The best ramen spots in London right now

The name says it all. Oita is a prefecture in southern Japan renowned as the spiritual home of karaage, and the Soho restaurant that bears its name has built its identity around that same obsession with quality sourcing. Tucked into the heart of Chinatown, the outpost arrived after a successful run in Wood Green and brings a focused menu of Japanese classics to one of London’s most energetic dining neighbourhoods. The kitchen sources its chicken from a local farm and uses only premium oil in the deep fryer, resulting in karaage that is precisely seasoned and satisfyingly crisp. For the ramen, the house tori and tonkotsu broth forms the backbone of the kakuni ramen — topped with slow-braised pork belly, a soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots, seaweed, edamame, and spring onion — alongside a chicken ramen and a spicy seafood variation for those who want heat. Sushi, yakitori skewers, and takoyaki round out a menu that rewards proper exploration.

In South West London, KIBOU pulls off something quite particular: a space that looks like it belongs in a Tokyo fashion district but eats like a proper neighbourhood restaurant. Cherry blossom installations, Japanese-inspired murals, and a standalone cocktail bar set the scene for a menu that spans ramen, sushi, and everything in between. Born in Cheltenham as one of the area’s first Japanese restaurants, the group has expanded to locations across England, with the Battersea outpost now firmly established among the best ramen spots London’s south-west has to offer. The ramen section spans regional styles with genuine range: a Hakata-style chashu tonkotsu arrives rich and cloudy with Japanese braised pork belly; a Tokyo-style crispy chicken shoyu offers a lighter, aromatic broth slow-simmered for depth; and the Hokkaido-inspired yasai miso serves firm tofu and seasonal vegetables in a shiitake miso broth. Sake, Japanese whisky flights, and whisky and sake tasting evenings make this an easy full-evening option.

Soho’s most rock n roll ramen bar landed on Old Compton Street with everything intact — exposed brick walls, red neon, and a soundtrack that sets the tempo before the noodles arrive. With space for 80 diners across counter spots, low dining tables, and group booths, it works equally well for a solo bowl at the bar or a long session with friends. The menu is anchored by the original tonkotsu, built on a 20-hour pork bone broth with chashu pork belly, bamboo, beansprouts, burnt garlic, and a half soy egg — the bowl that made Bone Daddies a fixture on the London ramen circuit. The yuzu tonkotsu gives the same rich base a bright citrus lift, while the pork pork chilli adds fried chilli and chilli oil for those who like a hit of heat. A monthly limited-edition ramen keeps the menu moving through the year, and Korean wings, chashu pork croquettes, and the kinako french toast ensure there’s always a reason to order more than just noodles.

Camden Town has always done things its own way, and Saikou fits the neighbourhood without sacrificing elegance. Set within Inverness Street Market — a short walk from Camden Town tube — the restaurant takes its name from the Japanese for “the best” or “supreme,” a statement of intent that runs through every decision in the kitchen. The space features signature double sushi bars, designed to give more guests access to the coveted counter seating, and the atmosphere is polished and considered rather than loud or hurried. Expert Japanese chefs work with locally sourced ingredients and a commitment to sustainability that shapes both sourcing and service. The signature tonkotsu ramen is built around slow-cooked chashu pork, a seasoned soft-boiled egg, earthy black fungus, bamboo shoots, and spring onions, all set in a house-made broth finished with aromatic oils. An omakase menu and a carefully curated selection of award-winning sake and Japanese whisky round out a visit to one of North London’s most focused Japanese ramen restaurants.

A short walk from Barbican station, KURUMAYA has quietly built a following as one of the City’s most dependable Japanese kitchens. The intimate restaurant operates as both a sit-down dining room and a takeaway, and the menu of varied Japanese plates is shaped by an unwavering attention to ingredient quality and freshness. Executive Head Chef Rico Venzon brings more than 30 years of experience to the kitchen — a tenure that informs every aspect of what comes out of it, from his celebrated work with the finest sushi-grade fish to the warming bowls of Japanese noodle soup that have made KURUMAYA a reliable stop for workers and visitors to the Barbican and Farringdon areas alike. Its proximity to the Barbican arts complex makes it a natural choice for a pre-show meal, and the consistency here is part of the appeal. For those exploring Japanese ramen beyond the well-trodden Soho circuit, KURUMAYA offers something more measured and well worth finding.

Where it all started. The original OITA grew from a pop-up at the Green Rooms hotel in Wood Green into a permanent fixture, and this North London location retains all the character that made the subsequent Soho expansion possible. The menu follows the same philosophy: a tight, confident selection of Japanese dishes built around the restaurant’s signature chicken karaage, sourced from a local farm and fried in premium oil for a crispness and freshness that high-street alternatives simply cannot match. Ramen, sushi, and seasonal specials sit alongside the signature dish, giving North London diners a fuller exploration of Japanese cooking without the need to head into Zone 1. For those who have already made OITA Soho a regular, the Wood Green outpost delivers the same quality and care in a more neighbourhood-oriented setting — clear evidence that great Japanese ramen thrives well beyond central London.