Ramen shops are a dime a dozen in Shanghai. There are so many, you’ll find ramen in Shanghai almost as conveniently as a FamilyMart. But when the temperature drops and the cravings hit, not all bowls are created equal.
These are a few ramen and tsukemen spots on my radar to help you sate your craving.
- Best Bowls of Ramen in Shanghai
- Ramen Mitsuyoshi (personal favorite)
- Ieyasu Tsukemen & Izakaya (A variety of tsukemen)
- Butanchu Ramen (Hakata-style)
- Kingichi Ramen (Cleanest tasting tonkotsu)
- Ramen Shichiton (massive bowls, plenty of thick noodles)
- Yatai Ramen (Street-side vibes)
- Kyu-Hai (Chicken broth experts)
- Kung Fu Motion (Contemporary & modern)
Ramen Mitsuyoshi
When it comes to ramen in Shanghai, a personal favorite of mine is Ramen Mitsuyoshi. This is truly a case of love at first bite. Since opening in 2019, Mitsuyoshi has expanded across the city with multiple locations, while also branching out creatively with soups like “Japanese dandan” and Sichuan mala. The brand also has ties to Bib Gourmand-winning ramen shops in Japan.
But despite the newer, bigger locations and the ever-inventive creations, I still gravitate toward the original Liyuan Lu location, where I always order the black garlic ramen (¥52), which has a base of pork bone broth. Simple. Classic. Exactly what I want. The noodles here are cooked to a harder finish, which I prefer.
Black garlic too strong for your tastes? The original tonkotsu (¥52) is solid too.
Ramen Mitsuyoshi 满吉
Click here for the listing.
Ieyasu Tsukemen & Izakaya
New on my radar, but definitely not new to the ramen scene, is Ieyasu Tsukemen & Izakaya (家康), a long-running name with multiple locations across Shanghai. It’s a franchise originating from Ikebukuro, Japan, with outposts throughout Southeast Asia. In Shanghai, the Xingyi Lu location near Hongqiao is the longest-standing and most popular. I went to the Mengzi Lu branch near me, and it’s run like a well-oiled machine. (They take reservations.)
For tsukemen, there are nine different dipping sauces to choose from. Noodles are priced at ¥52 for 150g or ¥45 for 100g, and you can double up on dipping sauce for an extra ¥25 if you’re feeling indulgent. Ramen is priced the same and uses the exact same flavor bases as the tsukemen broths.
The Miso dipping sauce is a classic. They use a base of pork bone broth, adding bonito and fish, chicken, and pork bones, and cook it for nine hours. The Hot Sesame dipping sauce was nutty, slightly sweet, with a slow-burning heat that builds in your chest. It reminded me a little of satay sauce, just less sweet and significantly spicier.
I also tried the Tonkotsu Ramen. It wasn’t as clean or refined as some tonkotsu broths, with bits of fat floating throughout. Not a bad thing, just more homestyle. Service was attentive throughout, and they even offered to reheat my dipping soup mid-meal.
Ieyasu Tsukemen & Izakaya
Click here for the Mengzi Lu listing.
Click here for the Xingyi Lu listing.
Butanchu Ramen
If you have the patience to queue for a deeply rewarding bowl of ramen, head to Butanchu. Tucked down an alley of warehouse-style blocks, this cult favorite is infamous for its long queues, which regularly spill out of the small dining room. It’s been hailed as “the best ramen in Shanghai” by local media, which only feeds the frenzy.
Butanchu specializes in Hakata-style ramen, the intensely porky kind. And I mean intensely. The broth is so thick it borders on sauce. It’s absolutely delicious, but undeniably heavy, especially for those who prefer lighter shio broths. If you manage to finish the soup, expect to waddle straight into a DiDi and go straight to bed.
Bowls are ¥45, and each order includes one round of free extra noodles. The thickest version is made with 100% bone broth and seasoned with either salt or soy sauce. If you have plans afterward, opt for the half-strength version, lightened with a dashi base. Choose your noodle type (wrinkled, thin, or wavy “dragon”), then your toppings. There are also side dishes like fried chicken (¥40), which can be added as part of a ramen combo.
Butanchu Ramen 京都一乘寺拉面豚人
Click here for the listing.
Kingichi Ramen
Kingichi opened during the pandemic years. Their shop is the simplest of this list, as they only serve four kinds of ramen at a single counter, alongside tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), and chicken karaage.
The Original Tonkotsu (¥77, 甘露) is the one to get. The soup is thick and creamy, and despite its richness, it tastes remarkably clean, a testament to their technique, and perhaps also their premium price point. (They’re the priciest per bowl on this list.) Their chashu is thick with a satisfying bite, and the pork bone broth is deeply flavorful and confidently executed.
An alternative is the Spicy Tonkotsu (¥66, 魔焱), which packs a serious kick, so proceed with caution. Don’t miss the Iberico Tonkatsu (¥58), either. It’s excellent.
Kingichi Ramen
Click here for the listing.
Ramen Shichiton
Ramen Shichiton is ideal if your main objective is to fill up on noodles. I can’t say this with scientific certainty, but the portions felt absolutely massive. Their house special noodles are extra-thick egg noodles, which soak up broth like crazy. If that’s too much, you can opt for medium or thin noodles instead. There are two locations, operating just a block apart. Because the shops themselves are tiny, soups are made fresh daily at a central kitchen.
There are two signature bowls. The first is the Jiro-style (¥58, 二郎), built on a rich tonkotsu base. It’s heavy, but not as aggressive as Hakata-style ramen. It comes generously topped with cabbage, bean sprouts, raw garlic, and a thick slab of chashu dusted with shichimi.
The second is the Yokohama Tonkotsu (¥58, 横滨豚骨), which includes wood ear mushrooms and wilted pea shoots. This one is thicker, creamier, richer, and more my style. Oh, and extra noodles are free.
Ramen Shichiton 七豚
Click here for the Maoming Road listing.
Click here for the Ruijin Road listing.
Yatai Ramen
For something with a street-side feel, there’s Yatai Ramen. It’s a permanent wooden cart that looks like it was plucked straight from a Fukuoka curbside, tucked into a quiet lane on Wuxing Lu in Xuhui.
The broths draw from classic Japanese styles, though many carry the personal flourishes of chef Tsukasa Higashi, who approaches ramen with a creative mindset rather than strict tradition. Expect tonkotsu-based broths that are rich, but not overwhelming, alongside riffs on dan dan noodles and even a tofu-based option.
The signature is the Er Lang (¥58), a Jiro-style ramen featuring a tonkotsu pork bone broth, thick egg noodles, heaps of bean sprouts, a seasoned egg, and thick-cut chashu. There’s also a small selection of kushiage, fried skewers starting at ¥6 per stick. Beers aplenty.
Yatai Ramen 南波碗屋台拉面
Click here for the listing.
Kyu-Hai
Next up is Kyu-Hai, located directly across from IAPM mall. The standout here is the Chicken Ramen (¥52), with broth simmered fresh daily and offered in both salt and soy sauce versions.
It’s one of the cleanest-tasting broths I’ve had recently. It’s much lighter than tonkotsu, but still deeply savory. You leave feeling satisfied, not comatose. The menu also includes a solid lineup of izakaya staples, from sushi to yakitori.
Kyu-Hai 玖杯
Click here for the listing.
Kung Fu Motion
Located within Yongping Lane, Kung Fu Motion operates as a ramen shop by day and a Chinese fusion bistro by night. The ramen here leans contemporary, with playful, modern touches.
The Chicken Paitan Ramen (¥49) is creamy yet bright, lifted with yuzu and grounded by the richness of chicken stock. It’s topped with chicken thigh and breast that’s been sous vide. The thigh is finished with a char on the skin to crisp.
The more adventurous option is the Duck Magret Shoyu Ramen (¥56), served with thinner noodles, charred leek, and bamboo shoots. The broth is built on a house-blended soy sauce and given a dollop of truffle paste. Credit where it’s due: the duck was cooked perfectly. Still, not my first choice when I’m craving ramen.
They do seasonal rotations of creative ramens (like the duck magret), in case you want to change things up. Ramens only available during lunch hours.
Kung Fu Motion
Address: 103C-1, Bldg 2, Yongping Lane, 692 Yongjia Lu 永嘉路692号2幢103C-1室
Tel: 19521293589
Hours: Daily, 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-11:30pm
