There is nothing quite as satisfying as a warm bowl of ramen, and as a city of Japanese food lovers, Hong Kong has its fair share. Whether you prefer the traditional pork broth Tonkotsu, miso ramen, a spicy option or even a creamy chicken broth, Hong Kong has choices for everyone! Both in winter, when it’s a no-brainer, or in summer, when you can try some of the lighter options, these ramen shops are filled to the brim. So grab something to keep you busy while you queue up, and indulge in Hong Kong’s best ramen restaurants.
Kikanbo — Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui
Made to “delight all five senses”, this Japanese mainstay has become super popular in Hong Kong, bringing spice, miso and umami to our palates. The décor is covered with demon masks, and there is the rhythm of the Japanese drums, creating an atmosphere which enhance the flavours. Their traditional Shinshu Miso soup has their signature red pepper (Kara) and green pepper (Shibi) flavours which give you the unbeatable spicy numbing feeling. Plus you can customize your meats and spice levels, so you can definitely go there even if you don’t have the highest tolerance. But if you can handle your spices, you have to try the oni-mashi level, aka devil level!
Causeway Bay: G/F, 530 Jaffe Rd, Causeway Bay | +852 2481 3383
Tsim Sha Tsui: G/F, 20 Cameron Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 2481 2889
Ganso Tsukemen — Tsim Sha Tsui
As it is in the name, this restaurant is famous for its Tsukemen – a ramen dish where you dip the noodles in the broth. Ganso has over 20 incredible options for dipping broths, from sea urchin, to lobster, to black truffle scallop, and one of their most popular flavours, cheese. The cheese and crab king dipping noodles are a big hit and definitely worth a try! But there is almost always a line outside this restaurant, so be prepared to wait – it just means the food will be even more delicious when you finally eat it.
Ganso Tsukemen, Shop 5, G/F, Dorfu Court, 5-6 Hau Fook St, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 6799 9663
幸屋 — Wan Chai
Hidden in the Wan Chai wet market is a true delight; 幸屋 is a true Japanese style ramen bar. It is completely customizable: you can choose the base (you have to try the miso oyster), ramen type and hardness, amount of oil, pork options, cabbage, scallion and of course, spiciness level. This is another shop that does a mean Tsukemen, if you’d prefer to dip your noodles. Their snacks also deserve a shoutout, especially their grilled prawns. So if you are looking for a cosy night with incredible food and affordable prices, this is your go-to!
幸屋, G/F, Wai Cheong Building, 5-9A Gresson St, Wan Chai | +852 2868 3091
Ramen Cubism — Central
At the other end of the spectrum, if you are looking for high end pomp and circumstance, you need to try Ramen Cubism, which brings two of Japan’s biggest ramen names to Hong Kong – Hayashi Takao and Matsumara Takahiro. The must-order, of course, is their Premium Cubism which has a rich creamy white broth, created without MSG or artificial flavourings. Another hot favourite is the Sky bird, which has a spicy white broth. The long lines outside the store are warranted, not only because of the scrumptious ramen, but also because they only serve 200 bowls a day!
Ramen Cubism, Basement, Yuen Yick Building, 27-29 Wellington St, Central | +852 2399 0811
KaneTsuru Ramen — multiple locations
A staple across Hong Kong, with over five locations, KaneTsuru is a must try for anyone looking for a healthier option to the sometimes greasy pork broth. They are famous for their chicken soup base which has a signature luxurious, creamy flavour – truly unbeatable! They also sometimes have limited edition flavours, definitely worth trying out if you catch them. While all their branches in Hong Kong are great, their Jordan location is one of their most popular. Serving consistently great food in a bustling yet modern and high-end atmosphere, what more can one ask for?
Multiple locations, including Central, North Point and To Kwa Wan
Issyoukenmen 生懸麵 — multiple locations
If you prefer traditional ramen fare, with the minimalist style and gorgeous wood décor, and of course, incredible ramen, you will love Issyoukenmen. They are also famous for their Tsukemen along with their regular ramen. Each component is perfect – the soup is rich and thick, the noodles the right amount of springy and soft, the pork melt-in-your-mouth and the egg hard on the outside and runny on the inside. A true delight in every bite. Their appetisers are also worth mentioning, especially the Takoyaki and fried chicken.
Mong Kok: G/F, 73 Tung Choi St, Mong Kok | +852 2748 1001
Ngau Tau Kok: Shop 121, G/F, TBG Mall, 3 Ngau Tau Kok Rd, Ngau Tau Kok | +852 3705 8766
Tsuen Wan: Shop 3012, 3/F, Kolor Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan | +852 2333 3012
Ramen Bari-Uma — multiple locations
For authenticity at its best, you have to try the Hiroshima-founded Ramen Bari-Uma. With noodles shipped directly from Japan, freshly made soups and incredible grilled chashu pork, you really can’t go wrong with your order at Bari-Uma. Still, their Ramen Ajitama-Uma, their pork flavoured shoyu soup topped with the grilled thick cut chashu pork and soft boiled egg, is to die for. It is also known for its long queues, especially outside their most famous TST spot, but it’s been named by a few as the best ramen outside Japan, so it’s worth the wait.
Tuen Mun: Shop 3233, 3/F, Phase 1, Tuen Mun Town Plaza, 1 Tuen Shun St, Tuen Mun | +852 3188 6681
Central: G/F, 22 D’Aguilar St, Central | +852 3101 0780
Tsim Sha Tsui: G/F, 26 Kimberley Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui | + 852 2217 8300
Samurai Ramen 武士拉麵 — Tsim Sha Tsui
Another tiny but unforgettable restaurant on our list is Samurai Ramen. With only 10 seats and 2 servers, its ramen is made from the heart. Nestled within a row of Korean food on Austin Ave, this is the perfect respite from a day of roaming around TST. Samurai Ramen offers a range of soup bases including the ever popular black garlic, but also onion oil, pig cartilage, Hokkaido milk, tomato sesame, Kyushu spicy and their signature samurai noodle soup. In the past, they have also had a green tea broth!
Samurai Ramen 武士拉麵, Shop D, G/F, Block B, Austin Mansion, 15 Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 2369 3211
Kuroiwa Ramen 麵屋黑岩 — Sham Shui Po
For a hearty filling of some of Hong Kong’s best ramen, you’ll have to head over to Sham Shui Po. While Kuroiwa Ramen has a number of different soup bases, including the classic Tonkotsu, Ebi, Crab (with real crab meat!) and Fish base, one to try is their Bonito flavoured soup. It is intensely flavoured with dry bonito flakes on top which create an amazing texture. Their pork is flame torched, so it has a smoky flavour with fat that melts in your mouth.
Kuroiwa Ramen 麵屋黑岩, G/F, 219 Cheung Sha Wan Rd, Sham Shui Po | +852 2628 3369
Amazing Ramen 一鳴拉麵 — Tai Po
Out in Tai Po, you will find “Amazing Ramen”, both the name of the shop and what they serve! They offer five different soup flavours: Tonkotsu, Black Garlic, Akakara, Coriander and soup of the day! The interiors are inspired by a Japanese Izakaya, and with the soft sounds of Japanese music playing in the background along with the authentic flavours, you will be transported straight to Japan. Their skewers are also exceptional, with the eel and chicken skin being particularly delicious. So what are you waiting for – head over as soon as you’re feeling like enjoying a perfect bowl of steaming ramen!
Amazing Ramen 一鳴拉麵, Shop E, G/F, Kwong On Building, 20-26 Wan Tau St, Tai Po | +852 3565 5415
Header image credits: Diego Lozano
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