A local’s guide to Tokyo’s Best Ramen Restaurants

Tired of eating fake Ramen noodles from Wagamama made by non-Japanese chefs? Struggling to find the hidden local restaurants on Trip Advisor or Lonely Planet? No matter how many reviews or blogs you read, we all know it is difficult to find the real goodness that locals consume daily. As a local, born and raised in the capital of Asia, I really want tourists to maximise their experience of this beautiful city full of top notch cuisine.

To save up your time and to satisfy your appetite, here are my top 3 Ramen restaurants to visit in Tokyo.

#3 Udatsu Shokudo (Waseda)

This place located near my University (Waseda University) offers a rather rare type of Ramen. They make Tokushima styled Ramen which comes from the Tokushima prefecture in the southern island of Shikoku. Their combination of pork and soy sauce based soup, chunky pork meat, thick noodles with plenty of bamboo shoots and sprouts to top up this dish is phenomenal. If you have company to share with, I also highly recommend their ‘Tsukemen” which is an already popular dish in Japan where the noodles and the soup comes separately. The soup is even more dense than the Ramen soup that is ready to have the noodles dipped into.

Both are around 5 pounds and extra noodles are absolutely free. Just tell the staff to make it “Omori” (Plateful) when you order, to have 1.5 times the normal amount!!!

Tokushima Ramen
Tokushima Tsukemen

It is roughly a 10 minutes walk from Waseda station on the Tokyo metro Tozai Line but is totally worth the trek.

#2 Ore No Sora (Shinjuku)

Shinjuku is said to be the busiest train station in the world where over 3 million people travel daily. Many world class restaurants are located in this crowded neon part of Tokyo including this Ramen restaurant I am about to introduce. ‘Ore No Sora’ literally translated as ‘my sky’ provides a modern vibe with a stylish and minimalistic black exterior. Their dishes also represent their contemporary approach consisting of Ramen, Tsukemen as well as the upcoming trendy dish ‘Ae-Soba’. This bowl has noodles seasoned with various oils such as sesame oil along with soy sauce and fish based bouillon creating a new experience without the noodles being dipped into any soup what so ever. Their Ramen dishes includes pork and fish based soups with pork meat and thin noodles that will revolutionise your taste buds without a doubt. I also enjoy the bowls that presents a very traditional look.

‘Ae-Soba’ is the bomb!

‘Ore No Sora’ is located within 6 minutes walking distance from the west gate (Nishiguchi) of JR Shinjuku station and each dish is around 5 pounds.

#1 Hope-Ken (Kichijoji)

Number one has to go to my absolute favourite ‘Hope-Ken’ in the hidden alleyways of Tokyo’s most liveable town, Kichijoji. This restaurant has kept their legacy and traditional recipe since year 1938. Their iconic yellow exterior still remains present to this day.

Their oily pork based soup, relatively thin noodles and their simple toppings of sprouts, pork meat, seaweed and an egg is to die for. It is an authentic dish you cannot miss out on.

‘Hope-Ken’ is only 2 minutes away from the JR Kichijoji station and their Ramen is less than 5 pounds!!!