There are few pleasures greater than a freezing winter's evening spent gazing over a bowl of steaming ramen. Thankfully, there's no shortage of options across Melbourne's restaurant scene, from tiny institutions like Shop Ramen on the northside, to the world-renowned Mensho Tokyo in the CBD.
Whether you’re after a rich tonkotsu, spicy miso or something a little more inventive, these are the best ramen spots in Melbourne worth knowing.
Shop Ramen (Fitzroy, Preston, Brunswick)
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Shop Ramen has a small menu, but they do everything so well. The ramen is, obviously, a standout, and my personal favourite is the classic Shoyu Pork Belly, topped with a perfectly gooey egg. But there's also a vegetarian miso that's worth taking note of – full of edamame, tofu and pickled shiitake mushrooms. You can also opt to make it vegan, if that's more your thing. And if you're particularly hungry, start with one of their steamed buns (trust me, worth it).
SUUPAA (Cremorne)
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SUUPAA is modelled after a Japanese convenience store, but with an edgy, modern twist. Their offering isn't exclusively ramen – you'll also find sandos, onigiris, and donburi. But their ramen is hearty, authentic, and delicious. The menu rotates monthly, so if there's something you want to try, you'll need to act quickly.
Shujinko (multiple locations)
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Shujinko is pretty popular – so much so, that they've got six outposts across the city. Their speciality is an authentic tonkotsu – a pork broth that's slow cooked over 12 hours, for the ultimate creamy, rich texture. It's topped off with aburi pork belly, a marinated egg, bean shoots, scallion, mushroom, and seaweed.
Mensho Tokyo (CBD)
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Mensho Tokyo takes a simple approach to the humble bowl of ramen, using locally sourced ingredients and noodles made in-house each morning. The rich, creamy chicken broth makes use of a whole chicken, while the vegan option draws on porcini mushrooms, kelp, shiitake and vegetables. There are two house-made noodle varieties, each paired to complement the broth. It’s walk-in only, so come hungry and be prepared to wait.
RAMEN AKO's (Fitzroy)
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For something a little more specialised, head to RAMEN AKO’s on Brunswick Street. The compact ramen shop focuses on chicken and plant-based broth. There’s also a mushroom-based vegan ramen, making it a particularly good pick for anyone looking beyond the classic pork-heavy bowls.
Kikanbo (CBD)
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Tokyo ramen favourite Kikanbo is known for its spicy miso ramen, made with a rich broth and two types of spice: chilli and Japanese pepper. You can choose your level of spice and pepper, from mild to seriously hot, and the bowls come topped with thick-cut chashu pork and handmade noodles.
Parco Ramen (Collingwood)
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Parco Ramen serves homemade ramen on Smith Street. Its signature Miso Lobster ramen combines a creamy miso broth made with South Australian crayfish, house-made noodles, chashu, egg and nori. For something a little more classic, the Torishio comes with a creamy chicken broth, while the vegan ramen uses a soy-based dashi and miso broth.
Snow Monkey Ramen (CBD)
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Snow Monkey Ramen takes a French-Japanese approach to ramen, created by a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef. The menu ranges from classic tonkotsu and black garlic to its signature Rock Lobster Ramen. There’s also a vegetable miso option for those after something meat-free.
Hakata Gensuke (CBD)
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Hakata Gensuke has been serving delicious ramen in Melbourne since 2014. The signature pork broth takes more than 24 hours to make, and is topped with thin, handmade noodles, chashu pork, black fungus and spring onions. You can also choose your noodle firmness and add toppings, with options including black tonkotsu made with fried garlic and black sesame. The menu isn't strictly ramen – you'll find gyoza, karaage chicken, and even take-home ramen packs.
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