Last update September 19, 2025

Japanese Food - Rāmen -

Rāmen

らーめん,　ラーメン／拉麺

Chinese-Style Soup Noodle

Despite its roots in China, Rāmen was developed originally in Japan, establishing itself as a world-renowned food. On holidays, people would form a line for a delicious bowl a local celebrated shop can offer. On weekday nights, tipsy-happy drinkers may crave it as the Shime (post-drinking meal) to finish off the day’s drinking. Young or old, men or women, drinkers or non-drinkers, this is a food loved by almost the entire population! And the selections are diverse. Broth-wise, in addition to Tonkotsu (pork bone), there are various chicken- and seafood-based soups seasoned with Shōyu, Miso, or salt. Toppings include Yaki Buta (grilled and seasoned pork slices), Menma or Shina Chiku (fermented bamboo shoots), Neghi, Moyashi (bean sprouts), Kikurage and so on. Each restaurant has its own broths and topping items. When you order your Rāmen and as soon as a steamy dish is served, pick up the Renghe spoon to check the soup. If it’s Tonkotsu, for example, it will give a refined combination of fat and collagen. Then, grab some threads of noodles with chopsticks and slurp them in. Soup again. After repeating this cycle several times, now it’s time to add Beni Shōga for a change of flavour. If you are ready for a noodle refill, order Kae Dama, generally available at Tonkotsu Rāmen restaurants. A waiteperson will slip it into your remaining soup when ordered.

Shōyu Rāmen with Neghi and Yuzu Oroshi or Yuzu citrus mixed Daikon Oroshi.)	Elegant Tantan Men at a Rāmen shop in Nara.	Shōyu Rāmen with a broth based seafood at a Rāmen shop in Nara.
Tonkotsu Rāmen.	Katsuo Bushi Shōyu Rāmen.	Jukusei Tori Soba or rich chicken-based Rāmen.
Se-abura Niboshi Rāmen based on pork-fat and small dried fish broth.	Ten’ichi Kotteri Rāmen, an extra-thick soup Rāmen at a famous Tenka Ippin shop.	Rare Tai Rāmen or sea bream Rāmen with an elegantly-tasted soup.
Saika Rāmen a.k.a. Tenri Rāmen in Nara, featuring abundant Hakusai topping.	Miso Rāmen based on sweet, aromatic Miso broth.	Special Shōyu Rāmen with dynamic Yakibuta topping.