Looking for a good bowl of ramen in London? There are plenty of options now, but not all of them are worth the trip.
I’ve been living in London for a while, and these are five ramen spots I’ve either been to myself or heard consistently good things about from Japanese friends here. They each do something different, so pick based on what you’re after.
1. Ippudo – Authentic Hakata Tonkotsu
Japanese chain that opened in London with four locations now.
The main draw is that it tastes like the Ippudo in Japan. The broth is the same 18-hour pork bone recipe – rich, creamy, properly done. You can get the classic Shiromaru, the Akamaru with miso paste and garlic oil, or the spicy Karaka-men.
The side menu is solid too. The Hirata Buns (steamed buns with pork belly) get good reviews. The takoyaki is surprisingly good – not something you’d expect at a ramen shop. If you’re there in summer, they sometimes have tsukemen (dipping noodles) as a limited item at the St Giles branch.
No reservations, walk-in only.
Try: Summer tsukemen (limited) / Akamaru / Takoyaki / Hirata Buns
| Price | £15–18 |
| Locations | Central Saint Giles, Canary Wharf, Villiers Street, Goodge Street |
| Reservations | No (walk-in only) |
| Website | ippudo.co.uk |
2. Kanada-Ya – Tonkotsu Specialist
Originally from Yukuhashi, Fukuoka. Proper tonkotsu ramen.
The broth is an 18-hour pork and chicken bone blend. Tonkotsu X is a London exclusive – yuzu shoyu added to the tonkotsu base. The Truffle Ramen is also popular and works better than you’d expect.
You can choose noodle firmness: soft, hard, or extra hard. Reviews say go for extra hard (barikata) for the best texture. The ajitama egg costs extra but the yolk seasoning is worth it.
They use WalkUp app for the queue.
Try: Tonkotsu X (London exclusive) / Truffle Ramen / Add the egg
| Price | £13–17 |
| Locations | Angel, Piccadilly, Covent Garden, Carnaby, Ealing, Westfield |
| Reservations | Piccadilly only (others walk-in) |
| Website | kanada-ya.com |
3. Shoryu – Casual Hakata Ramen
Run by a Fukuoka native. Multiple locations across London, Manchester, and Oxford.
12-hour tonkotsu broth with chashu, egg, wood ear mushrooms, and pickled ginger. If you like spicy, the Karaka Tantan Tonkotsu is good – white miso, garlic, and chilli oil. They also have a soy milk-based vegetarian option (White Natural).
Beyond ramen, the Hirata Buns are what they’re known for. Pork belly, chicken karaage, or pumpkin croquette fillings. The soft shell crab tempura also gets mentioned a lot in reviews.
Student discounts and happy hour deals available. Good option if you want something quick and casual.
Try: Karaka Tantan Tonkotsu / Hirata Buns (pork belly) / Soft shell crab tempura
| Price | £13–16 |
| Locations | Soho, Covent Garden, Regent Street, Carnaby, Shoreditch, Westfield, Manchester, Oxford |
| Reservations | Some locations |
| Website | shoryuramen.com |
4. Tenmaru – Chicken Broth and Creative Ramen
Two locations: Finsbury Park and Oxford Circus. Izakaya-style spot.
They specialise in tori paitan (chicken white broth) – lighter than tonkotsu but still creamy. The Lemon Ramen is their signature – chicken broth with lemon slices. Sounds odd but it works. The Basil Ramen is a vegan option with pesto in the broth, surprisingly filling.
They also do tsukemen (dipping ramen).
The izakaya sides are worth ordering. Cheese Mochi Potato gets mentioned constantly in reviews – some people say it’s worth going just for that. Tako Karaage (fried octopus) is also good.
No reservations, walk-in only.
Try: Lemon Ramen / Basil Ramen (vegan) / Cheese Mochi Potato
| Price | £14–17 |
| Locations | Finsbury Park, Oxford Circus |
| Reservations | No (walk-in only) |
| Website | tenmaru.co.uk |
5. Tokoton Ramen – Homemade Soup in a Quiet Spot
Small place near Elephant & Castle, run by a Japanese owner.
“Tokoton” means “thoroughly” in Japanese, and they take their homemade soup seriously. Chicken and pork blend base, available as shoyu or miso. The Kuromayu Black Ramen – black sesame and roasted garlic oil – gets a lot of praise in reviews. Some call it the best ramen they’ve had in London.
Over half the menu is vegan. Beyond ramen, they have Cauliflower Donburi and Dengaku Miso Donburi (fried aubergine and tofu with sweet miso). The gyoza also gets called out as some of the best around.
Good sake selection too. It’s a bit out of the way, but that keeps it local.
Try: Kuromayu Black Ramen / Classic Ramen (shoyu) / Gyoza
| Price | £12–13 |
| Location | 25 Bartholomew Street, London SE1 4AL (near Elephant & Castle / Borough) |
| Reservations | Yes (TheFork) |
| Website | tokotonramen.com |
Quick Guide
| What you want | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Classic tonkotsu | Ippudo, Kanada-Ya |
| Something other than tonkotsu | Tenmaru (chicken), Tokoton (shoyu/miso) |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | Shoryu, Tenmaru, Tokoton |
| Central location, quick meal | Shoryu (Soho), Ippudo (Villiers Street) |
| Local spot, off the tourist path | Tokoton, Tenmaru (Finsbury Park) |
| Same taste as Japan | Ippudo |
Bottom Line
London’s ramen scene has grown past just tonkotsu chains. Chicken broth, creative flavours, vegan options – there’s more variety now.
These five cover different styles and price points. Pick based on what you’re in the mood for.
Information current as of February 2026. Hours and prices may change.
About the Author
Ayaka Uchida is a government-certified Japanese teacher and CEO of A-Digital Works Ltd, a London-based digital marketing and localization company. With over 10 years of experience in international business development across Japan, Singapore, the US, and Europe, she founded Nihon GO! World in 2023 to bridge global markets through language education and cultural consulting.