Ramen Restaurants in Japan(80)
SEAT RESERVATIONRamen Touhichi
In an era of rich, heavy ramen, Ramen Touhichi stood out with its simplicity: a clear broth made just from water, soy sauce and chicken.
SEAT RESERVATIONKagura
Switch out average ramen for a bowl of all-natural, nutritious noodles in Kanazawa.
SEAT RESERVATIONMenya Fukuhara
A ramen shop in Osaka which is as simple-yet-stylish as its noodle soup.
SEAT RESERVATIONRamen Kintoki
Delicious, golden shio ramen, just a short trip from Ikebukuro.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonjinchi
Control the flavors of your bowl of ramen according to your tastes at this ramen-ya.
SEAT RESERVATIONMenya Itto
Don't settle for less when the best ramen in the country is just around the corner.
SEAT RESERVATIONRamen Hayashida
Whether you want meat-based or fish-based soup, this gem of a ramen shop in Shinjuku has it all.
SEAT RESERVATIONOre no Ramen Appareya
The mountains are no obstacle for hunters of the best bowl of pork bone-based noodles in the region.
SEAT RESERVATIONChukasoba Ito
The former recipient of a Michelin Bib Gourmand, this ramen restaurant in northern Tokyo continues to draw crowds — in spite of its inaccessibility.
SEAT RESERVATIONHechikan
A dried fish-based soup is a welcoming change in a region full of shoyu-based ones.
SEAT RESERVATIONSuzunoki
There's nothing ordinary about this deceptively humble ramen-ya, just an hour from Tokyo.
SEAT RESERVATIONEn
Venture to the west side of Tokyo and discover the best of niboshi based ramen.
SEAT RESERVATIONNiboshi Soba RU.
Get a substantial serving of fresh ramen at a steal deal, and watch them be made while you wait.
SEAT RESERVATIONChuka Soba Shigure
Enjoy true Japanese ramen that can only be experienced at local eateries, like this one in Yokohama.
SEAT RESERVATIONRamenya Mitsuba the Second
The thick, creamy broth of this Nara noodle shop sets a whole new standard for ramen.
SEAT RESERVATIONMadai ramen Mengyo
Slurp a snapper-based broth, or go out of your ramen comfort zone and try an experimental fish broth.
SEAT RESERVATIONChuukasoba Kazura
An ordinary ramen-ya wouldn't have such a buzz as this one does.
SEAT RESERVATIONRamen Koike
Just a short train trip away from central Tokyo is the best toripaitan-style ramen.
SEAT RESERVATIONTantantei
This wontonmen has won the hearts of ramen lovers near and far.
SEAT RESERVATIONNIboshi Chuuka Ichikawa
Travel to Ibaraki for the best niboshi ramen in Japan.
SEAT RESERVATIONNakiryu
The long queues at Nakiryu shouldn’t deter you from getting your hands on the best Michelin-recognized tantanmen ramen in town.
SEAT RESERVATIONRamen Matsui
Opened in May 2023 in Shinjuku, Ramen Matsui has quickly garnered attention for its silky noodles, folded into a choice of sake-infused soy sauce, dried sardine or salt-based broths.
SEAT RESERVATIONShiosoba Jiku
Diners can enjoy a soulful bowl of ramen at Shiosoba Jiku’s intimate 7-seat triangular counter in the residential Suginami district in Tokyo.
SEAT RESERVATIONHakodate Shioramen Goryokaku
Nominated as a Bib Gourmand restaurant in 2025, Hakodate Shioramen Goryokaku offers a taste of northern Japan in a bowl of salt-based ramen in Ogikubo, Tokyo.
The savior of stressed college students around the world, this Japanese noodle soup is known by most as a quick and convenient snack. In Japan, however, it’s a different story entirely; here you can enjoy huge, hearty bowls of fresh noodles, stacked with enough vegetables and meat to keep you going all day. When you see how seriously these chefs take the flavor of their broths, you’ll understand why some actually hold Michelin stars for their efforts!
There are tens of thousands of ramen restaurants in Japan, and each has put their own twist on the dish, taking the simple noodle soup formula and expanding upon it with a healthy dose of inventiveness. There’s the rich, earthy flavors of miso ramen, and the hearty, spicy curry ramen — both perfect as winter warmers. For a more refreshing summer meal try some hiyashi chuka (which literally translates to “chilled Chinese”), a type of Chinese-style dish made with cold ramen noodles, a light sauce, and crunchy veggie toppings. There’s also tsukemen, a type of dipping ramen, in which the noodles are served cold and dipped into a separate bowl of concentrated soup, one bite at a time.
That’s the great thing about Japanese ramen — the possibilities are endless, and there’s always something new to discover. Forever looking to modernize, some ramen shops have even started serving halal ramen for Muslim diners. Have a look at all the fantastic Japanese ramen restaurants we cover here, and see which takes your fancy.