Chosen by "Nariguruman Tokyo.", who visits 300 restaurants annually! 10 famous ramen restaurants that even ramen connoisseurs praise

Update-Date: Jun 17, 2025

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Ramen

Chosen by "Nariguruman Tokyo.", who visits 300 restaurants annually! 10 famous ramen restaurants that even ramen connoisseurs praise

Nariguruman Tokyo is a gourmet enthusiast who visits around 300 restaurants annually, ranging from ramen shops to Michelin-starred establishments. Nariguruman tends to favor ramen not only for its deliciousness but also for its beauty, originality, and addictive qualities. Additionally, the 10 selected restaurants introduced here are not just ones that were good after one or two visits, but ones that Nariguruman genuinely likes and has actually visited multiple times, which is a point worth emphasizing.

Ramen Break Beats / Yutenji

Opened in 2022, Ramen Innovative earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in just one year. The bowl crafted by Mr. Yanase, who gained eight years of chef experience in Toronto, Canada, features a clear chicken oil broth that condenses the umami of Amakusa Daio chicken and beautifully calculated noodles. The delicate and profound ideas are genius, continuously breaking through the 1,000 yen barrier to 2,000 and 3,000 yen, challenging and elevating the value of ramen as a dish at this innovative restaurant.

2. Hakata Ramen Ryu / Yutenji

Hakata Ramen Ryu in Yutenji offers a rich and distinct tonkotsu broth that faithfully recreates the flavors of Fukuoka and Dazaifu. The thin noodles pair perfectly with the sweet and flavorful tonkotsu soup. The option with egg yolk is also appealing. Personally, although they like Hakata's Hacchan, this hidden gem in Tokyo allows one to enjoy authentic tonkotsu ramen reminiscent of that taste.

3. Ramen Jazzy Beats / Nakameguro

Ramen Jazzy Beats is the third restaurant of Ramen Break Beats, located under the elevated tracks in Nakameguro. It is personally frequented heavily by locals. The signature dish, "Chicken Nibo Ramen," features a broth made from dried sardines that surprisingly lacks bitterness, harmonizing with the chicken to create a soup that feels both refreshing and mild. The combination with firm noodles is exceptionally good, and the dish is also highly nutritious. The beautiful noodle arrangement in the soy sauce and salt ramen is inherited from Break Beats. By the way, the image used at the top of the article is of Ramen Jazzy Beats' "Ajitama Shoyu Ramen." It is a perfect bowl, with the noodle arrangement and the positioning of the seasoned egg carefully calculated.

4. Niigata Sanpoutei Tokyo Lab Nakameguro Restaurant / Nakameguro

4. Nakameguro [Niigata Sanpoutei Tokyo Lab Nakameguro Restaurant]

This is a lab restaurant operated by the popular Niigata-based restaurant, Sanpoutei. It boldly competes with its two signature dishes: "Zentoro Mabo Noodles" and "Sanratanmen." The "Zentoro Natto Mabo Noodles" adds the rich flavor of natto to the spicy mabo, creating an addictive taste. The authentic mabo noodles with a strong Sichuan pepper flavor are hard to find elsewhere. It is customary to add Niigata-grown Koshihikari rice to make a mini mabo rice bowl.

5. Teuchi Asama / Nakameguro

The chewy handmade noodles are excellent, making customers return repeatedly to the Nakameguro restaurant [Teuchi Asama]. The owner, who trained at Hatchobori's [Menya Shichisai], hand-cuts and hand-kneads the noodles for each order, creating a rich flavor and exquisite texture. The soup, which has a hint of acidity, pairs well with the noodles. Surprisingly, it is not very crowded, and being able to eat without waiting in line is also an attractive feature.

6. Handmade Oyadori Chinese Noodles Ayagawa / Ebisu

6. Ebisu [Handmade Oyadori Chuka Soba Ayakawa]

Ebisu's [Teuchi Oyadori Chuka Soba Ayakawa] is a restaurant that people instinctively crave regularly. The golden clear broth covered with chicken oil is richly extracted from parent chicken stock, offering a deep umami and richness. Its gentle flavor is especially sought after the day after drinking. The extra-thick hand-kneaded noodles made with green bamboo have a chewy texture and pair perfectly with the soup. It is also recommended to change the flavor with Koregusu.

7. Hakata Menbo Aka Noren Nishiazabu Main Restaurant / Nishiazabu

7. Nishi-Azabu [Hakata Menbo Aka Noren Nishi-Azabu Main Restaurant]

The long-established restaurant in Nishi-Azabu, Hakata Menbo Aka Noren, is a famous Hakata ramen restaurant perfect for a late-night meal. It is open until 5 a.m., making it a welcome yet potentially dangerous spot to be drawn into after drinking. The rich, milky pork bone broth and ultra-thin flat noodles are exquisite, and ordering a "half ramen" allows one to justify the indulgence. However, the smooth texture and juicy meat-filled boiled dumplings are an occasional temptation to add as well.

8. Ramen Afro Beats / Shinjuku Gyoen

When craving chicken paitan, one naturally heads to Shinjuku Gyoen's [Ramen Afro Beats]. This is the second restaurant of [Ramen Break Beats]. The signature dish, 'Special Premium Jidori Chicken Paitan Ramen,' features a rich yet sharp foam-style soup that condenses the umami of the rare Amakusa Daio chicken. The paprika espuma harmonizes beautifully, adding depth to the flavor. The supple, firm thin straight noodles pair well with the soup. This bowl leaves a lasting impression both visually and in taste.

9. Ramen Hisui / Akasaka

The owner, Mr. Watanabe, is a skilled professional who honed his craft at places like [Ramen Break Beats]. After becoming independent, he opened [Ramen 翡翠] in Akasaka Mitsuke in February 2025. From the first day of opening, there has been a constant line, and it has already become a hot topic among ramen enthusiasts as "the most notable restaurant of the year." The "Special Soy Sauce Ramen" features a classic chicken clear broth soup perfectly paired with firm thin noodles, creating a skillful and refined bowl. It is expected to earn some kind of title soon.

10. Yakimiso Ramen Yadoya / Mizonokuchi

10. Mizonokuchi [Shakumiso Ramen Hachidouhachi]

The rich miso flavor that has been loved since the Nakameguro days. Beloved most by Nakameguro locals and sadly closed, the restaurant "Shaku Miso Ramen Yadoya" is making a comeback in Mizonokuchi in winter 2024. From the very first day of opening, lines form, and tasting the "Shaku Miso Ramen" again after a long time reveals that its aroma and depth remain intact, bringing an involuntary smile. Featuring flat noodles directly shipped from Sapporo, homemade additive-free miso, and packed with the spirit of Yadoya. As expected, Yadoya is the best.

Extra Edition: Torisawa Jigbone Club / Shirokane

Special Edition: Shirokane [Torisawa Jigbone Club]

The "Cheese Tori Snuudle" offered at "Torisawa Jigbone Club" in Shirokane is a new sensation created by the famous yakitori restaurant "Torisawa." "Toris" is an abbreviation for "chicken soup," featuring a unique style that combines chicken paitan soup with somen noodles. This "Cheese Tori Snuudle" is characterized by a rich chicken paitan soup blended with cheese, resulting in an indescribably creamy flavor. The noodles use ultra-thin somen from Kumamoto, providing an exquisite texture and perfect harmony with the soup. Minced chicken and lemon are served as accompaniments, and adding black pepper deepens the flavor. It offers a new experience different from both ramen and pasta. This distinctive dish is also perfect as a finishing meal.

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.

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