If you're looking for the best noodle dishes in Japan's capital city, look no further. This inexpensive and savory dish is massively popular among Tokyoites, and ramen shops can be found scattered around almost every neighborhood in the city. You'll also find a variety of dishes that aren't often seen outside of Japan. A must-try for the true ramen enthusiasts, here are the top seven ramen restaurants you need to check out in Tokyo.
Classic Ramen at Harukiya
Opened in 1949, Harukiya, one of the oldest ramen shops in Tokyo, is the perfect place to enjoy some of the best chuka soba or Chinese noodles available in the city. This is classic ramen at its most original form. Both the noodles and soup are prepared in house using a recipe that has never changed since the opening of the restaurant. The exact same niboshi-rich flavor that has kept Harukiya famous since it was founded shortly after the second world war, is the exact same taste you can expect if you visit today. Old school simplicity at its finest.
Address: 1 Chome-4-6 Kamiogi, Suginami City, Tokyo 167-0043
Website: http://www.haruki-ya.co.jp/english/
Soupless Ramen (Abura Soba) at Chinchintei
Originating from Tokyo itself, abura soba or soupless ramen is a delicious culinary adventure that cannot be missed on visits to the capital. To elevate the experience, try it where it was supposedly created, at Chinchintei. This small ramen shop, located in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo known as Musashi Sakai, has been serving abura soba since 1965.
While it might not be the fanciest or most conveniently located of places, it's remained quite a popular spot over the years. Once you've tried a bowl of their chewy noodles and chashu pork slices coated in a layer of thick, savory tare (thickened soy sauce), you'll understand why.
Address: 5 Chome-17-21 Sakai, Musashino-shi, Tokyo
Vegetarian and Vegan Ramen at Afuri
Chicken skewers on street corners and overflowing with all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurants, Tokyo isn't exactly a meat-free paradise. However the capital is slowly warming to the idea of non-animal product based foods, much more so than elsewhere in the country.
With branches scattered all around the city, and even abroad, Afuri has always taken pride in making ramen using fresh, regional ingredients, and avoiding the use of artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It's no surprise then that this health conscious franchise would be one of the few in the city offering a vegan option in their menu. A hot, appetizing bowl of vegetable broth and wheat noodles topped with fresh, seasonal vegetables, you won't be missing meat at all with this heaty bowl of noodles.
Multiple locations across Tokyo such as their Ebisu store:
Address: 1F 117 Bld., 1-1-7 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-5795-0750
Open 11AM - 5AM everyday
Michelin Starred Ramen at Tsuta
It's not everyday you get to eat at a Michelin-starred ramen shop, so if you're in Tokyo and have the opportunity to eat at Tsuta, then take it. Not only is the ramen here exceptional, it's also entirely affordable, a word not often associated with Michelin quality. The signature dish here is the shoyu soba made using a unique blend of soy sauce, including a custom in-house brew made from soy beans that have been matured for two years and a dash of truffle sauce to top it off.
However, as every dish here is masterfully made using only the highest quality natural ingredients, you can't really go wrong whatever you chose to eat. They often offer seasonal dishes for limited times that are well worth trying too. To read more about Tsuta and Tokyo's other ramen restaurants with a Michelin star, click here.
1 Chome-14-1 Sugamo, Toshima City, Tokyo
Website: http://www.tsuta.com/index.php
Healthy Tomato Ramen at Taiyo No Tomatomen
Looking for something completely different in the wonderful world of ramen? Look no further than this ingenious creation that steers well clear of traditional bowls of noodles. Taiyo No Tomatomen's philosophy is to serve ramen that's good for your health, without compromising on taste. To accomplish this, a low fat chicken broth and tomato soup is used in place of the fatty, meat and sodium rich soy base used in typical ramen. This is served with thin, soy-milk-infused noodles to create a refreshing and light bowl of ramen.
In case you're worrying this 'healthy ramen' will just be a watery bowl of tomato pasta, don't fret. Taiyo No Tomatomen has managed to create a dish that is nothing like the classic Italian staple, instead this is clearly a bowl of ramen, yet flavored and made with ingredients you'd never expect. For the true ramen enthusiasts, it's something you've got to try out.
The officially recommended dish here is the Taiyo No Cheese Ramen. A steaming bowl of tomato soup ramen topped with a generous amount of cheese and basil. Delicious. Make sure to order a side of cheese gyoza, these mouthful-sized bites of crunchy cheesy gyoza go perfectly with the tomato ramen.
If you're traveling outside of Tokyo and want to try out some other rare ramen creations, check out our list of unique ramen dishes from all over Japan here.
Address: 1-1-3 Odakyo Shinjuku Mylord 7F, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku 160-0023 Tokyo
Dipping Ramen (Tsukemen) at Fuunji
Conveniently located in the popular shopping and entertainment district of Shinjuku, Fuunji is renowned for what many label as the best tsukemen you can find in Tokyo. Expect a long queue here, however it's definitely worth it. The thick, chewy noodles are served alongside beautifully tender pork belly slices, immersed in a delicious broth. Made with slow-simmered local chicken and dried, smoked skipjack tuna, the broth transforms into a velvety, explosively flavorful and umami-rich creation.
Address. 2 Chome-14, Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo
Website: http://www.fu-unji.com/
Tantanmen at Nakiryu
Another of Tokyo's Michelin star restaurants, Nakiryu is famous for their super flavorful tantanmen, a Japanese version of the spicy Szechuan dish known as dan-dan noodles. A far cry from the super smooth truffle-infused broth of Tsuta, Nakiryu's soup hits you in the face with a wealth of flavors. While their tantanmen is the most famous, they also have shio (salt) and shoyu (soy sauce) based ramen too. Whatever you choose we'd highly recommend getting an extra portion of their chashu pork which is simply divine and almost melts in your mouth.
Address：2-34-4, Minamiotsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-0005
Open 11:30AM to 3PM and 6PM to 9PM
Closed on Tuesdays
Conclusion
Whatever your ramen preference, whether soupy or dry, fatty or fresh, you won't have to look far to find it in the ramen-loving metropolis that is Tokyo. Delicious and cheap, it's the perfect meal for budget-conscious travelers. If you aren't able to get enough of it during your stay, you can always take home a few bags full of Japanese instant ramen which are a whole other level above what you'll find overseas. In fact most famous ramen restaurants also produce their own instant noodles. Even if you won't have time to wait in line for Tsuta, you can get their 'Michelin star instant ramen' from convenience stores around the country.