One of the 23 wards of Tokyo, known not only for its large entertainment, business, and shopping area, you can also enjoy the best ramen in Shinjuku. In Shinjuku, you will find the ramen paradise of Japan. This means that you can find around 200 ramen shops in this city ward.
From shoyu ramen to upgraded ramen bowls, indulge yourself to the best ramen in Shinjuku. In this article, learn more about the “food that makes you want more”, the best ramen shops in Shinjuku, and plan ahead to satisfy your appetite without having to spend more pennies.
With no further ado, here are the 10 best ramen specialty and it’s respective shops in Shinjuku.
10 Best Ramen in Shinjuku
With 70 Ichiran stores across Japan, Ichiran proudly serves the classic Tonkotsu ramen, a rich creamy soup made from pork broth from Fukuoka Prefecture, with smooth-thin noodles, and topped with sliced pork, green onion, and spicy red sauce.
You can choose the hardness of the noodles, richness of the soup, and the level of spice. The seat is divided individually for the customer to enjoy the ramen.
The Shinjuku branch of Ichiba can be accessed 3 minutes walk from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station. It is open 24 hours.
- Budget: 890 yen~
- GPS: Ichiran Ramen
- Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3 Chome−34−11 B1F・6F Peace Bldg.
- +81 3-3225-5518
Are you looking for ramen with a different twist, not just the classical pork broth ramen? Well, Ebisoba Ichigen serves the seafood type ramen, the legendary Shrimp Ramen.
A shrimp broth with rich smooth noodles, topped with green onion leaves, pork slice, and egg. Ebisoba Ichigen can be found also at Sapporo City, Hokkaido, and two in Tokyo.
The store in Shinjuku can be accessed a 6-minute walk from Shinjuku Station’s West Exit. It is open from 11 AM to 11 PM and is always closed on Wednesdays.
- Budget: ~1000 yen only.
- GPS: Ebisoba Ichigen (Shinjuku)
Japan, 〒160-0023 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 7 Chome−8−2 福八ビル 1F - +81 3-5937-4155
Popularized by their signature ramens, Tonkotsu and Bankara. Try the Bankara Ramen, a mix of Tonkotsu and Shoyu ramen, which is an A rank pork back rich and creamy broth, thin noodles, topped with menma, nori, green onions, and the popular Kakuni pork belly.
There are currently 25 branches in Japan including the Shinjuku branch and 9 abroad. The Shinjuku branch can be accessed 4 minutes walk from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station. It is open from 11 am to 8 am the next day.
- Budget: ~1000 yen only.
- GPS: Bankara
Japan, 〒160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukicho, 1 Chome−17−5 第二安田ビル 1F - +81 3-6205-5215
Menya Kaijin takes their pride in their own unique style ramen, the Seafood Broth Ramen, which is based on aromatic Shio soup, thin noodles, and topped with shrimp and vegetable strips.
The Shinjuku branch can be accessed a 1-minute walk from Shinjuku Station South Exit. They are open from 11 am to 3 pm/ 4:30 pm to 11:30 pm from Mondays to Saturdays. On Sundays, they are open from 11 am to 11 pm.
- Budget: ~1000 yen only.
- GPS: Menya Kaijin
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3 Chome−35−7 さんらくビル2F - +81 3-3356-5658
Tatsunoya has over 10 branches across Japan and is originated from the Kurume City of Fukuoka Prefecture, the birthplace of Tonkotsu Ramen. They serve you either a black bowl or red bowl, which has a rich flavored pork broth, original straight thin noodles, and with few creamy pork slices.
Their branch from Shinjuku can be accessed 10 minutes walk from the West Exit of Shinjuku Station. They are open from 11 am to 11:30 pm.
- Budget: ~1000 yen only.
- GPS: Tatsunoya
7 Chome-4-5 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan - +81 3-6304-0899
Their rich ramen dish is made from dried sardine, an aromatic and rich broth, and topped with your choice of toppings. They have a total of 8 branches in Tokyo.
The Niboshi Ramen Nagi Shinjuku Branch can be found at Golden Gai. The store can be accessed 6 minutes walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit. They are open 24 hours.
- Budget: ~1000 yen
- GPS: Ramen Nagi
Japan, 〒160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukicho, 1 Chome−1−10 2F - +81 3-3205-1925
- https://maps.google.com/?cid=9832644939543904579
Ippudo is one of the most popular ramen chains in Japan with a lot of branches located worldwide. They are proud of their significant Tonkotsu Ramen, a rich and creamy pork broth, smooth and thin noodles, spicy red paste and topped with mushrooms, green onion, and the typical pork slices.
The Shinjuku branch can be accessed a 1-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station East Exit, 7F Lumine EST. They are serving ramens from 11 am to 11 pm on weekdays and 11 am to 11:30 pm on Weekends and Holidays.
- Budget: 1000 yen~
- GPS: Ippudo
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3 Chome−38−1 ルミネエスト新宿 7F - +81 3-6380-4473
One of the most friendly restaurants in Tokyo, this restaurant serves ramen for vegetarians and Muslims. They offer delicious ramen, smooth noodles and topped with healthy and nutritious vegetables, sometimes eggs.
It is located near Shinjuku Gyoen and can be accessed 4 minutes walk from Shinjuku Gyoen Mae Station. They are open from 12:30 pm to 3 pm at lunchtime, from 6 pm to 10 pm on dinners. They are always closed on Fridays(dinners).
- Budget: 1000 yen ~
- GPS: http://bit.ly/2O2kXY6
Halal Ramen Ouka
1 Chome-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan - +81 3-5925-8426
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/PFAZWZbCMMpXTrBE7
Dipping ramen is one of the unique styles of ramen. You can control your every bite of the separated smooth noodles and the soup, made with aromatic chicken and fish stock, and sweet toppings of egg and dried seaweed.
Fuunji Shinjuku Branch can be accessed 5 minutes walk from the South Exit of JR Shinjuku Station. They are open from 11 am to 3 pm for lunches and 5 pm to 9 pm for dinners.
- Budget: ~1000 yen
- GPS: http://bit.ly/2OMrN9m
Fūunji
Japan, 〒151-0053 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Yoyogi, 2 Chome−14−3 北斗第一ビル１F - +81 3-6413-8480
10. Mega Ramen of Menya Musashi (麺屋武蔵).
There are over 10 Menya Musashi restaurants in Tokyo. They specialize in the well-blended soup of chicken, pork, and fish broth which creates rich and aromatic flavor, topped with chunks of pork belly and a half-boiled egg. It is also served in the Tsukemen style.
Opened in 1996, the legendary Shinjuku branch can be accessed 4 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku Station West Exit. They are open from 11 am to 10:30 pm daily.
- Budget: 1,000 Yen
- GPS: Menya Musashi Shinjuku Sohonten
Japan, 〒160-0023 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 7 Chome−2−6 西新宿Ｋ－１ビル 1F - +81 3-3363-4634
Ramen is very palatable, mouth-watering, and flavourful because of its ingredients. In addition, ramens are affordable and have a wide of varieties. These reasons make ramen known worldwide.
How to Order Ramen
Watch this video on our FAIR Japan channel as we will take you to a real Japanese restaurant and teach you how to order the best ramen in Shinjuku. Watch now!
- Ticket Machines
- Insert your money on the slot. Do not use large bills such as 5,000 yen and 10,000 yen.
- Push the button of the ramen you want to eat.
- Give the ticket to the chef or to the staff.
2. Ordering with the Menu
- Select your order.
- Inform the staff.
- Pay in advance or pay after eating.
*Please note that the menus are written in Japanese. To know the recommended and specialty of the ramen shop(ramen-ya), here are the tips.
In a ticket machine, you can find the recommended menu at the top left.
In a vertically-written menu, you can find the recommended menu on the righthand side.
In a horizontally-written menu, you can find the recommended menu at the top.
Proper Etiquette at Ramen Shops
- Take your photos swiftly.
- Slurping is a custom.
- Give your seat to the next customer as quickly as possible.
- It is a compliment to the chef to drink the whole soup, but it is also alright to left the unfinished soup.
- You can lift up the bowl to drink the ramen soup, but you can also use the Chinese style spoon to drink the soup and eat the noodles with the chopsticks.
- Line up with the entire party to help the management run the tables smoothly.
- You shouldn’t drink alcohol and smoke while lining up.
- Cooperate in forming a straight line.
Ramen Types and Toppings
Types
- Shoyu (醤油, Soy Sauce) is a clear, brown broth flavored with soy sauce (shoyu) and is usually made of chicken broth.
- Shio (塩, Salt) is a light, clear broth seasoned with salt and is typically made from chicken broth.
- Miso (味噌, Soybean Paste) is flavored with soybean paste (miso), resulting in a thick, brown soup with a rich, complex flavor.
- Tonkotsu (豚骨, Pork Bone) is made of pork bones that have been boiled down until they dissolve into a cloudy white broth.
Toppings and Side Dishes
- Chashu are fatty slices of roasted or braised pork.
- Menma are preserved bamboo shoots with a salty flavor.
- Negi are chopped or shredded leeks or green onions.
- Moyashi are raw or cooked bean sprouts.
- Tamago are hard-boiled, soft boiled, raw and marinated eggs.
- Seaweed such as wakame and nori.
- Kamaboko are slices of steamed fish cake.
- Corn
- Butter
- Gyoza(Chinese style, pan-fried dumplings, mostly added as a side dish)
- Karagi(fried chicken balls)
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You can find the best ramen in Shinjuku. Wide varieties of savory and delightful ramen to choose from are found there. It always depends on your taste buds.
In addition, you can choose the toppings you want. Imagine the nostalgic experience of eating ramen in a historical and busy place. Don’t forget to take a souvenir picture and enjoy the food digest!
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