Hienadz Vardanyan 
One of the best things about ramen is its sheer variety. No matter your tastes and preferences, you’re bound to be able to find a kind of ramen that you’ll like.
Black Garlic Ramen is one of the most impressive and distinctive kinds of ramen you’re likely to find.
With its unique taste, color and flavors, this is a taste of Japanese Cuisine that is essential to experience when visiting or living in the country.
Tokyo is one of the best places to find food in Japan. This vast city has almost anything you could ever want to find – and black garlic ramen is no exception.
That’s why we’ve created this list of the best black garlic ramen in Tokyo.
We’re going to be showing you a selection of different restaurants that offer some of the best bowls of ramen around.
We’ve also made sure to include a short FAQ to help answer some other questions about this traditional dish.
Menya Kuroda (麺屋黒田)
First up we have Menya Kuroda, this is one of the best places to get black ramen in the whole of Tokyo.
They sell Tonkotsu Black Ramen for 780 yen – a cheap price for some of the most impressive black ramen you’ll find.
麺屋黒田＠練馬
とんこつ黒ラーメン(ﾊﾞﾘｶﾀ)???? ＋ 替え玉(ﾊﾘｶﾞﾈ)今日は仲間の結婚式があり三次会は地元の練馬で????
午前中から飲んだくれてやっとこさ〆のラーメン????????
うふ♡ この時間に食べるラーメンは罪悪感あるけどすげぇ旨いよな(*´艸`*)♡ pic.twitter.com/E8flk7V6Qy
— ｲｴﾛｰ糖尿ﾉﾌ (@mmm7777mmm) September 24, 2016
The broth is made out of pork bone and garlic, and it’s particularly creamy for a ramen base.
The meat within the broth is Char Siu, a classic form of barbequed Japanese pork that melts in your mouth.
The garlic topping of the ramen is grated table-side, allowing you to choose how much you want within your ramen, and there are always chances to add more if it doesn’t taste quite right to you.
Almost secondary to their incredible black garlic ramen is their service and atmosphere.
You’ll see the chefs hard at work and there is a general street food atmosphere that allows you to connect with the process of your ramen being made before your eyes.
The service of the staff of Menya Kuroda is also incredible and very friendly, putting you at ease before you even get a taste of their food.
Menya Kuroda is located in the heart of Shinjuku and is open every day of the week aside from Wednesday, with shorter days on the weekend.
Store Information
- Phone Number: +813-5912-1435
- Business Hours: [Wednesday to Sunday] 11:30am-4:30pm, 5:30pm-6am [Monday To Tuesday] 6pm-6am
- Access: 1 minute walk from Nerima Station.
- Address: 5-17-1 Toyotamakita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
Misoya Hachiro Shoten Shinjuku (味噌屋 八郎商店 新宿)
Second on our list is Misoya Hachiro Shoten Shinjuku. This is a small restaurant hidden away in Shinjuku that offers some of the best miso around.
【味噌屋 八郎商店】
@東京：新宿駅から徒歩6分香ばしい風味の味噌ラーメンを食べられるお店。
豚骨スープと北海道産の特製味噌、そして秘伝のマー油を掛け合わせて完成した一杯はクセになる旨さ！太麺のモチモチ食感が心地良い逸品✨
大盛りにできるのでボリューム満点で味わえます???? pic.twitter.com/j2dh0e26yV
— 唯一無二の絶品グルメ（むにぐるめ） (@muni_gurume) March 20, 2019
Their pork bone soup contained ‘black Mayu,’ which is made from charred garlic oil. This black ramen is slightly lighter than the previous restaurant on this list
They also have a variety of different miso-based ramens available including classic miso, spicy miso, curry miso ramen, and tomato miso ramen.
For the uninitiated, miso ramen is a type of ramen where the noodles are soaked in a miso broth and then topped with various toppings such as shredded vegetables, fried chicken, egg, cheese, etc.
Misoyas’ version comes with a variety of different dark vegetables and stir-fried bean sprouts.
Misoya is located just a 4 minute’s walk away from Shinjuku West Exit Station and is open from 11:00 am to 11:00 PM (though closing times may change depending on how quickly they run out of noodles and broth!) They have no regular holiday day, so you’re usually sure to find them open all week long!
Store Information
- Telephone: +81363040420
- Business Hours: 11am-11pm
- Access: 2 minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station
- Address: 7-5-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Plaza Nishi-Shinjuku 102
Waketagami (分田上)
For our third and final restaurant on our list, and the only one that specializes in Kumamoto Ramen, a style of ramen that hails from Kumamoto city on the island of Kyushu.
南大沢の分田上。ラーメンチーズトッピング。野猿峠の途中にある豚骨ラーメンの店。ブンブンのお隣の店。カウンターのみだが、落ち着く雰囲気と丁寧な接客。メニューはラーメンのみに皆それぞれトッピング。チーズが合うのかと思ったが、これはめちゃくちゃ合う！濃いめのチーズだからなお！さっぱり系 pic.twitter.com/uQL5CjYrad
— 孤独のラーメン season5市川編 (@dandydandydand3) April 25, 2019
分田上@南大沢にて、ラーメン＆ラーユご飯。東京都内における我が最大の宿題店。まずは感想から。美味い、美味過ぎる！期待値の上昇を上回る過不足のないスープのうま味と香り。マー油の分量感から風味に至るまで、素晴らしいのひと言だ。舌上でとろけるチャーシューなど、パーツの完成度も実に優秀。 pic.twitter.com/Fyx2TpiauD
— かずあっきぃ～通称・ラーメン官僚～ (@kazutan0264) March 2, 2019
They have a much more limited menu than the other two restaurants on our list, but that’s because they do what they do well, with a lot of different options and variations for the customer.
You can add lots of different toppings such as green onions, cheese, char siu, kimchi, and umeboshi.
Although cheese might sound like a strange topping for ramen, it’s very highly recommended by locals.
We found the base for this ramen to be one of the riches, without being overpowering.
The charred garlic ingredient allows for the same black garlic ramen taste as others you might find, but with a slightly richer flavor.
You’ll find the chefs at Waketagami open from 11:00 to 17:00 or earlier if they sell out, and they are open every day apart from every Tuesday, and every second Monday.
If you’re looking for an authentic taste of Kumamoto in the heart of Tokyo, then you need to visit this restaurant!
Store Information
- Telephone: +81426-74-7460
- Business Hours: 11am-5pm [Wednesday To Sunday] CLOSED [Monday To Tuesday]
- Access: 9 Minute Drive from Minami-Osawa Station
- Address: 321-1 Shimoyugi, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo
Frequently Asked Questions
Get your last-minute questions answered before you leave us today!
What Is Charred Garlic?
The answer to this question is simple – burnt garlic.
In Japan, there are many types of garlic used in cooking. Some of these include white garlic, purple garlic, red garlic, and black garlic.
All of these varieties are used in different ways, but none of them are ever cooked.
However, when we talk about charred garlic, we mean that the garlic has been burnt until its color changes from pale yellow to brown.
This process creates a unique flavor and aroma that cannot be replicated using any other method.
What Does Charred Garlic Taste Like?
When you eat charred garlic, you get a strong smell of burnt garlic, which is then followed by a sweet, savory flavor. Because of this, some people describe it as tasting like bacon.
What Is A Miso Broth Made Out Of?
A miso broth is typically made from soybeans, rice, salt, and water. It’s used in many types of Japanese cuisine, especially ramen.
There are several varieties of miso broths, each with its distinct flavors.
Some common ones include red miso, white miso, yellow miso, light miso, medium miso, and dark miso.
These are often referred to as “misos” when referring to the type of miso broth used.
Discover More Delights of Japanese Cuisine
If you’ve enjoyed exploring the best black garlic ramen spots in Tokyo, why not delve into another popular Japanese dining experience? Here’s another culinary adventure for you:
- Best Crab Buffet in Tokyo: Crab is a delicacy in Japan, and Tokyo offers a variety of buffets where you can indulge in an array of crab dishes. If you’re a seafood lover, you’ll definitely want to check out these top-rated crab buffets in Tokyo.
