Ramen Royalty: The Very Best Ramen Restaurants in Tokyo
No matter how old you are, no matter where you’re from, there’s one dish that unites foodies from all over the world and throughout each and every generation: ramen. As Japan’s capital, Tokyo naturally has an impressive selection of excellent ramen restaurants to offer as many of the country’s greatest make their way to the metropolis. From well-established, traditional stores to shops serving local ramen variations from every corner of Japan, the city is a real amusement park for ramen fans, offering the good old classics as well as true ramen rarities.
As such, it has by no means been an easy task to create this carefully hand-picked selection of Tokyo’s top seven must-try ramen restaurants. For you ramen beginners out there, these are just the right places to start a long and exciting journey to the world of noodle soup. And you veterans – why not make a checklist of which shops you already know and which ones you haven’t tried yet?
1. Classic Ramen, Tsukemen, and Entirely Original Creations: Choose Wisely!
The first spot is the famous ramen battleground of Shinjuku Station. There are numerous popular ramen restaurants in the direct vicinity of one of Tokyo’s busiest stations so the choice can be a hard one. We’ve combed the area for some especially recommended stores that are sure to tickle your taste buds with delicious ramen creations. From Chicken Paitan, a creamy chicken-based soup and Agodashi, ramen made with fish broth, to Aburasoba, soup-less oily noodles, and popular Tsukemen specialty restaurants, Shinjuku’s strong point is its wonderful variety. Our list might not make the choice what to try first any easier because, let’s be honest, all of the recommended restaurants below are amazing but it might help to find something that strikes your fancy.
Fu-Unji – Classic Ramen, Tsukemen
2-14-3 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to 151-0053
Tsukemen Gonokamisei Sakujo – Creative Tsukemen
5-33-16 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to 151-0051
Machidaya – Iekei Ramen
4-1-20 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 160-0022
Menyasho – Chicken-base Ramen
7-22-34 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 160-0023
Ramen Tatsunoya – Tsukemen
7-4-5 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 160-0023
Takahashi – Agodashi Ramen
1-27-3 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 160-0021
Beast – Roast beef Aburasoba
https://gurunavi.com/en/ge9n609/rst/
Chuka Wakatsuki – Wantan Ramen
1-2-7 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo-to 160-0023
2. Surviving the Battleground since Sixty Years: Savoring Ramen, Showa-Style
This restaurant is a true landmark in Shinjuku’s large ramen scene, having been founded as early as 1953. Despite – or because of – its long history, it is still a very active competitor in the ramen battle around Shinjuku Station, attracting many a fan with the delicious menu and the coziness of the restaurant itself.
One of the most surprising things you’ll find on the menu is the price for one bowl of ramen. With an insane price of 400 yen, the nostalgia of the Showa period is not only kept alive via the taste but also via the price. And the best part about this? The ramen taste absolutely incredible so even when you’re on a tight budget, you can have a genuine gourmet experience!
Korai
7-14-12 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 160-0023
3. The Elegant and Refined: Shibuya’s Ramen Royalty
In the megacity of Shinjuku, one after another new shop has opened, enriching the ramen microcosm of the neighborhood with broth variations such as salt, miso, pork bone and seafood, plain pork bone, and soy sauce. We’ve selected the best restaurants for these very classic choices.
From the fresh fish and salt based soup to the noodles, these restaurants pay attention to both taste and quality of their homemade delicacies. This is why they easily can be called the ramen royalty, offering high-class ramen cuisine to both Tokyoites and tourists alike.
Ramen 526 (Kojiro)
1-3 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to 150-0033
Shinbusakiya
2-10-3 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to 150-0043
Hayashi
1-14-9 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to 150-0043
Ramen Nagitono
1-3-1 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to 150-0011
Kiraku
2-17-6 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to 150-0043
4. Showcasing Shinbashi: From Classic Chains to Individualistic Stores
Shinbashi is the favorite neighborhood of many an office worker who likes to relax with a drink after work. While it is particularly famous for its many bars, Shinbashi also does have an astonishing number of excellent ramen shops to offer.
Since a lot of people crave a nice bowl of ramen after enjoying one – or possibly more – drinks, the typical noodle soup to be savored in the area is a savory one. Particularly well-beloved among regulars are the Grilled Chicken Paitan, the Pork Bone Seafood, as well as the all-natural Salt-base Soup. Why not get a taste of Shinbashi for yourself?
Ramen Jiro Shinbashi
2-33-4 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0003
Menya Ishikawa
2-23-2 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0003
Korindo
5-33-8 Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0004
Kashimura
2-10-2 Higashishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0021
Bar Ino-terrier & Due Italian
https://gurunavi.com/en/ge6k800/rst/
Oraga
1-15-7 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0003
Tanmen ShakiShaki
4-6-7 Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0004
Shiofuku
3-19-2 Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0004
Shinbashi Taishoken
3-23-1 Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0004
Horiuchi Ramen
3-19-4 Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0004
Hakata Nahahama Ramen Donryu
1-2-13 Higashishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 105-0021
5. The Battle is On: Tokyo’s Two Best Tonkotsu Ramen Restaurants
When talking about Tonkotsu, or pork bone ramen, most people think about Kyushu, the home of the savory soup but in fact, Tokyo is also home to quite a lot of restaurants that have dedicated themselves to authentic Tonkotsu ramen. Two of them, however, are considered the aces among Tokyo’s Tonkotsu scene, an intense battle that has been going on for quite a while. We will refrain from settling this rivalry, of course, and leave the decision entirely up to you – but do tell us which one you like better!
Mengekijo Genei
4-5-7 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 106-0032
Muteppo
4-5-1 Egota, Nakano-ku, Tokyo-to 165-0022
6. From Snacks to High-Class Cuisine: 2016’s Must-Visit Restaurants in Asagaya, Itabashi, and Shinkoiwa
2016 has been a great year for Tokyo’s ramen scene – a lot of new and very delicious restaurants have opened within the year, bringing old classics and new creations to hungry Tokyoites. When reviewing these newcomer restaurants, the focus is often on the inner districts of Tokyo. This is precisely why this time around, we want to cast some light on the newly opened restaurants in Tokyo’s less well-known areas. We’ve tried them all and found five shops that we warmly recommend to each and every ramen lover!
Mendokoro Issho
1-9-5 Asagayaminami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo-to 166-0004
Tamashii no Chukasoba
1-25-10 Kamiitabashi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo-to 174-0076
Tsukemen Itto
1-3-7 Higashishinkoiwa, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo-to 124-0023
Menya Shota
1-12-17 Mutsuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 236-0031
Nakamuraya Sohonzan
397-3 Isanuma, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama-ken 350-0855
7. Looks do Matter: The Ramen Beauty Pageant
One of the latest trends in the vast world of ramen is the focus on not only taste but also visual appeal of the bowl that sits before you. You might think that these so-called “visual kei” ramen do only care about appearance but of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Taste does still come first!
Vivid and fresh tomato, a whole grilled freshwater trout that makes your mouth water just by looking at it – these aren’t necessarily the typical ramen ingredients. This surprising lineup of flavors is another characteristic of visual ramen and one thing is for sure: you’ll never get bored exploring this particular style!
Rokutsuki
2-4-5 Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo-to 111-0053
Ramen Oka
1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 160-0022
Ayu Ramen
3-15-12 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo-to 158-0094
UMA TSUKEMEN
1-3-15 Nishisunacho, Tachikawa-ku, Tokyo-to 190-0034
Dattan Ramen Isshu
2-1-1 Ikebukurohoncho, Toshima-ku, Tokyo-to 170-0011
