Tabelog is Japan’s most respected ranking site for restaurants. In 2015, they curated a Top 50 Ramen list based on user rankings and professional ramen critics’ choices. This list has since been taken down, and newer rankings list 100 shops in Tokyo, 100 shops in West Japan, and 100 shops in East Japan. Personally, I think 50 is a better number.
つけ麺 道 - Michi
東京都葛飾区亀有5-28-17
Tokyo, Katsushika-ku, Kameari 5-28-17
Intense tonkotsu gyokai tsukemen. Worth the wait, but it is best to arrive 30 minutes before opening.
和dining 清乃 - Seino
和歌山県有田市野696
Wakayama-ken, Arida-shi, No 696
Wakayama-style ramen that is worth the half day trek from Osaka.
麺屋 一燈 - Itto
東京都葛飾区東新小岩1-4-17
Tokyo, Katsushika-ku, Higashishinkoiwa 1-4-17
Hailed by many as tsukemen perfection.
八雲 - Yakumo
東京都目黒区大橋1-7-2 オリエンタル青葉台2階
Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Ohashi 1-7-2 on the 2nd floor
Wontons to die for.
饗 くろ㐂 - Motenashi Kuroki
東京都千代田区神田和泉町2-15
Tokyo, Chioda-ku, Kanda-Izumicho 2-15
The shio ramen king. Every aspect of this bowl is well thought out, and they have a constant supply of limited bowls to keep regulars coming back.
らーめん専門 和海 - Nagomi
兵庫県尼崎市武庫川町2丁目19-3
Hyogo Prefecture, Amagasaki-shi, Mukogawa-cho 2-19-3
Creamy soup with a nice hit of dried fish. Not to be confused with the other Nagomi (also on this list).
こうかいぼう - Kokaibo
東京都江東区深川2-13-10
Tokyo, Koto-ku, Fukagawa 2-13-10
Local Tokyo favorite that flies under most people's radar.
鶏喰～TRICK～
神奈川県横浜市南区吉野町4-20
Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Minami-ku, Yoshinocho 4-20
Chicken madness. Get the special bowl if you want it all (you do).
伊藤 - Ito
東京都北区赤羽1-2-4
Tokyo, Kita-ku, Akabane 1-2-4
Simple, not too intense niboshi ramen. They have a few spots in Tokyo now, and all are good.
煮干鰮らーめん 圓 - En
東京都八王子市横山町21-21
Tokyo, Hachioji-shi, Yokoyamacho 21-21
Way out in Hachioji, En is a legend of a shop.
晴 - Haru
麺屋 丈六 - Joroku
大阪府大阪市中央区難波千日前6-16
Osaka, Osaka-shi, Chuo-ku, Nanbasennichimae 6-16
Osaka-style tamari shoyu ramen. The darker shoyu makes for an intense bowl.
麺処 金田家 - Kanadaya
福岡県行橋市大橋1-4-3
Fukuoka-ken, Yukuhashi-shi, Ohashi 1-4-3
The original shop is a long drive from Hakata, so you might want to look for their branches. I can't speak for the quality of their overseas shops, but people seem to love them.
麺尊 RAGE
東京都杉並区松庵3-37-22
Tokyo, Suginami-ku, Shoan 3-37-22
Fatty game cock goes into this intense bowl on Tokyo's west side.
ラーメン家 みつ葉 - Mitsuba
奈良県奈良市富雄元町3丁目3-15-1
Nara-ken, Nara-shi, Tomiomotomachi 3-3-15-1
Creamy soup made creamier with a quick shock of a hand mixer. The peppered chashu is exceptional.
麺屋 NOROMA
奈良県奈良市南京終町3-1531
Nara-ken, Nara-shi, Minamikyobatecho 3-1531
Simple, solid creamy chicken soup not too far from Nara proper.
金色不如帰 - Hototogisu
東京都新宿区新宿2-4-1 第22
Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 2-4-1
Hototogisu has recently moved from Hatagaya to Shinjuku.
The legendary Hototogisu. Shio or shoyu are both amazing, with special accents taking this one to the next level.
田中商店 - Tanaka Shouten
東京都足立区一ツ家2-14-6
Tokyo, Adachi-ku, Hitotsuya 2-14-6
Tokyo's most celebrated Kyushu-style bowl.
らぁ麺 やまぐち - Yamaguchi
東京都新宿区西早稲田2丁目11- 13
Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Nishi-Waseda 2-11-13
All chicken ramen from a true master.
中華そば しば田 - Shibata
東京都調布市若葉町2-25-20
Tokyo, Chofu-shi, Wakabacho 2-25-20
Shoyu ramen made with chicken and duck.
大和 - Yamato
栃木県 佐野市 北茂呂町 1-5-2
1-5-2 Kitamorocho Sano Tochigi
One of Sano City's best bowls. There are dozens of shops here, so you might as well hit the best.
煮干中華ソバ イチカワ - Ichikawa
茨城県つくば市天久保2-9-2
Ibaraki-ken, Tsukuba-shi, Amakubo 2-9-2
Intense niboshi ramen. Only open for lunch, and they only serve 80 bowls. Line up at least an hour before they open.
中華そば よしかわ - Yoshikawa
埼玉県上尾市南97-5
Saitama-ken, Ageo-shi, Minami 97-5
Great shoyu and niboshi ramen up in Saitama.
ラーメン 巌哲 - Gantetsu
東京都新宿区西早稲田1-10-4
Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Nishiwaseda 1-10-4
Light ramen made with tuna. A flavor all its own.
煮干しつけ麺 宮元 - Miyamoto
らーめん専門 和心 武庫之荘店 - Nagomi
中華蕎麦 蘭鋳 - Ranchu
東京都杉並区堀ノ内2-13-13
Tokyo, Suginami-ku, Horinouchi 2-13-13
Slept on gem just outside of Tokyo proper.
多賀野 - Takano
東京都品川区中延2-15-10
Tokyo, Shinagawa-ku, Nakanobu 2-15-10
Old school shop run by a female master. Chukasoba done right.
中華そば うえまち - Uemachi
大阪府大阪市中央区上町A番22号
Osaka, Osaka-shi, Chuo-ku, Uemachi A-22
One of Osaka's best shoyu bowls. Very clean.
らぁ麺 すぎ本 - Sugimoto
東京都中野区鷺ノ宮4-2-3
Tokyo, Nakano-ku, Saginomiya 4-2-3
The master trained at Shinasobaya, and it shows.
中華ソバ 伊吹 - Ibuki
東京都板橋区前野町4-58-10
Tokyo, Itabashi-ku, Maenocho 4-58-10
Serious niboshi ramen. Only for a true niboshi lover.
ようすけ - Yosuke
栃木県佐野市田島町232
Tochigi-ken, Sano-shi, Tajimacho 232
Another great option in the sea of great Sano City ramen.
麺屋 極鶏 - Gokkei
京都府京都市左京区一乗寺西閉川原町29-7
Kyoto, Kyoto-shi, Sakyo-ku, Ichijojinishitojikawaracho 29-7
Kyoto's thickest chicken ramen.
麺屋 彩未 - Saimi
北海道札幌市豊平区美園10条5丁目3-12
Hokkaido, Sapporo-shi, Toyohira-ku, Misono 10jo, 5-3-12
If you want Sapporo-style ramen in Sapporo, this is a must-hit.
らーめん鱗 西中島店 - Uroko
大阪府大阪市淀川区西中島4-5-22
Osaka, Osaka-shi, Yodogawa-ku, Nishinakajima 4-5-22
On the lighter side, but full of intense umami.
麺や 而今 - Jikon
大阪府大東市灰塚6丁目7-9
Osaka, Daito-shi, Haizuka 6-7-9
Solid Osaka ramen with a large variety on the menu.
らーめん 弥七 - Yashichi
大阪府大阪市北区豊崎三丁目4-8
Osaka, Osaka-shi, Kita-ku, Toyosaki 3-4-8
Lunch-only, weekday-only spot. Loved by locals, so expect a wait.
麺処 きなり - Kinari
東京都北区西ヶ原1-1-15
Tokyo, Kita-ku, Nishigahara 1-1-15
The master worked at a famous shop (he doesn't want me to mention it).
ラーメン無法松 - Muhomatsu
福岡県北九州市小倉北区神岳2-10-24
Fukuoka-ken, Kitakyushu, Kokurakitaku, Kantake 2-10-24
If you find yourself in Kokura, here is the spot for you.
中華蕎麦 とみ田 - Tomita
千葉県松戸市松戸1339 高橋ビル1F
Chiba, Matsudo-shi, Matsudo 1339
Absolute obsession goes into this bowl. The master overseas every aspect, and lines can reach up to 4 hours. A new ticketing system fixes some of this, but be prepared to spend a long time getting to this one.
豚星。- Butaboshi
神奈川県川崎市中原区木月4-5-20
Kanagawa-ken, Kawasaki-shi, Nakahara-ku, Otsuki 4-5-20
Jiro-style ramen just south of Tokyo. Intense soup with garlic for days.
彩色ラーメン きんせい夢風 - Kinseimufu
大阪府高槻市栄町2-19-7
Osaka, Takatsuki, Sakaemachi 2-19-7
Inconvenient, lunch-only ramen with a die-hard following.
らぁ麺屋 飯田商店 - Ida Shoten
神奈川県足柄下郡湯河原町土肥2-12-14
Kanagawa-ken, Ashigarashimagun, Yagawaramachi, Doi 2-12-14
Down in beautiful Izu, Ida Shoten strives for perfection. Anyone headed to Hakone should make a detour here.
町田汁場 しおらーめん 進化 - Shinka
東京都町田市森野3丁目18-17
Tokyo, Machida-shi, Morino 3-18-17
Chicken ramen with golden chicken oil.
燦燦斗 - Sansanto
東京都北区中十条3-16-15
Tokyo, Kita-ku, Nakajujo 3-16-15
Odd evening hours for this uniquely intense bowl of tonkotsu gyokai ramen.
中華そば 四つ葉 - Yotsuba
埼玉県比企郡川島町伊草298-20
Saitama-ken, Hiki-gun, Kawajimamachi, Igusa 298-20
Beautiful handmade noodles. You'll need a car for this one (or a lot of time).
蔦 - Tsuta
東京都豊島区巣鴨1-14-1
Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Sugamo 1-14-1
The Michelin-starred shop probably deserves a higher spot on this list. Involves some waiting for their truffle spiked shoyu ramen.
