Top 4 Tokyo Tonkotsu Ramen

When you’re traveling to Japan, you need to try Tokyo tonkotsu ramen, and in this article, we’ll show you where you can get some authentic ramen.

Look at this list, and you’ll find cheap ramen in Tokyo, with excellent quality dishes at affordable prices. So why don’t we find out where to eat tonkotsu ramen in Tokyo?

Mendokoro Issho (麺処一笑)

Our first Tokyo tonkotsu ramen restaurant recommendation is Mendokoro Issho, who won first place in the Tonkotsu category of the rookie award in the 2016-2017 competition.

They also came in third place in the 2017-2018 TRY Ramen Award, a prestigious competition that takes place in the restaurant world.

With this in mind, this is undoubtedly one of the best ramen shops in Tokyo for tourists.

After all, where else would you try a bowl of ramen if not an award-winning restaurant?

Mendokoro Issho is known for its Kake soba bowls. These bowls contain just soup and noodles and come with a separate topping bowl.

In the topping bowls, you can find vegetables and char siu pork.

To order, you just need to pick your base ramen, then choose from the free vegetables, where you can even include vegetable toppings such as tomatoes. 

With a rich soup that lacks the odor and stickiness of other tonkotsu ramen, you can drink the broth lightly.

This rich broth is made by ripening the different aspects of the pork in a variety of sizes, which gives it its rich yet smooth taste.

The noodles themselves are made by Mikawaya Seimen, a highly trusted noodle vendor who makes medium-thick noodles.

These have crispy skin and a chewy texture that ensures you feel the sweetness of the wheat. 

However, the taste of the broth and noodles alone make for such a delicious flavor that you may not even wish to include the accents.

Mendokoro Issho will undoubtedly prepare you Tokyo tonkotsu ramen that you will remember. 

Many customers have praised the tonkotsu ramen available at Mendokoro Issho, especially their range of crispy vegetables.

The soup has been praised for not being too salty but having a rich taste nonetheless. 

You can find Mendokoro Issho by just taking a four-minute walk from Exit 2A of the Minami-Asagaya Station on Tokyo’s Metro Marunouchi Line, in the Suganami Ward of Tokyo.

It’s open from 11:00 until 16:00 every day but Wednesday.

Store Information

  • Tel: +81333118803
  • Business hours:11:00-16:00
  • Regular holiday: Wednesday
  • Access:4 minutes walk from Exit 2a of “Minami-asagaya Station” on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line
  • Address:1-9-5 Asagaya Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo

Fuji Ramen (富士らーめん)

Fuji Ramen is a place where you can have an elegant flavor of Tokyo tonkotsu ramen.

After coming in second place in the Tonkotsu category of the distinguished TRY award, it is essential that you try the delicious flavors available here.

After all, Fuji Ramen is a famous ramen restaurant in Japan after achieving such a distinguished reputation.

When you eat tonkotsu ramen here, the pork bone soup has a slight odor and no greasiness to it, but it never overpowers the ingredients.

Their most popular dish is their 970 Yen dish topped with cabbage and May.

But this dish is closely competed with by the “Fuji Special Ramen” that costs 1190 Yen.

This dish is topped with eggs, cabbage, mayu and three char siu pork slices. 

Customers have praised Fuji Ramen for its modestly flavored pork bone soup, which is much lighter and rich than expected.

The noodles entwine well with it, and combined with the cabbage and Mayu makes for a meal to be remembered.

You can find Fuji Ramen by taking a two-minute walk from Asakusa station. It’s located in Asakusa in the Taito Ward of Tokyo.

They are open from 11:00 until 21:00 every day, but they are closed one day a month. 

Here is a detailed map to find Fuji Ramen along with their address: 

Store Information

  • Tel: +81338410315
  • Business hours: 11:00-21:00
  • Regular holiday: Once a month (irregular holidays)
  • Access: TX line “Asakusa” station, 2 minutes walk
  • Address: 1-24-5 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Satsumakko Heiwajima (さつまっこ 平和島店)

Satsumakko Heiwajima first started as a food stall, but now has four stores and is beloved by the local people for over forty-five years.

Their Tokyo tonkotsu ramen inspires a nostalgic taste and their aim is to be renowned for providing local soul food in Ota Ward.

Ramen is made to be enjoyed by men, women, and children of all ages, and Satsumakko Heiwajima cooks it with this ideal in mind.

Satsumakko ramen is their most popular dish. It has a light aftertaste that takes advantage of the richness of the pork bones.

Then it is topped with char siu pork, cabbage, and eggs. You can even modify the dish to your liking for a small additional price.

The char siu is soft and fat, whereas their noodles are of medium-thickness and have a chewy texture.

While it doesn’t appear sophisticated, the cabbage brings out the flavor. 

Their broth is made of soy sauce tonkotsu soup which balances the aftertaste with the umami and flavor of the pork bones.

By utilizing this rich pork bone soup, they have a flavor that can be enjoyed by the elderly and children too.

The flavor of this broth is sweet and has a strong taste of pork bones. 

By customer reviews, I would say that Satsumakko Heiwajima has succeeded in becoming Ota Ward’s soul food.

Their restaurant is constantly packed with customers and the staff only makes the experience even better.

Many customers praise the tonkotsu soy sauce soup, and find it particularly addicting!

You can find Satsumakko Heiwajima by taking a three-minute walk from Heiwajima Station in Omori Honcho, in the Ota Ward of Tokyo.

They are open every day from 11:00 until 5:00 the next morning, with the exception of New Year’s Day when they are closed. 

Here is a detailed map to show you where Satsumakko Heiwajima is located along with their address:

Store Information

  • Tel: +813-3768-2856
  • Business hours:From 11:00 am to 5:00 the next morning
  • Regular holiday: Open all year round (closed only on New Year’s Day)
  • Access: 3 minutes walk from Heiwajima station
  • Address: 2-27-7 Omorihoncho, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Hakata Menbo Akanoren Nishiazabu (博多麺房赤のれん 西麻布本店)

Hakata Menbo Akanoren Nishiazabu is one of those restaurants that is incredibly popular, especially for customers looking for a bowl of ramen after drinking some alcohol.

Their ramen menu is incredibly popular, so if you’re looking for some cheap ramen in Tokyo, I recommend looking here.

Their tonkotsu ramen is made of a cloudy tonkotsu broth combined with soy sauce and extra-fine flat noodles.

These are then combined with toppings which you can take from the desk for free.

When you eat here, you have plenty of lean char siu, and you can take some pickled ginger and sesame seeds from the desk for a refreshing flavor.  

Many customers have praised the tonkotsu ramen available here, noting the delicious odorless soup.

The textures are thin, including the noodles and the menma.

No one who comes here gets tired of the taste of the broth for tonkotsu ramen, and many return, especially Fukuoka natives.

You can find Hakata Menbo Akanoren Nishiazabu by taking a ten-minute walk from the Tokyo Metro Roppongi Station.

It’s located in Nishi-Azabu, in the Minato Ward of Tokyo. They are open every day from 11:00 until 5:00 the next day, except for Sunday when they are closed. 

Here is an address and a detailed map to find them here:

Store Information

  • Tel: +81334084775
  • Business hours: 11: 00-5: 00 the next day 
  • Regular holiday: Sunday
  • Access: 10 minutes walk from Tokyo Metro Roppongi Station
  • Address: 5th Nakaoka Building, 3-21-24 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Author: Hienadz Vardanyan

P. Sze My name is Hienadz Vardanyan, and when I first started Mad About Japan, I was just like you - marveling at the country from a great distance. Now that I have been lucky enough to visit Japan, I want to continue exciting people and encouraging them to get over there. Our main aim is to teach and inform people about all aspects of Japan - not just the technology and cherry blossoms. Japan has a uniqueness like no other, and it’s important that we cherish this and respect it when we visit.

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