WASEDA Ramen – TOP 5, Deliciously Different
- Jan 5, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
These are the very best Waseda ramen shops! From delicate shio bowls to soupless ramen with super thick noodles, Tokyo’s Waseda neighborhood quietly has it all.
With hungry hordes of students at nearby Waseda University, it’s no surprise that Waseda is packed with delicious - and often affordable - ramen options.
1. Pure Chicken Ramen at Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi (らぁ麺やまぐち) remains one of Waseda’s heavy hitters. Their signature ramen is built entirely on 100% chicken - Aizu and Date breed chickens come together to create a lip-smacking, collagen-rich soup with a bold, slightly sweet shoyu seasoning.
Everything here feels precise and carefully considered. The thin, flat noodles use five types of wheat flour, giving them wonderful complexity, and the pork toppings come from Spain’s Galicia region. It’s craftsmanship across the board.
2. Buttery Soupless Ramen at Abura Gakkai
Musashino Abura Gakkai (武蔵野アブラ学会 早稲田総本店) slings one of Waseda’s most essential bowls: abura soba, or soupless ramen. It’s flavorful, filling, and perfect for the area’s student-heavy crowd.
Their tare blends Kyoto and Kawagoe soy sauces with pork and veggies. Add to this a buttery, garlicky richness from pork lard, and you’ve got a sauce that clings beautifully to their extra thick, chewy noodles. If you dine in, check out the fun ramen memorabilia covering the walls.
3. Tasty Tsukemen at Toshioka
Toshioka (自家製中華そば としおか) has a near-mythical reputation. They’re only open for lunch, which means you’ll wait - but it’s worth every minute. The owner trained under Tokyo legend Benten, and you can taste that lineage.
The tsukemen is a standout. The soup isn’t overly thick, but it’s packed with sweet, salty, sour, and lightly spicy notes. I like loading up on toppings here: their special bamboo shoots (menma) and chili powder are excellent.
4. Light, High-Level Shio Ramen at shizuku
shizuku is one of the most exciting newcomers to the Waseda ramen scene. They specialize in beautifully crafted shio ramen - light, clear, and incredibly refined. Their signature bowl blends chicken and pork bones with a seasoning built from four types of salt, dried tomatoes, clams, and mushrooms.
A finishing drizzle of yuzu oil made with Kochi-grown yuzu brightens everything up. Expect super thin noodles, a crystal-clear broth, and elegant toppings like pork shoulder and chicken breast. The owner trained at Mukan, a highly respected ramen shop, and it shows - this is a top-tier shio bowl.
5. Jet-Black Sapporo Ramen at Sapporo Rokubou
Sapporo Rokubou (札幌 六坊) is from the same group behind Watanabe in nearby Takadanobaba - so you know the quality is there. Their specialty? Sapporo-style black ramen, a cousin to Toyama Black.
This bowl is all about intensity. The broth is super salty, powered by pork bones and lard, and loaded with black pepper, chopped negi, garlic, and ginger. A mountain of stir-fried bean sprouts and meat finishes it off. It’s jet black, in-your-face, and unapologetically intense - exactly why it’s so popular.
BONUS: More Soupless Ramen at Menchitei
For another take on abura soba, Tokyo Menchintei Honpo (東京麺珍亭本舗) delivers big value. Their version is less lardy than Abura Gakkai’s but still rich and satisfying.
You get a lot of meat, sometimes even bonus meat on certain days. The runny egg topping adds extra creaminess and ties everything together. Among all the entries, this is arguably the best bang for your buck.
Waseda Ramen Doesn’t Mess Around
Waseda is a ramen-heavy neighborhood, and these shops only scratch the surface. Whether you want something light, rich, buttery, or boldly peppery black, you’re never far from a great bowl in Waseda.
Video Review of the above Ramen Shops:
For travelers exploring Japan through ramen, we also operate Japan Food Travels — a travel brand dedicated to food-centered journeys around the country.
