come here. Food is ok.
(1)Jack M.
This restaurant is like a typical "Chuka Ryori Ya" in Tokyo-shitamachi. The ramen is no longer a rare food in Detroit. They have a lot type of ramen here. The taste is also not the best, but it's not the worst either. You can read some Japanese "Manga" comics and magazines here as well. Japanese ramen lovers are so particular, so if you have been to a famous ramen shop in LA area or Japan, you may not be satisfied. This is not a date place.
(3)Elvin Y.
Its the to-go place other than Ikea in Canton.
(5)Ruben L.
This may have been my fault for building up the hype, but can't say I was that impressed. My wife was craving soup the other day, so I suggested this place (based on the numerous positive reviews). We tried the seafood ramen and the beef curry. The seafood ramen was BLAND. My wife actually had to add soy sauce to it to get any kind of flavor. Yes, my wife died a little inside by doing that, but it had to be done. Sure there were tons of things in it, but absolutely NO flavor. The beef curry was ok, and oddly a little bit sweet. Considering this place is known for its ramen, it was pretty disappointing. Perhaps we ordered the wrong thing, but I will not be clamoring to get back to this place. Celebrity Rating- Stefan Logan
(2)Jennifer D.
The food is fine but the hours on Yelp aren't the actual business hours. I have been there on two occasions where they were not open. They close Mon/Tues/Wed for dinner and Monday for lunch. Call ahead before you go because you never know if they are open or not.
(4)Jordan S.
Excellent ramen, gyoza, and fried rice. Have been coming here for years. This restaurant reminds me of my many years spent in Japan. Worth the trip!
(5)tony a.
How could I have not been here before. Wow, such a great place. We arrived at 11:35 for lunch and sat at a four top for just the two of us. I got the combo Ramen/fried rice while my companion got the pork ramen. The place filled up and a guy came in and was waiting so we said he could sit at our table then another guy came in by himself an he joined us as well. It was a fun communal experience. The service was spot on and the food was fantastic and filling. Definitely heading back.
(4)Yuqi W.
We ordered "hot &spicy" ramen, sea food Ramen(couldn't remember the exact name), octopus ball, and two wrapped rice balls(one with fish and one with plum). The ramens were fairly good. I like the spicy one better though since the sea food tasted a bit fishy. The octopus balls were too soft for me, but they were made with real octopus. The plum rice ball was just so-so because the plum tasted a bit too tender. Didn't try the fish one. Love the staff there! Super friendly! Space was limited but very comfy place.
(3)Jim S.
Big soup portions. It was good but didn't amaze me. The Miso ramen was better than the pork ramen. Dumplings were good, but only 6 for $5. And the fried rice was good. Would return, but after trying a few other restaurants in the area (Polish and Shish)
(3)Lily Z.
This is a true mom and pop shop with only 4 people working in the place. The husband work the ramen, one person wash the dishes, the wife and one other person take care of the front. My favorite at this place is the Shio ramen, savory broth (definitely chicken, but there are also other secret ingredients making it so delicious), chewy noodles, plenty of toppings (pork, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, corn, sea weed, and scallions). The noodles are less than $10 per bowl. You can't get better than a hot bowl of authentic Japanese ramen on a freezing cold Michigan winter night. The only downside is that they close too early.
(5)WaYnE c.
Neither Snow nor Rain nor Heat nor Gloom of night stays these Couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. My obstacle was the SNOW on Saturday night that happened to cancel an Event the next morning. I had a mission and no extreme weather was going to keep me from my appointed round at Matsuchan Ramen. This Ramen-ya was staffed by a Japanese Lady(Waitress), Japanese mid-age Men(Cook), and a helper of Latin descent. The Menu is more extensive than any Ramen-ya that I've visited in Toronto. There was enough Ramen selections alone to contemplate over and that's if you aren't thinking about Appetizers or Rice Dishes. Pork Soup Ramen(Tonkotsu $9.00) - The average variety Noodle picked up just the right amount of Milky Broth and gave it slurp-ability. I agree that the Broth can be salty if consumed continuously which made it best to eat with the Noodle rather than chugging the Broth afterwards. The Broth was super heated as if it was prepared with a SUPERNOVA and continued to be hot long after finishing the contents of the bowl(Bamboo Shoot, Green Scallion, Seaweed, 1 dry Nori, 1 slice Fish Cake and couple slices of Pork). The Pork Slices weren't in the typical log-shape but I appreciate it just as much. I'm thinking that not too many customers will chug the Broth after finishing the contents. That might be the reason for increasing the saltiness of the Broth. Btw, where's my 1/2 boiled Egg??
(4)A L.
Definitely a fan. I love a good ramen. Growing up in San Francisco and having lived in Japan, I can be a bit of a Japanese food snob. Not saying that this place is the greatest (there's always Hokkaido, Japan, for the more authentic food and locale) but considering that this is Canton, Michigan, this place is terrific. The food is great (they have other dishes besides ramen as well) and the service is wonderful. The place is also run by a Japanese family which lends to its authenticity and atmosphere (a definite rarity in these parts). I would have given them 5 stars but their operating hours is a hit or miss at best. If you have a hankering for a nice bowl of ramen (perfect for snowy winter :) or just to be in a hole in the wall, no frill, authentic Japanese restaurant, this is the place.
(4)Jen T.
This is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Canton. My husband and I frequently eat there at least once per week. We can eat like Kings for a total bill between $16-$20. They have the best miso in town...great barley tea...California rolls...the house ginger salad...their fried rice that comes with the "ramen set" is great...not to mention the variety of ramen soups available. My husband would recommend the spicy ramen. Their japanese meatloaf special is always a treat! A nice family owns it. It is usually hopping with business and when you are there you feel transported to Japan.
(5)Ann T.
I'm a fan because of the no-frills ambience. This is like little Tokyo. A small storefront restaurant. They dispense with the "niceties" such as chatting you up to get you to sit and have your food super hot as quickly as possible. Judging by the asian faces present whenever we go there for lunch, the chef must be doing something right. The kitchen was able to customize the noodles in my soup combination. Great broth. We are still trying to figure out how the young waitress gets to do the entire room all by herself. She buses and cleans the tables too.
(4)M F.
After living near Little Tokyo in LA for a few years (Daikokuya!!) based on ramen quality alone this place only deserves 2 stars. The noodles were fine, but the broth was very salty and lacking the rich, silky, depths of flavor. I got the egg for an extra charge, but it wasn't flavored at all and the yolk was slightly over-cooked. I left moderately satisfied but not wowed. However, given that this place is right around the corner from IKEA I'll definitely be back--it beats the food court hands down. I bumped them a star based on the fact that this is Michigan, but I'm going to keep searching for satisfaction of my ramen craving. There appears to be a Santuoka in Toronto, which is only another few hours driving...
(3)Sarang K.
Went there for lunch. Maybe I'm just not a Japanese ramen fan but it was not very good. I mean the noodles itself was pretty good, but the soup (I had the miso pork ramen?) was very salty... OVER SALTY... And the curry noodle was medicore... The clear noodle was the best but even that was meh~ I've had better. In a pinch I might go back but there are so many chains around that area, I would probably venture to one of the other ones. And worst case, I can always go to Ikea and enjoy some Swedish Meatballs :D
(2)Eric L.
After a failed first try at the place (closed Mondays) Matsuchan is starting to be my favorite ramen shop within southeast Michigan. The place doesn't try to impress you with their decor or the size of the shop as the enormous bowls of ramen is more than enough to blow you away. As small as the shop was, I did not have to wait at all during lunch time (around 12:30pm). Even the people who came after me only had to wait about 10min or so before grabbing a seat. What's even more impressive was the speed the food was coming out at despite the fact that there was only one person serving out the food and running the front of the house. For the food, I had order the ramen set with the Shio ramen, which consisted of a plate of fried race with 3 shrimp dumplings and a "small" ramen. Right off the bat the ramen was more than satisfying as the shop's "small" portion is a rather decent size and their combination of the ramen broth and the alkaline noodles were simply wonderful. Sadly, the fried rice and shrimp dumplings weren't too much after the bowl of ramen, but still a nice calm finish to a storm of flavors and deliciousness that is the Matsuchan ramen. Definitely will be back for more!
(5)Sarah M.
Time and time again I am disappointed by high ratings on Yelp here in Michigan. Sadly, this was not the exception as it turned out to be a huge disappointment. The noodles were not impresive, my broth was extremely salty and the ingredients were anything but traditional. We also ordered some beef wontons as an appetizer (which came after our meal) that were flavorless and burnt. The place was small and uncomfortable, the service was slow and awkward (uncommunicative, plates came out at odd times), the food was mediocre at best. I beg you, fellow yelpers of Michigan, PLEASE have higher standards!
(2)Liz R.
Ken and I had tried Matsuchan a couple of years ago, liked it, then promptly forgot all about it... til I saw it pop up on Yelp over and over again. So, Ken was working one Sunday and I was out alone, running errands, and there was Matsuchan. Aha! I was worried I'd feel out of place... single, white, pretty ignorant about ramen, needing a picture book to figure everything out. But, that wasn't the case at all. The waitress was so friendly and helpful. I ended up with the corn butter ramen (because I have a thing for corn in my soup, and who doesn't like a pat of butter on just about anything??). I went with the special on their dry erase board, so the ramen included a heaping plate of fried rice and three shrimp dumplings. I had a lot of fun trying out the the different condiments on the table - my personal favorites were a combination of the hot flakes and what I think was soy mixed with vinegar. A ton of food for $9! I took home almost all of the fried rice, and we had it as a side with grilled chicken the following evening.
(4)Tara L.
We ordered the Chanpon ($10.50) and Pork Soup Ramen ($9) with a side of Gyoza ($4.75). Gyoza was bland, and it tasted frozen. Filling was not good and the skin wasn't the right consistency. The Chanpon was massive like how everybody stated, but the broth wasn't flavorful and tasted just like it was salt and msg. The Pork Soup Ramen broth was equally as disappointing. We had to add the vinegar and chili pepper to give it something, and it still didn't help. So sad. :( The noodles were chewy, so at least that was okay, but the vegetables, pork, seafood (which is only shrimp here) were old and frozen. The pork slices in the Pork Soup Ramen were packaged and there was only 2 slices. Final bill was $24.25. For the aforementioned food that we ordered, it was definitely not worth it. At least the young lady was a nice girl who gave us some refreshing barley tea. Pass on this place if you're looking for some authentic Japanese ramen noodles.
(2)Teya T.
The ramen was all it took for my venture out to canton. I couldn't believe how huge the bowl was, it was sldelicious the seafood one with squid in it. Only spent 30 bucks on two bowls of ramen, 2 orders of California rolls, meat dumplings and a rice ball. Very satisfying food and service will come back again.
(5)Pam G.
Ordered pork curry noodle dish. It had 1 small slice of pork, a tablespoon of both corn (?) and seaweed, egg, noodles and sliced fishcake in a glutinous broth that tasted like the pre-made boxes of curry sauce. At $9, it sure wasn't worth the price for a bowl of basically just noodles and broth.
(1)Mandi L.
Large portions, consistently good food, and kind staff. I really like the udon, while my husband prefers the hot and spicy. The restaurant has a very casual, homey feel - the kind of place where they're putting more thought into the food than the decor. If you're unsure about their hours, look for the Matsu Chan Restaurant Google+ page.
(4)Emma C.
Very good, really love the dishes they have but was a little disappointed with some of the broths last time lacking in flavor. On the other hand they have some that have a great garlic base that are some of my favorite dishes anywhere. The hours of operation are a little tricky to get used to and the seating is limited, but it's a great option for something different in the area.
(3)Rebecca S.
I didn't like it. I should begin by saying that I've never had Japanese food before other than sushi and tempura. I love thai food, chinese, korean, etc., and the reviews were good so I figured I'd give it a shot. I ordered the spicy ramen for take out. It was $12. It came with a small carryout container of noodles with two thin slices of pork, some bamboo shoots, some greens, and a hard boiled egg on it, a small container of rice, and a large container of broth. The pork tasted reheated. The broth tasted of shitake mushrooms and sriracha. I threw it away after taking a few bites and made lunch at home. So, this may be good ramen (I have no basis for comparison other than the kind you eat in college, which I much prefer) but don't take it for granted that just because you like other asian food you will like this. I would recommend sharing an order with another person in case you hate it like I did, so you won't waste so much money.
(1)sonia t.
Hot and spicy Ramen- good kick and full flavor, awesome portion. Miso Ramen- buttery satisfying flavor. The place itself was small hole in the wall type place located in a strip mall, but it is worth it. Nice find! Thanks Theo!
(4)Nyomi L.
All right, if this is the best in MIchigan, then I'm probably coming back... but only if I can't find a cheap flight to LA. So, the positives: -very friendly owners/servers -had quite a few types of ramen, including pork miso soup, a hot and spicy, a pork (tonkatsu?) The not so positives: -the noodles, though decent, lacked the springiness and length of what I expect from ramen. -the hot and spicy soup was... thick and off flavour. I love my flavours strong, but the thickness of the hot and spicy was off-putting, especially as it wasn't actually contributing to the flavour.
(3)Allen L.
For me, Matsuchan is A-OK - 3 stars in the yelp world. Everything here is good, not great. I find most of the noodles to have way too much salt (or msg). It's fine for what it is - a small cheap noodle place. It's a good value. If you want higher quality noodles, try Sharaku or Hanzo or Ajiten. I don't make a special trip here for noodles, but occasionally stop by if in the area.
(3)Antonio D.
Good Food
(5)Emily L.
Dear Matsuchan, I wish you were closer to my house. And yet this is a 45-minute drive I will gladly make since it is the closest ramen place to me, and tasty to boot. I've had the tonkotsu (pork bone soup) ramen and the shio (clear broth) ramen. Both broths (wow, that looks weird) were very flavorful, although a bit on the salty side. The humongous bowl comes packed with perfectly chewy noodles, seaweed, scallions, pork, fish cake, and bamboo shoots. You can also sprinkle some dried chili pepper powder (togarashi) in your bowl for a bit of added pep. My tonkatsu-loving boyfriend got the curry tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet with curry sauce and rice, as well as miso soup on the side) but did not enjoy it as much. And I did not like their udon so much either. Lesson learned: when at a ramen shop, order ramen, and you will be richly rewarded!
(4)Irene L.
I will always be a Matsuchan aficionado. This was one of my dad's staples when he first came to Canton -- how he found it, I'm not sure, as it's wedged into a strip mall and looks completely unassuming -- but I'm so, so, so glad he did. Hankering for some of the most amazing fried rice I've ever eaten? Go to Matsu chan. Not feeling like cooking but wanting some reliable deliciousness? Go to Matsu chan... this place is a safe haven for ramen lovers and I can attest to its consistency -- I've been going here for over fifteen years, hehe. Other reviews have mentioned the spottiness of the exterior, which I won't question, but I think it adds to the homely charm (from my glassy-eyed perspective, that is :) ) If you go in for lunch, there are usually more than a few Japanese businessmen at the side tables, a testament to the authenticity of the food. The entire restaurant is tiny -- probably no bigger than a decently sized family room. The decor is rather eclectic, stemming from the array of license plates on one wall (my favorite is the 000-000 plate...), some holographic Pokemon stickers affixed to the front counter, and a large Pikachu statue dressed up not unlike the chef himself. A small bookshelf near the entrance has a selection of Japanese magazines and manga which you can peruse while waiting for your food. But... speaking of the food, I usually pass on the sushi, since, well, this is a ramen restaurant. I came here to get huge bowls of steaming noodly goodness! When I say huge, I mean larger than your head. Probably larger than both of our heads... I've never been able to finish an entire bowl by myself. My personal favorite is the seafood ramen and udon... the noodles are not limp, and soak up the flavorful broth quite well. The pork, kamaboko, seaweed, bean sprouts, etc, are all cooked wonderfully and don't detract from the flavors of the soup. In addition, the fried rice seems relatively tame, but it's the first - and only - time I've ever seen anyone put chopped kamaboko into fried rice along with picked ginger... and it isn't weird, it melds into the overall taste. Someone stop me before I explode with longing... As if I haven't had enough to wax lyrical about, the staff is amazingly friendly and the owner's wife (I still don't know her name!) always recognizes me when I go :) Waiters are remarkably patient! Plus, they give you iced barley tea in the summer... :) The short version: Go to Matsu Chan! Eat their ramen and fried rice! Slurp their noodles as loudly as you want to! You will not be disappointed.
(5)Amber C.
I had no idea there was a ramen shop in Canton, but luckily, Yelp is there to help. My husband and I went there and had the Misoporksoup Ramen and the Curry Ramen. Both were absolutely amazingly delicious, not too salty or anything. For context, though, I have never had authentic ramen anywhere before, only what my husband has been making at home. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for tasty ramen. I was shocked to learn it had been open since 1991 and I had never heard of it before!
(5)Joey Z.
If this place wasnt 30 minutes away, I'd be here every day for lunch. This is the only place in Michigan (albeit i havent been around michigan that much) I found a legitimate ramen shop. Their Tonkotsu ramen broth still lacked a slight bit of that rich gelantinous mouthfeel that a place like Santouka would have, but the seasoning is on point, the color is a milky pearl white, the pork belly was tender, and most of all the noodles were fantastic. It is as good a bowl of ramen as you'll get anywhere in Michigan.
(5)Liz W.
I cannot believe I have not reviewed this yet... I really like it here a lot! It is unlike anything around. This is not your college ramen, no worries there. The atmosphere is definitely hole in the wall (license plates as decor) and casual but the food is happy and delicious. The people are so friendly and patient, you always feel welcomed. Definitely a family feel. Be warned the hours here are odd, if you are making a drive I would call ahead. Menus are on the wall and tables but they also have a great one with pictures to help you out if you are clueless, if you look at all dazed the sweet waitress will bring one over. Another warning for newbies is that they give you a big spoon for the soup and chopsticks are on the table. My husband is not skilled at all with chopsticks so it intimidated him at first but he gladly learned for the food, it is so delicious you will be motivated enough to figure it out too. My fave dish here is the pork soup ramen, slightly creamy and just happily huge, I always take half home. Reading through here though I see I am not alone in that love. The broths here have real depth of flavor and are delicious. The soups generally contain pieces of delicious pork and fishcake, mushrooms, bean sprouts, seaweed and green onion as well as a goodly amount of noodles. I also like the the seafood ramen here, the gyoza and shrimp dumplings and the fried rice (less soy laden than most). In the summer I liked the cold ramen salad with the sesame dressing but they also feature cold soba noodles. My husband likes to get the combo deal they offer here. He likes the Shio (clear broth) ramen with the fried rice and three shrimp dumplings. It is a smaller bowl of soup than a regular order but still huge really. With the rice and dumplings it makes quite a filling meal. They have noodle dishes, rice bowls (including one with eel, yum!) and katsu as well as specials. Oddly one night it was meatloaf ??? I cannot seem to resist the soups long enough to explore much though. If for some reason you feel the need they have various items on the table for doctoring up your soup or food. Pepper, chili oil, soy and some odd looking orange powdered spice. I will admit to using the chili oil as I like zip. They also have a nice sauce for the gyoza. Happily too they have a hugely handy stack of napkins in a holder. Generally if a dish sounds like something you would like, here at Matsuchan, you will. Portions are such that you will not leave hungry, I always have something to take home.
(5)Linda N.
Soooo disappointed in this ramen place!!! I think I just had too high expectations or maybe it was a poorly made broth day but I found my ramen with pork broth too salty and not much flavor. The noodles had a nice texture though. I will definitely go and try this place again though and hope for ramen comparable to Ipudo or Momofuku in NY....but maybe this is good enough for Canton.
(2)Meriam N.
Matsuchan is the best place for ramen and udon in Michigan, hands down. Their service is excellent and the only thing I can ask for is more vegetarian options.
(5)Tammy H.
I had the pork bone ramen but it was way too salty! The octopus puff was okie but not great.
(2)Brian G.
Meh. Over hyped, over priced, under quality. I ordered the spicy ramen thinking it would be tasty with a kick, but it ended up being burn my face of hot, without any decent flavor. Basically it was mediocre. Would I go again? No. I've been spoiled by delicious ramen in Japan and Vegas and this is honestly quite a large step down.
(2)Qian Y.
I drove about 35 minutes to this place because we were desperate for good ramen noodles ever since my girlfriend and I moved from NYC to to Michigan. There were tons of ramen places in NYC, but here, it's hard to find a descent ramen place to satisfy our noodle craving. Matsuchan becomes our go-to place for now. The service? It's a family restaurant, it seems like the dad is the chef, the wife and the daughter are the waitress. They are friendly and helpful with the menu. Although, they seem to be in a hurry and little bit inpatient when the restaurant is really busy due to lack of helping hands. I received my bill before I finished my meal, and I was going to order some more foods to take home for next day but they gave me the bill too early. The decor? It is a casual place, and the first thing you notice when you sit down was the vehicle plates-wall-of-frame. The owner collects different vehicle plates all around the U.S., and sticks them on the wall. It's fun to look at the plates, and try to figure out how many states plates are on the wall. Another thing to notice is the bookshelf with a stack of Japanese comic books and magazines, you can pick up a Japanese comic to read while you are waiting. The authenticity? I can't really speak for that because even in Japan, ramen noodles can be cooked different from places to places. But I do believe that they made some twist on their ramen noodles, such as the the Hot and Spicy ramen, I tasted korean kimichi in it. The food? My girl friend ordered Champon, ramen noodles with pork, shrimp, fish cakes, and LOTS of veggies in the pork bone broth. It's a HUGE bowl of ramen. The broth is flavorful, and the shrimps add a little bit sweetness to the broth. The noodles were cooked perfectly and chewy, not too soft or too tender. I really recommend this noodles bowl. I ordered the Hot and Spicy ramen noodles, I can eat really spicy foods, so I will give this noodles 3 out of 5 spicy levels. The base is still their pork bone broth, and I believed they just add on chilli sauce and some spicy korean kimich to make the broth spicy. There are slices of pork , some ground pork, bamboo shoots, onion, and an hard-broil egg. The broth is flavorful, but it is a little bit too salty and dense. We ordered Takoyaki (a very popular snack - savory pancake balls stuffed with squid and top with dry fish flakes). I was disappointed because the Takoyaki have a strong flour-like taste that they shouldn't have. And the pancakes are a little bit too chewy and tender. This is also the reason why I gave this restaurant a four-star rating.
(4)Tareq A.
Most important fact, this places uses Pork stock to make their soup base. So those hoping for a more traditional fish base, won't be happy. Also that makes it not Kosher or Halal. Also, most important fact, is this place is mainly a Ramen restaurant. So, not many other dishes. If your not looking for Ramen, or fast prepared rice-bowl dishes, then I would recommend Ajiten. They have a Miso based Udon dish. But since it is not their concentration for the restaurant, it is only 'okay'. They make a good curry-brick beef dish. The Oyakudon is really really good. I wish they wouldn't use a pork based soup...or had an alternative option.
(3)Jaclyn B.
I wish I would have liked this place better. My girlfriend took me here because I was really craving a delicious bowl of soup- spicy, if possible. She had been hyping it up for MONTHS! Based on all the reviews, I thought I was in for a real treat. I was really bummed that I wasnt. I ordered the spicy soup- there were symbols all over saying how hot it was and when I asked the waitress, she told me that it was very spicy. I got the bowl and it was a LARGE portion, but for $12 it should be! It tasted more Korean than it did Japanese. The small hole in the wall feel is very appealing and ambiance is great! I felt like I was walking back into a little ramen place back in Japan (lived there for a year) but when the food came out I was dissappointed. With all of this said, I will have to go back and try it again. I hope my super high expectations didnt interfere with my perspection of the food..... I will be checking back in.
(3)Chiwei L.
One question: how many ramen shops have you heard of in Detroit (much less Michigan???) As a life long Michigander, my personal count is 1, and that's Matsuchan. Steve D is correct that you can definitely have better Ramen in Japan and Socal, but it'll be one expensive meal since you'll have to buy a ticket. Now I'm not a big fan of the spicey soup here (flavor doesn't have much punch) but some of their other noodles are nice and hearty. They also have an Tako Yaki (squid filled pancake balls) which you don't see everyday. Soooo, if your looking for a homey hole in the wall ramen shop, this is pretty much your only choice.
(4)Cissi C.
Nothing special about their ramen. Tastes like spaghetti in pork bone soup that has been left overnight. Not bad but certainly not worth going back for. I will probably wait till I head to chicago before I eat japanese ramen next time.
(2)Lauren G.
This place has the best seafood noodle soup. This place is small and cozy and can fill up with people quick.
(4)Stefanie N.
A ramen join right in Michigan?! Heck yes! And it's pretty darn tasty, too! Every time I make my way to this side of Michigan, I try to make a pit stop here for some corn butter ramen. Large portions where I can never seem to finish. It's a little mom and pop operation and they keep it fairly clean.
(4)Jess R.
I have a feeling that Matsuchan might become my new favorite place. There are at least a dozen noodle bowl items to pick from not to mention other rice/ stir fry dishes that are equally amazing. I ordered the spicy chicken noodle stir fry. It was full of bok choy, veggies, and really good tender noodles and overall not too spicy. This is a noodle shop that manages to take the basic elements of food and make them taste good in a no-frills home cooked way. Total comfort food. I'm guessing that I'll be spending many bleak Michigan February nights here. They also serve boricha which is always exciting.
(5)Steve D.
This place is OK. Having lived in Japan and Southern California, I guess my standards for ramen are pretty high. Personally I think Ajiten is better.
(3)livingston c.
THE BEST FREAKIN' RAMEN OUTSIDE OF JAPAN! okay, this might be a stretch, but as my wife and i have searched north america for the best ramen, this is THE place. we have sampled the "best" ramen places in nyc, boston, toronto, vancouver, and none of them have come close. when we were both in michigan for work/school, some japanese friends recommended this place as the best they've ever had as well outside of their homeland. the 1/2 hour drive from ann arbor was ALWAYS worth it. the owner originally trained under another ramen master in boston before landing in michigan, and caters to the large amount of japanese autoworkers and companies in the area. during one of our trips to boston, we sought out where he had originally worked. it was no comparison... matsuchan: "now I AM the master"! ironically, we are now in boston and crave matsuchan. how much do we love this place?? well during a recent trip to china, we made sure our connection was in detroit, with at least a 4 hour layover during lunch time, so we could take a quick trip there before continuing on our way. yes, it is THAT GOOD! our favorites are the pork ramen (a taste like none other) and the summer noodles (which unfortunately is only available during the summer). the sauce is the best, and i've even inquired about buying the sauce itself a few times (they obliged once, after jokingly saying it would cost $100/pint). we even had one of our friends drive us 2 orders of summer noodles the last time they came to visit us in boston. definitely get an order of the fried rice too. ahhh... drooling just thinking about matsuchan.
(5)Wendy C.
I am on the Matsuchan bandwagon. The best ramen place in Michigan, and better than most ramen shops I've tried in Toronto. Curry noodles (Japanese style, you have to try it) are great; the pork bone soup ramen is awesome; kimchi noodles come in a gigantic bowl that you can bath in. Some other varieties are good too, just depends on what you like, I suggest try a few to find your favourite(s). It can be packed with Japanese expats at lunch time. Avoid the lunch crowd/hour if you don't like stand-waiting.
(5)Allison N.
I've tried about four ramen style restaurants in Michigan. This by far is the best! Food and food alone is what makes this place the best. I ordered the hot and spicy ramen.and it packed a punch! The broth was thick but not creamy thick. I tasted a pork broth mixed with a spicy paste. The biggest treat I found in my bowl was was a huge chunk of roe! The bowl also included pork and fish cake. The ramen noodles were perfectly cooked, thick and had a nice bite! I also ordered the takoaki (octopus). At first I thought it was still alive but it was just fish flakes moving! It was literally making crackling noises and it looked like flapping wings about to fly away! LOL I'm not crazy I promise. This appetizer was a cooked octopus with a softy and creamy doughy outside topped with moving fish flakes! I've been to Japan several times and the hole in the wall ambiance makes you feel like you've been transported back to a late night joint in Tokyo. I can't wait to come back and try different items! The bowls are huge so come hungry!
(4)David L.
A good friend of mine suggested, rather, Demanded that we go here for lunch on my one afternoon visiting him. Small, hole-in-the-wall kind of place with a friendly server. The decor was entertaining, especially the larger than life ceramic Pikachu on the counter. Food! This is a Japanese ramen place, offering many different kinds. I ordered their special, which was small noodles, rice, and teriyaki tuna steak for about nine dollars. We also ordered pork and shrimp dumplings, fried rice, cucumber rolls and spicy beef. All of the food we had is comparable with the fare in Japan, as in, I love it SO good!!! Tip: make sure you know their hours, and get there earlier, as the limited seating can mean a long wait. There was a group of about five people who got there literally five minutes after we did, they had to wait about twenty minutes before sitting down. I will say however that they ate almost immediately after sitting down as the server took their order while they were waiting.
(5)Rebecca C.
I love Japanese food and have some standbys in the metro Detroit area. But this week had a visiting Japanese friend insist we go to Matsuchan - which shockingly was not in my repertoire. She had eaten there when she visited a year before and had been impressed that the style was particular to a region in Japan. She really wanted to return as it was not something easily found in the US...I trusted her recommendation was well informed, and I'm so thankful to have been turned on to this place. This is no poor graduate-student ramen! I got the porkmiso ramen and the broth was milky and rich in such a way that it almost seemed like it contained coconut milk. (though it does not!). Very satisfying. My friends' dishes were equally amazing. Including a cold noodle dish (seasonal) whose pleasant visual aesthetic equaled its fresh, textured, scrumptious taste. It's such a taste that you will find yourself craving once it has been embedded onto your brain's palate. It's the comfort food of your alternate Japanese identity. If you want an authentic Japanese noodle experience, you won't find anything better for miles and miles and miles. A humble setting with a treasure of taste. I plan to go back every time I have an occasion to go Canton-ward. In fact, I am going to start making Canton-centric plans just so I can be there at mealtimes...
(5)Jiwon P.
Woof. Incredible ramen. Really. Really good. Got the Pork Misosoup Ramen. Great broth, incredibly authentic with good chunks of veggies and hearty portions of meat. The meat is good quality, not overly fatty and trashy like it could be. Chewy noodles that are obviously homemade. That being said, I'm taking 1 star off for consistency. I've been there 5 times -- 4 out of the 5 times, the food was epic. The last time, however, the broth was overly salty. Yes, I know ramen is more of an art than a science, I was just disappointed the one time that I went and the broth was overly salty.
(4)T W.
Decently huge potion of ramen that's local, well 35 minutes away for us. Not the best (Toronto & NYC rank higher of course) but its what we got in Detroit and we are frequent visitors at Matsuchan. I usually get the kimchi soup, pretty spicy for me, plenty of leftover broth to eat with rice. Also had the pork soup, good. Will be coming again just to try the different ramens. Chicken wings are good if you like soy sauce flavor. Will still be on the lookout for other ramen restaurants in town, just not completely satisfied with this one. FYI Small place so difficult for big parties. Seats about 20 people.
(4)Kate B.
Went this past weekend, and what a treat! I had the Shoyu Pork Ramen, my husband ordered the spicy beef stirfry dish, and an appetizer of gyoza. The portions were quite large, served in oversized attractive pottery bowls to hold in the heat. The broth for my Ramen was savory and had a hint of earthiness which I attribute to using a small amount of liver or chitterlings in the stock recipe - was very tasty. Came with a goodly portion of Ramen - a bit stronger-tasting that other noodle-shops, but had good body and color. Came with sliced green onion, seaweed, and a few slices of roasted fatty-pork. Just what I was in the mood for! Gyoza were crisp on the outside, with a nice pork filling with bits of crunchy waterchestnut and chives. Mmmmm. My husband loved his spicy beef dish - beef strips stirfried with Kimchee, onions, and bean sprouts. We both had enough food for a whole other meal the next day. Prices were $3-4 cheaper than we're used to paying in Ann Arbor, which was nice. The restaurant is very diner-ish - simple tables, decorated with license plates. Service was very friendly and homelike. We'll be visiting again :O)
(4)John T.
Went to Matsuchan for the first time this weekend. Loved it! I am kicking myself that it took me so long to try it. I had the Pork Soup Ramen. It showed up piping hot...any hotter and it would have evaporated in place. It was very tasty, several different flavors but nothing got in the way of anything else. I am not an expert with chopsticks by any means but I gave it a valiant try. I will sheepishly admit that at about the halfway point on the bowl, I decided to just go for it by lifting the bowl right up to my mouth and slurping in the noodles and broth that way. I don't know the rules and maybe that was a big insult to those around me but it was really good and it made so much more sense then spending an hour trying to make chopsticks work. After I was done I looked around and nobody seemed to ticked off so maybe nobody cared! I have a lot to learn, because some people came in after us, got their ramen after us, and still finished before us so there is definitely a trick to eating quickly with chopsticks. LOL I wanted to order the hot and spicy ramen but the menu said it came with fish eggs. I am NOT a fan of fish eggs and was worried someone would be offended if I asked for a bowl without them so until I do some more research on ramen etiquette it will have to wait. The place filled up fast...we got there a few minutes after it opened and a few minutes later the rest of the tables were full. It is a small restaurant, maybe 9 or 10 tables, tops. Small kitchen, but the chef rocks it like nobody's business and it is fun to watch. A giant big-as-your-head bowl of piping hot ramen and a water was $9 + tip. That is damn hard to beat. Some of the menu items are only $7.50, some are a little higher, like $10 - $12. Highly recommended...not sure how a big steaming bowl of ramen would go over when it is 90 degrees out, but other than that Matsuchan has definitely earned a spot on my favorites list.
(4)Kevin C.
Coming from New York, I've had my fair share of Ramen. My wife and I were visiting some friends and I was told this was the best. My wife had been craving ramen from Matsuchan for years since she last visited. I ordered the combo of miso ramen and fried rice. I wasn't overly impressed with the ramen noodles and the broth was a little garlicky like one of the other reviews mentioned. On the other hand, I was impressed with the fried rice as it was tasty and I got surprisingly got a pretty big plate of it. Around the table, we also tried the Curry ramen, hot and spicy ramen and one of the pork ramens. As a whole the serving size was pretty large so that was nice. Out of the noodles, I was a big fan of the curry ramen as well as the pork ramen. We also had two orders of takoyaki and some dumplings. For some reason, we were not fans of the dumplings because there was some sort of vegetable inside that we did not like. The takoyaki was a little chewy and had flakes on top that looked really weird as the fans in the dining area made them move while you're trying to eat it. With my wife's craving finally appeased for Matsuchan's, I think we'll go back to NYC and continue our quest to find our favorite ramen restaurant. Outside of the food, the service was good and the dining room felt very friendly and welcoming. There were not a lot of tables so during lunchtime we had to wait 10 minutes but it went by quick and there were convenient benches right in front of the restaurant.
(3)Jess L.
I heart this place, so much. Sure, it's a little shabby, but it's a hole-in-the-wall place, and everyone knows you can find awesome food in hole-in-the-wall joints. Their tonkotsu ramen is really good for MI--you get a big bowl, with thick, salty, creamy soup. Mmmm, so good. And they're totally accommodating if you don't want certain toppings (me, I'm not a big fan of the bean sprouts or ginger.) Prices are pretty good too--you get a lot of bang for your buck! I think if I go there again, I might want to try the rice balls. Mmmmm.
(4)Mel T.
If you want Raman there is no better than what they serve. They have varieties of Raman I had never even heard of before eating here. The best thing is that they have a Ramen for everyone. I always get their seaweed ramen which has a variety of seaweed and algae in it. It is incredible with a flavor I've never had any where else. The spicy ramen will make your head sweat. If only it was closer to Ann Arbor. The sushi rolls are ok, but really you aren't coming here for sushi you are coming here for the ramen. If you have a large group you may need to come at off hours because their small seating area fills up quick.
(5)Alan W.
Best Ramen place in the state of Michigan. Love this place! It's pretty cheap for real quality Japanese Ramen and you can't find anything near it's quality in the area. A MUST GO TO PLACE!!!
(5)John Paul P.
In my search for a midwest ramen shop, I stumbled upon Matsuchan. I finally get the chance to stop by on my way back to Ann Arbor from Detroit, and find the place easily. Ramen time! There was quite the selection of ramen both on the menu and specials. They also had other food available including sushi but I was there with a singular purpose. Ramen. So I got the special duck ramen which was delicious. It was a tad on the salty side, and so I am unsure if they use MSG in their food. The ramen noodles had a good texture to it. The service was friendly, it seemed like a family operation. The food came out fast, and the complimentary tea was nice. Great atmosphere.
(4)shannon r.
Run, don't walk, to this tiny little whole in the wall spot down the street from IKEA! Time is especially of the essence because my favorite dish- the cold noodles- is only served during the summer months, which leaves only about a month and a half to try it out. Cold ramen noodles are served with your choice of soy or sesame dressing (get the sesame, trust me), and an assortment of fresh veggies, seaweed, mandarin oranges, egg, ham, and seafood. It's the kind of thing that could very well be gross in unskilled hands but at Matsuchan it's pure bliss. The effect is heightened on a hot summer day, save the steaming bowls of ramen for the winter months. The female owner was delightful, even humoring me by telling me the recipe for their sesame dressing. I tried to re-create it at home and it didn't even come close. Looks like another visit is in order. Last time I went it looked like they closed in the middle of the day between lunch service and dinner, so plan accordingly if you're making a special trip.
(5)Alice C.
Love it! Be warned, this place really is pretty small. We went right after it opened for lunch and I am really glad we did. Soon after we ordered more and more people (mostly Japanese) came in and the place completely filled up. The ramen was really good, especially the spicy ramen which comes in a huge bowl, enough for two meals for some I would think. I had the butter ramen which was nice and creamy. Next time I would try their fried rice combo which has half servings of fried rice and ramen of your choice.
(5)Wing C.
Sooooo tasty and authentic, and temptations are pretty decent too!
(5)Helen L.
Definitely an authentic Japanese place. Most of the customers here are Asian, so you know that's a good sign. I love the family-owned atmosphere. Food was good, and it's better than Tomo for sure. I got the chicken and egg and rice bowel. Pretty good.
(4)Eric K.
I really don't understand how this place has such high ratings. I'm a ramen lover and have tried this place out three times. To my disappointment, every try was a bust =(. It's sad because I love ramen and wanted to love this place, but it's just not worth it.
(1)Alfred K.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for Matsuchan yet! I'll start with a confession. Like Toro E. has said, I might be a little biased just because I heart the Matsuchan lady. Even though I don't visit quite as often as I used to in my college days, she recognizes me everytime and welcomes me with a big smile. Aww I feel warm and fuzzy just picturing her. That said, I agree with everyone else that the ramen here isn't exactly authentic, but I think it's pretty good for what it is. My favorite is definitely the pork soup ramen - which is basicly chashu ramen in white pork bone soup. High sodium but yum! The spicy seafood ramen is also very good, although it's kind of like a Japanese-cook-attempt-to-make-a-Korean-dish version of it. Not a complaint at all (because it still tastes darn good!), but true. My umich friends always liked the butter squid - I think it's squid deep fried and then stirred in butter? Not sure how they make it. Yes it's quite delicious because the batter softens up, soaking up the butter... think tempura in soup - same texture. I'm scared for my cholesterol just describing it, which is why I don't describe it when I eat it. Once in a while they have takoyaki which is kinda fun. I think it's probably microwaved? I can't imagine they make these in-house, but I don't actually know. They're not great, but good enough for the fun of it. I first came here back in 2000 with car-owning friends at umich, and the place looks the same as it always did. Frankly it looks a bit like someone's basement, decorated with license plates from every state, but eh it doesn't bother me. OK fine I AM biased.
(4)Jonny P.
I'm in love with Matsu Chan... Ventured out here this past Saturday and enjoyed every minute of it! I ordered waaaay too much food for two people but I like leftovers. Shorty and I enjoyed the shrimp dumplings (the mustard was killer!) & a medium order of their fried rice. The rice was so light and I wish I took notes on the flavor elements it was just a great twist on one of my favourite childhood dishes. I ended up settling on the Champon and Shorty decided on the stir fry. Both were MASSIVE portions which really should have stood alone. All in all a great lunch, I'll be back again & again & again. If you are in Canton or just swinging by you should pop in!
(4)eddie P.
I eat here from time to time with co-workers when we are near by. The food is delish and It does give you a Japanese noodle shop vibe. Not often you fine tasty noddle shops around Canton Area. When I am there, I usually just order whatever it is the special for the day is.. Never dissapointed me yet. Gotta give it a try! Good times
(3)Colin A.
I love this place. I come here at least once every few weeks coming from the Ann Arbor area. First off, this place is known for its soup and it's the best by far in the area. My favorite dish, however, is the yakisoba which has great tasting noodles and chicken. My only complaint is that it could use more vegetables. The fried rice is also phenomenal. The gyoza, however, is terribly average. For the price this place is 5 stars! The family that runs the place is also very kind. Only downside is the service can be a little slow depending on how busy it is.
(5)トモ T.
Since I was one of the first customers they had since they opened their little authentic Japanese ramen restaurant in Canton, the nice Japanese couple (owner) got to know me well, so I may be a bit bias in this review. A great place to drop in for a quick and cheap dinner, easily keep it around $10/person. At one point, I made it my personal mission to try ever dish on the menu, which by the way is taped on the wall. While their ramen is not the greatest in the world, it's nice to have a good ramen place in Canton, MI. In the summer, they have hiyashi-chuka (cold noodles) which is great. This is not a date place. Don't expect much in terms of decor. Eat and get out (but don't forget to pay).
(4)Aaron N.
Is there a place like this anywhere else in SE Michigan? I think not. It's tiny for one thing. One wall is covered with license plates. There are literally FOUR different menus you can order off of, all with pretty much the same stuff. There's a hand lettered Japanese menu hanging above the cooking area, more hand written English and Japanese menu items on the right wall, printed menus under the Plexiglas table tops, and another printed menu that they hand you. Hmm, you get the impression they want you to come in and order and not just sit there reading license plates and drinking the complimentary soy sauce. All in all it feels authentically work-a-day Japanese as opposed to cliche, jade statue, rice paper, black laquered wood Japanese. And of course, they serve Ramen. I don't know of any other Ramen houses here so there you go. Even without the craziness inside you have something unique. So what about that Ramen? Anyone unfamiliar with the real thing should just forget everything they've ever experienced with pre-packaged stuff. Real Ramen is like the antithesis of Cup O' Noodles. These are giant, yummy, noodle soups packed with every ingredient you can imagine. Well, not every ingredient... just the delicious ones. But oh yes, they are LARGE. I've been twice and have had two soups. The Pork Soup Ramen is delicious and "porky" but my fav so far is the Champon, a bowl of soup packed so high with ingredients I thought it would topple with my first stab of the chopsticks. The presentation is simple, just a bunch of stuff on top of noodles and rich flavorful broth, but it seems like simple is the best, as these soups are truly beautiful to look at. And when the looking is done, the devouring begins! Champon is a mystery of a menu item, with no picture and no description, but I had heard good things prior to ordering. It's a mostly seafood soup with big meaty shrimp, squid, fish cake, and even a little pork (yes I know pork is not a fish) mixed with seaweed, cabbage, scallion, carrots, and maybe some sprouts and onions, but I can't remember exactly. All I know is I should have skipped the small eel/avocado roll at the start. I always think "soup isn't going to fill me up" and add something else from the menu. But I practically rolled out of there feeling like a had drunk my fill from a soup fire hose. I need to come back and try some other stuff here and bring some friends. I'm pretty sure none of them have heard of it (outside of Yelpers).
(5)Giggly C.
Better than anything we got in Portland so far. So yummy. got the pork ramen. Wings were great too.
(5)Sifah M.
I am in love with this spot! Okay Ive only been twice but both times the food was so delicious like, i cant even describe. Ive had the tonkotsu, salad, curry ramen and the onigiri so far, the only thing that wasnt overwhelmingly delicious was the dressing on the salad, probably because im used to miso and carrot and it was pretty much just rice vinegar, wasnt that into it. But the ramen is perfect. I already love ramen so to find a place that makes it better than me and fresh is awesome on so many levels. I plan on eating everything on the menu at least once. Only complaint I have is theyre so far from where I live, I wish there was a ramen bar in detroit, only reason Im not there every damn day :( do yourself a favor GO HERE
(5)Jeff C.
My favorite place before or after airport. Love their pork bone soup ramen. Other dishes are ok, but I prefer saving my appetite for the big bowl of noodle and soup, which is a sin to waste.
(5)Abby M.
My husband and I have been going to Matsuchan for years and LOVE it. True to true Japanese Ramen and my personal favorite the meat dumplings and the ginger dressing on the salad is to die for :-) We've turned all of our Japanese cusine loving friends and have had no complaints, they still dine there. Definitely a must to eat at. Just a good tip they have odd hours, there is a break between lunch and dinner and they are closed on Monday's.
(5)Mikhal e.
This is a great place for a quick bite. The food is very well priced, and taste is superb. My favorite is either the Udon or the Beef Curry. Quick, cheap, and good!
(4)Allison C.
This hole-in-the-wall Japanese noodle place is AMAZING. Their food is tasty and a good value. The outside can be misleading since half the time it doesn't look open, or borderline dicey, but once inside its nice and bright and you're thrown into the delicious scents of what tasty goodness is to come. It seems my family and I always end up there on Sundays, and the usual Sunday waitress is really nice and helpful. We have two smaller kids and I appreciate not feeling unwelcome because of them. This place offers the exact opposite- they actually have smaller kid bowls and cups for them to use. The decor is random and eclectic, and the restaurant itself is very tiny, giving it a very homey and comfortable vibe. Their ginger dressing on the salad is light and delicate, not too overbearing and salty as some other places tend to be. All in all, this is absolutely a place to look into. The entrees are huge, and even though my family usually gets three for just two adults, a 6yr old girl and a toddler, we're usually all still fighting for the last bite!
(5)Steven S.
My friends and I used to drive to Matsuchan from Ann Arbor for the hambuk steak.. it's crazy delicious. Sadly, they were usually out of hambuk steak.. but when they did have it, it was quite a treat. Their ramen is decent. It's got an authentic taste but I've had better. The owners are very nice. I played ball with their son at CCRB. I drained Js in his face.
(3)Duke A.
Chanpon (mix of ramen and vegetables/meat/seafood in white salty soup) on Thursdays and Fridays during lunchtime is my and my coworkers' favorite. Not a fancy spot, but a good friendly place for a quick bite.
(3)