Merci – Fan Favourite Mom & Pop Shop By Waseda University in Tokyo!

Merci – メルシ *Cash Only*

63 Babashitacho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-0045, Japan

2 minute walk from Waseda Station

Hours (as of 2026/03): Tuesday – Saturday 11am-3pm, 4-7pm

Order system: Menu

Merci is located pretty much right in front of Waseda University, and is by far the most loved restaurant by its students and people in the area.

It is a 30 seat mom and pop shop with a rather simple menu consisting of things like ramen and omurice. They also have a bunch of copies of manga and the shonen jump magazine which a lot of people were reading before their food arrived.

It just had a really relaxing feel to it, one that a lot of Tokyo restaurants don’t have because people are rushing to get in and get out – Merci on the other hand had a lot of people just sitting down and taking their time to eat.

Because of this, it is possible that you might have to line up depending on the day, but as long as you don’t go at around 12-1, you should be fine.

Merci at the beginning of 2024 actually closed down for 3 months because they were short-staffed, but when they opened up again I think they got even more business – from those that had gone before and others who haven’t and wanted to in the event they were to close down again.

Taking it that they have been open for 67 years, I hope that they continue to stay open and feed the students and staff etc. for years to come.

As for the food, it is nothing incredible, but it is still very good.

I ordered the ramen and chaahan and both of them had that machi chuuka (refers to local Japanese-style Chinese restaurants) taste to them.

The ramen had a soy-sauce broth to it and it was the perfect thing I would want to eat on a rainy day. Warm, slightly salty broth, good noodles and a bit of pork and bamboo shoots on top.

The fried rice was generously served with some thick pork pieces beneath the rice and some really thinly shredded egg which I am still puzzled at how they made it lol.

Despite it being something so simple and seemingly easy to make at home, it still is nice when you know you can get it made way better than you would be able to make (at least this applies to me).

Each individual dish is no more than around 700 yen, and it goes without saying that it is a great deal.

If you ever are in the area I highly recommend coming here to experience a blast from the past and support a long-run family business!