Our city has always had a love affair with ramen. With so many ramen shops around town, we’ve made a list of some of the best ramen joints in Hong Kong for you to get slurpin’!
Hong Kong is truly a paradise for foodies. No matter what you’re in the mood for, whether it’s hot pot or fine dining, there’s a good one just around the corner. While Japanese restaurants and sushi are particularly sought after in Hong Kong, there’s another player in high demand: ramen. Indeed, we’d say that these hearty bowls are perfect for every season and time of day (especially after a night out!). For your convenience, we have rounded up some of the best ramen spots in Hong Kong for you to hit.
Best ramen in Hong Kong to warm your soul
1. Shugetsu
If you’re in search of fresh ramen in Hong Kong, look no further than Shugetsu. The Michelin-recommended eatery boasts house-made noodles and a special 18-month fermented sauce for the shoyu broth. The tsukemen at Shugetsu is the crowd pleaser; its chewy noodles are absolute perfection and are served separately, so that you can dip them into the flavourful shoyu broth. You can also customise your tsukemen and ramen with spicy and non-spicy options, in addition to side dishes. This is the perfect ramen restaurant for groups with varying appetites – you can choose the amount of noodles you want (up to 300g) and add extra toppings!
Shugetsu has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
2. Butao Ramen
Offering some of the best ramen in Hong Kong, Butao Ramen serves authentic tonkotsu ramen. With a delicious pork soup stock base, traditional tonkotsu ramen is the signature here, but you’ll also find playful fusion flavours on the menu. The Black King, for instance, consists of a special “black sauce”, made with black garlic, squid ink, minced pork, and vegetables. If you want to turn up the heat, go with the Red King which adds in chilli powder and spicy sauce. Feeling adventurous? Opt for the Green King, a creative recipe inspired by both East and West. It’s made up of olive oil, fresh basil leaves, and parmesan cheese – talk about an interesting combo of toppings for Japanese ramen!
Butao Ramen has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
3. Ichitora Ramen
Another ramen joint with its own housemade tonkotsu broth, Ichitora Ramen serves reliable, tasty bowls of goodness. The traditional Ichitora Ramen is always a treat, bathed in broth that is boiled daily with exceptional savoury flavours. For the more adventurous amongst you, the Lemon Ramen adds a zing to the traditional tonkotsu. Additionally, knowing ramen typically doesn’t come easy for non-meat eaters, Ichitora Ramen offers a great range of vegan and vegetarian options – perfect for your plant-based buddies or those who want to cut down on their meat consumption.
Ichitora Ramen, 23 Amoy Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, p. 2808 0635
4. Kuma Ramen
Want to take full control of your ramen order? Then check out Kuma Ramen! This restaurant lets you customise your ramen bowl from the broth to noodles to toppings. So, start by choosing between five soup bases: the Signature Pork Bone Broth; Black Garlic Bone Broth; Spicy Bone Broth; White Bone Broth; and Bone Broth with Clams. Then, choose the type and texture of your noods before moving onto the toppings. While each bowl comes with slices of pork, scallions, and burdock, you can also add or remove toppings according to your preferences.
Kuma Ramen has locations in Sheung Wan and Jordan.
5. Kane Tsuru Ramen
Another master of chicken-based broths, Kane Tsuru Ramen is one of our favourite spots for a hearty bowl of ramen in Hong Kong. Try the Chicken White Soup Ramen for a decadent thick broth, soft noodles, and toppings like scallions and fried burdock. If you want some delicious duelling flavours in your bowl, order the Crab Soup Ramen to introduce a generous dose of crab meat to the chicken base. Don’t forget to pair your ramen with some skewers and gyozas as well for the full Japanese ramen experience!
Kane Tsuru Ramen has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
6. Ramen Jo
This restaurant in Causeway Bay has been dishing out quality ramen since forever. Ramen Jo specialises in miso broth ramen, pairing its noods with either pork or chicken. The must-try is the signature Pork Ramen, which can come drizzled with garlic oil if you want to add a kick to your meal. On the other hand, Ramen Jo also serves up some of the best White Chicken Broth Ramens in town. Give this a go next time your ramen craving strikes!
Ramen Jo, G/F, 3 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, p. 2885 0638
7. Maru De Sankaku
If you’ve tried enough bone or chicken broths in your lifetime, how about trying the signature fish broth at Maru De Sankaku? Serving only three styles of ramen, Maru De Sankaku’s simple approach may make its choices seem limited – but the flavours certainly aren’t!. The foamy, clear fish broth provides a fragrant base for the ramen which can be topped with fish, pork, soft-boiled egg, and more. You can even order your ramen tsukemen-style and get a free show with your meal – in the form of a cool fog effect when the noodles come served over dry ice.
Maru De Sankaku has locations in Central and Tin Hau.
8. Nagahama No. 1
On a quiet street in Central, Nagahama No. 1 serves some of the best tonkotsu ramen in town. Here, you can nosh on world-class ramen without breaking the bank. For newcomers, we recommend you start with the No. 1 Ramen. You can taste the joint’s famous tonkotsu flavours while customising the dish to your liking. The Spicy Miso Ramen is also a popular choice that adds a kick to the traditional tonkotsu. Nagahama No. 1’s thick pork bone broth will satisfy even the pickiest of ramen eaters and ramen aficionados!
Nagahama No. 1, 14 Kau U Fong, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2323 6115
9. Ramen House Konjiki Hototogisu
Switch up your usual pork or chicken broth ramen with a delicious alternative at Ramen House Konjiki Hototogisu. This Michelin-recommended joint serves a selection of ramen soaked in cowrie broths. Take your pick between the Shoyu or Shio Hamaguri Soup Ramen and feast! What’s more, Konjiki Hototogisu offers special ramen flavours on a regular basis, where seasonal shellfish is expertly infused into the rich soup base.
Ramen House Konjiki Hototogisu has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
10. Ramen Cubism
Did you know that celebrity chefs Hayashi Takao and Matsumura Takahiro helm one of the best ramen spots in Hong Kong? Tucked away on Wellington Street is the cosy Ramen Cubism. The culinary team here makes the noodles by hand, and there are multiple broths for you to choose from, including the Spicy White Broth, Clear Broth, and White Broth. Whether it’s made from soya sauce, chicken, or seafood, each broth is carefully crafted to bring out the natural flavours of the ingredients. We recommend topping off your ramen with slow-cooked pork belly and a boiled egg to fill you up on all that umami-rich goodness!
Ramen Cubism, Basement, Yuen Yick Building, 27-29 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2399 0811
11. Zagin Soba
Zagin Soba’s chicken broth ramen has single-handedly brought this restaurant up our list. You’ll find that the “cappuccino” broth is extra frothy, adding great texture and mouthfeel to traditional ramen. Try the Ramen with Rich Chicken White Soup Base on your first visit (you’ll see what the fuss is all about!) and order some tasty side dishes to complement your noodles. The fried burdock served on top of the ramen also makes Zagin Soba a place to write home about!
Zagin Soba has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
12. Kikanbo
Boasting “ramen to delight all five senses”, Kikanbo caters to the spice lovers among us. Carefully selected red peppers and numbing oil are blended into the soup to create a rich, spicy base. Beyond the spice, Kikanbo doesn’t skimp on the overall taste of its ramen either. You can find flavours you love as you tweak the spice and numbness levels to enjoy the soup that’s been stewed for over 10 hours. Even those who can’t handle their spice will be able to find a dish to enjoy at Kikanbo, choosing between three kinds of mixed noodles and a delightful array of toppings.
Kikanbo has locations in Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui.
[This article was originally published in March 2023 and updated in 2024 by Celia Lee.]
