Warm Up From Within At The Best Spots For Ramen In Sydney Right Now

No doubt about it: ramen is probably our favourite export from Japan behind sushi, Pokémon, and giant radioactive monsters.

With so many varieties (tonkotsu! shoyu! shio! chicken! seafood!), there's truly a bowl for everyone and, while you might be fooled into thinking ramen was a dish for cooler weather, Sydney/Eora goes well and truly mad for a bowl of ramen all year round.

Whether you're a fan of rich tonkotsu or a lighter, miso broth, this is Urban List's definitive list of our city's tastiest ramen hangouts. Here's where to find the best ramen in Sydney.

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Mensho Tokyo

2 Temperance Lane, Sydney

Globally recognised ramen restaurant Mensho Tokyo has finally come to Sydney, and utilises local ingredients to craft both traditional and innovative bowls of ramen, with noodles made from Australian brown wheat, milled in store, for the ultimate chewy texture.

Must-try bowls include a lobster bisque ramen topped with a whole lobster, a creamy toripaitan chicken ramen, a vibrant duck and matcha ramen, and Australian Mayura Station, chocolate-fed Wagyu ramen, layering a soy-based truffle and Wagyu broth with juicy slices of Wagyu chashu. 

Insider intel

• If you’re visiting at a peak time be prepared to queue—this is world-renowned ramen, after all.
• Pull up a seat overlooking the kitchen to watch the masters at work.
• Rice bowls and side dishes are also available.

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Gumshara

9 Kimber Lane, Haymarket

Image credit: Gumshara | Instagram

Ask any soup aficionado for their top ramen in Sydney and Gumshara will usually take the top spot. This place is legendary for its broth, which is boiled for 14 hours and so thick and flavour-packed that you can thin it down a little if you prefer.

Since its start as a tiny, hole-in-the-wall restaurant tucked away in a Haymarket food court, Gumshara has amassed a serious following that any ramen fan needs to try.

INSIDER INTEL

• Try the pork ramen topped with a juicy, deep-fried spare rib.
• This spot isn't vegetarian-friendly—we'd pick somewhere else.

Hakata Gensuke

501 George Street, Sydney CBD

Image credit: Hakata Gensuke | Instagram

Hakata Gensuke first made its way to Australia via Melbourne, where it has a cult following alongside its locations in Perth—and also, now, in Sydney.

The tonkotsu ramen is known for being rich and silky, using premium pork bones for a flavourful and nourishing broth, and the menu has rich fried garlic and black sesame-topped ramen, spicy bowls, and lighter shio-style ramen, pluz gyoza and a few familiar snacks.

Insider Intel

• With only 40 seats and no bookings, be prepared for a short queue for your ramen.
• You can order your ramen online for take away.

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Bones Ramen

4/51-57 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay

Image credit: Bones Ramen | Instagram

This 20-seat ramen joint is by head chef Jacob Riwaka (Rising Sun Workshop and Cornersmith) and restaurateur Michael Mu Sung, who owns the produce-driven Farmhouse just across the road, so you can expect fresh-as produce and A-class ramen from these two hospo heavyweights. "Unique to Bones [is] our in-house production, barrelling, and storage of taré, which is the soy seasoning for the broths," explains Riwaka.

Here, you can pick from four options: pork broth with chashu, soy egg, watercress, and fermented bamboo shoots; chicken paitan broth with chicken chashu, soy egg, shallots, and fermented bamboo shoots; a seafood broth with scallop silks, prawn balls, shallots and nori; and a vegetarian broth with Jerusalem artichoke celeriac chashu, shiitake and oyster mushrooms, and roast tomato. 

INSIDER INTEL

• No bookings here—plan to visit early or late.
• Big ramen fans and regulars should give the weekly special a try.

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Ryo’s Noodles

125 Falcon Street, Crows Nest

Chef Ryosuki was born in Fukuoka—the home of tonkotsu—so it's safe to say his ramen at Ryo's Noodles is the real deal, and it's been a Sydney fave for over 20 years.

The classic tonkotsu is rich but balanced, with pork and fish or pork and chicken blends for variety, and kids and vegetarians are catered to as well.

INSIDER INTEL

• Don't forget, Ryo's is closed on Wednesdays.
• ​There's often a queue—embrace it as part of the experience.

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RaRa Ramen

1/162–164 Barker Street, Randwick, 66b Regent Street, Redfern and 6/,1 Locomotive Street, South Eveleigh

Image credit: Rara Ramen | Instagram

RaRa Ramen is a little oasis in a sea of pork broth for vegans and veggies who still want a slurp of the rich, soupy action. Their soy-based miso broth is packed with the creamy goodness that most other meat-free options lack, and the noodles—made in-house daily—soak up all the flavour.

But their plant-based options don’t mean they're lightweights in the carnivorous sector. The pork tonkotsu and coal-grilled chashu made from free-range pork are the stuff of legend and frequently have patrons blocking up the pavement to get a taste.

INSIDER INTEL

• Add the house-made sansho chilli oil for a satisfying kick.
• You can order for pick-up online.

Ramen Auru

Level 2, 6-8 Falcon Street, Crows Nest

Image credit: Ramen Auru | Instagram

Ramen Auru is a Sydney ramen restaurant with a traditional tatami-floored dining room and a custom-made ticket ordering machine.

The ramen offering here ticks off just three signature bowls: a rich tonkotsu ramen with all the usual toppings, a lighter yuzu shio ramen with chicken chashu, and an ebi (prawn) ramen with bisque, seafood broth, and prawn chilli oil.

Insider Intel

• Plan a three-level night out starting with a ramen, going for drinks at upstairs bar Ichiro's, then finishing with a late-night skewers at Yakitori Yurippi.
• The Chinese-style liver and chive dish is a popular starter.

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Chaco Ramen

238 Crown Street, Darlinghurst and 11 O’Brien Street, Bondi Beach

Chaco Ramen in Darlinghurst is a tiny ramen-ya down the quiet end of Crown Street with a big reputation, and a Bondi Beach sibling with an added izakaya menu. The ramen menu here offers around seven bowls, with a soy-based ramen topped with chashu; the yuzu scallop ramen with John Dory and prawn wonton, black fungus, leek and mizuna; and the cold tomato truffle ramen with seaweed broth, 63-degree egg, mizuna, semi-dried tomato and umeboshi among the standouts.

Insider Intel

• Check out sister venues Chaco Bar and Haco for more Japanese eats.
• Chaco Ramen does awesome make-at-home ramen kits, you can keep in the freezer.

Rising Sun Workshop

1C Whateley Street, Newtown

Image credit: Rising Sun Workshop | Instagram

You wouldn’t expect a working motorbike garage to serve up some of the best ramen in Sydney but, in Newtown, the combination actually makes sense. The team at Rising Sun Workshop are known for their three superstar ramens: The Dark, which is made with a free-range pork broth, The Light which is a concoction of Southern Highlands free-range chicken and, for vegetarians, The Monk, which is shiitake mushroom and sea kelp dashi with roast garlic, pepper, and miso. 

Rising Sun is also famous for its breakfast ramen, which is made with buttered toast broth, bacon, egg, and tomato.

Insider Intel

• Visit on a Sunday for bottomless beers or Bloody Marys with your breakfast ramen for $65pp between 11am and 1pm.
• The downstairs dining area overlooking the workshop is pet-friendly.
• There's more than ramen, like plates, sandos, bowls and bao buns.

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Ramen Goku

30 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

Image credit: Ramen Goku | Instagram

Ramen Goku is an unassuming place, but its huge portion sizes and the authentically flavoured broth has earned it a spot on any list of the best ramen in Sydney. 

Standouts on the extensive menu are the classic Sapporo miso ramen, the black garlic ramen with caramelised garlic oil and, of course, their signature Goku ramen, which is a straight-up traditional bowl with chashu, bamboo shoots, shallots, sesame and a ramen egg. You can get veggie ramen here on request, and you’ll probably want to throw an egg in there when you see how perfect they are.

Insider intel

• Order a mini signature Goku ramen if you want to explore more of the menu.
• Try the karaage-topped ramen for something different and delicious.

Ichi-Ban Boshi

2 The Galeries, 500 George Street and 1/171-173 Oxford St, Bondi Junction

The team at Ichiban Boshi first opened their doors in Bondi Junction in 1998, back when people had barely even heard of ramen. They’re pioneers of the Japanese food scene and made a bit of a splash by selling fresh, handmade ramen and gyoza to the Eastern Suburbs.

They still take their craft incredibly seriously, making ramen noodles daily from Australian wheat to a formula that's perfectly suited to accompany the thickness of their broth. to the point of only making 30 bowls of their signature tonkotsu per day, which people generally queue around the block for. 

INSIDER INTEL

• There's also an Ichi-Ban Boshi Express in The Galeries' lower ground floor food court for your takeaway fix.
• The Hokkaido-style butter corn ramen is topped with a slab of cold butter to emulsify into your soup.

Gaku Robata Grill

2/132 Darlinghurst Road,Darlinghurst

Image credit: Gaku Robata Grill | Instagram

Despite its main focus on charcoal-grilled goodies, Gaku Robata Grill is renowned for doing some of the most exclusive ramen in town; only 40 portions are made each day, available to the lucky few who arrive first.

Their regular ramen menu includes the Gaku Ramen 2.0 with light pork tonkotsu stock, umami konbu broth, pork chashu and a half umami egg, also available spicy or supersized with five pieces of pork chashu. There's also a Wagyu ramen served with Wagyu consommé, slices of A5 Wagyu and citrus black pepper sauce, plus duck and yuzu or veggie options. Ramen is only available at lunchtime, 12pm–1.45pm seven days.

Insider intel

• Keep an eye on Gaku's Instagram for regular ramen specials like soft shell crab, or when they sometimes do ramen at dinnertime too.
• You can book by texting 0426 229 254.

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Tenkomori Ramen House

Regent Place, 29/501 George Street, Sydney CBD and Wynyard, HC.33, 301 George Street,  Sydney CBD

Image credit: Tenkomori Ramen | Instagram

Tenkomori Ramen House lets you build your own ramen, starting with an extensive range of broths (like tonkotsu, miso, udon dashi, super spicy, garlic tonkotsu or even tom yum), then choosing a type of noodle, main protein and toppings. 

You can also order straight from the menu and relinquish control to the experts, with bowls like number one with pork broth, pickled takana, fish cake, dried seaweed, roasted sesame, shallot, a seasoned boiled egg, and bamboo shoots, chashu-loaded options, and spicy ramen too.

Insider intel

• If you're working with an appetite, upsize to an XL bowl.
• It is a struggle to find a table at peak times—maybe opt for takeaway instead.

Ippudo

Various locations

Image credit: Ippudo | Instagram

A Japanese chain dedicated to sharing the goodness of ramen with the world, Ippudo serves hands-down some of the best ramen in Sydney.

Expect a neat selection of five ramens; three have a rich pork base cooked for 18 hours and deeply matured, one a deeply savoury clear chicken broth, and one a veggie broth enhanced with with pepperoncino oil.

Insider Intel

• The Circular Quay location has great water views.
• Check out the seasonal ramen specials.
• Most locations have counter seating that's great for solo diners.

Manpuku Ramen

482 Anzac Parade, Kingsford and 226 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood

Image credit: Manpuku Ramen | Instagram

Manpuku is a local favourite and stands out in the crowded Chatswood market, opening their second location in 2016 after the success of the original ramen shop in Kingsford. Chef Hideto Suzuki currently has a 15-strong range of dishes to choose from and they rotate options all the time.

Ramen is done by the book here, with a clear chicken-based broth, a rich pork-based broth, and some vegetarian options. The signature ramen comes with soy-based pork broth, a slice of seared chashu, marinated egg, blanched bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and shallots—because why mess with perfection?

Insider intel

• Try if you dare: the signature ramen's full name is kono deaini kanshashite aijoi to jonetsu komete isshoukenmei tsukutta uchirano icchan sukina manpuku shiawase ramen.
• You can BYO wine to these ramen restaurants.
• Be prepared to wait outside for a table at peak times, and make sure you grab a number when you arrive.

Ajisen Ramen

85 Liverpool Street, Sydney CBD

Ajisen Ramen serves Kumamoto-style ramen—that means rich, flavourful pork tonkotsu broth, a rich dark tare, and optional garlic. Their classic ramen is properly filling with an incredible depth of flavour, while the volcano ramen is exactly what you would expect: a fiery chilli broth bowl slathered in black volcano sauce.

For the plant-based people, ramen can be made vegetarian or vegan by choosing miso broth; go for the vegetable ramen and chuck some fried silken tofu on there for good measure— and don’t forget an egg, as it’s packed with smoky flavour.

Insider intel

• This is a reliable late-night spot, open until 10pm seven days.
• Ajisen Ramen also does an extensive menu of Japanese rice bowls, bento and snacks.

Ramen Zundo

World Square Shop 10,30 644 George Street, Sydney CBD and Chatswood Place R11 260 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood

Ramen Zundo is dedicated to the cause of getting good ramen into your belly. The ramen here is freshly made every day from an eight-hour pork bone tonkotsu base, so it's packed with collagen and rich in texture and flavour, but they also do a sizable vegetarian offering.

Varieties on offer include original, black with a flavourful oil made from garlic and onions, red with anchovy paste, and a four-miso blend. Noodles are also crafted in house on the thinner side so they get perfectly slicked in the soup.

INSIDER INTEL

• The spicy ramen here lives up to its name—prepare for a burner.
• Ramen Zundo has a long list of add-ons so you can customise your perfect bowl.

Yasaka Ramen

126 Liverpool Street, Sydney CBD, G08/14 Walker Street, Rhodes and Sydney Place, Circular Quay

Image credit: Yasaka Ramen | Instagram

You'll spot Yasaka Ramen shops thanks to their neon signs reading "no ramen, no life", a message we can fully get behind. They offer four tonkotsu-based broth with shoyu, shio and miso variations, 

The charred pork here is given an extra crispy layer with a blowtorch, and the extra-fatty pork rib is worth splashing out for added protein. They also do a great miso-based veggie ramen with crispy tofu and crunchy corn.

INSIDER INTEL

• The tonkotsu here is extremely rich, and not to everyone's taste—opt for another spot if you prefer a lighter style.
• The mouth-watering kakuni (braised pork belly) is a must-add.

Kuroneko Ramen

4/720 Old Princes Highway, Sutherland

For more than 10 years, Kuroneko Ramen has been doing epic ramen in Sydney's south. Broths on offer are a rich tonkotsu, creamy chicken, miso or the signature prawn bisque with chicken stock.

Our pick is the spicy ramen, which is rich in umami flavour from the tonkotsu and loaded up with spicy miso pork mince, a soft egg and house chilli oil for layered heat.

Insider intel

• They offer ramen with rice noodles for gluten-free pals.
• This ramen restaurant is always pumping, so consider booking on 9521 5191.

Hakatamon Ramen

1/475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood and 6/8 Nicolle Walk, Haymarket 

Hakatamon specialises in Hakata-style ramen, which means silky tonkotsu broth, extra thin noodles, and minimal toppings to allow the simple ingredients to do the talking. The prawn tonkotsu is worth a try, topped with juicy prawn wontons, and the free condiment station means you can season to your preference.

Insider Intel

• The Chatswood location is BYO.
• The kids ramen is a great option if your little ones struggle to finish a full bowl.

Main image credit: Bones Ramen

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