Namba in Osaka is a vibrant downtown area located in the center of the city, offering a variety of attractions for tourists, shopping, and dining. Along the Dotonbori River, you can find famous landmarks like the Glico sign and the giant crab sign of Kani Doraku, making it a well-known tourist destination. The area is also home to large commercial facilities such as Takashimaya and Namba Parks, making it an excellent place for shopping. Additionally, Namba boasts numerous restaurants where you can enjoy Osaka’s famous dishes like takoyaki and okonomiyaki, providing a rich culinary experience.
In this article, we introduce the top 10 recommended ramen shops in the Namba area of Osaka.
目次
10. Kinryu Ramen Dotombori 金龍ラーメン 道頓堀店
Kinryu Ramen, located in Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori areas, is a long-established ramen shop that operates 24 hours a day, making it a convenient spot to visit anytime. The shop is known for its light tonkotsu (pork bone) broth and firm, straight noodles. A highlight of Kinryu Ramen is the complimentary toppings, including kimchi, garlic chives, and garlic.
Being open 24 hours is a major advantage, allowing you to enjoy a bowl of ramen after hopping between dance clubs and pubs. Despite its tonkotsu base, the broth has a light flavor, making it easy to enjoy even after a night of drinking.
Kinryu Ramen Dotombori Detail
9. Ryukishin Rize Namba NANBA龍旗信RIZE
Located near Namba Station, this renowned shop specializes in shio (salt) ramen. It operates as a branch of the original store in Sakai. After a renovation at the end of 2013, the shop began using homemade noodles. These noodles are medium-thick with the perfect firmness, offering a smooth and enjoyable texture.
The clear broth is made by combining chicken bones with seven types of root vegetables and finishing with dried bonito, resulting in a rich and flavorful salt taste. The broth is carefully simmered with burdock and onions until it reaches a velvety, potage-like consistency. It offers a mild, smooth flavor with a rich depth that fills your mouth with elegant umami.
The homemade noodles, made from a blend of three types of domestic wheat and whole wheat flour, are robust and stand out against the broth. The low-temperature, slightly rare pork shoulder chashu is also delicious.
Ryukishin Rize Namba Detail
8. Jouroku 麺屋 丈六
This acclaimed ramen shop, which has won the Grand Prix at the Japan Ramen Awards, is located just a 5-minute walk from Namba Station. The shop prides itself on its homemade noodles, using four different types depending on the menu item.
Their signature dish, “Chuka Soba,” features a broth skillfully blended from chicken bones, pork bones, and tamari soy sauce. Despite its rich appearance, the soup is light and fragrant. The use of tamari soy sauce adds a citrus-like acidity, creating a clean and delicate aftertaste. You can savor the deep umami of the chicken and roasted soy sauce. The homemade noodles, which are smooth and slippery, perfectly complement the broth.
Jouroku Detail
7. Sakunosaku Ramen 作ノ作 千日前本店
Located about a 7-minute walk from Namba Station on the Midosuji Subway Line, “Saku no Saku” offers a delightful experience of Osaka-style tonkotsu ramen. The main menu includes “Niku Baka Naniwa Tonkotsu,” “Yuzu Shio Tonkotsu,” “Kuro Tonkotsu,” and “Kin no Miso Tonkotsu.” The most popular item is the “Niku Baka Tonkotsu,” which features a generous portion of chashu pork that overflows from the bowl.
The recommended dish is the “Yuzu Shio Tonkotsu.” This ramen combines a pork bone-based broth with the refreshing aroma of yuzu. It offers a light yet rich flavor that is highly addictive. The ramen is served with thick, straight noodles that pair perfectly with the soup. Toppings include chashu, green onions, naruto (fish cake), and menma (bamboo shoots).
Sakunosaku Ramen Detail
6. Bokkoshi Ramen ぼっこ志
This highly popular ramen shop is renowned for its rich and creamy chicken paitan (white soup) broth, often drawing long lines of customers daily. The menu offers three varieties of chicken paitan ramen: “Chicken Paitan,” “Charred Chicken Paitan,” “Tantanmen,” and “Rich Chicken Paitan.” The “Rich Chicken Paitan” features an exceptionally thick broth that is a must-try for chicken paitan enthusiasts.
The “Tantanmen” is another favorite, with a chicken paitan base that highlights the rich flavor of sesame, offering a perfect balance of creaminess and spiciness.
The recommended dish is the “Chicken Paitan.” It is made primarily with a large amount of premium Tanba chicken, resulting in a broth that is both rich and refreshingly creamy. This soup is enhanced with soy sauce oil infused with bonito flakes, adding depth and aroma. The dish is completed with low-hydration, flat homemade noodles that are chewy and smooth, pairing perfectly with the flavorful broth.
Bokkoshi Ramen Detail
5. Ramen KAZUYA らーめん 一八
“Ramen Kazuya” is a popular ramen shop known for its unique ramen featuring chicken paitan and seafood broth made from sea bream. The rich chicken paitan broth combines the umami of chicken bones and vegetables with collagen from chicken feet and pork trotters, creating a thick and creamy soup. The medium-thick straight noodles pair perfectly with the soup, providing a satisfying bite.
Another signature dish is the “Tai Ramen,” a salt-based ramen made with broth extracted from sea bream. This ramen offers a light yet intensely flavorful taste, showcasing the rich umami of the sea bream broth.
Ramen KAZUYA Detail
4. Men-no-Yoji 麺のようじ
This famous ramen shop frequently appears on Japanese TV programs. It offers a wide variety of menu options, including standard shoyu (soy sauce) and shio (salt) ramen. The weekly special ramen also contributes to its popularity.
The black soup, infused with chicken oil, has a sharp and clean taste without any unnecessary flavors. The subtle depth of seafood and soy sauce adds rich umami. The black pepper gives it a wild flavor.
You can enjoy various toppings, including two slices of chashu, chopped onions, sliced onions, and menma. The upright seaweed is particularly striking. The medium-thick flat noodles release a rich wheat flavor with every bite.
Men-no-Yoji Detail
3. Naniwa Menjiro なにわ麺次郎
“Naniwa Menjiro,” a renowned restaurant in Namba located within the Osaka-Namba station premises of Kintetsu Railway. It gained attention by being featured in the Michelin Guide Osaka 2021 and receiving the Bib Gourmand award. The deeply flavorful soup, made with ingredients such as local chicken, has a smooth and refreshing taste with a pleasant mouthfeel. It is served with thin noodles that have a firm texture and a smooth surface. Toppings include two types of chashu pork, seasoned boiled egg, menma (bamboo shoots), seaweed, and trefoil. The large portions of chashu pork provide a satisfying eating experience.
Naniwa Menjiro Detail
2. Men-ni-hikari-wo 麺に光を
This popular restaurant offers light ramen made with broth using the highest-grade “Kyo-Kamo” brand duck from Kyoto. The interior is small with only seven counter seats.
The main menu includes unique names like “Hip-Hop” (duck soba), “K&B” (duck and seafood soba), “Punk” (clam soba), and “JAZZ” (miso).
The recommended dish is the “Hip-Hop” (duck soba), featuring a meticulously crafted broth made from the highest-grade “Kyoyado” brand duck, along with domestically produced kelp and several types of shaved bonito flakes. The soup has a crisp Japanese flavor. The medium-thick, flat noodles perfectly complement the broth with their firm texture. Toppings include seasoned boiled egg, chashu pork, green onions, and charred green onions, the latter adding a delightful smoky accent.
Men-ni-hikari-wo Detail
1. Yuaitei 正油ラーメン専門店 友愛亭
This renowned establishment in Namba specializes in soy sauce ramen. Its main menu features items such as “Right Straight,” “Razor Punch,” “Heavy,” and “Left Hook.” While the names may be somewhat unconventional, they all represent variations of soy sauce ramen. Additionally, the restaurant offers a range of paid toppings, including classic options like seasoned boiled egg, chashu pork, and menma, as well as unique choices like mixed garlic, a hint of garlic, and sausage.
While the regular menu consists solely of soy sauce ramen, limited-time offerings include salt and miso ramen, which are highly recommended. Among the popular choices is the “Right Straight,” featuring a dark-colored soup achieved by blending basic, rich, and light soy sauce flavors. It is served with firm, yellow medium-thin straight noodles and simple toppings like chashu pork, menma, and green onions.
Experience the classic taste of soy sauce ramen at this establishment.
Yuaitei Detail
Conclusion
Namba is one of Osaka’s bustling districts, alongside Umeda. Renowned as a foodie haven, it’s famous for its takoyaki, okonomiyaki, blowfish, crab, and more. It’s an area where you’ll find a concentration of renowned eateries.
When you’re craving ramen amidst all this culinary excitement, refer to this article to discover your favorite ramen shop.
