Ramen in Tokyo: What to Try, Where to Go and How to Order

Where and How to Enjoy Ramen in Tokyo

Ramen is a quick, casual meal in Tokyo, and many regional styles from around Japan are served here, along with the local soy sauce ramen. You'll find ramen in every neighborhood, and places such as Tokyo Station and the area north of Shinjuku Station have many shops close together. At many shops, you buy a meal ticket from a machine near the entrance before sitting down. According to the 2021 Economic Census, Tokyo has approximately 7,300 establishments serving ramen, including Chinese restaurants.

The history of ramen begins in China. According to the Shinyokohama Ramen Museum, Chinese noodle dishes came to Japan after the country opened its ports in 1859, and a shop that opened in Asakusa, Tokyo, in 1910 went on to spark Japan's first ramen boom. As ramen spread across the country, it took on new variations and flavors to become what we know today.

Ramen Broth Types

Ramen is first and foremost defined by the soup the noodles are served in. There are four main types of ramen broth: shio, tonkotsu, shoyu, and miso. These translate as salt broth, pork bone broth, soy sauce broth and miso broth.

The traditional Tokyo bowl is soy sauce ramen, often listed on menus simply as chuka soba or ramen. You can also try ramen from other regions, such as tonkotsu ramen from Fukuoka and miso ramen from Sapporo, as well as tsukemen, noodles served with a concentrated soup on the side for dipping, which the Shinyokohama Ramen Museum traces to a shop in Nakano, Tokyo, in 1955.

Soup made by simmering various ingredients

Tsukemen (noodles dipped in soup)

Noodles and Toppings

While ramen broth is important, we can't forget the noodles. Some ramen shops will offer thick or thin noodles. Others may ask if you want your noodles chewy and al dente or soft and well cooked. Don't be afraid to make the wrong choice—there isn't one. Typical toppings include chashu (slow-braised pork), green onions, menma (fermented bamboo shoots) and seasoned boiled eggs. Some shops also set out condiments on the table, such as pickled ginger or garlic, and experimenting with them is part of the fun.

Chashu (braised pork)

Menma (fermented bamboo shoots)

Don't Forget the Sides

Ramen shops usually have short menus, but a few side dishes go well with your noodles. Gyoza are dumplings of ground pork and vegetables, pan-fried until crispy on the bottom. Japanese fried rice, or chahan, is another common side, and ramen also pairs well with a cold beer.

Gyoza and Fried Rice

Where Is That Waiter?

Don't be surprised if no one comes to take your order. At many ramen shops, you pay in advance at a ticket vending machine. Buy tickets for your ramen, drinks and side dishes at the machine, then hand them to the staff. At some shops, staff take your order at your seat instead. If you're not sure what to choose, go with the shop's recommendation. As a rough guide, a basic bowl costs around 800 to 1,300 yen, and toppings are extra. Many ticket vending machines only accept cash, so it's a good idea to have bills and coins on hand.

Banknote Slot on a Ticket Vending Machine

Ramen Hot Spots Across the City

Ramen can be found anywhere in Tokyo, and you're never far from a piping hot bowl. Tokyo Ramen Street is a row of ramen shops in the basement of First Avenue Tokyo Station, just outside the ticket gates on the station's Yaesu side, where you can try a range of styles in one place. The area north of Shinjuku Station, known as a ramen battleground, has a high concentration of shops. Shimbashi, an office district, also has plenty of ramen, along with other Japanese favorites such as sushi and yakitori.

First Avenue Tokyo Station

Some Popular Tokyo Ramen Shops

Several popular ramen chains have multiple locations throughout Tokyo. Ichiran is famous for its private style of dining where customers sit in sectioned off booths, and the servers communicate through a small window through which they'll pass your ramen. Afuri ramen is credited with creating a citrus ramen which uses yuzu, a sort of Japanese lime, in its broth. Tenka Ippin is a nationwide ramen chain that offers a huge selection of ramen for very low prices.