Tokyo Ramen Street is very popular with visitors to Japan. Of course, it is a popular place for Japanese ramen lovers too. These best ramen shops area opened up in one corner of Tokyo Station in June of 2009. It is based on the concept of "first ramen shop comes to mind". In the beginning, there were four shops and there has since grown to eight ramen shops chosen now.
8 of the Best Ramen Shops
Ramen Gyoku ; Tokyo Niboshi Ramen
Gyoku is Niboshi ramen shop. Niboshi means Japanese anchovy, its ramen soup is a recent trend. Gyoku’s one is prepared by adding Niboshi broth which is simmered thoroughly into rich chicken broth. Both are the best combination.
Special Rich Niboshi Ramen：特製とろりそば
Price : JPY 1,150 yen
This is the best popular ramen of this shop. All toppings are included. A soy sauce base soup with the rich flavor of Niboshi is full of Umami. Besides, thin shavings of dried bonito for topping which shaved in the shop is so excellent flavor.
Noodles are thin type and toppings are charshu pork, simmered egg, seasoned bamboo shoots, laver seaweed, and green onion.
Ultra Rich Niboshi Ramen : 抜群煮干しらーめん
Price : JPY 1,070 yen
Ultra Rich Niboshi Ramen is good if you want to enjoy more strong smell of Niboshi. Having said that, the soup has a very mild flavor and a smell is not too strong either.
These noodles are also thin type and toppings are charshu pork, simmered egg, and green onion.
It might feel a bit salty in the latter half.
Soranoiro NIPPON
SORANOIRO is unique as ramen shop in Japan. They offer ramens like no other like Vegesoba, Vegan ramen, and etc. Of course ordinary ones are also offered. That being said, that doesn't mean ordinary ramens are unique. It is so good. There is no doubt about chef's ability because he had learned for ten years at Ippudo ramen shop which is very famous for Hakata ramen.
Special Vegesoba：特製ベジソバ
Price : JPY 1,080 yen
Vegesoba is the ramen that is for vegan. "Special Vegesoba" has eggs, though. There is also "Vegesoba" that has no eggs. Noodles are flat type and bell pepper is kneaded into dough of it. The soup that is mixed with vege broth and puree of carrot glacé. It is good and is full of vege's Umami. Toppings are 4-5 kinds of seasonal vegetables. They are cabbage, tomato, carrot, broccoli, lotus root, sweet potato, and eggs. Dropped the white sauce is soy milk.
Rokurinsha
Rokurinsha is by far the most popular shop in Tokyo ramen street and famous for Tukemen (a dipping noodle dish) style. There is always such a long line at this shop, so it may be necessary to wait in line if you want to try this Tukemen.
Rokushasha was in another place before. It was huge queues there too, and that had caused a nuisance to the neighborhood for a long time. So this shop was closed on 2010. Now it has changed in various things and Rokurinsha has come back but it may have changed from the taste at that time.
The sign for waiting time on the floor.
Special Dip Noodle : 特製つけ麺
Price : JPY 1,080 yen
Speaking of Rokurinsha, that is very very rich mixed seafood and tonkotsu soup. Although it is a dipping sauce not soup, in the case of tsukemen. The broth which is simmered tonkotsu and torigara (pork and chicken born) for long time thoroughly, and is flavored dried boiled anchovy and mackerel. The noodles are very thick type characteristically, and have a firm texture because they are rinsed in cold water. Toppings are seasoned boiled egg, chashu pork, seasoned bamboo shoots, and green onion, laver seaweed, fish powder, and pork meat broken up.
Hirugao ; Shio Ramen
Hirugao is Shio (salt) ramen specialties of Setagaya ramen shop. Setagaya and its owner are very famous for in ramen world, and has been popular for over 10 years.
Shi-Ramen Hirugao-mori (all toppings) : 塩ラーメン ひるがお盛り
Price : JPY 1,150 yen
The soup is clear and mild taste. Niboshi and dried scallops broth mixed chicken born broth is so flavorful. Straight thin type noodles really go well with this soup. Toppings are wontons, charshu pork, salty boiled egg, green onion, shrimp, fermented bamboo shoots, and sea lettuce (a type of seaweed) . Yuzu smells a little.
Oreshiki Jun ; Tonkotsu Ramen
Oreshiki Jun is tonkotsu ramen shop and is also the same owner as Hirugao. Tonkotsu is a type of ramen soup, and the word "tonkotsu" comes from two words. The first word "ton" is one of a reading of Japanese character which means pig or pork. The second one "kotsu" comes from bone's Japanese character saying. Tonkotsu broth is made from simmering pork bones for a long stretch of time, this gives the broth that deep taste and white soup.
Tonkotsu Ramen (all toppings) : 豚骨DX
Price : JPY 1,100 yen
Tonkotsu Ramen is the real thing of Hakata but I felt a little different here. It may be a bit light. I think that is this shop taste for Tonkotsu. Noodles are very thin straight type which is characteristic for Tonktsu (Hakata) ramen. I think you should order noodle firmness because noodles are very thin. My recommendation is "bari-kata". That means 2nd firm. Toppings are charshu pork, seasoned boiled eggs, green onions, bean sprouts, wood ear mushrooms, and mentaiko. Mentaiko is seasoned cod roe.
Tsujita "Miso no Sho" ; Miso Ramen
Tsujita has been one of the gained momentum ramen group and "Miso no Sho" is a specialty shop for miso ramen of Tsujita. Miso is a Japanese fermented soybean paste, and it is one of the essential condiments in Japanese cooking. You may have heard Miso Soup.
Miso is one of 3 basic ramen soup : Shio(salt), Shoyu (soy sauce), and Miso. Although they are a popular ramen, the ramen shops which those basic flavors a selling point are not much. So if you want to try the miso flavor, this shop is recommended.
BTW, this shop's vending machine of ramen ticket is so hard to understand the menu in a short time even Japanese. So, I think visitors should decide by the price. Miso ramen is JPY 850.
Miso Ramen : 味噌ラーメン
Price : JPY 870 yen
The soup is rich and mild miso based broth and noodles are thick wrinkled type. The noodles are sent directly from Hokkaido. Hokkaido has strong name recognition with Miso ramen. It is said to be one of the place of origin. Toppings are two types of charshu pork ( sliced and small rectangles ), seasoned bamboo shoots, and green onion.
Bari-Miso Ramen with seasoned egg : 味玉バリ味噌ラーメン
Price : JPY 1,020 yen
Bari-Miso means very rich miso. It is several different types of miso are mixed. I recommend "Miso ramen" instead of this "Bari-Miso ramen" if you have never had Miso raman. That is because I think "Bari-Miso" has too strong miso taste. It is also quite different from Miso-soup.
Toppings are almost the same as Miso Ramen but stir-fried bean sprouts is added.
Chiyogami ; Tokyo Chuka Soba
Chiyogami is another brand of Ikaruga. Their owner is the same. This shop is Chuka Soba ramen shop. The first word "Chuka" means Chinese and the second one "Soba" means noodles, so that means Chinese noodles but speaking of Chuka-soba, it refers to traditional ramen.
Tokyo-Station Shoyu Chuka-Soba : 東京駅 醤油 中華そば
Price : JPY 1,000 yen
Shoyu (soy sauce) chuka soba is soy sauce ramen. This shop's soup is clear and broth is made from dried Bonito flake and seaweed (konbu) , and chicken broth is also mixed. Noodles are medium thickness and straight type and toppings are charshu pork, simmered egg, seasoned bamboo shoots, laver seaweed, and potherb mustard.
Shio Chuka-Soba : 塩 中華そば
Price : JPY 800 yen
Shio (salt) chuka soba is salt flavored ramen. The soup is mild and
broth is made from dried Bonito flake, seaweed (konbu), and Niboshi (Japanese anchovy). Niboshi's smell is good. Noodles are medium thickness and straight type and toppings are charshu pork, seasoned bamboo shoots, laver seaweed, and potherb mustard.
Ikaruga
My image of Ikaruga ramen shop is refined. In April 2000, Ikaruga was established in Kudan, Tokyo. Kudan was not ramen battle area and the place of the shop was not even little pedestrian traffic. Nevertheless, there was a long line there. The reason was the overwhelming delicious ramen produced by the owner. After that, the outstanding taste has attracted attention from large companies like Nissin, and has been commercialized as Ikaruga cups noodles.
Gyokai-Tonkotsu rich ramen (all toppings)：
魚介とんこつ濃厚全部入りラーメン
Price : JPY 1,130 yen
The soup is mixed with tonkotsu broth and gyokai broth ( dried Bonito flake broth ). The balance of both broths is amazing. The moment it is taken one bite soup, the smell of gyokai spread in my mouth. It is so good, I could keep having it. Noodles are thin type and toppings are two types of charshu (pork and chicken), seasoned boiled egg, laver seaweed, naruto (fish cakes), green onions, and fermented soft bamboo shoots.
I couldn't stop and had all the soup.
Location of Tokyo ramen street
Tokyo Ramen Street can be a little tricky to find, since the station is huge and there are several train lines. On top of that the building of shops is a labyrinth. Even Japanese, it is not easy to get there unless they are used to it. So we will look up the location beforehand.
Your first mission is to look at the sign on the platform to find Yaesu South Exit when you arrive at Tokyo station of JR line. You must get out of that exit. There are several stairs to exit on the platform.
If you find out the sign of Yaesu South Exit, go down the stairs.
Go toward Yaesu South Exit.
Almost there
Exit Yaesu South Gate and then go to the underground mall "First Avenue Tokyo Station". Go down either stairs.
Got here! This ramen sculpture may not exist.
Payment
The Vending Machines for Ramen Tickets
The payments and ordering at Tokyo Ramen Street are made via vending machine. That is not only here, many ramen shops in Japan often have the vending machines where you have to buy tickets before taking seats. Credit cards cannot be used there, so you need to prepare cash when you eat ramen.
How to buy
In Tokyo Ramen Street, tickets are supposed to be bought before you line up. Only Rokurinsha, you line first and buy them just before entering.
- You should decide what to eat before buying the ticket because you may confuse at the vending machine. Probably, there are no English menu (names) on the button of the machine. Remember the price of the item you chose since it may be useful when ordering.
- Put money into the machine.
- Choose the item you would like to order and push the button. If you cannot identify what you are looking for, ask the store staff or the Japanese behind you. ex. "Which one is something something?" "something something wa do-re-de-su-ka?" Otherwise choose the top left item of the ticket machine because many ramen shops usually put the best recommendation in that position.
