Ramen is the ultimate comfort food: warming broth filled to the brim with anything from veg and meat to miso and fish, it’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser. It’s not hard to come by this noodle-based dish in Scotland’s capital; dozens of restaurants claim to have the best ramen that the city has to offer. Luckily, we’ve rounded up our top places for ramen in Edinburgh to make your decision even easier.
Edinburgh's best places for ramen
Maki & Ramen
- Japanese
- 13 W Richmond St, Edinburgh EH8 9EF, UK
With four eateries dotted all across the city, Maki & Ramen is
one of Edinburgh’s most popular restaurant chains. The interiors in
all the restaurants are smart and pared back – all wooden benches
and low-level lighting – and the staff are warm and friendly.
You’ll find a sushi bar at the Fountainbridge branch, where the
chef will prepare you the freshest fish of the day, right before
your very eyes. The head chef trained at the famous Yamamoto Ramen
School – so you’re in safe hands. Order the Black Garlic Tonkotsu
(complete with a jammy soft-boiled egg, chopped spring onions,
crispy nori and unctuous udon noodles) and thank us later!
Hakataya
- Japanese
- 122 Rose St S Ln, Edinburgh EH2 4BB, UK
This eatery boasts some seriously good ramen. Authentic as
they come, this family-run restaurant is headed by Chef Tang, a
former head chef at one of London’s leading Japanese restaurants,
so it is no surprise that the food here is so delicious. The iconic
pork broth ramen comes with three-day slow-cooked Chashu pork
slices and a tasty marinated egg. If you’re daring enough, why not
try the Hell Ramen – a super spicy rich broth, topped with bean
sprouts, green onion, black mushroom and leek.
Ikigai
- Ramen, Japanese
- 13 W Crosscauseway, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9JW, UK
We’ve not met anyone in this city who doesn’t love Ikigai and
its ramen dishes. The inside is super cosy and intimate: there’s
only room to seat about eight people, so don’t forget to book. Once
you’ve bagged yourself a table, however, you won’t look back.
Self-confessed ramen afficionados, the restaurant offers little
else, but it does offer an extensive variety of the noodle-based
dish. From the duck confit (served in a rich pork broth with spicy
tahini and a soft-boiled egg) to the spicy Tantanmen and comforting
chicken-based laksa, there’s a bowl to suit everyone’s tastes. The
restaurant’s name – Ikigai – is a Japanese word roughly translating
as “reason for life”, which, for a restaurant as good as this, is
certainly fitting.
Chizuru Tei
- Japanese
- 278 Morrison St, Edinburgh EH3 8DT, UK
Chizuru Tei is a Japanese fusion restaurant, located in
Haymarket on Edinburgh’s Morrison Street. It’s BYOB here, making it
the perfect destination for a fun-filled time out with friends,
complete, of course, with lots of yummy ramen. The ramen dishes on
offer are extensive and varied, from teriyaki chicken to honey
pork, roast duck and seafood – you’ll truly be spoiled for choice.
Prices are affordable and the waiting staff are knowledgeable and
happy to advise. If you’re in the Haymarket area, there’s no better
place to stop off for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
