Ramen Restaurants in Japan(80)
SEAT RESERVATIONthere is ramen
This Michelin Bib Gourmand ramen shop in Ogikubo prefers to let its food speak for itself, with simple menu offerings that belie the complex flavor of its soup.
SEAT RESERVATIONRamen Break Beats
Chef Takuro Yanase’s unorthodox spin on ramen has attracted a lot of attention, to the point where it’s earned him a Michelin Bib Gourmand 2024. Try seasonal menu offerings or stick to the tried-and-true classics of salt and soy sauce ramen.
SEAT RESERVATIONJapanese Ramen Gokan
Less than a year after starting operations, this Ikebukuro ramen shop has earned itself a Michelin Bib Gourmand award. All-natural domestic ingredients like Yamagata pork loin and Iwate duck breast come together to form ramen like no other.
SEAT RESERVATIONMendokoro Janomeya
A gourmet stop of a lifetime — savor heavenly chicken-centric ramen in Kyoto with a seal of approval from the Michelin Guide.
SEAT RESERVATIONHomemade Ramen Muginae
At this top ramen shop close to downtown Tokyo, fast food is slowed down in the pursuit of incredible flavors, with every component given patient attention unheard of elsewhere.
SEAT RESERVATIONChukasoba Nishino
Ramen Koike’s new sister restaurant in Hongo serves fish-based broth for their ramen, light yet redolent with umami. It’s a simple, yet perfect bowl of ramen.
SEAT RESERVATIONMenya Jikon
Visit Menya Jikon for their famous ramen noodles, immersed in a savory chicken broth.
SEAT RESERVATIONYakumo
The usual soy sauce, pork or chicken ramen is ditched in place of the golden-hued, gentle wonton soups in this ultra-popular ramen-ya in Tokyo that’s flocked by both foodies and the media.
SEAT RESERVATIONDaruma
Relish multiple-dimensions of flavor in just one single bowl of ramen.
SEAT RESERVATIONRamen Hayato
Arguably the best miso ramen in Osaka, the queue at Ramen Hayato often extends to nearby stores before opening and stretches to two hours.
SEAT RESERVATIONRamenya Toy Box
With the carcass as the base, the breast as a topping and the skin as flavorful oil, experience the nose-to-tail approach that creates one of Tokyo’s Michelin-approved chicken ramen bowls.
SEAT RESERVATIONSobahouse Konjiki Hototogisu
Grab a bowl of umami-packed shellfish ramen from one of the handful of Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded ramen eateries in the world, located in the thick of Shinjuku.
SEAT RESERVATIONChukasoba Uemachi
The mix of pork and seafood broth to create a well-balanced ramen soup is nothing short of perfection in this favored Osaka ramen joint.
SEAT RESERVATIONSetagaya Chukasoba Soshigaya Nanachome Shokudo
The name of this Soshigaya ramen shop is a real mouthful, but the perfectly-sculpted wontons here are even more so. Broth made from Shodoshima soy sauce and a healthy amount of dried sardine makes every bite of noodles burst with flavor.
SEAT RESERVATIONIruca Tokyo Roppongi
The popular shoyu broth at this Michelin Bib Gourmand ramen shop is actually a mixture of four different broths, made from luxurious ingredients like the Japanese spiny lobster and Satsuma black pork.
SEAT RESERVATIONHARU CHAN Ramen
Just like the owner and namesake, HARU CHAN Ramen is small but mighty. The titular Haru-chan runs a one-woman operation, from boiling the noodles to setting the bowl in front of the customer.
SEAT RESERVATIONVegan Ramen Uzu Kyoto
With striking, monochrome interiors designed by Tokyo art collective teamLab, a meal at this Kyoto vegan ramen restaurant is a feast for all the senses. A zero-waste initiative ensures every part of every ingredient is used.
SEAT RESERVATIONKamigata Rainbow
Michelin-approved ramen made by ex-rocker-turned-chef Okumura Genki.
SEAT RESERVATIONMugito Mensuke
On the corner of a quaint street near Nakatsu Station, luxurious ramen with wagyu-stuffed wontons await in an elegant, traditional dining space.
SEAT RESERVATIONChukasoba Mugen
The secret to this Michelin-approved, flavor-packed ramen is in its soup, made with seafood and four types of chicken.
SEAT RESERVATIONNoodle Shop Rennosuke
More of a zen sanctuary than a chirpy joint, Rennosuke is known for its innovative, seafood-based ramen.
SEAT RESERVATIONChinese Noodles Roku
Chinese-inspired ramen built on a foundation of duck, venison bones, and dried longan — something you'd expect from the Michelin-starred chef of Velrosier.
SEAT RESERVATIONMenya Inoichi
Ramen at this Michelin-featured shop centers around the root of Kyoto's culinary soul: dashi.
SEAT RESERVATIONKobushi Ramen
Local Kyoto flavors in a bowl of ramen — the owner-chef creates one-of-a-kind broth made with Kyoto duck, blackthroat seaperch and dried sardines.
SEAT RESERVATIONRamen Kuon
Ramen-making process taken to the next level with a triple broth of chicken, shellfish and fish, and noodles made from three types of flour.
SEAT RESERVATIONChukasoba Oshitani
Come for the textbook-perfect shio and soy sauce ramen once; return for the latest time-limited ramen innovation twice.
SEAT RESERVATIONHommachi Seimenjo Chukasobakobo
The underground ramen joint's broth, crafted with fish flakes, kombu kelp, chicken bones and conger eel, elevates it to Michelin-worthy status in Osaka.
SEAT RESERVATIONMuginoyoake
The 9-seat ramen joint in Kyoto tangles up traditional ramen with an unorthodox twist by using an umami-packed soup made with scallops and Japanese pepper.
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.