Ramen in Madrid continues to conquer local palates, which are as accustomed to hearty soups as they are to hearty soups the stew. This Japanese dish is so internalized that as soon as the capital’s temperatures drop, Google searches increase.
Although slurping is frowned upon here, with ramen there is no choice. This Japanese dish has Chinese origins and not very distant (in time, in space they are indeed distant), in fact, it is a fundamental dish of Japanese culture since World War II. Its ingredients and consistency vary, but some of the ingredients served here have been westernized, making it almost as widespread as the sushi.
1. Hattori Hanzo
Hattori Hanzo honors with its name a legendary samurai through its philosophy of izakaya, a kind of Japanese tavern, in which some principles are respected such as homemade and daily elaboration, authenticity and respect for Japanese gastronomy or the seasonality and the cuisine of use. All these attributes are fulfilled in the preparation of its two types of ramen. Both are made with a thick broth of free-range chicken -one of the keys to their being among the best ramen in Madrid-, but they differ in the touch of aged soy sauce of one versus the umami-infused yuzu of the other.
From 15,50 €
📍 Calle Mesonero Romanos, 1 (center)
2. Igo Ramen
At Igo Ramen, which boasts the best ramen in Madrid, you can choose from 7 types of ramen and pastas, 6 types of broth and combine more than 24 types of ingredients. The result is that you will be able to create a ramen to your liking with more than 1,000 options. This restaurant, which first opened in 2012 in Usera, the cradle of Asian food in Madrid, has been on Tudescos Street since 2018, where they continue and, in addition, now have a second location on Navas de Tolosa Street.
They also sell ramen kits online, so you can prepare it at home.
From 8,9€
📍 Calle de Tudescos, 4 (downtown) and Calle Navas de Tolosa, 9 (downtown)
3. Yokaloka
Yokaloka’s ramen inspired Isabel Coixet in her series Foodie Love, in which the protagonist claims it is the best ramen in the world. Yoka Kamada is the Japanese woman who has been settled for more than 14 years at the Antón Martín Market with its Yokaloka. It is the perfect place to enjoy a menu consisting of tonkotsu ramen, chicken gyozas and yokaloka (sushi set), accompanied by a pitcher of sake.
From 13,50 €
📍 Calle de Santa Isabel, 5 (Mercado de Antón Martín)
4. Ramen Komainu
Aska Okumura missed the ramen of her childhood; Gonzalo Ibáñez, her husband, moved heaven and earth until he found the exact flavor, that very specific umami , to bring it to Madrid. And out of his quest was born Ramen Komainu, a detailed and respectful homage to realramen. The recipe for success (which they achieved immediately after opening in Chamberí) consists of noodles kneaded at home with a carefully studied mixture of flours, quality ingredients that give prominence to the tare (without preservatives or flavor enhancers) and a tasty broth that does not leave a drop.
💶 Ramen from €14,90
📍 Calle José Abascal, 13 (Chamberí)
5. Ramen Kagura
The story of Kagura is a love story, or at least that is the reason why its founder, Japanese Keigo Onoda, moved to Spain. Once here, he decided to jump into the restaurant business with no previous experience, but he had the help of his chef friend in Tokyo, Akimasa Kawata, and thus opened his first restaurant specializing in ramen in 2014. The success was so resounding that it became a franchise and now there are 22 restaurants all over Madrid.
From 7,4 €
6. Ramen Shifu
Ramen Shifu first opened its doors in 2017, on Ayala Street in Madrid, four years later they have numerous taverns all over Spain, and even in Italy and Luxembourg. The key to such a takeoff is again at the base of this soup. Its broth is inspired by the original recipe from the Hakata region, Fukuoka City district, which Guo Jianyong, founder and president of Ayala Group Japan, learned firsthand on his travels to Japan.
Ramen from 9,90 €
📍 Various locations.
7. Chuka ramen bar
Chuka, as they define it, is the Japanese idea of Chinese gastronomy. But beyond the concept, the broth soups served at this restaurant have few comparisons. The consistency of this ramen is due to the fact that it is simmered for 24 hours. Although the menu changes seasonally, they usually serve three types of ramen. Between the two ramen in which the noodles can be slurped, there is one generally more consistent than the other, and a third that is served cold and without broth.
From 17 €
📍 Calle de Echegaray, 9 (Las Letras)
8. Ninja Ramen
Ninja Ramen maintains its spirit as an izakaya, or Japanese tavern, of Malasaña since 2016. Paloma Fang, founder of the Bellaciao group, has transferred some memories of her childhood in Osaka and Kyoto to this restaurant specializing in ramen, which was her first project, later joined by Ninja Taberna (Calle Princesa, 13). They serve 6 different versions of this hearty Japanese soup, including a vegetarian option, a spicy one and one with black garlic, which is the chef’s suggestion.
From 11,90€
📍 Calle Barceló, 1 (Malasaña)
Noodles and a soup with chunks, although the simile with the stew is easy, nothing unites these two dishes beyond the success of ramen in Madrid. The good thing is that those who have grown up drinking the typical Madrilenian dish know very well how to distinguish between a good broth and a mediocre one. And whoever can handle three bowls of stew, can handle a whole bowl .