Once upon a time, not so long ago, ramen wasn’t even a word we heard uttered in Sydney. Thanks to Ryosuke Horii, who opened Ryo’s in North Sydney in 2003, ramen became accessible and quite popular.
Now, in every corner of Sydney, you will find a ramen joint, slinging Tonkotsu broth, and vegan bowls. They’re cheap and will keep you full all day long—what more could you want? For the best umami-packed, slurplicious bowls of ramen, try one of these joints.
Ryo’s Noodles
Crows Nest This wouldn’t be a best ramen list without the grandfather of ramen, Ryo’s Noodles. This little red corner shop is where the ramen craze started back in 2003. You will still find the shop is red, and there is little to no room inside, but you can expect a big bowl of thick ramen noodles and umami-rich broths that are a perfect balance of savoury and salty. You will find a variety of pork ton kotsu, chicken soup-based broths, pork and fish broth, and vegetarian options. Each ramen comes in a deep bowl with thick, chewy noodles and is topped with charred pork pieces, greens, soft-boiled eggs, and more. If you want good ramen, you can’t go past a $14 bowl of Ryo’s.
RaRa Ramen
Randwick, Redfern, Eveleigh, and more RaRa Ramen is the king of craft ramen bars in Sydney. With multiple locations around the city, you will never be too far from handmade noodles, flame-grilled chashu (pork belly), and silky-rich broth. Their broths are made the traditional way with only water, garlic, and pork bones. On a daily, they churn out 200 batches of thin Hakata-style noodles. You will also find some vegan options too. You can’t go wrong with a bowl of ramen from RaRa but beware of the weekend lines. For $19.80 a bowl, it’s an affordable lunch or dinner for two. 
Chaco Ramen
Darlinghurst and Bondi Tuck into insanely large bowls of ramen with a sustainable ethos in mind. Chaco is more focused on ramen you would find in Fukuoka, where the pork-broth soup originated. It’s a tiny restaurant serving four signature ramen, including yuzu scallops, fat soy, and fish salt. You can add extra toppings and get sides of karaage and gyoza. Bowls range from $18 to $20 and are highly sought after by Sydneysiders, so stop by to try this slurp-worthy ramen. You can also order frozen packs to make at home. 
Gogyo
Surry Hills Gogyo, which translates to ‘charred’ is a small ramen joint from the team who brought us Ippudo Ramen. Although, Gogyo will make you feel like you’re in the backstreets of Tokyo, slurping on chewy noodles covered in umami-rich broth. The tonkotsu ramen here is crafted from a 24-year-old recipe using simmered pork bones. The toppings are just as good with options such as bamboo shoots, roasted seaweed, spring onions, chashu, and more.
Ippudo
CBD, Chatswood, and more Speaking of Ippudo, this is one of Sydney’s most famous ramen chains, serving big, warm, salty bowls of ramen. The Westfield outlet was the first store; now, they’re all over the city. Expect a selection of signature ramen dishes made from a 25-year-old recipe, with no exceptions. The noodles here are cooked to your liking, with five levels of softness to choose from. You will also find some delicious sides to tuck into, from gyoza to pork buns and Bakuretsu tofu.
Rising Sun Workshop
Newtown This started as a pop-up, but its popularity led to a permanent location in Newtown. The ramen here is simple and focuses more on taste and quantity rather than being fancy. There’s one ramen available in three styles. Because Rising Sun Workshop is more of a cafe and motorcycle workshop, you can also stop by for breakfast or banh mi at lunch and get your bike a tune-up at the same time.
Related: 32 of the Best New Bars and Restaurants in Sydney
Related: 7 of the Prettiest Restaurants in Sydney’s Paddington, Food and Décor-Wise
Read more stories from The Latch and subscribe to our email newsletter.