We’ve got some sad news to kick off November.
Vancouver is about to lose one of its most beloved tsukemen spots.
On November 1st, Downtown Vancouver’s Menya Itto announced on Instagram that they would be shutting down their sole North American location on November 15th.
Menya Itto made its debut in the West End back in March 2022, and anticipation for this opening was sky-high.
Known for their tsukemen, or dipping ramen, Menya Itto brought a unique experience to the city’s food scene.
Menya Itto’s founder, Yukihiko Sakamoto, brought with him not only a legacy of excellence but also a fascinating culinary lineage.
Sakamoto trained under Koji Tashiro, known as the “Son of Ramen God,” who himself was a disciple of Kazuo Yamagishi, the legendary creator of tsukemen.
The Tokyo outpost was ranked number 1 Tsukemen in Japan and dubbed Menya Itto the King of Tsukemen.
The announcement attributed their closure to several challenges, including the economic pressures brought on by the “dark economic period” and high operational costs.
Menya Itto noted that they were unable to maintain the minimum volume required for renewal and that the decision to withdraw from the Canadian market was a difficult one.
Menya Itto was supposed to launch in 2020, but due to the pandemic, they had to hold out until 2022. That of course meant 2 years of holding out with rent payments – which would no doubt be hefty on Robson Street.
And after their opening, they still did so amidst an era of uncertainty, and despite their best efforts, it appears they couldn’t overcome the challenges that came with these times.
The team expressed heartfelt gratitude to their customers who supported them since day one and mentioned how hard it was to make this decision.
This closure is part of a bigger trend in Vancouver’s West End—a neighbourhood that has seen plenty of changes recently.
From new spots popping up to old favorites closing their doors, it’s been a period of flux.
Menya Itto’s story follows a similar trajectory to Gram Pancake, another international chain that couldn’t quite recover from the pandemic.
Gram shut down all of its Canadian locations last year, and now Menya Itto will also bid farewell to the city.
So if you haven’t yet made it to Menya Itto, there’s still a little time left to experience their signature tsukemen before they close up shop on November 15th.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 1479 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC