Hienadz Vardanyan 
Are you looking for the best Shoyu Ramen restaurants to visit in Japan? Shoyu Ramen is most commonly found in Tokyo, and so it is home to some fantastic restaurants. Read on to find out where you should go!
What Is Tokyo Shoyu Ramen?
Tokyo Shoyu ramen is a specific ramen dish. It consists of a ramen in a broth that is made from soy sauce. Shoyu translates to soy sauce in Japanese.
The soy sauce broth is not the only differentiation from other Ramens, Tokyo Shoyu Ramen is also known for having an array of different toppings as well as using spring noodles.
This dish is sometimes referred to as chinese noodles.
In this dish, soy is used as the main flavor of the broth. This provides a highly umami flavor. An umami flavor is characterized by being meaty and savory which is seen to deliver a full flavor in many dishes.
The sauce is made by adding soy sauce to the clear soup that is created when you boil the contents of the ramen.
Usually, this will be either chicken or pork bones that are boiled down into a broth. It is quite a light sauce in comparison to some other ramens.
While Shoyu Ramen is seen in many places, it is more common in Tokyo.
Chuka Soba Takano(中華そば 多賀野)
Chukasoba Takano has been featured as a top ramen restaurant in Tokyo for a long time now!
It has been running since 1996 and, since then, has been providing traditional ramen that really does taste delicious.
This is a small, yet very popular restaurant. The entrance to the store is located on the first floor. When you enter the restaurant, go up to the first floor and you will find a meal ticket machine.
There are only 12 seats in the restaurant. One great part of the Chukasoba restaurant is the vending machine menu!
You can choose your meal on the machine and, when you have decided and purchased a ticket, you can look right into the kitchen at them cooking your delicious ramen.
This restaurant also has a special chuka soba meal which is very popular.
This is a very popular restaurant because all the noodles that you will taste are homemade! The noodles are not only homemade, but they are also tailored to each meal.
You can work your way through the menu to try all the different variations of their delicious homemade noodles!
Many customers have given glowing reviews of this restaurant.
Most rave about the extensive menu, all of which is tasty and a great experience all round! Customers say they never get bored of the food at this restaurant.
Store Information
- Tel: +813-3787-2100
- Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 11: 30 -14: 30
- Regular Holiday: Sunday
- To Get There: This restaurant is a 1 minute walk from “Ebara-Nakanobu” station on the Tokyu Ikegami line
- Address: 2-15-10 Nakanobu, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Men Mitsui(麺 みつヰ)
Men Mitsui is another fantastic restaurant for Shoyu Ramen in Tokyo! When you enter this restaurant, you will be required to take a ticket with your number on it.
Because the store is busy, you will then have to wait to be called inside to make your order. The most popular meal on the menu is the Shoyu Ramen, and you will get a choice of thin, medium or thick noodles.
Many people recommend medium noodles for this dish.
When you first see Men Mitsui, you may not realize that it is a successful restaurant!
The shop is located in a small alleyway just off the main street and so it doesn’t look like it will be anything particularly prestigious! This is part of the charm of the restaurant and really adds to the experience.
Customers comment on the fantastic smell that wafts out of this restaurant. It is a very small eatery and you pay before you get your food, making it very casual.
Although the wait time is often quite long, it is definitely worth it for the brilliant food! This shop also provides a menu in English which is very useful for some customers.
Store Information
- Opening Times: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 11: 00-14: 30/17: 30-20: 00 and Sunday 11: 00-16: 00
- Regular Holiday: Monday, Thursday
- To Get There: 3 minutes walk from Tsukuba Express Line Asakusa Station Kokusai-dori Exit B
- Address: Akebono Building 1B, 2-10-4 Nishiasakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Rakkan NISHIAZABU GOLD(楽観 NISHIAZABU GOLD)
This restaurant is a great one when you are looking at finding both types of Shoyu ramen. Rakkan Nishiazabu Gold has both Kohaku and Special Kohaku ramen on the menu.
The difference between these two dishes is the toppings. On the ‘Special Kohaku’, the toppings are 3 Char siu, egg, chopped onions and seaweed.
The toppings on the ‘Kohaku’ are char siu, onion and menma.
The restaurant itself is very small with only 7 seats available. The quality of the food is great! It is refreshing, which is quite an achievement for a meal which is based in soy sauce!
There is only a 7-seat counter inside the store. It may not be suitable as a restaurant where two or more people go to eat.
The interior of the store is dimly lit because the brightness is blocked only by indirect lighting and spot lighting, creating a bar-like space. It can get busy, but it is definitely worth the wait!
Customers have commented on the flavors of the ramen which stand out from others! It is also very stylish inside, despite the lack of sitting space inside.
This restaurant also has a meal ticket machine. The entrance to the store is located in a quiet residential area. This store has now expanded into several different locations, including one in Los Angeles, California!
Store Information
- Tel: +8180-4059-6667
- Opening Times: Weekdays, Saturdays and public holidays 11: 00-16: 00, 18: 00-22: 00 and Sunday 11: 00-17: 00
- Regular Holiday: Monday
- To Get There: 8 minutes walk from Roppongi Station
- Address: 1-8-12 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
