Many foreign travelers say that Japanese ramen is more satisfying than sushi.
Many people choose restaurants based on the Michelin Guide, but there are many ramen restaurants in Japan that may not be listed in the Michelin Guide, but are no less good.
This website introduces not only Michelin-listed restaurants that many foreigners visit, but also very popular ramen stores in Japan that foreigners do not know about.
12 Ramen restaurants in Tokyo with the best ramen
我武者羅(渋谷区) Gamushara (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) Hatagaya/Ramen The ginger soy sauce soup has a strong impact. You will want to eat this ramen during the cold season. Lunch: ~¥999 Dinner: ~¥999 |
Japanese Soba Noodles 蔦(渋谷区) Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) Yoyogiuehara/Ramen, Tsukemen It was the first restaurant in the world to be awarded a Michelin star in the ramen category. Lunch: ¥3,000~¥3,999 Dinner: Members Only |
唐そば(渋谷区) Tousoba (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) Shibuya/Ramen, Tsukemen The second generation has inherited the taste of the legendary ramen restaurant that was immensely popular in Kurosaki, Kitakyushu, in Shibuya. Lunch: ~¥999 Dinner: ~¥999 |
ホープ軒(渋谷区) HOPE-KEN (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) National Stadium, Sendagaya, Kitasando / Ramen The original ramen specialty restaurant and a living legend in Sendagaya, it continues to be loved by customers. Lunch: ~¥999 Dinner: ~¥999 |
風雲児 新宿本店(渋谷区) Fuunji Shinjuku Honten (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) Shinjuku, Minami-Shinjuku/Ramen, Tsukemen With its delicious chicken white soup, this ramen restaurant is one of the most popular in Shinjuku, a hot ramen battleground. Lunch: ~¥999 Dinner: ~¥999 |
尾道ラーメン 壱番館(新宿区) Onomichi Ramen Ichibankan (Shinjuku-ku) Shinjuku-Gyoenmae/Ramen A popular ramen restaurant in Onomichi has opened its first branch in Tokyo. It features a soy sauce-based soup with pork back fat floating in it. Lunch: ~¥999 Dinner: ¥1,000~¥1,999 |
中華そば こてつ(世田谷区) Chuka-Soba Kotetsu (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) Shimokitazawa/Ramen, Tsukemen This popular ramen restaurant was selected as a Michelin Bib Gourmand. We found it to be wonderfully delicious. Lunch: ~¥999 Dinner: ~¥999 |
中華そば 西川(世田谷区) Chukasoba Nishikawa (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) Chitose Funabashi/Ramen Although it is located far from the station, there is always a line of people waiting in line. It is the administrator’s favorite restaurant. Lunch: ¥1,000~¥1,999 Dinner: ¥1,000~¥1,999 |
MAIKAGURA(世田谷区) MAIKAGURA (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) Chitose Funabashi/Ramen, Tsukemen A popular restaurant in Chitose Funabashi along with “Chukasoba Nishikawa”. It has been selected as one of the “100 Best Restaurants” by a major gourmet website. Lunch: ¥1,000~¥1,999 Dinner: ¥1,000~¥1,999 |
タンメン トナリ(千代田区) TANMEN TONARI (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) Tokyo, Nijubashimae/Ramen, Tsukemen, Gyoza A tanmen restaurant with a rich broth and tasty, chewy noodles. There is always a long line of customers. Lunch: ¥1,000~¥1,999 Dinner: ¥1,000~¥1,999 |
麺屋 はやしまる(杉並区) Menya Hayashimaru (Suginami-ku) Koenji/Ramen, Tsukemen, Soupless Tantanmen The wan-tan, noodles, and chashu pork are in perfect harmony, making this ramen very tasty. Lunch: ¥1,000~¥1,999 Dinner: ¥1,000~¥1,999 |
しば田(調布市) Shibata (Chofu City) Sengawa/Ramen It is a ramen that has pursued the path of Chinese soba (ramen with soy sauce) without trying to be eccentric. Lunch: ¥1,000~¥1,999 Dinner: ¥1,000~¥1,999 |
The Origins and Evolution of Tokyo Ramen
It is said that there are several thousand ramen stores in Tokyo today, offering a wide variety of ramen flavors.
The original ramen restaurant in Tokyo is said to be “Rairaiken” in Asakusa, established in 1910 (closed down in 1976), which is said to have created the basis of today’s ramen as well as being the first restaurant to offer wontons and shumai (various theories exist).
The opening of the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum in 1994 may have been a turning point in the current ramen boom, as it became known that “ramen with various regional characteristics (local ramen) exist throughout Japan,” triggering a local ramen boom.
Around 2002, a number of restaurants that were part of the “Daisho-ken” and “Ramen Jiro” chains began to open one after another, and ramen of the “Iekei” and “Jiro” genres became popular.
Since then, ramen has continued to evolve and develop, and Tokyo in particular has become a major ramen city, where local ramen from all over Japan, in addition to those that originated in Tokyo, are gathered.
In June 2009, “Tokyo Ramen Street” opened in the underground area of Ichiban-gai in the Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station, attracting many tourists from overseas as well as Japanese.
If the administrator had to choose one restaurant, it would be
“Which ramen has the best ramen?” I am often asked. Of all the food categories, the question about ramen is perhaps the most difficult.
This is because we feel that everyone has different tastes in food, and ramen, in particular, varies greatly from person to person. (In this sense, we do not rank or rate ramen based on scores or other criteria.)
For this reason, when asked “Which ramen is the best?” I try to answer, “This restaurant is the one that best suits my taste.
The most memorable ramen I have ever eaten was at Iida Shoten in Yugawara.
The ramen at this restaurant overturned my common sense about ramen and was so delicious that I felt it was beyond the boundaries of ramen.
In Tokyo, my favorite ramen restaurant is “Chukasoba Nishikawa” in Setagaya Ward.
It is a very tasty ramen restaurant with a broth of niboshi (dried sardines) without any bitterness.
For more details, please refer to the report on our website. ⇒ Chuka-Soba Nishikawa
Chukasoba Nishikawa: 2-15-10 Kinuta, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo