Tokyo’s Best Ramen: A Menu Guide to Japan’s Most Delicious Noodles

Ramen is one of Japan’s top comfort foods, attracting food enthusiasts from all over the world.

With so many variations in broth, noodles, and toppings, Tokyo is a ramen lover’s paradise, offering a dizzying array of options that can make it tough to choose where to start. To help you navigate the bustling ramen scene, this article rounds up some of the best places in Tokyo to enjoy this iconic noodle dish!

Rare divine sea bream ramen in Ueno: Touka

Located conveniently right in front of Ueno Station, “Taishio-soba Touka” (hereinafter referred to as “Touka”) is a very popular restaurant that specializes in tanrei-kei, a type of ramen characterized by a clear, transparent broth and refreshing aftertaste.

Touka delivers a bowl of ramen so perfectly crafted, you’re sure to be just as impressed by its artistic presentation as you are by its amazing taste!

A clear broth made simply from carefully sourced sea bream and water is a point of emphasis at Touka. Even with just these two ingredients, the broth is packed with an incredibly rich flavor that complements the perfectly arranged toppings of crunchy bamboo shoots, chāshū pork (Japan’s version of char siu), and seasoned egg.

The addition of yuzu citrus peel helps make this a a refreshing and aromatic bowl that may change your perception of ramen as a meal!

Touka’s crisp and delicate sea bream ramen captures the essence of traditional Japanese flavors, making it a must-try for any ramen lover.

Spicy noodles that hooked Keanu Reeves: Souryutougyokudo Roppongi

Tantanmen noodles are a popular ramen-like dish in Japan inspired by Chinese dan dan noodles. Fans of the spicy and numbing flavors brought by chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns can’t go wrong with an order of tantanmen noodles, and “Souryutougyokudo Roppongi” is the perfect place to try it out!

The signature dish at Souryutougyokudo Roppongi is their “Black Sesame Tantanmen.” This aromatic and spicy bowl of noodles impressed film star Keanu Reeves so much he ate it on back-to-back days during his stay in Japan! The deep flavor created by a combination of black seasame, rich chicken paitan broth, and homemade chili oil may have you doing the same.

The restaurant’s custom-made and medium-thick noodles are perfect for soaking up all the delicious seasoning.

For tantalizing tantanmen noodles that will have you coming back for more, Souryutougyokudo Roppongi is a must-visit!

Amazing vegan ramen noodles in Harajuku: Vegan Bistro Jangara

It can sometimes be difficult to accommodate a vegan diet when looking for ramen, but “Vegan Bistro Jangara” in Harajuku has you covered. This delicious shop lets customers enjoy a vegan-friendly version of the signature dish at “Kyushu Jangara,” a world-famous ramen shop in Akihabara.

The restaurant’s “Vegan Karabon” is a rich plant-based take on spicy tonkotsu ramen that is sure to satisfy!

Vegan Bistro Jangara deliciously recreates the pork bone broth of tonkotsu ramen with a flavorful soup made from simmering vegetables.

The restaurant’s noodles are made without using egg, but maintain the texture of those found in tonkotsu ramen. Toppings like cabbage, wood ear mushrooms, green onions, soy meat-based chashu, and Early Red onions all come together for a fulfilling mix of sweetness and heat that perfectly match the broth.

If you’re in a pinch looking for vegan ramen in Tokyo, Harajuku’s Vegan Bistro Jangara is the perfect answer.

24/7 giant ramen bowl challenge in Shibuya: Yaro Ramen

If you’ve brought a big appetite with you to Japan, “Yarōramen Shibuya Center-gai Souhonten” (referred to hereafter as “Yaro Ramen”) is exactly the type of ramen for you!

Yaro Ramen serves up a signature dish of tonkotsu ramen so big it may as well be a mountain of noodles!

The dish is topped with a massive stir-fry of cabbage, onion, chives, carrot, and bean sprouts piled so high you can hardly see the noodles at first. The special thick-cut pork is so tender and juicy it can be pulled apart with chopsticks.

Yaro Ramen uses chewy medium-thick noodles that pair perfectly with a soup made by simmering pork bones for over 18 hours. Customers can also customize the flavor with condiments and seasonings available at the table, including garlic, chili powder, curry powder, and spicy tempura bits

Yaro Ramen in Shibuya is a must-visit for ramen lovers who just can’t get enough!

Delicious halal ramen menu in Ebisu: Honolu

Many popular ramen toppings and soup bases conflict with a halal diet, but “Halal ramen & dining Honolu Ebisu” (referred to hereafter as “Honolu”) in Ebisu boasts a full menu of halal-friendly ramen and side dishes.

Honolu uses a chicken-based broth that is slowly simmered, resulting in a smooth and creamy texture. Their “Special Rich Chicken Ramen” is a refreshing bowl with its chicken toppings enhanced by this soup.

Topped with seasoned egg, fried chicken, minced chicken, bamboo shoots, green onions, and kamaboko (fish cake), this ramen is full of flavor. Halal-certified chicken is used in place of pork for the ramen’s chashu topping.

Honolu’s wide menu of delicious ramen, gyoza, and other side dishes make it a go-to spot for those seeking a halal-friendly meal in Tokyo!

Wagyu, matcha, and truffle ramen in Shinjuku: MENSHO San Francisco

For ramen lovers seeking creative new flavors and luxurious ingredients, it’s hard to beat “MENSHO San Francisco!”

Their “Chicken Paitan Ramen with White Truffle-Infused Wagyu Roast Beef” lives up to every bit of its lavish name. This rich and creamy bowl of ramen delivers amazing aroma and taste. Be sure to soak up the premium wagyu roast beef with the soup to savor every bit of flavor!

The “Matcha Chicken Paitan Ramen with Wagyu Roast Beef” will wow you with its appearance alone! The addition of matcha to the rich chicken paitan soup provides a pleasant bitterness. Once the almond milk whip topping dissolves, you’re left with a refreshing aftertaste that’s akin to that of a matcha latte.

MENSHO San Francisco in Shinjuku is a great place to check out just how innovative the world of ramen has become.

Ramen is at the top of the culinary itinerary for many people who visit Japan. Hopefully, this guide will help you find some delicious noodles to enjoy during your stay!