Japanese ramen is known as having the most various version depends on the Prefecture it’s originated from. Even that, in one Prefecture and location, can have a wide range of different ramen shops. If you come to Akihabara or Tokyo, be sure to check in these shops:
1. Ikina Isshou (粋な一生)
Ikina Isshou has the look of the entrance like any other old ramen shop, but its interior inside are very bright, clean and new. They serve both hot ramen in the cold season and cold ramen in the summer. Despite its popular, the shop is quite small and there’s no English menu as well as English speaking staff, but don’t worry, there are images come with the menu!
Address:
1-27-2 Taito, Taito-ku Tokyo
Access:
6mins walk from JR Akihabara Station
Hours:
Weekdays 11:00-21:00, Weekends and holidays 11:00-20:00
Price range:
1,000yen ~
Tel:
03-3837-8117
2. Kanda Isono (神田 磯野)
This small ramen shop portraits a very traditional look from old-style ramen shop, thanks to the curtain at the entrance. There’re not many seats so you’d want to be early-arrived if you want a spot. The kitchen is right next to the counter seats, so customers can enjoy watching their ramen be cooked. Kanda Isono also provides “Today’s Taki-Meshi”, which is a rice cooked with some vegetables and seasoned with soy sauce, and very popular!
Address: 1 Chome-3 Kanda Sudacho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 7mins walk from Akihabara Station, 3mins walk from Awajicho Station
Hours:
Monday-Friday: Lunch 11:30-15:00, Dinner 17:45-20:30
Saturday and National Holidays: 11:30-17:30
Closed on Sundays
Price range:
1,000yen ~
Tel:
03-3256-2929
3. Mumei (無銘)
The special about this shop comes right from its name. The name of this shop is actually 『 』, as in ‘nonexistent’. But if you translate the ‘nonexistent’, you may have ‘無銘‘ (mumei), means ‘no name’. The interiors and designs inside the shop are very cozy with wood tone color, so as the staffs and chef’s attitude. The recommendation here is Jukusei Neri Shoyu ramen, which is a fermented ball of shoyu mix with all sorts of fish powders and spices, and a scoop of miso paste!
Address:
49 Kanda Higashimatsushitacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access:
9mins walk from Akihabara Station
Hours:
11:00-22:00
Closed on Sunday
Price range:
1,000yen ~
Tel:
03-3255-8595
4. Aoshima Shokudo (青島食堂)
The originate store of Aoshima Shokudo is near Niigita Prefecture, which is very famous there. The shop is quite small, so you may want arrive early before lunch time or dinner, but the shop is so clean and still has some space for you to waiting around. There are only two specific options on the menu: Aoshima ramen and Aoshima char siu ramen, with two sizes (small size and large size) for each, you can also choose the amount of char siu meat that you want too! However, adding each topping (char siu, spinach, seaweed, green onions and memma) go with optional price.
Address:
3 Chome-20 Kanda Sakumacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyo
Access:
7mins walk from Akihabara Station
Hours:
11:00-18:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Price range:
1,000yen ~
Tel:
03-5820-0037
5. Keku (けくぅ)
Keku is known for its ramen’ strong and exquisite flavor. The refined taste of the ramen but the price is affordable and most travel-convenient this restaurant featured will sure satisfy you and your hungry stomach. Keku serves both Shoyu (soy sauce) and Shio (salt) ramen.
Address:
Sudacho Park Building 1F, 1 Chome-18-2 Kanda Sudacho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access:
7mins walk from Akihabara Station
Hours:
Monday-Friday: Lunch 11:30-15:00, Dinner 17:00-22:00
Sunday and holidays 11:30-15:00
Closed on Saturdays
Price range:
1,000yen ~
Tel:
03-3253-8611
6. Mugi to Olive (麦とオリーブ)
Mugi to Olive’s first store is in Ginza and the chain is opened by a French chef, of course, which means you will have the chance to have the ramen experience like no other! Ramen menu is updated with lots of mixes that will still bring you the traditional ramen taste but at the same time, a very strong, hard-hitting ones! I’d recommend hamaguri clam ramen, which is a rare triple soup of clam, niboshi (dried sardines) and chicken broth. Also, you can try mazemen (‘mix noodles’), which is a near-perfect, medium-thick noodles.
Address:
Maach Ecute Kanda Manseibashi S10, 1 Chome-25-4 Kanda Sudacho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access:
5mins walk from JR Akihabara Station
Hours:
Monday- Saturday 11:00-22:00, Sunday and holidays 11:00-20:00
Price range:
1,000yen ~
7. Ramen Kagemusha (らーめん影武者)
Kagemusha is known for its taste in traditional ramen menu, there’re 3 options of the sizes for you to choose: normal, large, mega, of course, you can also order extra toppings such as char siu for 100yen! The most famous thing here is not only the thickness of the char siu meat, but also miso ramen, and a bonus of abura soba!
Address:
3 Chome-4-1 Sotokanda Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access:
8mins walk from JR Akihabara Station
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:00-21:20, Sunday and holidays 10:00-20:20
Price range:
1,000yen ~
Tel:
03-3253-2922
8. Gottsu Akihabara (ごっつ 秋葉原)
Gottsu’s operating hours will sure satisfy tourists who not only want ramen for their lunch, dinner, but also an extra midnight snack! The only thing is the shop quite small (only8-10 seats a time), so you may have to get in line before being able to get in. About the ramen, it is probably the best ramen you’ve ever tasted, everyone loves it because the it’s said that the shop doesn’t use normal soup base but instead is the extract of pork, chicken, dried sardines and dried bonito.
Gottsu’s greasy and huge ramen will sure satisfy your appetite!
Address:
18 Kanda Matsunagacho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access:
5mins walk from JR Akihabara Station
Hours:
11:00-4:00 the next day
Price range:
1,000yen ~
Tel:
03-3257-3330
9. Torio Keisuke (鶏王けいすけ)
The most liked dishes is the chicken-based soup with ramen and a large portion of chicken toppings but for an affordable price. In fact, it comes with a whole chicken leg! The shop’s space is fine enough for you don’t have to wait for very long line.
Address:
1 Chome-3-4 Sotokanda Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access:
4mins walk from JR Akihabara Station
Hours:
11:30-22:00
Price range:
1,000yen ~
Tel:
03 6206 9344
Website:
http://www.grandcuisine.jp/keisuke/ (Japanese Only)
10. Menya Kimura
Menya Kimura’s ramen is soy sauce based, and they offer seasonal dishes, for example, there are cold ramen in the summer, and spicy based ramen in cold seasons. There are three options about the size for you to choose from (Small – Medium – Large). The most popular bowl here is Wonton ramen!
Address:
1-9-8 Kanda Izumicho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access:
5mins walk from JR Akihabara Station
Hours:
Mondays to Fridays 11:00-15:00, Saturdays 11:00-14:00
Closed on Sundays and National Holidays
Price range:
1,000yen ~
Tel:
03-3866-2911
*Thumbnail image is from Flickr