Miso ramen: choose by aroma, pork back fat and spice at 5 Tokyo and Chiba restaurants

Based on online information as of September 28, 2026. This site has not conducted any on-site interviews or actual tastings. Edited based on official store information, facility guides, media coverage, etc. The order of publication is not a ranking. Business hours, prices, menus, and payment methods are subject to change. Please check the latest information for each store before visiting. Don't rely on the name of the dish alone to determine whether it meets dietary restrictions or allergies; please check with the restaurant individually.

"I've had Japanese miso soup before. But what's different about miso ramen?" If you're eating it for the first time, it's okay to have questions like that.

Miso ramen is a type of ramen that uses miso to create flavors. The character of the cup changes depending on what kind of soup, oil, flavored vegetables, and noodles you combine it with. Rather than imagining it as a dish of adding noodles to your home-made miso soup, try choosing it as a standalone dish. ^[S01]

"Miso" is not necessarily "spicy"

Chilli heat, miso saltiness and richness from oil are separate qualities. For example, Tadokoro Shoten offers different miso types, while Kikanbo uses chilli peppers and sansho pepper. The name miso alone does not tell you how spicy a bowl will be.^[D10][D04]

It will be easier to think about your preferences when choosing a restaurant by dividing it into four categories: Enjoying the aroma, enjoying the richness of the back fat, choosing the type of miso, and enjoying the spiciness and numbness .

Three restaurants to try in Tokyo

1. Oshima | Sapporo-trained miso ramen in Funabori

Oshima in Funabori was opened by the owner who trained for many years at a famous restaurant in Sapporo. The official website also introduces a hot cup with the aroma and rich taste of miso. This is a restaurant that we want to be your gateway to learning about Sapporo-style miso ramen in Tokyo. ^[D01]

Rather than ordering a pile of extra toppings straight away, start with the basic miso bowl. Taste the soup a little at a time, checking its temperature before taking a large mouthful.

First order idea: Miso. 6-7-13 Funabori, Edogawa-ku. Even though it's in Tokyo, it's not right near Tokyo Station, so be sure to include time in your plan to get to Funabori. ^[D02]

2. Misomendokoro Hanamichian | Aromatic miso and thick noodles in Nogata

Hanamichian is a miso ramen restaurant that started in Nogata in 2008. The management company explains the combination of cooking miso in a high-heat wok, thickly cooked soup, and thick noodles. ^[D03]

The highlight of this dish is that it not only dissolves the miso into the soup, but also that the cooking fire creates the aroma. I'd like to introduce this as a candidate for days when you want both the soup and noodles to be satisfying, rather than the days when you want to slurp thin noodles.

First order idea: Basic miso ramen. This time it's the main store at 6-23-12 Nogata, Nakano-ku. There are other stores, such as the Tokyo Station store, so be sure to check the map for the branch name as well. ^[D03]

3. Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo Kanda | An option for heat and numbness

At Kikanbo, kara refers to chilli heat and shibi to the numbing sensation from sansho pepper. Both are combined with a rich miso broth. This is a distinctive option for enjoying heat and numbness; it does not mean all miso ramen is spicy.^[D04]

The official menu allows none, less, regular or more for both kara and shibi. On a first visit, avoid increasing both at once. If you are unsure about your tolerance, choose less of each; if you are unfamiliar with sansho, consider no shibi.^[D05]

First order suggestion: Karashibi Miso Ramen, starting with low levels of heat and numbness. The Kanda main branch is at 2-10-9 Kajicho, Chiyoda-ku, and is separate from the nearby Kikanbo Lab.^[D06]

Two restaurants to try in Chiba

4. Kotteri Ramen Naritake Tsudanuma | Miso layered with rich pork back fat

Naritake features homemade medium-thick noodles and a soup made from pork back fat. Even on the official menu, miso ramen is described as a bowl that combines rich miso with the sweetness of backfat. ^[D07]

This is a candidate for people who want to enjoy not only the flavor of miso but also the richness of oil. On the other hand, if you're looking for a light soup today, you don't have to force yourself to choose this type.

First order idea: Miso ramen. If you are concerned about fat, ask if you can reduce the back fat. There is an official guide to adjusting the amount of backfat. However, reducing the amount of oil and making miso less salty are two different things. Tsudanuma store is located at 2-11-7 Maehara Nishi, Funabashi City. ^{[D07] [D08]}

5. Menba Tadokoro Shoten Takeishi | Choose by the type of miso

The Takeishi main branch in Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba, lists Hokkaido miso, Shinshu miso and Kyushu barley miso as its basic miso choices. Choices vary between branches, so check information for this particular restaurant.^[D09]

In the restaurant's menu description, Hokkaido has a strong taste, Shinshu has a medium-dry taste, and Kyushu barley miso has a sweet taste. This is a shop where people who thought that all miso flavors are the same can experience the fun of choosing the type of miso. ^[D10]

First order idea: Hokkaido if you want a strong miso taste, Kyushu barley miso if you want something sweeter. Don't use the sweetness or dryness of miso here to mean the same thing as the amount of chili pepper. Takeishi main store is located at 1-227-1 Takeishi-cho, Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba City. ^{[D09] [D10]}

Corn and butter: you do not need every topping at once

For example, Naritake has a menu where you can add corn or butter. Adding things is part of the fun, but it's also sufficient to start with a basic bowl and then add your favorite toppings. Not all stores offer the same toppings. ^[D07]

There are days when you want fragrant miso and thick noodles, days when you enjoy the richness of back fat, and days when you want to try a slightly sweet miso. Next to "I want to eat miso ramen," add one thing that describes your mood that day. That alone will make your store selection more specific.