Akihabara’s Best Ramen Spots: 5 Must-Visit Shops for Ramen Lovers
Updated: Nov 15
HELLO, I'M AYU!
I am one of the staff members at Patia, where we offer cooking classes specifically designed for foreign tourists in Tokyo. I have two children, and I love cooking! I look forward to sharing my passion for cooking with you and making your experience in Japan truly memorable!
Akihabara, Tokyo’s pulsating heart of pop culture and technology, is not just a haven for anime enthusiasts and gamers. Nestled amidst the neon lights and bustling streets are some of the best ramen establishments, each offering a unique culinary adventure. Whether you're a seasoned ramen aficionado or just looking to dive into this savory world, Akihabara has something to tantalize your taste buds. Join me as we explore the best ramen restaurants in this vibrant district!
Table of Contents
Patia’s Jiro-style Ramen Making Class in Tokyo
5 Must-Visit Shops for Ramen Lovers
Here are 5 best ramen restaurants to go in Akihabara. The following information below is current as of June 2024. These are subject to change, so please check each official websites in advance.
1. Mendokoro Honda
Source: Tabelog
Mendokoro Honda Akihabara Honten is one of the most popular ramen restaurants in Akihabara, which has become a battleground for ramen, and one of the most popular ramen restaurants in Tokyo. The soup has a robust flavor, homemade noodles, and Mendokoro Honda's elaborate pork chashu, which is also very tasty. The menu is very extensive, and you are sure to find the ramen you want to eat at Mendokoro Honda.
The location is excellent, just outside Akihabara Station, and Mendokoro Honda is recommended if you want to eat ramen near Akihabara Station. However, it is not recommended for those who do not like to wait, as it is not unusual to have quite a long line. If you dare, aim for late afternoon or evening hours on weekdays.
Hours: 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
*Closed on Mondays Night-time and Wednesday
*Business hours and holidays are subject to change, so please check with the restaurant before visiting.
2. Menya Musashi Iwatora
Source: Tripadvisor
One of the affiliate restaurants of Menya Musashi Group, a pioneer in the ramen boom with its main shop in Shinjuku, located in Akihabara.
One of the specialties at Menya Musashi Iwatora is its chashu bacon, which is smoked after being marinated in chashu sauce, and its crispy surface and savory flavor are impressive. If you are looking for a place to fill up on ramen or tsukemen in Akihabara, Menya Musashi Iwatora is definitely on your list.
We also recommend comparing their ramen with that of another affiliate, Menya Musashi Bujin, also located in Akihabara. Bujin is famous for its huge, tender meat toppings, which are a stark contrast to the chashu bacon at Menya Musashi Iwatora.
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 22:00 PM
*Business hours and holidays are subject to change, so please check with the restaurant before visiting.
3. Ikina Issho
Source: Tripadvisor
If you are wondering what kind of ramen you should try in the Akihabara area, you can't go wrong at Ikina Issho. The restaurant offers a wide variety of ramen flavors, including shoyu(soy sauce), shio(salt), and miso, all of which are known for their deliciousness.
Of these, the signature dish at Ikina Issho is the shio ramen, which is clearly recommended. The soup, which combines pork and chicken with seafood, has a flavor that anyone can enjoy and never get tired of, even if they eat it every day. The toppings, such as chashu pork and menma (pickled bamboo shoots), are also fun to eat as they blend with the soup over time, changing the flavor a little.
The side dish of gyoza (Chinese dumplings) also seems to be popular, so if ramen alone is not enough for you, you can also enjoy gyoza with your meal at Ikina Issho.
Hours: Weekdays 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Weekends 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
*Closed on Wednesdays
*Business hours and holidays are subject to change, so please check with the restaurant before visiting.
4. Mendokoro Mazeru
Source: Tripadvisor
Mendokoro Mazeru is a popular ramen restaurant located right outside of Akihabara Station's Showadori Exit, specializing in Jiro-style mazesoba. Although it is very close to Akihabara Station, please note that Mendokoro Mazeru is located in a building and is a bit difficult to find.
The menu is very simple, with only two types of mazesoba, soy sauce and salt, and the option to add more noodles or meat for a fee. When you hand in your ticket, you can choose whether or not to add vegetables, garlic, abura, or cheese to your mazesoba. The noodles are thick and satisfying, and the crunchy vegetables, sauce, egg yolk, and other ingredients are well mixed with the noodles. If you choose to add more meat, you can enjoy a big slice of meat, which is very satisfying.
Due to its popularity, there is sometimes a line at Mazeru during peak lunch hours, so the best time to visit is a little later in the day during weekday lunch hours. If you are interested in Mendokoro Mazeru but don't like to wait, why not aim for such a time?
Hours: Weekdays & Saturdays 11:30 AM - 15:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
*Closed on Sundays & National Holidays
*Business hours and holidays are subject to change, so please check with the restaurant before visiting.
5. Spice Ramen Manriki Akihabara
Source: Tripadvisor
Spice Ramen Manriki Akihabara is a famous ramen restaurant located near Akihabara Station, and can be called a pioneer of spiced ramen. The main shop of Manriki is located in Nishi-Kasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, and this Akihabara store is an affiliate of the shop.
As its name suggests, Manriki serves stimulating ramen with plenty of spices. The soup's delicious flavor and the aroma of the spices are intricately intertwined to create a unique spiced ramen that is wonderfully delicious. The basic Pakuchi can be replaced with green onions, but we definitely recommend Pakuchi for Manriki Akihabara's spiced ramen.
Because of the uniqueness and deliciousness of their ramen, Manriki Akihabara is often in a long line, but since they are open without a break, if you go a little off peak hours, you will often find that the restaurant is empty. If you don't like to wait, try aiming for those times.
Hours: Mon & Sun 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Others 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
*Business hours and holidays are subject to change, so please check with the restaurant before visiting.
From ramen with unique toppings and spiced ramen to sio ramen that you can eat every day and never get tired of, Akihabara offers a wide variety of ramen to taste. So, the next time you find yourself in this electric district, embark on a culinary adventure and indulge in the soul-warming embrace of a steaming bowl of ramen. Your taste buds will thank you!
Patia’s Jiro-style Ramen Making Class in Tokyo
We run Japanese cooking classes in Tokyo. We also offer a Jiro-style Ramen making class with an English-speaking instructor. In this class, participants can go to a grocery store in Akihabara to buy ingredients, make Jiro-style ramen from scratch, and eat it. We are hoping you to enjoy Japanese food experiences and create unforgettable memories in Tokyo.
We share more behind-the-scenes moments, cooking tips, and beautiful photos from our classes on Instagram! Be sure to follow us and join in the Tokyo food adventure.
Check us out at @patiajapanesecooking
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