Ramen is one of the best meals you can have in Tokyo, and one of the cheapest. There are thousands of ramen shops in the city, from tiny counters with ten seats to famous shops with long lines. Here is how to choose a bowl, order at the ticket machine and eat like a local, plus a shop we tried ourselves.
Quick answer
Main types: shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt), miso and tonkotsu (pork bone), plus tsukemen (dipping noodles).
How to order: at many shops you buy a ticket from a machine by the door, often cash only, and hand it to the staff.
Manners: slurping is normal. Most shops are small, so don’t linger after you finish.
Easy place to start: Tokyo Ramen Street at Tokyo Station, open 10:30–23:00.
Main types of ramen
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Shoyu | Soy sauce-based soup. A Tokyo classic, often clear and light |
| Shio | Salt-based soup. Often the lightest and clearest |
| Miso | Rich miso soup, often with corn and butter |
| Tonkotsu | Creamy pork bone soup, often with thin noodles |
| Tsukemen | Noodles that you dip into a thicker, more concentrated soup served on the side |
How to order
- Ticket machine: many shops have a vending machine by the door with a button for each dish. Put in money, press the button for your ramen and any extras, take your ticket and change, and hand the ticket to the staff. Many machines are cash only. See how to eat out in Tokyo.
- Toppings: common extras are a soft-boiled egg (ajitama), sliced pork (chashu), seaweed (nori) and green onion.
- Noodle firmness: some shops, especially tonkotsu shops, ask how firm you want the noodles: katame (firm), futsuu (regular) or yawarakame (soft).
- Extra noodles: kaedama, a refill of noodles for your soup, is a custom from Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, and some shops in Tokyo offer it.
Ramen manners
- Slurping is fine. JNTO calls it the standard way to eat ramen.
- Don’t linger. Most shops are small, so leave soon after you finish when people are waiting.
- Lines: join the end and wait. Some shops ask you to buy your ticket before you queue.
- If other customers put their bowl on the high counter when they finish, do the same, and wipe the counter if there is a cloth.
- It is fine to leave some soup.
A ramen shop we tried
In October 2026 we ate at Men to Kozara Seika, a small shop in Hatsudai, about 10 minutes on foot from Hatsudai Station. We ordered the shio (salt) ramen in a large size for ¥1,050. It came in a cloudy, creamy soup with three slices of chashu, green onion, bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms. Payment is cash or HachiPay only, there is no English menu, and it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
More ramen shops in our guide
- Ichiran Shibuya: tonkotsu ramen at a counter near the Scramble Crossing.
- AFURI Ebisu: AFURI’s ramen shop in Ebisu, open late.
- Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai: six ramen shops from around Japan in Aqua City Odaiba.
- See all ramen restaurants in our guide.
Tokyo Ramen Street
Tokyo Ramen Street is a row of well-known ramen shops in the basement of First Avenue Tokyo Station (Tokyo Station Ichibangai), just outside the Yaesu-side ticket gates. The area is open 10:30–23:00 (last orders 22:30), though each shop sets its own hours and some open early for breakfast. It is an easy first stop before or after a Shinkansen ride. See our Ginza and Tokyo Station guide.
Dietary needs
Most ramen uses pork or chicken broth, and many toppings contain meat or fish. Vegetarian and vegan ramen exists but is still uncommon, so look for shops that clearly say so. See our vegetarian and halal guide. If you have allergies, show the staff a note written in Japanese: our Japanese phrases guide can help.
FAQ
What kinds of ramen are there in Tokyo?
The main types are shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt), miso and tonkotsu (pork bone), plus tsukemen (dipping noodles).
How do I order at a ramen shop?
Many shops have a ticket machine by the door. Pay first, then hand the ticket to the staff. Many machines are cash only.
Is it rude to slurp ramen?
No. Slurping is the normal way to eat ramen in Japan.
Where can I try several ramen shops in one place?
Tokyo Ramen Street in the basement of First Avenue Tokyo Station, open 10:30 to 23:00.
What is kaedama?
A refill of noodles for your leftover soup, a custom from Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen that some Tokyo shops offer.
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Sources
Ramen types and manners come from the Japan National Tourism Organization; Tokyo Ramen Street from First Avenue Tokyo Station’s official site; Men to Kozara Seika from our own visit in October 2026 (checked November 2, 2026).
