If you’re visiting Osaka or Kyoto, trying local ramen should be high on your list.
Both cities have their own specialties, from rich pork-based soups to lighter soy or seafood broths.
Here are 12 of the best ramen shops you can visit, each with its own unique style and must-try bowls. 😊
1. Hanamaruken Hozenji (Osaka)
This shop is famous for its slow-cooked pork rib, which you can add on top of ramen.
The broth is a deep, savory pork soup with soy notes, paired with thick noodles that hold up well.
Toppings include green onion, seaweed, and menma, with options of roast pork or the signature braised rib.
Sets are popular, such as the Manzoku combo with ramen and sides (¥1,880 / $12), the half slow-cooked pork rib rice bowl and ramen egg combo (¥1,580 / $11), or ramen with omelette fried rice (¥1,480 / $10).
A basic bowl alone costs about ¥900–¥1,050 ($6–7), while set meals range from ¥980–¥1,880 ($6–12).
Location: Google Maps
2. Dotonbori Kamukura (Osaka)
Unlike most shops in Osaka, Kamukura serves a clear, golden soy-based broth that feels light and comforting.
Each bowl comes with lots of Chinese cabbage, giving it a sweet balance.
Thin, firm noodles soak up the soup, and you can add chashu or soft-boiled egg.
The Oishii Ramen with chashu and egg is the most popular (¥1,109 / $7.50).
Other options include Oishii Ramen with egg (¥882 / $6) and Oishii Ramen with egg and green onion (¥1,019 / $7).
Value sets are also popular, like ramen with half fried rice and gyoza (¥1,246 / $8.50), ramen with half fried rice and fried chicken (¥1,337 / $9), or ramen with half fried rice (¥1,064 / $7.50).
Standard ramen bowls range from ¥746–¥1,155 ($5–8), while value combos cost ¥1,064–¥1,337 ($7.50–9).
Location: Google Maps
Read More: 17 Best Foods to Try in Dotonbori Osaka
3. Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori (Osaka)
You’ll notice this shop right away with its big dragon sign in Dotonbori.
The menu has photos, so it’s easy to order even if you don’t read Japanese.
You can pick from soy sauce, miso, salt, chicken soup, or spicy miso broth.
Noodles are medium-thick and springy, topped with pork chashu, green onions, and optional egg.
Start with the broth plain, then add garlic, kimchi, or chives to adjust the taste as you go.
A regular bowl is ¥900–¥1,000 ($6–7), while chashu ramen with extra pork is about ¥1,150–¥1,200 ($8).
Location: Google Maps
4. Human Beings Everybody Noodles (Osaka)
This shop, also known as Jinrui Mina Menrui, serves shoyu ramen with a clear golden broth made from dried fish stock.
There are three main bowls: Genten, the original with a mild soy and bonito balance; Micro, a stronger and less sweet version; and Macro, enriched with clams for extra seafood depth.
Noodles are medium-thick and chewy, and the chashu pork is famous for its thick, tender cuts that almost melt in your mouth.
Prices range from ¥770 ($6) for thin-sliced chashu to ¥1,430 ($10) for the “world’s thickest chashu”.
Location: Google Maps
5. Menya Takei Hankyu Umeda (Osaka)
This is one of the most popular tsukemen shops in Osaka.
You dip chewy, cold noodles into a hot pork-and-seafood broth that’s thick and flavorful.
The specialty tsukemen comes with three types of chashu, bamboo shoots, egg, and seaweed (¥1,420 / $10).
Even a “small” portion is filling, so size up carefully.
They also serve ramen if you prefer soup noodles, with bowls ranging from ¥980–¥1,240 ($7–9).
Expect to pay about ¥1,000–¥1,500 ($7–11) per person.
Location: Google Maps
6. NEXT Shikaku (Osaka)
This unique shop is entirely focused on oyster-based ramen.
You can try Koeru, a creamy oyster broth, Ikasu, a clear oyster dashi, or Asobu, an oyster tsukemen with concentrated soup.
Each style offers a different take, from smooth and rich to clean and briny.
They also serve side dishes like fried oysters, oyster rice, and seared beef sushi.
Bowls cost around ¥1,470–¥1,720 ($10–12).
Location: Google Maps
7. Honke Daiichi-Asahi (Kyoto)
A classic Kyoto shop, Daiichi-Asahi serves soy sauce ramen made with pork bone broth and Fushimi soy sauce.
The broth is rich but not greasy, topped with slices of pork, lots of green onion, and bean sprouts.
Noodles are medium-thick and chewy.
The large specialty ramen is ¥1,180 ($8), while the standard bowl is ¥980 ($7).
Bowls usually range between ¥830 and ¥1,180 ($6–8).
Location: Google Maps
8. Kunton Akutagawa (Kyoto)
This shop serves smoked tonkotsu ramen with a creamy pork bone base and smoky depth.
Thin, straight noodles pair with thick slices of smoky pork, soft-boiled egg, mushrooms, and seaweed.
A regular bowl is ¥1,000 ($7), while the deluxe with all toppings is ¥1,400 ($9.50).
Fried chicken is a popular side at ¥300 ($2) for three pieces or ¥600 ($4) for six.
Expect to spend about ¥1,000–¥1,400 ($7–9.50) for ramen or ¥1,200 ($8.50) with set menus.
Location: Google Maps
9. Kyoto Engine Ramen (Kyoto)
If you’re looking for a creative twist on miso ramen in Kyoto, this shop is a great stop.
It focuses on miso ramen and even offers vegan and gluten-free options.
The Kyoto Zesty Ramen is the best-seller, with spicy miso broth, soy cream soup, and daikon, priced at ¥1,900 ($13).
The Genuine Miso Ramen is lighter at ¥1,400 ($10), while the premium ENGINE version adds more toppings (¥1,900 / $13).
Vegan options cost ¥1,800 ($12) and are filling enough for all eaters.
Location: Google Maps
10. Men-ya Inoichi (Kyoto)
Inoichi is known for its light seafood and kelp broth, with a choice of white soy for sweetness or black soy for deeper taste.
The buckwheat-style noodles are chewy and nutty.
You can choose toppings like Kyoto pork chashu or grilled wagyu beef.
A pork dashi ramen is ¥1,400–¥1,550 ($9–11), while wagyu ramen costs ¥1,800–¥1,950 ($12–13).
Write your name in the guest book outside and wait until staff call you in.
Location: Google Maps
11. Ramen Sen-no-Kaze (Kyoto)
This family-run shop serves creamy tonkotsu ramen with a Kyoto twist, offering shio, shoyu, or miso bases.
Broths are silky and flavorful, paired with firm noodles and generous slices of pork.
The shop is very small with only 15 seats, and children under 7 are not allowed.
Recommended dishes include the Kyo no Shio Ramen (¥1,100 / $7.50), which is a light salt-based bowl.
The Kyo no Shoyu Ramen (¥1,200 / $8) has a deeper soy flavor.
If you want something richer, try the Yamato no Miso (¥1,300 / $9), a hearty miso option with a nutty touch.
Sets with gyoza and rice range from ¥1,450–¥1,750 ($10–12).
You also need to write your name in the book outside and wait for your turn.
Location: Google Maps
12. Hakata Ikkousha (Kyoto)
Located inside Kyoto Station’s Ramen Street, Ikkousha brings Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen to the city.
The broth is creamy yet smooth, paired with thin noodles and toppings like chashu, mushrooms, and green onions.
The Ajitama Scallion Chashu Ramen with extra toppings costs ¥1,600 ($11), while the Ajitama Chashu Ramen at ¥1,530 ($10.50) is the most popular.
Basic bowls start at ¥850 ($6).
Location: Google Maps
