Food & Drink · London
The Best Ramen in London for 2026
London's ramen scene has matured well past the novelty stage, and finding the best ramen in London now means choosing between serious tonkotsu simmered for the best part of a day, noodles cut in-house, and bowls that hold their own against anything outside Japan. Expect to pay roughly £13-16 for a main bowl before extras, and be prepared to walk in and queue at the very best spots rather than book. We researched the city's ramen scene to rank the places genuinely worth the wait. Below are our five favourite ramen restaurants for 2026, each with a clear reason to go and an honest note on who it won't suit.
Our top picks
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 2 September 2026
- Updated
- 2 September 2026
- Last verified
- 2 September 2026
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
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The top 5 Ramen in London for 2026
- Rank 1Kanada-YaWATTB Pick— Best overallWATTB94/100From ~£14 per bowl (indicative)
- Rank 2Bone Daddies— Best for bold, rich flavoursWATTB88/100From ~£15 per bowl (indicative)
- Rank 3Tonkotsu— Best house-made noodlesWATTB86/100From ~£13 per bowl (indicative)
- Rank 4Nanban— Best for something beyond tonkotsuWATTB88/100~£14 per bowl (indicative)
- Rank 5Shoryu Ramen— Best for a reliable Hakata classicWATTB80/100From ~£14 per bowl (indicative)
The WATTB Score is our own research-based editorial assessment out of 100 — not a customer-review average.
The picks in depth
Kanada-Ya
Why it won
Widely rated among London's most consistent tonkotsu, and a frequent draw for its queues.
Rich, balanced long-simmered tonkotsu broth with a strong reputation for consistency
Made-to-order noodles with adjustable firmness
Focused, no-nonsense menu that does the classics properly
Trade-off: Compact branches and walk-in queues at peak times
Bone Daddies
Why we recommend it
Loud, generous and unapologetically rich, ramen as a good night out.
Bold, generously topped bowls built on a 20-hour house broth
Fun, high-energy rooms and a good drinks list
Eight branches make it easy to find a table
Trade-off: Prices creep up once you add extras and drinks
Tonkotsu
Why we recommend it
A dependable all-rounder that takes its noodles as seriously as its broth.
Fresh noodles made in-house daily for a superior bite
Well-balanced broths, including a vegetarian option
Fair pricing for the quality and location
Trade-off: Broths are excellent but rarely show-stopping
Nanban
Why we recommend it
A characterful Brixton izakaya where the ramen is one highlight among many.
Distinctive, chef-driven ramen with real depth
Excellent small plates and a serious sake and shochu list
Relaxed izakaya atmosphere ideal for a longer meal
Trade-off: Ramen shares the spotlight with a broader menu
Shoryu Ramen
Why we recommend it
A polished, accessible introduction to proper Hakata tonkotsu across central London.
Creamy, dependable Hakata tonkotsu
Convenient, comfortable central branches that often take bookings
Broad menu including hirata buns and some non-pork bowls
Trade-off: Doesn't reach the heights of the top specialists
Map of London
How we ranked this list
We assessed each venue on broth depth and consistency, noodle quality, toppings, value and reliability across reviews, prioritising ramen specialists and cross-checking current locations and menus against each restaurant's own listings; prices quoted are indicative and vary by branch and bowl.
Read our full ranking methodWhy you can trust WATTB
Independent & unbiased
We rank on merit. Commercial links never change which picks make a guide or where they rank.
In-depth research
Official information, specifications and aggregated expert and user reviews — compared, not guessed.
Clear pros & cons
Every pick gets its real advantages and at least one honest trade-off, so you can weigh it.
Transparent sourcing
We show how we rank and the sources behind each guide, and re-check them as things change.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best ramen in London?
For sheer quality of broth, Kanada-Ya is our top pick for the best tonkotsu ramen in London, with five branches including its original site near Covent Garden. If you want bolder, more playful bowls, Bone Daddies is excellent, while Tonkotsu wins on fresh in-house noodles. All are covered in our ranking above.
How much does a bowl of ramen cost in London?
As an indicative guide, expect to pay roughly £13 to £16 for a main bowl at the venues in this guide, before extras, sides or drinks. Prices vary by branch and by the specific bowl, so treat these as approximate rather than fixed.
Do you need to book ramen in London or can you walk in?
It depends on the venue. The very best specialists, such as Kanada-Ya, are largely walk-in only, so expect a queue at peak times, arrive just before opening or mid-afternoon to beat it. Bone Daddies, Tonkotsu and Shoryu take bookings at many branches, which is the safer option for groups, while Nanban in Brixton is a sit-down izakaya where reserving is recommended.
What is the difference between tonkotsu, shoyu and miso ramen?
Tonkotsu is a rich, milky broth made from long-simmered pork bones; shoyu is a lighter, soy-sauce-based broth; and miso ramen is seasoned with fermented soybean paste for a deeper, savoury-sweet flavour. Several places in our guide, such as Tonkotsu, offer more than one style so you can compare.
Where can I find vegetarian or vegan ramen in London?
Yes. Most of the venues in this guide offer at least one meat-free bowl, such as Tonkotsu's vegetarian ramen, and Bone Daddies and Shoryu also carry vegetarian options. If you need a strictly vegan bowl rather than just vegetarian, confirm the broth and toppings with the individual branch, as recipes and seasonal menus change.
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