If you are planning to travel to Japan and you also like ramen, you cannot stop reading this post. You will get to know the best places where you can taste the most authentic ramen!
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Kyushu Jangara – Harajuku
Kyushu Jangara is a store belonging to a chain of restaurants based on the island of Kyushu (hence the name). Jangara is one of the most touristy ramen shops in Tokyo, located just a minute’s walk from Harajuku Station. It has a menu in English, so ordering will be easier for beginners. On weekends the queues at the door of the local are usual. The base of the broth they prepare here is tonkotsu (pork bone), made from pork bones simmered for hours, sometimes even days. The noodles here are quite good; the place is very comfortable and close to the mecca of Harajuku shopping.
Menya Musashi – Shinjuku
Menya Musashi is one of the most famous ramen shops in the shinjuku area. It has appeared on Japanese television on several occasions, and at mealtime the queues at its door extend down the alley from Monday to Friday. Musashi ramen is served with a light broth base, shoyu (soy sauce); with hints of katsuo (dried bonito) and yuzu (Japanese citrus). The food is ordered in a vending machine located next to the entrance, inside one of the employees will ask you for the ticket that you have taken out of the machine and will ask you if you want your ramen kotteri (heavier flavor) or Assari (lighter flavor). All the cooks are very lively in the open kitchen; with the chef buzzing as he takes the noodles out of the water and shakes them to drain them. Musashi is a good place to try ramen for the first time as its recipe is very mild, ideal for inexperienced palates, and its atmosphere is very festive. It is a good option if you are near the shinjuku station.
Ippudo Ramen – Ebisu
If you only have time to visit a ramen shop while you’re in Tokyo, Ippudo might be your best bet. Ippudo is one of the most famous ramen chains in Japan, its restaurants are spread all over the country, and they serve Hakata ramen, tonkotsu in the style of the island of Kyushu. Their broth is creamy and delicious, with a unique flavor that most people have never experienced before arriving in Japan. In addition to accompanying ramen they have a wide assortment of toppings including spicy moyashi (soybean sprouts), Ninniku (garlic), takana karashi (spicy pickles) and shoga (pickled ginger).
Taishoken – Higashi Ikebukuro
Taishoken is one of Tokyo’s most famous ramen shops. It is said that its owner, Kazuo Yamagishi, is the inventor of the tsukemen, the tsukemen is a variety of ramen, instead of serving the noodles along with the soup, are served separately along with a broth. The broth that comes with the tsukemen is usually a little more potent in flavor than typical ramen broth and is intended to be used as a sauce to dip the noodles. You can eat tsukemen in many Tokyo restaurants but the authentic ones are those of Taishoken.
Aoba -Nakano
Aoba has earned its fame by serving simple ramen bowls with the best ingredients. They are ranked as one of the highest quality ramen shops in Tokyo and long queues at the door are common. The soup they use is shoyu and they make it by mixing two types of broth, one made with pork and chicken bones and the other made with dashi – dried bonito and kombu seaweed – the two soups are combined at the moment it serves the customer, creating a unique aroma and flavor. As in many popular ramen shops, Aoba closes every day at the end of the broth.
Ramen Oyaji – Machida
Ramen Oyaji is a bit far away, located on the edge of Kanagawa Prefecture and more than an hour’s train ride from downtown Tokyo. For those who are looking for authentic sapporo-style miso ramen, look no further because ramen Oyaji is the best option, the following would be to get on a plane to Hokkaido Island. The white miso broth they prepare is very creamy and rich, at the level of the best ramen in Japan. In addition to its delicious soup, egg noodles border on perfection.