Tokyo is a culinary wonderland, but among its many delights, ramen reigns supreme. In this blog post, we’re diving into the heart of Tokyo to uncover the top 15 ramen spots that will blow your taste buds away. Forget the ordinary; these bowls are bursting with unique flavours and unforgettable textures. Whether you’re a seasoned ramen aficionado or a curious foodie, prepare for a journey through the rich, savoury depths of Tokyo’s finest noodle joints.
Our Selection of 15 Best Ramen In Tokyo
Let’s slurp our way through the city’s best-kept secrets and must-try ramen havens!
1. Konjiki Hototogisu
Nestled in the heart of Tokyo, Sobahouse Konjiki Hototogisu is a culinary gem, holding the prestigious honour of being the third ramen restaurant in the world to earn a Michelin star. Renowned for its signature shouyu soba, this dish is a symphony of flavours crafted from three types of soup stock: pork broth, wa-dashi, and hamaguri clam dashi, all enhanced with truffle sauce and porcini oil.
However, the true star is their shio soba, a delicate balance of Mongolian rock salt and Okinawan sea salt, perfectly complementing the hamaguri clam and red sea bream soup’s sweet seafood notes. Each bowl reflects the chef’s dedication to perfection, making Konjiki Hototogisu a must-visit for any ramen enthusiast.
Konjiki Hototogisu
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 03:00 pm, 06:30 pm – 09:30 pm (Monday – Thursday and Saturday) | 11:00 am – 09:30 pm (Friday) | Closed on Sundays
Address: 2-4-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0022, Japan
Visit Them Via: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X
2. Nakiryu
A true treasure in Tokyo’s ramen scene, Nakiryu offers a seemingly simple yet extraordinary bowl of ramen. Topped generously with three kinds of chashu, shrimp wonton, a half-boiled egg, homemade menma, and green onions, each bite is a journey through layers of flavour. The noodles, boasting a silky smooth texture, blend seamlessly with the rich soy sauce soup.
But Nakiryu’s standout dish is their tantanmen. This Chinese-inspired noodle soup features firm noodles in a spicy, aromatic broth, enhanced by the hanazansho available at the table. Chef Kazumasa Saito, formerly of the Michelin-starred MIST in Hong Kong, brings his expertise to every bowl, making Nakiryu a must-visit, just a short walk from Otsuka Station.
Nakiryu
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 03:00 pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Address: 2-34-4 Minamiotsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-0005, Japan
3. Sugoi Niboshi Ramen Nagi Shinjuku Golden Gai
Hidden in the heart of Shinjuku’s Golden Gai, Sugoi Niboshi Ramen Nagi is a must-visit for ramen lovers. This cosy spot, located on the second floor of a charming old wooden house, immerses you in the nostalgic atmosphere of the neighbourhood. The star of the menu is their pungent niboshi ramen, crafted from a rich broth made by boiling dried sardines for 12 hours.
For ¥1,300, you get a hearty bowl packed with chashu pork, menma, scallions, nori, a soft-boiled egg, and a delightful mix of curly and flat noodles. Open 24 hours, Nagi is perfect for a late-night or early-morning ramen fix. Known for its house-made noodles, this flagship shop is a favourite among both locals and tourists. Dive into a bowl of bold flavours and experience a unique taste of Tokyo.
Sugoi Niboshi Ramen Nagi Shinjuku Golden Gai
Operating Hours: Always Open
Address: 2F, Shinjuku Golden Gai (G2 Street), 1-1-10 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
4. Menya Nukaji
Tucked away in a quiet side street of Udagawacho, Menya Nukaji is a ramen lover’s haven. Known for its rich gyokai tonkotsu broth, a flavourful blend of chicken, pork, and seafood, this spot serves up a bowl of ramen that’s nothing short of delicious. For ¥1,100, enjoy a bowl with straight, firm noodles, or go all out with the ¥1,450 option, which includes seared chashu pork, menma, a flavoured egg, and green onions.
Enhance your ramen with yuzu or kuro shichimi seasoning, or try their spicy ramen and tsukemen (dipping noodles). Pair your meal with a Japanese craft beer like Shiga Kogen, and don’t miss the free tamago kake gohan. With its cosy, eight-seat setup and a soundtrack of roots reggae and soul, Menya Nukaji, run by ramen enthusiast Hiroshi Nukui and his wife, offers a unique and satisfying dining experience.
Menya Nukaji
Operating Hours: 11:00 am -04:00 pm (Closed on Sundays)
Address: S:vort 渋谷神南 1F3-12 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
5. Tsukemen Michi
A must-visit for tsukemen enthusiasts, Tsukemen Michi in Adachi City is worth every minute of the queue. Known for its traditional, greasy tonkotsu and seafood broth, this dipping ramen offers a rich yet surprisingly mild and sweet flavour. The thick, fluffy noodles can be ordered in quantities up to 400g, making each bowl a hearty meal. Starting at ¥1,000, the basic tsukemen is satisfying, but the ¥1,600 option with all toppings – from egg and chashu pork to daily specials – is a true feast.
Don’t miss the house-made fruit vinegar to tweak the soup’s flavour to your liking. With its proximity to Kameari Station, Tsukemen Michi is a hidden gem that promises a gourmet experience with every visit. Enjoy the in-house noodles, low-temp cooked pork chashu, meatballs, and a variety of toppings that elevate this dish to an unforgettable culinary adventure.
Tsukemen Michi
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 03:00 pm (Monday – Tuesday) | 11:30 am – 0:500 pm (Wednesday – Sunday)
Address: 5 Chome-28 Kameari, Katsushika City, Tokyo 125-0061, Japan
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6. Ichijoryu Ganko Ramen Souhonke
Near Yotsuya-sanchome Station, Ichijoryu Ganko Ramen Souhonke has been delighting ramen enthusiasts since 1983. Renowned for its intense umami seafood broth, this shop offers three main ramen options, each at ¥1,200. The signature 100 Special features a beef bone broth, the Gehin adds soy sauce, and the Akuma is for soy sauce lovers. Each bowl includes thick chashu slices and a mound of pork belly.
On Sundays, enjoy a special bowl with anglerfish liver, shrimp, softshell turtles, and scallops. With high-alkalinity egg noodles that retain their texture and a standout pork belly topping, Ganko is a must-visit for true ramen fans. Arrive early to beat the queue.
Ichijoryu Ganko Ramen Souhonke
Operating Hours: 09:00 am – 01:00 pm (Monday – Sunday)
Address: Maison de Yotsuya, 106 ４丁目-1 Funamachi, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0006, Japan
7. Do Miso
Amid the dense concentration of restaurants in Ginza, Do Miso serves up a miso ramen that brims with originality. The most popular bowl on the menu is the Toku Miso Kotteri Ramen (¥1,100), featuring a bold, rich soup made from pork and chicken bones blended with five different kinds of miso and grated ginger. The bowl is loaded with bean sprouts, sweet corn, chashu, nori seaweed, and a boiled egg, making for a substantial meal.
Underneath, thick, curly noodles soak up all that miso flavour. For a spicy kick, try the Miso Orochon Ramen (¥1,000) with five heat levels. Do Miso creates a unique miso ramen by blending five types of miso from across Japan, combined with a double broth of animal and seafood flavours. Paired with custom-made noodles from Asakusa Kaikaro, it’s a must-visit for miso ramen lovers.
Do Miso
Operating Hours:
Address: 3 Chome-4-3 Kyobashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0031, Japan
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8. Kikanbo
Kikanbo, translating to ‘ogre’s iron club,’ offers a devilish ramen experience. With demonic masks on black-painted walls, powerful taiko drum rhythms, and exotic spices filling the air, it feels like a sensory adventure. Order via a vending machine and choose your spice level for ‘kara’ (chilli heat) and ‘shibi’ (numbing sansho pepper). The combination, known as ‘ma-la,’ creates a memorable, spicy, and numbing sensation.
The base soup is a rich miso, seafood, and meat stock, topped with chashu pork, bean sprouts, baby sweetcorn, and an optional boiled egg. For those preferring tsukemen, there’s a nearby branch. Prices start at ¥980, and the unforgettable multi-sensory experience lingers long after the last bowl.
Kikanbo
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 09:30 pm (Monday – Saturday) | 11:00 am – 04:00 pm (Sunday)
Address: 2 Chome-10-9 Kajicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0044, Japan
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9. Toy Box
Toy Box, easily identifiable by its red noren curtains, offers ramen that brings back childhood joy. The chef, inspired by his grandmother’s ramen, aims to evoke excitement akin to opening a box of toys. The star here is the shoyu ramen (¥1,100), made with over 10 types of soy sauce and Aizu chicken for a rich, yet simple, flavour.
The thin, flat noodles pair perfectly with the broth, and toppings include menma bamboo shoots and chashu pork. For a unique taste, try the shio ramen, featuring a broth of chicken, five salts, kelp, shiitake mushrooms, dried saury, shrimp, and vegetables, creating a thick, flavourful soup.
Toy Box
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 03:00 pm, 06:00 pm – 09:00 pm (Wednesday – Friday) | 11:00 am – 03:00 pm (Saturday – Sunday) | Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Address: 1-1-3 Higashinippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-0014, Japan
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10. Hanamichi
Located just three minutes from Nogata Station on the Seibu-Shinjuku line, Hanamichi is renowned for its rich miso ramen (¥950). The broth, crafted from white miso, garlic, lard, and a blend of pork, chicken, and vegetable stocks, results in a deeply flavourful soup that keeps customers coming back. You can add the house mix of leeks and bean sprouts at no extra cost for a heartier meal.
Hanamichi also offers variations like miso dandan noodles, spicy miso with niboshi (dried sardines), and abura soba (soupless noodles). Known for pioneering thicker, richer miso ramen, Hanamichi is a top-ranked spot in Tokyo. They even offer a ramen stamp card for regulars.
Hanamichi
Operating Hours: 10:30 am – 08:30 pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Address: 6 Chome-23-12 Nogata, Nakano City, Tokyo 165-0027, Japan
11. Takano
Takano Ramen, a beloved institution in Nakanobu, Tokyo, boasts over 15 years of culinary excellence. Renowned for its Tokyo-style ramen, the signature chuka soba features a rich broth blending Akita free-range chicken and sweet niboshi, topped with tender chashu pork and a gooey parboiled egg. Located near Ebara-Nakanobu Station, the family-run shop exudes warmth and history, adorned with tales of apprentice chefs turned masters.
Whether enjoying their classic shoyu ramen or the spicy sesame variant with a kick of sansho, Takano offers a quintessential ramen experience. Open only for lunch, early weekday visits are recommended to savour the essence of Tokyo’s ramen culture at Takano.
Takano
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 02:30 pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
Address: 2 Chome-15-10 Nakanobu, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 142-0053, Japan
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12. Tsukemen Gonokami Seisakusho
Tsukemen Gonokami Seisakusho, nestled behind Shinjuku’s Takashimaya department store, is a revered destination for tsukemen enthusiasts in Tokyo. Renowned for its shrimp-based dipping ramen, particularly the standout ebi tsukemen, priced from ¥1,000. The broth, rich with shrimp essence and slightly grainy from its ingredients, is complemented by hefty portions of homemade noodles. Toppings range from traditional chashu pork and ramen egg to unconventional additions like basil sauce and mozzarella cheese.
With a commitment to sustainability and creativity, Tsukemen Gonokami offers an unforgettable ramen experience, especially recommended for its balanced tomato shrimp tsukemen. Arrive early or outside peak hours to avoid the long queues typical of this popular spot.
Tsukemen Gonokami Seisakusho
Operating Hours: 11:00 am -09:00 pm (Monday – Sunday)
Address: 1F, Chatore Shinjuku Gyoen Daiichi, 5 Chome-33-16, Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
Visit Them Via: Website | Facebook
13. Sansanto
Sansanto is a renowned ramen spot near Higashi-Jujo station in Tokyo, celebrated for its exceptional tonkotsu shoyu ramen. Open for just 2.5 hours daily (6 pm to 8:30 pm), it’s known for its handmade noodles, flavourful chashu, and meticulously prepared gyokai tonkotsu double soup—crafted from pork, chicken, and a blend of dried mackerel and sardines.
With a nostalgic charm and dedication to quality, Sansanto has earned its place among Tokyo’s top 100 ramen shops for 2023, drawing praise for its rich broth and perfectly balanced flavours. Ideal for aficionados seeking authentic, hole-in-the-wall ramen experiences.
Sansanto
Operating Hours: 06:00 pm – 08:30 pm (Closed on Mondays and Thursdays)
Address: 3 Chome-16-15 Nakajujo, Kita City, Tokyo 114-0032, Japan
14. Tanaka Shōten
It seems like Tanaka Shoten is renowned for its unapologetically heavy and authentic Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, making it a favourite among Tokyoites. The main shop’s rich, white-coloured soup contrasts with Tanaka Sobaten’s clear tonkotsu soup, which is highly flavourful and known for its Chinese-style Chuka ramen. Tanaka Shoten’s broth is cooked for three days using a pig’s head, resulting in a robust, gamey flavour that’s unmistakable from the moment you enter.
The toppings include green negi, urajiro kikurage, grilled chashu pork, and a multilingual seaweed sheet, complementing the hearty noodles typical of Hakata/Nagahama style. With pickled ginger and takana available to balance the broth’s richness, Tanaka Shoten offers an authentic, no-holds-barred tonkotsu ramen experience, albeit located a bit far from central Tokyo in Adachi City.
Tanaka Shōten
Operating Hours: 06:00 pm – 04:00 am (Monday – Sunday)
Address: 1F, Anserume, 2 Chome-14-6, Hitotsuya, Adachi City, Tokyo 121-0075, Japan
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15. Iruca Tokyo
Iruca Tokyo, located behind Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi, stands out with its elegant ambience resembling an omakase restaurant rather than a traditional ramen shop. Awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide, it offers refined, modern ramen in a spacious setting. Each element is meticulously crafted, from custom-made Arita porcelain bowls to a soup base blending four distinct broths, including Kagoshima black pork and Japanese spiny lobsters with white wine.
Signature dishes like the special porcini shoyu ramen feature exclusive noodles and luxurious toppings like mushroom truffle duxelles. For a lighter option, the yuzu shio ramen blends nine salts with dried sardines and offers thin, whole-grain wheat noodles. Iruca Tokyo redefines ramen with sophistication and depth of flavour.
Iruca Tokyo
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 08:50 pm (Closed on Mondays)
Address: 4 Chome-12-12 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
Conclusion
In Tokyo’s bustling ramen scene, each bowl tells a story of meticulous craftsmanship and rich culinary tradition. From velvety tonkotsu broths to delicately balanced shoyu and innovative tsukemen variations, exploring the 15 best ramen spots unveils a spectrum of flavours that captivate the palate. Whether nestled in cosy neighbourhood joints or sleek urban eateries, these bowls promise an authentic taste of Japan’s beloved comfort food. Whether you’re embarking on a culinary pilgrimage or seeking to expand your ramen repertoire, Tokyo’s diverse ramen offerings ensure a journey that celebrates both tradition and innovation in every savoury slurp.