From smoky Tokyo backstreets to the bright lights of Soho, ramen has made itself at home in London.
What began as a humble Japanese street food has become a capital-wide obsession one bowl at a time.
Here are 10 must-visit ramen shops in London, complete with their backstory, key people, signature bowls, and all the details you need to slurp your way there.
1. Kanada-Ya – Tonkotsu Royalty from Fukuoka
History & People: Founded in 2009 by Kazuhiro Kanada, a former keirin cyclist who swapped the race track for the ramen pot. London’s first branch opened in 2014.
Signature Dish: Tonkotsu Ramen an 18-hour pork bone broth, thin hakata noodles, chashu pork belly, wood ear fungus, spring onion.
Experience: Clean, simple space where the broth aroma sets the mood before you’re seated.
Address: 3 Panton St, London SW1Y 4DL
2. Bone Daddies – Rock ’n’ Roll Ramen
History & People: Created in 2012 by Ross Shonhan, who trained in the high-end kitchens of Zuma and Nobu before going full rock-star with ramen.
Signature Dish: Tonkotsu (20-hour pork broth) and Tantanmen with sesame and chilli.
Experience: Loud, vibrant, and unapologetically bold both in music and flavour.
Address: 31 Peter St, London W1F 0AR
3. Shoryu Ramen – Bringing Hakata to Regent Street
History & People: Founded in 2012 by Tak Tokumine, the man behind Japan Centre, to showcase his hometown’s Hakata ramen.
Signature Dish: Ganso Tonkotsu creamy pork broth, thin noodles, kikurage mushrooms, nitamago egg.
Experience: Bright, bustling, and full of warm greetings in Japanese.
Address: 9 Regent St, London SW1Y 4LR
4. IPPUDO London – The Global Ramen Giant
History & People: Founded in 1985 by Shigemi Kawahara, the “Ramen King” of Fukuoka. Now with over 200 locations worldwide. London joined the family in 2014.
Signature Dish: Shiromaru Classic (tonkotsu) and Akamaru Modern (garlic oil, miso paste).
Experience: International polish meets Japanese hospitality.
5. Tonkotsu – From Pop-Up to Powerhouse
History & People: Founded in 2012 by Ken Yamada and Emma Reynolds with a focus on fresh noodles and scratch-made broths.
Signature Dish: Tonkotsu Ramen pork belly, bamboo shoots, seasoned egg.
Experience: Relaxed, friendly, and reliable for a comforting bowl.
Address: 63 Dean St, London W1D 4QG
6. Koi Ramen Bar – Brixton’s Budget Hero
History & People: Launched by Kanji Furukawa in 2014 to bring authentic ramen to Brixton at affordable prices.
Signature Dish: Tonkotsu Black (garlic oil) and Spicy Miso.
Experience: Unpretentious and full of locals who know a bargain when they taste one.
Address: Unit 5, Brixton Village, London SW9 8PS
7. Heddon Yokocho – Retro Tokyo Vibes
History & People: Opened by Japan Centre Group in 2020 to recreate the neon-lit ramen alleys of 1970s Tokyo.
Signature Dish: Sapporo Miso with butter & sweetcorn, Kyushu Tonkotsu.
Experience: A time machine to Showa-era Japan with music and décor to match.
Address: 8 Heddon St, London W1B 4BU
8. Yamagoya – Fukuoka Soul in South London
History & People: Founded by Masatoshi Ogata in Fukuoka in the 1960s; brought to London to share his traditional recipes.
Signature Dish: Yuzu Tonkotsu pork broth with citrus twist.
Experience: Minimalist, letting the food do the talking.
Address: 49 The Cut, London SE1 8LF
9. Menya Ramen House – No-Frills Excellence
History & People: A trusted Aldgate stop for hearty ramen served with no pretension.
Signature Dish: Miso Ramen with buttered sweetcorn, and Shoyu Ramen.
Experience: Cosy and dependable with a loyal following.
Address: 9 Whitechapel High St, London E1 7PS
10. Monohon Ramen – Small Batch Perfection
History & People: Run by Ian Wheatley, who trained in Japan before opening in Clerkenwell with a “limited bowls per day” approach.
Signature Dish: Shoyu Ramen with clear soy-based broth and fresh noodles.
Experience: Intimate, with quality in every detail.
Address: 102 Old St, London EC1V 9AY
