Nagoya City is the capital of Aichi Prefecture, located in the Chubu region of Japan. It is a major city with a population of about 2.3 million people. As one of Japan’s three major metropolitan areas, Nagoya is an important center for the economy, culture, and transportation. The automotive industry, in particular, is highly developed due to the proximity of Toyota Motor Corporation’s headquarters.
As a tourist destination, Nagoya is famous for Nagoya Castle, symbolized by its beautiful golden shachihoko (mythical carp). Other notable attractions include Atsuta Shrine, Nagoya Port Aquarium, and Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Nagoya is also known for its unique food culture, with popular dishes such as miso katsu, hitsumabushi, and tebasaki.
In terms of transportation, Nagoya Station serves as a hub for many rail lines, including the Shinkansen. The nearby Chubu Centrair International Airport provides convenient access to both domestic and international destinations.
This article will introduce the top 10 recommended ramen shops in Nagoya City.
目次
10. Misen Yaba shop 味仙 矢場店
One popular shop is “Misen Yaba,” located about a five-minute walk from Yabacho Station, known for its famous local Nagoya ramen, Taiwan Ramen. The shop owner, who runs a Chinese-Taiwanese restaurant in Sakae and Yaba, created Taiwan Ramen by adapting the traditional Taiwanese taizaimen into a spicy dish. This ramen features a spicy broth topped with minced meat, chives, and chili peppers, creating an addictive spiciness. The abundant layer of chili oil on top, combined with the aroma of chives and garlic, is extremely appetizing.
The soup, made from chicken bones, is topped with spicy minced meat flavored with garlic and chili peppers, creating a distinctive and addictive spiciness. “Misen” attracts not only tourists but also many local regulars, and offers a wide variety of other menu items beyond ramen.
Misen Yaba Detail
9. Hayabusa Honten 麺屋はやぶさ
Menya Hayabusa Meieki is a popular ramen shop near Nagoya Station, famous for its original Western-style ramen. The most popular dish at Menya Hayabusa Meieki is “Hojun Hayabusa,” which combines four types of broths in a golden ratio. This ramen has a somewhat seafood-like flavor and stands out with its unique foamy appearance. If you’re looking for a place to eat ramen near Nagoya Station, Menya Hayabusa Meieki should definitely be on your list.
Hayabusa Detail
8. Manchinken 萬珍軒
Known for its “Original Egg Drop Ramen” and “Egg Drop Tantanmen,” this shop has been featured in numerous media outlets. It has preserved the taste of its original food stall for over 40 years, making it a representative establishment of Nagoya. The interior has a Chinese restaurant vibe, with counter seating as well as spaces for larger groups. Besides ramen, the menu offers a wide variety of dishes. The soup, made from carefully selected ingredients such as Nagoya Cochin chicken bones and pork bones, is simmered for over 14 hours. The ultra-thin straight egg noodles, meticulously crafted and sourced fresh every morning, pair perfectly with the soup. Don’t miss out on their special spicy chili oil, which is a distinctive feature of the ramen, where the thin, slightly curly noodles blend exquisitely with the egg.
Manchinken Detail
7. Tori-soba Nagonoki 鶏そば 那ご乃樹
A new ramen shop, Tori Soba Nagonoju, has recently opened near Kokusai Center Station, within walking distance from Nagoya Station. This shop is an extension of Haruki, a popular ramen shop in Kasugai City. The wood-themed interior is warm, bright, and spotlessly clean, creating a welcoming atmosphere. The signature dish at Tori Soba Nagonoju is the local soy sauce ramen, which uses many local ingredients. The broth is made from Nagoya Cochin and Kinsou chicken bones, and the soy sauce tare is crafted by a brewer in Aichi Prefecture. The noodles also use Aichi-grown wheat flour, showcasing a strong local pride. This classic yet superbly delicious ramen never gets old, no matter how many times you eat it. The meat toppings are grilled over charcoal, adding a delightful aroma. For an extra special treat, you can order it with vibrant shrimp and other toppings, making for a visually stunning dish.
Tori-Soba Nagonoki Detail
6. Joshinya 浄心家
Joshinya is a well-regarded ramen shop located in the Kokusai Center area, just one stop from Nagoya on the Sakura-dori Subway Line. It’s also within walking distance from Nagoya Station. Since its founding, Joshinya has maintained a commitment to no-added-MSG ramen, with its signature dish being a light soy sauce ramen. This classic flavor is beloved by people of all ages and is a personal favorite of mine. One of Joshinya’s unique features is the option to choose between two types of noodles: smooth, straight Tajimi noodles or the firm, curly Nagoya noodles. For first-time visitors, I recommend trying the Tajimi noodles.
Joshinya Detail
5. Spicy Miso Rāmen Fukurō Original からみそラーメンふくろう
Karamisou Ramen Fukurou Honten, located an eight-minute walk from Meitetsu Kamiida Station Exit 1, has been recognized in the Ramen Top 100 EAST for five consecutive years since 2017. The shop’s owner, Sato, fell in love with “karamisou ramen” in Yamagata, trained there, and eventually opened his own shop in Yamagata before bringing the recipe to Nagoya. The broth is rich in seafood flavors, and the mild miso taste is delightful. As you mix in the red spicy miso, the flavor evolves, allowing you to customize it to your liking. The high-water-content, chewy noodles have a slippery texture that is addictive from the first bite. The golden, shiny noodles pair perfectly with the mild miso soup, which becomes more flavorful as you mix in the spicy miso. You can also enjoy the spicy miso directly mixed with the noodles.
Spicy Miso Rāmen Fukurō Original
4. Torisoba Susuru 鶏そば啜る 丸の内本店
One of the most popular ramen shops near Marunouchi is Tori Soba Susuru. It gets particularly busy during lunchtime, attracting many local businessmen, often resulting in long lines. There is also a branch nearby in Fushimi. As the name “Tori Soba” suggests, their signature dish is chicken-based paitan ramen. The broth is frothy, earning it the nickname “foamy ramen,” a style occasionally seen in Nagoya. The rich chicken flavor combined with the sweet and spicy soy sauce tare creates a delicious balance. The homemade noodles are slightly thick and stand out against the robust broth. The low-temperature cooked char siu is also exceptional, and the rice dishes made with it are reportedly very popular.
Torisoba Susuru Detail
3. Chuka Soba Taiga ラーメン大河
Ramen Taiga is located about a five-minute walk from JR Nagoya Station. Situated in a corner of the Marunaka Shokuhin Center, it offers a standing-style dining experience. The menu is simple, featuring a basic ramen with optional toppings like “ajitama” (flavored egg), extra meat, large serving, or all toppings. You can also get a bowl of rice for 100 yen. The soup is a rich yet light chicken-based soy sauce broth with a hint of dried sardine flavor. The back fat floating on the surface adds a perfect richness and sweetness to the thick soup. They use medium-thin noodles. For an extra kick, try adding some spicy miso from the table to enhance the flavor and experience a different taste.
Chuka Soba Taiga Detail
2. Fujimitei 藤味亭
Kourai-kei ramen originates from “Kourai,” a ramen shop established in Nagoya in 1959, now known as Souhonke Kourai Dojo. Fujimitei, opened in 1999 by a disciple of Kourai, offers a delicate and clear broth. The soup, called Hiho Wakan Konsai-jiru, is made from root vegetables, fish, kelp, chicken, pork, and garlic, and is said to have nourishing properties. The slightly wavy, short noodles have a chewy texture. Health-conscious diners will appreciate the medicinal root vegetable soup paired with the chewy, medium-thick straight noodles. The homemade char siu, made from thick-cut pork belly, is slow-cooked to a tender, fluffy texture.
Fujimitei Detail
1. Shishimaru 麺家獅子丸
Menya Shishimaru, a branch of the popular Hanzo Group with its main store in Fujigaoka, is located near Nagoya Station. Menya Shishimaru is known for its ramen with carefully crafted broth and homemade noodles. The most popular dish is the “Shishimaru Paitan Ramen,” featuring two types of char siu (pork and chicken), menma (bamboo shoots), green onions, and pink peppercorns. The pure white broth is visually appealing and offers a seafood flavor more pronounced than the animal-based elements like pork and chicken, resulting in a surprisingly light yet satisfying taste.
Shishimaru Detail
Conclusion
Nagoya is renowned for its local cuisine based on miso, but it also boasts several highly rated ramen shops. When visiting Nagoya, take the opportunity to discover your favorite bowl of ramen.
