5 Reservation Ramen In Tokyo (Part One)

Not everyone likes waiting in line, and we all have that one friend who actively detests it. (Maybe it’s you?) With this list and a little forward planning, you can pre-book your ramen meals for your next trip to Japan.

I have a part two list coming out soon, which has five more shops on it, but for now, here are five of my favorite, famous spots that you can actually secure a seat in advance. If it says “Tablecheck” or “Tabelog”, just type the name of the shop and either site name into your search engine, and the booking platform should pop right up. Enjoy! 

Rāmenya Shima

らぁ麺や 嶋

The cream of the crop, this is arguably the best chicken ramen in Tokyo. The glossy sheen of the chicken oil atop the rich blend of soy sauce, it’s an aromatic symphony with every sip. You’ve gotta be quick on the bookings for this one, and reservations start at 8am every day for the next day only. It’s worth the hurdles; this is one of my favorite chicken ramen in the city. 

Closest station: Nishi-Shinjuku-Gochome

What to order: Shoyu ramen

Hours: 8:45am - 2:00pm, closed Saturdays & Sundays

Reservations: Tablecheck

Japanese Ramen Gokan

This ramen shop has a ten-bullet-pointed list of what makes their ramen special. Need I say more? Gokan opened within the past couple years and uses a shellfish broth of clam, cockles, and scallops. Topping-wise, the pork is sous vide, and the chicken and duck are both char-grilled. When I went, I only had their basic bowl and regretted not getting more of these insane toppings! 

Closest station: Ikebukuro

What to order: Tokujo Shio Ramen

Hours: 11:30am - 3pm, closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Reservations: Tablecheck

Ginza Hachigou

銀座 八五

Ginza Hachigou is Michelin Bib Gourmand, and is run by a chef who used to work in five star kaiseki cuisine as well as a French-trained background. The soup is chicken, duck, pork, and uses a French salt blend. There are only six seats in this place, so it’s not good for people with smaller kids, but if it’s just 2-3 of you, definitely try to snag a booking. It’s top tier. 

Closest station: Higashi-ginza

What to order: Special Chuka Soba

Hours: 11am - 4pm, closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Reservations: Tablecheck

RAMEN MATSUI

When I first went to Ramen Matsui, they only allowed walk-ins, which meant I stood on the street during the scalding August heat for this bowl of ramen. However, it was so fantastic, I’m happy to see they’ve started a reservation system. When I went, I had their seasonal chilled mackerel ramen topped with duck slices and squid wontons. But their hot house bowl is arguably what gets people in the door year round and is something I need to come back for. 

Closest station: Shinjuku-gyoemmae

What to order: Special Salt Ramen, or Special Soy Sauce Ramen

Hours: 11am - 3:30pm, closed Wednesdays & Thursdays

Reservations: Tablecheck

Ramen MAIKAGURA

らーめんMAIKAGURA

The first sip I had of the foamy chicken soup at Maikagura, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. It’s a highly emulsified chicken soup, made so simply without really any other elements than their chicken stock and shio blend. This place is incredibly famous and is worth the trip to the scenic neighborhoods of Setagaya.

Closest station: Chitose-Funabashi

What to order: Toripaitan Ramen

Hours: 11:30am - 3:00pm / 6:00pm - 8:00pm, closed Mondays

Reservations: Tablecheck

I hope you enjoyed this list! Stay tuned for Part 2! There is so much good ramen, and when you can make a reservation for peace of mind, why not?