Only got room for one bowl? Make it Ginza Hachigou. It's a clear, elegant soup from a French-trained chef, and the chuka soba is ¥1,200. Want something louder? Go for the shrimp tsukemen at Gonokami Seisakusho near Shinjuku, from ¥1,000. Up for something new? Try salmon ramen in Sangenjaya or lobster bisque ramen at Ebimaru. Vegan? The ¥2,000 miso bowl at UZU inside teamLab Planets is yours.
Order the chuka soba (¥1,200), or go ajitama (¥1,400) or tokusei (¥1,600) if you want the works. There's also a limited bowl, 30 a day, at ¥2,200. A French-trained chef makes the clear soup, and it's the bowl to plan a morning around. Walk-ins line up from 11:00 and get served in queue order. From 12:00, seats go to people with reservations. It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays (irregular), and it closes when the soup sells out. It's cashless, and children of elementary-school age or younger can't come in. Best for the friend who'll happily queue at 11:00 for a great bowl.
French-influenced ramen · Walk-ins from 11:00 in queue order; reservation holders from 12:00. Closes when the soup sells out. Closed Mon and Tue (irregular). Cashless; no children of elementary-school age or younger. · Chuka soba ¥1,200; ajitama ¥1,400; tokusei ¥1,600; limited bowl (30 a day) ¥2,200.
Tsuta does creative, umami-heavy ramen with no additives. It's the pick if you care about what goes into the bowl. Since October it's open 11:00–15:00 and closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so this is a Thursday-to-Sunday lunch. Good for a slow weekend lunch out west.
Get the shrimp tsukemen. It's ¥1,000, ¥1,150 with egg, ¥1,250 with extra meat or ¥1,500 for the special. The shrimp-tomato version also starts at ¥1,000. The dipping soup is rich and full-on shrimp, which makes it the punchy opposite of a clear shoyu bowl. It's open 11:00–21:30 (last order 21:00). Perfect for a cheap, filling dinner after Shinjuku.
Shrimp tsukemen originator · 11:00–21:30 (L.O. 21:00). · Shrimp tsukemen ¥1,000 / with egg ¥1,150 / extra meat ¥1,250 / special ¥1,500; shrimp-tomato from ¥1,000.
Order the lamb tonkotsu ramen. It's chef Tomoharu Shono's shop in Kasuga, by Korakuen, and lamb in a ramen soup is something you won't find on every corner. It's open 11:00–23:00, so it works for a late dinner. Great for the friend who's already done the classics.
Order the signature bowl, a French-inspired lobster bisque ramen (¥1,580). It's a splurge-feeling bowl, and it makes a fun treat after a day in the Jimbocho bookshops. For a real splurge, there's a whole-lobster ramen at ¥7,580. Weekdays it's open 11:30–15:00 and 18:00–22:30 (last order 22:00), and weekends and holidays 11:30–20:00 (last order 19:30). Closing days are irregular. Best for a celebration bowl with someone who loves seafood.
Bowls run ¥980–¥1,400. Pick between salmon dandan (¥1,200), salmon basil (¥1,300) or premium truffle salmon (¥1,400). The broth is made from salmon, so it's new without being a gimmick. It's also a good excuse to go west of Shibuya. For anyone who wants a bowl they haven't had before.
Order the yuzu-scented soupless tantanmen, a brothless bowl you toss with the sauce. The yuzu keeps it bright and light. It's open 11:00–22:00 on weekdays (last order 21:30) and 11:00–21:00 on weekends and holidays (last order 20:30). Good for a quick solo lunch or dinner around Kanda.
Get the Vegan UZU-style miso ramen (¥2,000). You can only get it in Tokyo. Desserts are ¥800–¥950. The whole bowl is vegan. You need a teamLab Planets ticket to get in, and because it's inside, your art day and your ramen are one trip. It's open 10:30–21:30, and ramen orders run from 11:00 to 21:00. Ideal for vegan friends, or anyone pairing ramen with teamLab.
How much does a bowl of ramen cost at these shops?
Most of the bowls with posted prices sit between ¥980 and ¥1,600. Gonokami's shrimp tsukemen starts at ¥1,000, Hachigou's chuka soba is ¥1,200 and Salmon Noodle 3.0's bowls are ¥980–¥1,400, and Ebimaru's signature bowl is ¥1,580. The top end is Ebimaru's whole-lobster ramen at ¥7,580. Below that, Hachigou's limited bowl is ¥2,200 and UZU's vegan miso ramen is ¥2,000.
Where can I get vegan ramen in Tokyo?
Vegan Ramen UZU Tokyo, inside teamLab Planets in Toyosu (you need a Planets ticket to get in). The whole bowl is vegan, and the Tokyo-only miso ramen is ¥2,000.
Which of these ramen shops are open for dinner?
MENSHO TOKYO is open until 23:00. Ebimaru Ramen is open until 22:30 on weekdays (last order 22:00) and 20:00 on weekends and holidays (last order 19:30). Yuzu Lab is open until 22:00 on weekdays and 21:00 on weekends and holidays. Gonokami Seisakusho takes last orders at 21:00, and UZU takes ramen orders until 21:00 (you need a teamLab Planets ticket to get in). Tsuta is lunch only, 11:00–15:00.
Before you go
Ginza Hachigou is cashless, children of elementary-school age or younger can't come in, and it closes when the soup sells out.
Ginza Hachigou is closed Mondays and Tuesdays (irregular). Walk-ins line up from 11:00; from 12:00, seats go to people with reservations.
Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta is open 11:00–15:00 and closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays since October.
Vegan Ramen UZU Tokyo is inside teamLab Planets, and you need a teamLab Planets ticket to get in.
