Ramen. A giant bowl of happiness that can comfort anyone who is having a bad day. Ramen is a Japanese dish that consists of noodles served in a flavorful broth and topped with various ingredients such as chashu (braised pork belly), Menma (fermented bamboo shoots), Soft-boiled eggs, nori (seaweed), scallions (green onion), bean sprouts, and other items. The soul of ramen lies in its broth, which varies widely in flavor and richness. A lot of times you can customize your ramen to your preference by choosing the type of broth, protein, and toppings.

Ramen restaurants are rampant in Japan, ranging from fine dining to vending machines, so you will have plenty of options to select from. But how is it that you choose? Well, I went to three spots during my visit to Japan in November 2024 and ranked them below in terms of ambience, ease of ordering, and taste.

Number 3: Shinamen Hashigo Honten

📍Taimei St, 6-chōme Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

My sister and I actually stumbled upon this spot and decided to give it a try. Based on the blog 5AM Ramen, this restaurant has been open since 1964 and is best known for its tantanmen ramen. Tantanmen ramen is a style of ramen that is influenced by Chinese Sichuan cuisine. It is made with chicken or pork stock that is typically combined with sesame paste or tahini, soy milk, and chili oil. The result is spicy, nutty, and a little creamy, which is delicious if you enjoy a sesame-chili flavor.

We stepped inside of the cozy, intimate joint, which has a long bar seating area. Most customers seemed to be working professionals that were just getting off of work to grab a bite, and we appeared to be the only tourists at the time. The staff only spoke a handful of phrases in English, but they were accommodating and there were menus available in English. As we sat down, we were reminded that this was a cash only restaurant, but the items were priced reasonably (between 800-1000 Yen, which is equivalent to around $5-7 USD) We were given some waters, and I decided to go with the tantanmen ramen with braised pork and a side of gyoza.

• Affordable (800-1000 Yen Per Entree, Roughly $5-7 USD)

• Great Tantanmen Ramen

• Quick In and Out

• Local Favorite

• Quiet Atmosphere

• Cash Only

While waiting for the order, I will admit that it was very quiet other than the slurping sounds coming from other customers eating their meals (which is considered a polite in Japanese culture). People here did not mess around and were very efficient in the time they spent here to eat. The staff also pretty much kept to themselves and did not try to engage in any conversation.

The meal itself was absolutely delicious. The broth was extremely flavorful and thick, and you could tell it had been made with care. It was also slightly spicy but not completely overpowering. The ramen also contained a giant piece of tender pork, and the noodles were chewy and not overcooked. The gyoza was steaming and savory. My sister and I stuffed ourselves, even drinking all of the broth. At the time, we were both feeling the onset of a cold, and I honestly believe this ramen helped to save us from getting any worse. We rolled back to our hotel and slept fantastically. If you are looking for quick, affordable, and delicious ramen then I suggest checking out Shinamen Hashigo Ginza. However, just note that it is a quiet, local spot so it is best to be respectful.

Number 2: Ichiran Kyoto Karasuma

📍102-3 Tachiurinakanocho, Shimogyo-ku Muses 389 Kyoto Bldg. 2F, Kyoto 600-8006 Kyoto Prefecture

While my sister and I were in Kyoto, we decided to try another ramen spot. We quickly Google searched for ramen restaurants in the area we were staying and came upon Ichiran. Ichiran is a chain in Japan, which also has some locations in New York, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Their website boasts it as being "Japan's #1 Tonkotsu Ramen Restaurant". Tonkotsu ramen is a Japanese dish known for its rich, creamy, pork-based broth.

Ichiran is known for its ease of ordering, so you don't even have to have any social interaction with the staff. It also creates an environment that is best for solo eating with minimal distractions from your meal due to "Ramen Focus Booths." Basically, I felt as though I was in a space of my own, closed off from everyone else so that I could enjoy the full ramen experience. The booths are even with equipped with a water dispenser, and there was a small window for the staff to serve your meal through. Despite individual seating, I still was able to sit next to my sister, who had her own individual booth.

• Customizable - Preferences Chosen on Order Sheet

• Excellent Tonkotsu Ramen

• Solo Booths & Minimal Social Interaction

• Restaurant Chain

• Waiting Time Varies Depending On Time of Day

Use the vending machine in the front of the restaurant to order your ramen and pay. My sister and I both chose the classic tonkotsu ramen. After finding seats in the individual booths, fill out a preference form that allows you to customize your ramen (note that English was readily available). The forms allow you to choose your level of flavoring, oil content, garlic amount, spiciness, and thickness of noodle. Each option has a dotted circle around the choice that is most recommended. Of course, I love my noodles as thin as possible, so this is the only option I strayed away from the recommended.

Once the form is filled out, ring the call button within the booth and hand it to the staff. The process of ordering ramen is simple and efficient with minimal contact with the staff. After a short wait, the ramen was ready and a staff member delivered it through the front window of the booth. The ramen had rich broth, thin noodles, flavorful chashu, and just the right amount of garlic. It was amazing. My sister and ate the entire contents of our bowl and would have gone back a second time during our trip if we had the time. I highly recommend checking out this unique ramen spot!

Number 1: Ginza Kagari Honten

📍6 Chome-4-12 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

Hands down, this was the best ramen I had in Japan. Ginza Kagari Honten is known for its tori paitan soba, which is a chicken ramen that has a rich and creamy broth. The broth is made my simmering chicken bones for long hours, and the result is absolutely phenomenal. The menu also states that the special ingredient of salt-kaeshi is used, which "includes several types of natural salt with umami of seafood and other flavors." Note that the restaurant has a sign outside stating "Soba" due to the ramen noodles used being chūka soba (Chinese noodles).

My sister and I had planned to go here during our trip, so we knew it was a popular spot that gets busy. No reservations are taken, and it is on a first come first serve basis. My sister and I showed up in the early afternoon around 3 pm and were able to get in fairly quickly after a 15-minute wait. Note that you will need to wait in line outside of the restaurant, so it is recommended to bring umbrellas in the event that it is raining like with us!

• Intimate Seating Style

• Phenomenal Chicken Ramen

• Fun Music Selection (R&B Beats During Our Visit)

• Inviting Atmosphere

• Potential for Long Wait Times

Once you get to the front of the line, staff will take your order and payment. There is a menu available in English if needed. My sister and I both ordered the chicken white broth soba, and were lead to a seat in the small bar area. It was definitely an intimate setting, but the ambiance was great because there were R&B hits playing in the background. I will never forget the moment my ramen came because as the beautiful dish was set in front of me, the song "Me and U" by Cassie played on the speakers. As I took my first sip of the rich broth, I was thinking in line with the song of, "Yes, here is where I want to be!"

Aside from the creamy, umami chicken broth, the noodles were thin and soaked up all of the flavor. A separate dish of toppings was provided as well that included seasonal vegetables (like pumpkin and bell pepper), slices of tender chicken breast, and a hard-boiled egg. The experience overall was amazing due to the delicious food, friendly atmosphere, and fun beats playing in the background. I highly recommend checking this spot out if you are in the Ginza area on your trip!