Ramen Blog

The 5 AM Ramen blog dives deep into the world of ramen. "Best Ramen Lists" include top picks in Tokyo and elsewhere in Japan. Check out "Not Ramen" for other delicious food.

New Tokyo Ramen Tour: Make Ramen Like a Pro

On this brand new tour, you’ll get to make ramen alongside one of Tokyo’s best ramen chefs. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a ramen shop kitchen! Inside one of Tokyo’s Top Ramen Shops This experience takes place in one of Tokyo’s top ramen shops. You’ll get to meet and work with the owner, a well-known figure in the ramen world. Make Ramen like a Pro The ramen making includes everything from ladling the broth to carefully adding toppings at t

Creamy Chicken Ramen Specialists: Takeichi

Takeichi specializes in one thing: supremely tasty chicken ramen. On top of their 11 branches in greater Tokyo, they have 10 overseas. Along with their signature creamy chicken ramen (paitan), they’ve got lighter broth ramen, spicy miso ramen, and even tsukemen. All ramen are of course chicken based! Thanksgiving Gravy Ramen? If it’s your first bowl at Takeichi, creamy chicken (tori paitan) is the necessary choice. But do be forewarned – it’s really rich and creamy. Shoyu wit

Contemporary Ramen and Tsukemen: Men Labo Hiro

Men Labo Hiro near Gakugei-Daigaku station serves sensational contemporary ramen. This shop has won multiple awards since it opened in 2016. The Ramen In their ramen, or “Tori Soba”, chicken plays a prominent role. The chicken collagen supplies just the right amount of richness to the broth. But the broth also has a hint of fish. You can choose a saltier shoyu or a springier shio as a base. For either, a touch of mitsuba, capers, and yuzu citrus peels round everything out. St

The Best Tonkotsu Ramen in Asakusa: Urinbo

Ramen shop Urinbo (うりんぼ) has the best tonkotsu ramen in Asakusa, hands-down.

Hokkaido Style Ramen in Ginza - Funamizaka

Ramen eatery Funamizaka (船見坂) makes great ramen in Ginza – ramen that will make you feel like you’re in Hokkaido. The bowls are massive and start at just ¥700! Sapporo Miso Ramen More specifically, Funamizaka makes terrific Sapporo style miso ramen. Just like in Sapporo, they serve it piping hot! This is to help one combat the harsh temperatures in Sapporo during Winter. The miso commands the overall taste of the bowl but I like that it overall isn’t too sweet. Even if you or

Classic Ramen in Ebisu – Ozeki Chukasoba

If you want old-school ramen in Ebisu with a twist, check out Ozeki Chukasoba. This shop is adored by locals and is very close to Ebisu station. All their ramen starts at ¥830! Chukasoba – their Top Dish Their most popular dish is “Chukasoba”. Ozeki keeps it old-school, as “Chukasoba” means “Chinese noodles”. Chukasoba with egg: ¥930 The broth has a light soy sauce flavoring and includes chicken from Koushu, Yamanashi and premium pork stock. The vegetables are “gently” boile

Bazoku: The Best Handmade Noodles in Tokyo

Ramen shop Bazoku in Asakusa arguably has the best handmade noodles in Tokyo.

Niboshi Ramen Master: Ramen Emoto in Naka-Meguro

Ramen Emoto (らーめん恵本将裕) is the perfect introduction to Niboshi Ramen (dried fish ramen). Tucked away in the backstreets of Naka-Meguro since Sept 2014, they take their craft very seriously. Epic Wall Art Emoto-san, the man behind it all, is actually from Kyushu – best known for rich tonktosu ramen. But it was in niboshi ramen that he decided to make his mark. Niboshi Ramen – Shoyu Niboshi is dried sardines. At Emoto they use 3 types of sardines and 1 type of horse mackerel.

Pumpkin Ramen, Red Ginger Ramen in Meguro

Ramen shop Only One Noodle Ichifuji in Meguro is now serving a seasonal pumpkin ramen that’s insanely good. But if pumpkin isn’t your thing, you can choose from 4 other sauces, including lemon / yuzu citrus. Pumpkin (Seasonal) Niboshi (Dried Fish) Lemon and Yuzu Citrus Sichuan Pepper Pumpkin Ramen / The Broth What a bowl, this pumpkin ramen. They use the pumpkin just enough to make it feel like an Autumn ramen. Regardless of your sauce choice, the broth is light and clear, wi

Tokyo Ramen Show 2018: Uni Ramen to Premium Kelp Ramen, 12 Bowls

This year’s Tokyo Ramen Show at Komazawa Park was spectacular, featuring 36 hand-picked ramen shops from all over Japan. Over eleven days, they diligently dished out thousands of deliciously complex ramen bowls. There was so shortage of variety – from the top voted uni ramen, to premium kelp ramen. In total, I dived into 12 bowls this year. Check them ALL out below and even find out where the shops are located throughout Japan. First Group: Oct 25 – 30 Snow Crab Miso Ramen T

Indian Ramen in Ikebukuro – Ramen Spice Shaka

Indian Ramen?? Ramen Spice Shaka in Ikebukuro has boldly and beautifully created ramen that incorporates a great number of Indian spices. Still…Indian Ramen? Indian Ramen might sound like a novelty. But this this new ramen shop is the brainchild of Tomoharu Shono, the legend behind the Mensho ramen shops and Shankar Noguchi, an Indian cuisine maniac and spice expert. So this ramen shop doesn’t mess around. Indian cuisine is ridiculously complex, much like ramen. But they’re b

Revolutionary Ramen: Mapo Tofu Ramen in Tokyo

A Tokyo ramen shop that calls itself a “laboratory” serves a spicy Sichuan style Mapo Tofu Ramen. 2 culinary worlds deliciously collide – China and Japan. Niigata Sanpoutei Tokyo Labo (新潟三宝亭東京ラボ) is this shop’s name. Just try and remember Sanpoutei, the name of the group company. Sanpoutei has origins in Niigata prefecture and they have Chinese restaurants and ramen shops all over the country. But the only have 2 ramen “laboratories” in Japan. 1 is in Shibuya and 1 is in Nak

Cold Hiroshima Ramen (Tsukemen) in Akihabara

Perfect for any hot summer, grab a bowl of cold noodles at Ramen Hiro in Akihabara. They serve a Hiroshima ramen (tsukemen) in a cool, spicy broth. Hiroshima Ramen (Tsukemen) Hiroshima has their own homegrown ramen (tonkotsu shoyu) and Ramen Hiro serves it. But Ramen Hiro also serves Hiroshima-style tsukemen. What makes Hiroshima tsukemen unique is its cold, sweet and spicy broth. Hiroshima Tsukemen, All toppings: ¥1,080 (¥860 without toppings) To prepare this broth, Ramen Hi

Incredible Cold Ramen, Hot Ramen in Shibuya: Nakajima

Nakajima (麺飯食堂なかじま) in Shibuya is loved by locals for its tasty cold ramen AND hot ramen. Its big menu, BIG ramen and reasonable prices are a huge draw. Cold Ramen Dishes for Summer With record-breaking temperatures this summer, piping hot ramen might not be the first thing you crave. But Nakajima has plenty of satisfying cold ramen dishes to help cool you down in the insane heat. Hiyashi chuuka Meaning “chilled Chinese cuisine”, hiyashu chuuka makes a grand appearance every

Touka - Refreshing Sea Bream Ramen

Near Shinjuku is Taishio Soba Touka, a ramen shop that’s mastered sea bream ramen.

Satisfying Dumpling Ramen at Koushu Ichiba

If you’re traveling with a family or are just plain hungry, consider dumpling ramen at Koushu Ichiba. Affordable and filling, this dumpling ramen shop as 6 branches in Tokyo, including 2 in Shinjuku. Choose your Broth You have the choice of shoyu (soy sauce) or shio (salt) broth. They’re both good. They also have a rich and creamy shoyu ramen, if you’re looking for a heavier taste. But bear in mind that their broth is old-school and therefore isn’t the most dynamic. Koushu Ic

Ice Cold Ramen in Ginza – Pour Cafe

Cool yourself down with a bowl of ice cold ramen – perfect for the humid Tokyo summers. At Pour Cafe (プルーカフェ) in Ginza, the soup stock is literally part ice cube! Ice Cold Ramen Pour Cafe does a Yamagata prefecture style soy-sauced based cold ramen. But Pour Cafe takes it to another level with the giant ice cubes. At Night The ramen broth is salty, including the ice cubes, carrying a fairly strong fish taste. But it’s a soothing meal when it’s insanely hot out. Day time An

Roast Beef Abura Soba in Shinjuku: Beast

At Abura Soba Beast, which serves abura soba in Shinjuku, there’s one special topping: premium ROAST BEEF! Their medium-rare, succulent roast beef matches up perfectly with their savory sauce. For you night owls – they’re also open until 8 in the morning. 2020 Update: This place is now closed. Abura soba is essentially ramen with an oil sauce instead of soup. You mix it all together before eating. For more details on abura soba, click here. In abura soba the toppings are simi

Miharu – Tokyo Abura Soba loved by locals

Ramen shop Miharu every day painstakingly prepares a Tokyo abura soba loved by locals. Reasonably priced at ¥830, Miharu’s abura soba is chock-full of onions and meant to be eaten with Tabasco sauce. Abura Soba is essentially soupless ramen. For an intro on abura soba and info on a famous Tokyo chain, CLICK HERE! Miharu’s Abura Soba Their abura soba has a strong fishy taste, punctuated by the mountain of shaved bonito flakes. They also toss in an insane amount of crunchy whit

Superb Miso Ramen, Tsukemen (Sapporo Style) in Ebisu

Ramen shop Sapporo Kamui in Ebisu, Tokyo offers superb miso ramen and miso tsukemen. They’re both prepared in the heavy-hitting Sapporo style that’s both appetizing and somewhat unique. Added Note: Is it with a heavy heart that I announce that Sapporo Kamui will be closing its doors on July 27, 2018. So grab a bite before then! This is due to extensive renovations on the building. During the renovation period, they do not yet know where their new home will be. Like something

Ramen Blog

Ramen Tours

Instant Ramen

Food Tours

Join our Mailing List!