Akihabara is known as the epicenter of Japan’s electronic and technology culture and revered as the holy land of otaku culture. It’s an area where numerous electronics stores, anime shops, specialty bookstores, and cafes stock a rich variety of items, including electronic gadgets, computers, anime, manga, figurines, and games. Akihabara attracts anime fans, gamers, and technology enthusiasts from both Japan and abroad.
In this article, we will introduce the top 10 recommended ramen shops in Akihabara.
目次
10. Shinpuku Saikan Akihabara 新福菜館 秋葉原店
Shinpuku Saikan is a longstanding Chinese ramen restaurant that has been in business for over 80 years in Kyoto. If you have the chance to taste the flavors of this classic establishment in Akihabara, it’s a must-visit.
Located just a 5-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station’s Showa-Dori exit, it offers a prime location. The always bustling interior exudes a nostalgic and casual atmosphere.
One of the standout features of their popular menu is the black soup of their Chinese-style ramen. The broth is prepared from a combination of chicken and pork bones, and it’s seasoned with a soy-based sauce, resulting in a deeply satisfying and lingering taste.
Additionally, many customers opt for the fried rice to complement their meal. This classic combination is a staple, and what sets this fried rice apart is the use of the same soy-based sauce. Both dishes share the distinctive black appearance and offer a combination of lightness and richness that becomes quite addictive.
With generous portions, you’ll leave with a full and satisfied stomach!
Shinpuku Saikan Akihabara Details
9. Ramen Tsumugi らーめん紬麦
This hidden gem of a ramen shop is located along Showa-Dori, in an underground dining area within a building.
The owner, a former musician, conducted self-studies to create a mouthwatering ramen that gained popularity through word of mouth. Over a decade, it has become a beloved establishment in the competitive district of Akihabara.
Their unique and chewy noodles, made from wheat flour originally developed for udon and sourced from Kagawa Prefecture, have garnered a dedicated following.
The “Ramen,” priced at 1,000 yen, features a soup crafted using only carefully selected natural ingredients, yielding rich flavors and umami from chicken and seafood.
Following a minimalist approach in the recipe, they eliminate all unnecessary elements, resulting in a humble yet flavorful soup, designed to enhance the enjoyment of the noodles. The chewy noodles have a smooth surface and a delightful mouthfeel, subtly hinting at their udon ancestry.
As the noodles are made in-house every morning, they are served in their prime, ensuring a delicious dining experience.
Ramen Tsumugi Details
8. Noodle MAZERU
“MAZERU,” located just a 1-minute walk from Akihabara Station, is a restaurant specializing in voluminous, Jiro-inspired mixed noodles (maze-soba).
The restaurant is not directly on the road but inside a building, which might make it a bit tricky to find for first-timers. However, you can easily spot it by looking for the yellow sign placed in front of the building.
MAZERU competes with a limited menu consisting of only two options: “Maze-soba” starting at 900 yen, and “Niku-mashi Maze-soba” with added meat starting at 1,100 yen.
One notable feature is the choice of sauce, either soy or salt-based, allowing diners to cater to their taste preferences. Despite being mixed, the sauce is not overpowering, and it harmonizes beautifully with the richness of the soup.
The medium-thick noodles, typical of Jiro-style, have a pleasing chewiness and complement both the sauce and fat.
The standard ingredients include pork belly, cabbage, bean sprouts, lard, and egg yolk. You can also increase the quantity of vegetables and lard with an extra order. The pork is tender and sweet, and the vegetables provide a crunchy texture.
For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding the free topping of cheese, as the melted cheese between the noodles and ingredients creates a creamy and delightful taste transformation. It’s highly recommended!
Noodle MAZERU Details
7. Spice Ramen Manriki Akihabara スパイス・ラー麺 卍力 秋葉原店
At the Spice Ramen Manriki Akihabara branch, you can savor original menu items that you won’t find anywhere else.
The owner meticulously blends 14 selected spices and carefully chooses chicken, pork, and seafood to complement the spices. The result is a special soup that forms the base of Manriki’s Spice Ramen.
The interior, with wood accents, exudes an ethnic and mystical atmosphere, complemented by BGM reminiscent of India. As you revel in the aroma of spices, you can fully enjoy the noodles with the right amount of bite and the crisp texture of the vegetables.
This spicy soup offers a unique blend of spiciness, sweetness, sourness, and bitterness, making it a rare find in other establishments. The generously-sized chashu complements the soup perfectly, ensuring you’ll savor a bowl that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
Spice Ramen Manriki Akihabara Details
6. Tanaka Ramen 中華そば専門 田中そば店 秋葉原店
The signature menu item is the “Chuka Soba,” priced at 800 yen, a dish loved by people of all ages, from children to the elderly.
The soup is the epitome of dedication, as it’s made by simmering pork from head to toe for a remarkable three days. This meticulous approach results in a well-balanced ramen, featuring ultra-thin noodles and authentic char siu roasted in a special kiln. The pork’s rich umami is complemented by a clear and refreshing soup seasoned with a soy sauce-based dressing. The noodles are reminiscent of Kitakata ramen, being medium-thick and flat with a slight chew, offering a satisfying texture. It’s a robust yet pure and comforting flavor.
About halfway through your meal, try adding a ladle of back fat and a spoonful of tableside karashi (mustard) to your bowl. You’ll experience a dramatic change in flavor. The light soup gains depth, and the scent of chili peppers tantalizes your taste buds, making the dish even more appetizing.
Tanak Ramen Details
5. Daiki Ramen Tenjinshita らーめん天神下 大喜
The owner of this ramen shop, originally a Japanese cuisine chef, embarked on a new challenge when they opened this establishment in 1999. Even after over 20 years in business, they continue to evolve, earning a renowned status among ramen enthusiasts and leading the ramen industry.
The owner places a strong emphasis on balance, ensuring that the noodles, soup, and toppings harmonize without one overpowering the others. They skillfully blend all the flavors into a single bowl, creating a perfect balance.
The shop is also known for its tsukemen (dipping noodles), where the soup is served separately, and gyoza (dumplings), both of which are highly popular choices. The tsukemen allows you to fully appreciate the deliciousness of their in-house-made noodles, which are crafted from the finest-grade wheat.
One of the recommended dishes is “torisoba,” a chicken-based ramen. The clear soup contains abundant umami, and with each bite, you’ll be impressed by the deep and well-balanced flavors that unfold. Don’t miss the opportunity to savor this exquisite bowl.
Daiki Ramen Tenjinshita Details
4. Iki na Isshō 粋な一生
A ramen shop located in the direction of Okachimachi when walking from Akihabara Station. The owner, originally from Kushiro, serves popular Hokkaido-style ramen, allowing you to savor the local flavors without getting on a plane.
The interior of the shop is spacious, with a variety of seating options, including counter seats and numerous tables, making it easy for groups to visit. What’s more, they offer continuous service from lunch to dinner, making it convenient to drop in whenever hunger strikes.
They offer three types of soup: animal-based clear, white, and seafood-based. The blend of soup varies depending on the type of ramen, providing a diverse range of flavors to enjoy.
Their recommended “Salt Ramen” priced at 800 yen combines animal-based clear and seafood-based soup. It harmoniously blends the richness from pork and chicken with the refreshing seafood flavors. The slightly yellowish, thick, curly noodles have a satisfying chew and mix well with the soup. The ramen is topped with tender slices of chashu, and the gradual transfer of their flavor into the soup as you eat is a delightful point that adds to the enjoyment of the meal.
Iki na Isshō Details
3. Kyushu Jangara Akihabara 九州じゃんがら 秋葉原本店
The Kyushu Jangara Akihabara Main Store, opened in 1984, is a renowned and long-loved establishment for its tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen, with over 30 years of history.
Their tonkotsu soup is creamy with minimal odor, making it a versatile flavor enjoyed by both men and women. On the tabletop, you’ll find an array of condiments, including vinegar, white sesame, spicy seasoning, garlic, red pickled ginger, and mustard takana, providing ample means to customize and alter the taste to your liking.
A recommended choice is the “Kyushu Jangara Ramen Zenbuiri,” which combines a variety of vegetables, chicken broth, and tonkotsu, creating a delicately light flavor. The generously thick pork slices topping the ramen do not overpower the dish but rather enhance its taste.
Kyushu Jangara Akihabara Details
2. Tokyo Style Noodle Hotate Biyori ほたて日和
“Tokyo Style Noodle Hotate Biyori” features a dedication to quality in its ramen offerings. They use Hokkaido-grown wheat for their noodles, Hokkaido-produced Rausu konbu (kelp) for their konbu water, and carefully selected scallops from Sarufutsu Village in Hokkaido. This attention to detail results in a remarkable ramen experience.
Moreover, their customer service is at the pinnacle of Tokyo’s ramen scene, with each guest receiving a thorough explanation of the products. The staff’s genuine passion for their offerings shines through.
Hotate Biyori changes the flavor of its soup every month, ensuring that each guest receives their order at the perfect moment while paying close attention to their dining experience.
Tokyo Style Noodle Hotate Biyori Details
1. Aoshima Ramen 青島食堂 秋葉原店
The Nagaoka Ginger Soy Sauce Ramen, which boasts enduring popularity in Niigata, made its Tokyo debut when the original shop, Aoshima Shokudo, expanded to the capital in 2009, opening as “Aoshima Ramen.”
Located just a 6-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station (Showa-Dori Exit), this establishment, though slightly removed from the station’s immediate vicinity, consistently draws long lines of eager patrons.
With only 9 counter seats, the shop closes as soon as the soup runs out.
The distinctive ginger soy sauce soup is a delightful blend of light yet sharp soy sauce flavors, accentuated by the zesty kick of ginger. It’s a taste that quickly becomes addictive. The soup is generously mixed with chashu of various sizes, creating a rich and flavorful combination. The refreshing soup and succulent chashu interact in a harmonious balance.
The slightly softer noodles with a higher water content complement the soup’s flavors, and their chewy texture lets you savor the taste gradually.
Aoshima Ramen Details
