Hienadz Vardanyan 
Ramen is easily one of Japan’s most iconic dishes. Though the dish may be relatively simple, it takes some considerable mastery to perfect the dish and create truly delicious ramen that stands the test of time.
Ramen is both deep and complex in flavor, but also provides nearly all of the nutrients that a person needs to stay fueled throughout their day.
On our recent travels to Tokyo, we found ourselves in the popular area of Ginza.
As you can probably expect, there are many ramen joints all across Tokyo, many of which are located within the Ginza area alone.
We attended some truly amazing ramen restaurants during our trips, and we simply have to let you know about them.
These restaurants are all incredibly unique, and well worthy of your time should you be visiting the area.
If you are in the Ginza area of Tokyo, and you want to find the best ramen around, then look no further than this list of the best in the area!
We’ve combed through all of the best ramen restaurants in Ginza to select only the best! Join us below to get started on finding some of the best ramen in Ginza Tokyo!
Kagari Honten (篝本店 銀座店)
Kagari Honten is without a doubt one of the best places to head for good ramen in the entirety of Tokyo.
You would easily see why you should pay the restaurant a visit. The fact that the restaurant has received a ‘Bib Gourmand’ recommendation from Michelin for over two years in a row!
This means that the restaurant provides truly incredible quality, but also provides it at a relatively affordable price!
The Ginza Kagari Menu (see below) is slightly smaller than you might expect, but this means that the team of talented chefs can focus their immense talents on creating some of the best ramen that we have had the joy of tasting in many years!
Easily the signature dish, and our clear favorite, was the Toripaitan Soba, which is a slow-cooked chicken broth that has a delicious golden color that will get your mouth watering as soon as you lay your eyes upon it.
Floating around within the delicate broth are thick soba noodles, as well as fried onions and ginger.
This simple combination of ingredients is immediately satisfying and will fill you up perfectly.
We could not help but eat up every last drop of the broth. Its warming flavors and complex flavor palette made it immediately pleasant to chow down on.
This restaurant is also deeply steeped in tradition, as it takes the form of a traditional ramen restaurant with a bar counter, and 8 seats lined up along the counter.
Because of this, you may find a queue developing outside of the restaurant, especially during lunch periods, however, this queue moves incredibly quickly because the ramen at this restaurant is very easy to eat, which makes it an attractive lunch option for many locals.
The interior of the restaurant is incredibly quaint but also incredibly pleasant, which helps to make your ramen taste even better.
Store Information
- Tel: +813-6263-8900
- Business hours:11:00-22:30
- Regular holiday: no regular holiday
- Access: Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line [Ginza Station] 3 minutes walk
- Address: 1F, 6-4-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Mugitoolibu(むぎとオリーブ 銀座店)
This restaurant takes on a look far more reminiscent of a modern cafe, which makes the restaurant feel very comfortable to eat in.
This has helped to make it very popular, as people are drawn to its quaint, but also quite modern, interior design.
And the ramen available in this restaurant is easily just as good as the interior of the restaurant. It’s easily some of the best ramen in Ginza tokyo.
The menu is quite extensive, and though it features all of the classics that you likely expect from any good ramen restaurant, it also features some very unique twists on the standard formula that work incredibly well.
One of the things that makes these unique twists work so well is the fact that they incorporate elements of French cuisine!
This is because the owner of the restaurant is a French chef!
If you are looking for clam ramen in Ginza, this is the right place! It has a very different taste than you would expect and is completely unique from a standard tonkotsu ramen.
The clams become incredibly tender and absorb the flavors of the broth while also imbuing it with their own flavors.
It’s a simply heavenly dish that tastes totally out of this world, and Mugi To Olive is easily the best place to experience it.
You should also make a point of trying out the Tori Soba. This dish makes use of a beautiful chicken-based broth that is slowly cooked for over six hours to allow for the flavor from the chicken to dissipate into the broth.
The broth also includes a small amount of soy sauce, which helps to further give it a rich taste that makes it incredibly tasty.
This venue is perfect if you’re looking for a simple yet delicious ramen experience. The interior of the restaurant is extremely cozy and inviting.
The staff is friendly and helpful, and they are more than willing to make recommendations on what you should order so that you can find the perfect ramen to chow down on that is perfectly catered to your tastes.
Store Information
- Tel: +813-3571-2123
- Business hours: Weekdays-11: 30-22: 30 [Saturday / holiday] 11: 00-22: 30
- Regular holiday: Sunday
- Access: 5 minutes walk from “Higashi-Ginza” station (Exit A1) on the Tokyo Metro Toei Asakusa Line
- Address: Ginza Stella Building 1F, 6-12-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Ginzasa (銀笹 中央区銀座店)
This amazing restaurant always manages to draw a crowd of ramen-loving locals.
In fact, the ramen here is so good that you will very often find a queue developing just outside of the entrance!
Luckily, should you find the queue to be quite large, ramen is quite easy to eat quickly, so you won’t be waiting around long.
Once you do manage to enter the restaurant and sit amongst its quaint and traditional interior decor, we recommend trying out the ramen with white shoyu.
The ramen at this restaurant is made from a salt-based broth which gives every ingredient inside it a delicious savoriness.
The broth easily soaks into the meat, the noodles, and the various other ingredients to really draw out the inherent flavors.
The soups are deliciously salty, without ever being too overwhelming in terms of flavor or richness.
The noodles are also beautifully firm, to give them a great sense of bite, while also being very soft so that you can bite through them effortlessly.
If you visit this restaurant, we cannot recommend enough the delicious flavors of the Taimeshi Ramen.
This particular ramen dish makes use of sea bream, which perfectly complements the existing flavors of the ramen.
This creates easily one of the most memorable ramen experiences you will ever have. You will slurp down every last noodle in no time, as it is simply that delicious.
The soup itself is also incredibly addictive, and your bowl will be completely dry by the time you are finished with it!
Ginzasa is one of the most famous ramen restaurants in the entirety of Japan and offers some of the best ramen in ginza tokyo, which is high praise, especially considering just how many ramen restaurants there are across the city.
If you want a perfect balance between classic and dependable ramen flavors as well as some unique twists on the standard formula, then there really is no better place to turn than Ginzasa.
It offers a fantastic eating experience, and easily some of the best ramen we have tasted ourselves.
The locals also love the taste of the ramen, as evidenced by their rave reviews and the immense crowds that the restaurant so regularly draws.
The ramen here is truly second to none because of how much flavor is packed into each bite.
If you’re looking for some of the best ramen in the Ginza area, then this is a great place to turn to. You’ll very quickly understand how the venue has become so popular.
Store Information
- Tel: +813-3543-0280
- Business hours:11:30-15:00
- Regular holiday: Sunday and public holiday
- Access: 6 minutes walk from Tsukijishijo Station (Exit A3) on the Toei Oedo Line
- Address: Fuji Building 1F, 8-15-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Yakiago Shio Ramen Takahashi Ginza(焼きあご塩らー麺たかはし 銀座店)
This restaurant may be one of the newest ones on this list, having only just opened in 2017, but it is fully entrenched in the rich tradition of ramen through and through.
The broths are rich and full-bodied and come in two distinct forms: salt-based and soy sauce-based.
The salt-based broth is the closest to classic and traditional ramen, so it is perfectly suited for those who may be new to ramen.
The soy sauce-based broth, on the other hand, features a more complex taste that could be a little bit overwhelming to a first-timer.
This is because the broth is a little richer and may require a slightly more developed palate to truly appreciate.
However, if you do try it, try to allow the broth to roll across your palate, you’ll be amazed at the number of amazing flavors that can be packed into such a basic broth!
The broth at this restaurant is actually incredibly unique, as it is made by layering distinct flavors into one broth.
The broth is made up of seafood stocks, as well as pork bone flavors. You may not otherwise expect these flavors to work together so well, but they really do!
The interesting taste of the seafood stock blending with the pork bone stock really creates a flavor sensation that is totally out of this world.
And that will have you grinning from ear to ear as you chow down on more of the noodles.
We recommend ordering the salt ramen with grilled flying fish stock.
This particular menu item will give you the greatest sense of the flavors that the restaurant strives for, as it makes use of the seafood flavors and the pork-bone stock.
Included within the ramen are various extra ingredients to add to the flavor and texture profile, including roast pork, menma, fragrant green onion, beautifully cooked eggs, and Mizuna.
The Mizuna is a native green vegetable that has a very unique taste that adds to the ramen perfectly.
Head to Takahashi Ginza if you want to sample some of the best ramen in Ginza Tokyo.
They offer both salt-based and soy-based broths, and each one has its own unique flavor so every time you visit will be very different from the last!
This place is also great if you want a slightly more modern take on the usual ramen restaurant that also manages to infuse plenty of traditional elements from ramen that you might usually expect.
Store Information
- Tel: +81362639438
- Business hours:11: 00-21: 00
- Regular holiday: no regular holiday
- Access: 2 minutes walk from Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Marunouchi Line
- Address: Original Daiichi Building 1F, 5-10-10 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
SHIBIRE NOODLES Rousokuya Honten Ginza(蝋燭屋 本店 銀座店)
One of the things that makes Shibire Noodles a truly interesting ramen restaurant worthy of your time is its commitment to interesting flavors.
SHIBIRE NOODLES 蝋燭屋 銀座本店
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Most of the items on the menu at this restaurant are relatively spicy, which helps to fully set the restaurant apart from its peers.
The fiery kick of each of the dishes really makes every bite interesting and exciting.
However, if you are not a massive fan of spicy food, you don’t have to worry, as you can also order most of the dishes in a milder form.
This means you can still experience the new and interesting flavors without being overwhelmed by the spice!
When you visit, we strongly recommend that you try out the amazing Mapo Tofu ramen. This particular dish makes use of Sichuan pepper, which really makes it taste like an explosive medley of beautiful ingredients.
The dish is also covered, over the top, with a layer of amazing Mapo tofu, which has a beautiful consistency that makes it lovely to bite down on, while also absorbing all of the flavors of the broth effortlessly.
We also recommend ordering an extra side plate of rice when ordering the Mapo Tofu ramen.
The dish is simply piled with tofu, so no doubt once you finish slurping down the noodles, there will be plenty of tofu and broth leftover, which will pair perfectly with some soft and fluffy rice.
This restaurant may offer slightly more intense ramen experiences, but they still focus on delivering a truly delicious and traditional experience, so you can get a sense of the exciting future of ramen and some of the interesting things that can be done with it, while also tasting something truly classic!
Store Information
- Tel: +813-6263-2970
- Business hours: 11:00-22:30
- Access: About 3 minutes on foot from Ginza 1-chome Subway Station
- Address: 1F, Daiichi Shimada Building, 3-5-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Shinamen Hashigo Honten(支那麺 はしご 本店)
This restaurant is less focused on speed and efficiency to cater to lunch-time rushes, and more so dedicated to providing a true culinary experience in which you can comfortably and slowly absorb the flavors of your ramen.
As such, there is often a bit of a wait for a table in the restaurant, but there is an ample and comfortable seating area wherein you can browse the menu to carefully choose your order before you are seated at your table.
If you take a look at the menu and find yourself overwhelmed by the options, and unsure what to choose, then we really recommend trying the Tantan noodles.
This immense ramen dish is packed with flavors and ingredients to create a deeply satisfying flavor experience that you will not soon forget.
The dish features a uniquely spicy broth that is rich in color, thanks to the incredible ingredients that are used within.
Atop the dish, you will find a beautiful medley of green onions, which give the dish a sense of fragrance, as well as some extra texture, and plenty of garlic, and Japanese peppers.
This combination of ingredients will easily make you feel like you’re eating a bowl of soup that’s bursting with flavor!
You can even add extra green onions or garlic, or adjust the spiciness of the soup, so you can easily achieve the flavor experience you want.
We cannot possibly recommend this restaurant enough. Its extensive menu is fun to explore and you will always find something that will delight your taste buds!
Store Information
- Tel: +813-3571-1750
- Business hours:[Monday-Friday] 11: 00am-5: 00am (the next day)[Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays] 11: 00-21: 00
- Regular holiday: no regular holiday
- Access: 2 minutes walk from Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Hibiya Line
- Address: 2nd Soiree de Building 1F, 6-3-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Best Ramen Shops In Tokyo For Tourists
Trying out delicious ramen is easily a staple of many Japan trips.
The only trouble is, attending your first ramen restaurant in Japan can be quite daunting, as it can sometimes be unclear how they operate, and you may find yourself overwhelmed by the massive number of guests such eateries attract.
As such, we recommend visiting ramen restaurants that offer a great sense of traditional Japanese ramen cuisine, and offer the most traditional experience, but in a way that is easy for newcomers to understand.
We strongly recommend trying out Homemade Muginae.
This restaurant uses only the freshest free range chickens to create its broth, and the restaurant is based within a lovely and quaint little building.
This does mean that space is at a premium in the restaurant, but simply queue outside the restaurant and you will be enjoying tasty ramen in no time.
We also recommend Tsuta Ramen in Sugama. Tsuta offers truly world-class ramen, but at a price that is totally affordable.
The restaurant will also allow you to achieve a ramen dining experience as traditional as it comes.
This means that you can come away from your trip feeling like you have truly experienced ramen!
Famous Ramen Restaurant In Japan
One of the biggest ramen chain restaurants in all of Japan is Ichiran Ramen. If you were to visit, you would definitely have no trouble understanding why.
The menu on offer here is truly incredible and allows you to perfectly customize your bowl of ramen to your own specifications.
Much like many ramen restaurants, you simply make your order, and then fill in a quick form that allows you to choose your preferences, so the chefs can create your perfect ramen.
To make the deal even better, the restaurants are all incredibly foreigner-friendly, as you can order in English via the English menu.
The restaurant also allows you to enjoy your bowl of ramen in peace, as you do not have to interact directly with the staff, and each cubicle along the counter is partitioned off, so each customer can eat in privacy.
This explains why the chain is so popular amongst those looking for a great lunchtime option.
Related Articles:
- Best Pizza in Tokyo – If you’ve relished the flavors of Ginza’s top ramen spots, why not switch gears and explore another culinary delight? Our guide to the best pizza in Tokyo offers a mouthwatering tour of pizzerias that serve everything from classic Italian to unique Japanese-inspired pies. It’s a delicious way to diversify your food adventures in Tokyo.
- Best Tonkatsu in Tokyo – After exploring the delightful world of ramen in Ginza, Tokyo, dive into another quintessential Japanese culinary experience. Our curated guide introduces you to the finest establishments serving tonkatsu, a beloved Japanese dish of breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet. Discover the restaurants that have perfected this dish, each offering a unique and memorable dining experience. Transitioning from the flavorful broths of ramen to the crispy, succulent textures of tonkatsu will enrich your gastronomic adventure in Tokyo.
