Osaka is Japan's second-largest city after Tokyo. With the World Expo coming in 2025, 10% of foreigners living in Japan reside in Osaka. While known for popular theme parks like Universal Studios Japan and tourist attractions, Osaka is also famous as one of Japan's top culinary cities. Although okonomiyaki and takoyaki are well-known, there are also numerous ramen shops.
This article introduces 7 recommended ramen shops around Osaka Station for visitors to Osaka. We've selected a wide range, from locally beloved shops to those frequented by foreigners.
The Ramen Scene in Japan
Ramen is a fusion of Chinese and Japanese food cultures. It began when Chinese noodle dishes were introduced to Japan in 1859.
In 1870, Japan's first Chinese restaurant opened in Yokohama, where ramen was first served. Later, Japan's first ramen shop opened in Asakusa, Tokyo. On busy days, it received up to 3,000 orders, sparking a ramen boom in Japan.
As regional ramen varieties emerged, "cup noodles" that could stay fresh for longer periods appeared. Cup noodles are sold in most stores that sell food, such as convenience stores and supermarkets, and are one of the most popular food items commonly seen in Japanese convenience stores.
There are various types of ramen, and some shops offer not only ramen but also mazesoba, abura soba, and brothless ramen.
As of 2023, there are 35,000 ramen shops in Japan.
Types of Ramen
While there's no fixed recipe for ramen, combining five elements (noodles, broth, tare, oil, and toppings) creates endless variations.
The taste of ramen is largely determined by the soup flavor and regional characteristics of local ramen.
The "soup" that determines the ramen's taste consists of broth and tare, and can be divided into six basic types: "shoyu ramen," "Salt ramen," "Miso ramen," "Tonkotsu ramen," "Chicken-paitan ramen," and "Tantanmen."
Representative "regional" types include "Yokohama Ie-kei Ramen," "Sapporo Ramen," "Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen," and "Kitakata Ramen." Each has a unique soup flavor, and the thickness and firmness of the noodles vary.
While Osaka-specific ramen isn't particularly famous, as a major city, it's home to representative ramen shops from various regions.
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Recommended Ramen Shops in Osaka
Shinchi Ramen Chikamatsu Umeda Branch
source: Tabelog
"Shinchi ramen Chikamatsu Umeda Branch" is a new ramen shop that opened in March 2023. They sell four basic types: "shio," "shoyu," "miso," and "miso paitan."
When I visited Shinchi Ramen Chikamatsu Umeda Branch, I felt that "this shop puts a lot of effort into their soup."
The "Salt ramen" has a rich taste despite having little oil, making it a gentle flavor that even those prone to indigestion can eat with peace of mind. This would be good to eat after drinking alcohol as well.
The "Miso-paitan ramen" whets your appetite with its slightly reddish soup in a black bowl. The spicy and creamy soup has a flavor reminiscent of Tantanmen.
While creamy, it maintains a difficult balance between miso and tonkotsu, so you can clearly taste the miso. It's so delicious that you'll find yourself drinking it all before you know it.
The ticket machine also has English descriptions, so you can use it with peace of mind even if you don't understand Japanese.
You can upgrade to a large size for just 100 yen, so ramen lovers should definitely go for the large size without hesitation.
This shop is certainly a contender for the best ramen Osaka 2024 has to offer, especially for those who appreciate a well-crafted soup.
<Shop Information>
・Address: 1F Daiko Building, 1-2-20 Sonezaki, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Sundays
・Phone: 06-6315-0039
・Hours: 11:00-23:00
・Official Site: https://www.instagram.com/chikamatsu_umeda/
Curry Ramen Specialty Shop Shunsaido
source: Tabelog
The most popular item at "Curry Ramen Specialty Shop Shunsaido" is "Pork Curry Ramen." They use shorter noodles that go well with the curry soup. The soup is light and easy on the stomach, which is an attractive point.
The recommendation for spring to summer is "Ume (Plum) Curry Tsukemen." It's perfect for Japan's humid hot season and can be eaten refreshingly. You can enjoy the aroma and acidity of the plum while still tasting the curry, with a light aftertaste.
After finishing the noodles, you can pour the remaining dipping sauce over rice to make curry rice. The spiciness and richness of the soup are just right, and it's a high-quality dish both as ramen and curry.
They use seaweed modeled after "Dragon Quest" characters for toppings and play Dragon Quest game BGM, which is a pleasant touch for Japanese game fans.
There's also an English menu, so tourists can use it with peace of mind.
As one of the best ramen shops in Osaka 2024, Shunsaido offers a unique curry ramen experience that shouldn't be missed.
<Shop Information>
・Address: 1F Iwamura Building, 1-3-30 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Sundays and holidays
・Phone: 06-6344-8220
・Hours: 18:00 - 03:00 (Open until 5:00 on Fridays and days before holidays, until 2:00 on Saturdays)
・Official Site: https://www.instagram.com/shunsaido/
Hi, KI
source: Tabelog
"Hi, KI (Haiki)" is a specialty shop for sea bream soba. They offer a base ramen that perfectly matches the light sea bream broth with rich Paitan.
When you take a sip of the sea bream-paitan soup, you can taste the concentrated flavor of sea bream. There's no fishiness, and you can feel the aroma lingering in your mouth. Lemon, black shichimi, black pepper, and sansho oil are placed on the table, allowing you to change the taste as you eat. It's recommended to first change the taste slightly with lemon, then use black pepper or sansho oil.
My recommendation is the "Sea bream Chazuke Set." After eating the sea bream soba, you can enjoy the sea bream chazuke as a finisher. For the first bite, eat the kombu-jime sea bream sashimi with soy sauce. You can put the rest on top of rice and pour broth over it to eat as sea bream chazuke. It's also recommended to pour the sea bream soba soup over it.
The shop has a friendly atmosphere, so even first-timers should find it easy to enter.
Hi, KI is definitely one of the best ramen Osaka 2024 has to offer, especially for those looking for a unique seafood-based ramen experience.
<Shop Information>
・Address: 2-4-35 Nakazakinishi, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: None
・Phone: 06-7410-4213
・Hours: 11:30 - 14:30, 18:00 - 21:30
・Official Site: https://www.hiki.online/
Nidaime Hamaguri Ramen Shieru
source: Tabelog
"Nidaime Hamaguri Ramen Shieru" features "Hamaguri Ramen" as its signature menu item.
The Hamaguri (clam) ramen not only has a strong clam broth but also contains plenty of actual clams, making it a very satisfying dish in terms of volume. The soup is light but has a good richness, so you'll definitely want to drink it all.
This shop also offers many game meat dishes. The alcohol is also cheap, so you can use it as a bar while eating ramen.
The Hamaguri soup really hits the spot after drinking. Apparently, the hamaguri ramen sells out by 9 PM on weekends, so it's recommended to come early.
By the way, please note that they cannot serve raw meat (non-heat-treated meat products) to those under 16 years old.
For those seeking the best ramen Osaka 2024 has to offer with a unique seafood twist, Shieru's hamaguri ramen is a must-try.
<Shop Information>
・Address: 8-10 Doyama-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Sundays
・Phone: 06-6360-9822
・Hours: 18:00 - 01:00 (Open until 4:00 on Fridays and Saturdays only)
・Official Site: https://kaijiru-hamaguri-ramen-shieru-umeda.com/menu
Ramen Jinsei JET
source: Official X
At "Ramen Jinsei JET," the recommended menu item is "Tori Nikomi Soba" (Chicken Stew Soba).
The rich white soup, made by stewing chicken bones, momiji (Japanese maple), and water for over 10 hours, is very rich and goes well with the medium-thick noodles that have a good bite. It has an animal-like flavor but is less oily, and the flavor of seafood spreads in your mouth afterward. This soup is unique to this shop, different from typical Chicken-paitan soups.
The medium-thin straight noodles have a presence even in the rich soup and mix well with it. The noodles are low-hydration and slightly soft, but they hold the soup well. The chicken Chashu (thin sliced meat) with its soft meat texture is also delicious, so please be sure to taste it.
The shop is small, so it's recommended to bring minimal luggage. When entering, please note the rule to buy a meal ticket first before lining up.
Ramen Jinsei JET is undoubtedly one of the best ramen Osaka 2024 has to offer, especially for those who love rich, chicken-based broths.
<Shop Information>
・Address: 7-12-2 Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka
・Closed: None
・Phone: 06-6345-7855
・Hours: 11:00 - 15:00, 18:00 - 22:00
・Official Site: https://jetjpn.base.shop/
Kamitora Osaka Ekimae Building Branch
source: Tabelog
At "Kamitora Osaka Ekimae Building Branch," the recommended "Kamitora Ramen" features the umami of pork bones and the flavor of dried sardines and bonito.
You can add spicy pickled mustard greens midway through, allowing you to enjoy it without getting bored until the end. Firmer noodles are recommended. The soup is hot, so the noodles will soften nicely as you eat. If you want to enjoy a more luxurious ramen, you can increase the volume with the shop-limited special topping (2 slices of pork belly Chashu, 3 sheets of nori, and flavored egg).
Also, the "Abura Niboshi Soba" that became a regular menu item from May 2024 is recommended.
You can enjoy three large slices of Chashu on top of the soy sauce soup, onions on top of that, and back fat that concentrates the umami of meat fat. The slightly sweet soy sauce soup goes perfectly with the back fat and onions. The noodles are flat and curly, firmly holding the soup.
At this shop too, be sure to purchase a meal ticket at the entrance vending machine before lining up.
Kamitora is definitely a top contender for the best ramen Osaka 2024 has to offer, with its unique blend of pork and fish flavors.
<Shop Information>
・Address: B1F Osaka Ekimae Dai-4 Building, 1-11-4 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: None
・Phone: 06-6342-5746
・Hours: 11:00 - 22:30
・Official Site: https://www.instagram.com/kamitora_official/
Tori Soba Zagin Main Store
source: Tabelog
"Tori Soba Zagin Main Store" serves "Tori Soba" (Chicken Soba), a chicken paitan ramen with burdock root as its signature. You can enjoy a luxurious ramen with fried burdock root on top of a rich Chicken-paitan soup that's like a potage.
The Chicken-paitan soup is very rich yet has a refreshing quality. When you eat the thinly sliced burdock root together with the thin noodles coated in soup, you'll find yourself eating enthusiastically. If you want to eat a lot, it's also recommended to increase the amount with "extra burdock root."
For meat lovers, order the "Meat Sushi Set" as well. The meat sliced so thinly it's almost transparent, with the effectiveness of pepper, is superb.
In the high-class shop interior, I also enjoyed a blissful moment with everything balanced - soup, noodles, burdock root, and Chashu.
Zagin is undoubtedly one of the best ramen Osaka 2024 has to offer, especially for those who appreciate innovative toppings and rich chicken broths.
<Shop Information>
・Address: 1-2-10 Sonezaki, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: None
・Phone: 06-6447-5661
・Hours: 10:30 - 21:30
・Official Site: https://www.instagram.com/torisobazagin/
Conclusion
Ramen, Japan's national dish, has evolved through time and across regions. In Osaka, you can find ramen with unique ingredients like sea bream, clams, and burdock root, showcasing the city's culinary creativity.
Each shop's commitment to their unique flavors contributes to the depth of Osaka's food culture. While preserving traditional tastes, they also incorporate new ideas, which is the essence of Osaka's culinary scene.
When visiting Osaka, try not only the ramen shops introduced here but also venture into shops you stumble upon. Experience Osaka's food culture through ramen and make your trip more memorable. As you explore the best ramen Osaka 2024 has to offer, you're sure to find flavors that will leave a lasting impression.