These 5 Restaurants Serve the Best Ramens in Melbourne Right Now!
Did you know that in Japan, the sound of loud slurping actually improves the taste of ramen? The rush of air actually cools the noodles, lifts the aroma of the broth, and turns a simple bowl into a full sensory experience.
So yes, ramen is never just “noodles in soup.” It’s a balance of slow-simmered broth, springy noodles cooked to the second, and toppings that complement rather than overwhelm. When any one element is off, the whole bowl falls flat.
That’s why we set out to find the places that actually respect the craft, so you don’t waste a meal on a watery broth or overcooked noodles. We spent weeks tracking down the best ramen Melbourne has to offer.
Here are the ones we found worth slurping loudly for!
How much does it cost to get a bowl of ramen in Melbourne?
It costs at least $10 to get a bowl of ramen in Melbourne. This cost is just an estimate. The actual price will depend on the ramen place you eat at and the kind of ramen you eat.
1. Ramen Shouyuya Sake Bar
Address: 692 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 5 PM to 9:30 PM
Ramen Shouyuya Sake Bar’s Shouyuya Ramen Chicken is one of their best sellers, and we get why.
After tasting it ourselves, we loved the complex mix of niboshi (dried sardines), kelp, and chicken. It gives a yummy layered umami flavor that hits differently than the standard miso broth.
For those who don’t like chicken, there are also pork, duck, and vegetable versions. We’ve heard from customers that they cook duck right here, and it’s not too tough or dry.
The pork version is juicy and tender, while the vegetable version retains all the flavour and adds extra nutrition from the veggies.
We also love that they give fresh noodles for takeaway. They do this to ensure that their customers’ ramen doesn’t turn into a soggy mess by the time they get home.
However, the shop can get quite packed. When we went, we had to stand outside for twenty minutes because the seats were all taken.
The flavours are spot on, rich, and comforting,
“This Japanese ramen is absolutely amazing — it honestly feels like sitting and eating in Japan. The flavours are spot on, rich, and comforting, and the atmosphere really gives you that authentic Japanese vibe.
The kitchen is open, so you can watch the chefs prepare your food right in front of you, which makes the experience even more special. The staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they even brought us some complimentary snacks to try, which was such a nice touch.
One thing you absolutely must not miss is the fried chicken wings — they’re so delicious that we ended up ordering extra to take home. The rest of the food was just as impressive, with authentic flavours and perfectly balanced seasoning.
If you’re looking to try real Japanese ramen, I highly recommend stopping by this place. It’s the kind of delicious that you just can’t stop eating! 🍜✨”
- Chub Bieboi, Google Reviews
Ordered pork ramen and oyakudon
“Ordered pork ramen and oyakudon. One of the most authentic flavours I’ve had that’s similar to eating in Japan. Very friendly staff.”
- Benny Maison, Google Reviews
2. Izakaya Domo Eastend
Address: 118 Little Collins St, Melbourne
Contact Details: +61432401022
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 11:30 AM to 3 PM & 5 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday – 11:30 AM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 5 PM to 10 PM
Izakaya Domo Eastend made it to our list for their Wagyu ramen. It’s honestly impressive how they turn a humble bowl of ramen into a luxury meal.
The spicy version definitely tested our heat tolerance. The spicy Wagyu broth has a slow burn that doesn’t mask the taste of the high-quality beef. If you’re not big on spice, we recommend trying the plain version instead.
Another thing we love about Izakaya is that it doubles as a full izakaya, so diners can pair their ramen with fresh sashimi or sizzling yakitori. We loved being able to make a full meal from different dishes instead of just one bowl of ramen.
The atmosphere is buzzing, fueled by crisp beer and smooth sake. A few we chatted with told us they often come here because the vibe is great.
The highballs were great too. Many regulars recommended them to us, and we immediately understood when we tried them. They were very refreshing, perfect while waiting for our own bowls.
We just found the music a bit much at times. A group told us they had to shout over the speakers just to ask for the bill.
The wagyu ramen is rich and comforting
“Izakaya Domo Eastend is a very cozy and welcoming izakaya with a great atmosphere. The wagyu dishes are excellent and clearly high quality — the wagyu ramen is rich and comforting, and the wagyu sushi is fresh and beautifully done. Their cocktails are also really impressive, especially the ones with yuzu flavour, refreshing and well balanced. The yuzu tomato is a must-try as well, light, fresh, and full of flavour. A great spot for a relaxed dinner or drinks with friends.”
- Vivi Hu, Google Reviews
The wagyu ramen is worth trying
“The service is good, and the food is excellent. The wagyu ramen is worth trying, but the store inside is a bit small.”
- Ikkew Nathakorn, Google Reviews
3. Snow Monkey Ramen
Address: 229 Russell St, Melbourne
Contact Details: +61 413 933 239
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Snow Monkey Ramen’s signature Rock Lobster Ramen is easily one of the best ramen bowls in Melbourne. It’s such a bold difference from the traditional pork soups.
The lobster meat was incredibly sweet, and the broth was rich and delicious. If we’re being honest, we almost ordered another bowl for an extra serving.
We also liked their Tom Yum Ramen, which perfectly nailed the flavours of the Thai-inspired sour soup.
The best part is that all the ramen dishes we tried came with fresh ingredients.
For those who prefer the classics, the top seller is the traditional tonkotsu, which sticks to time-honored Japanese methods.
The atmosphere is a vibe too. It’s very welcoming and perfect for a casual dinner out.
Just be prepared for the price tag on the specials. They cost a bit more than standard ramen bowls.
The cheese lobster ramen feels really luxurious
“Snow Monkey Ramen is a great spot if you’re craving something a bit special. The cheese lobster ramen feels really luxurious, rich and full of flavour, and their tonkotsu ramen is also really nice with a deep, comforting broth. Don’t miss their special citrus sake – it’s a must try and pairs so well with the ramen. They also have tom yum soup ramen, which is a fun and interesting option if you want something different. Definitely worth a visit!”
- Vivi Hu, Google Reviews
Amazing ramen experience
“Amazing ramen experience. The broth was rich and well-balanced, noodles cooked perfectly, and the toppings were fresh and generous. Service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was warm and comfortable — great for both casual meals and catching up with friends. Easily one of the best ramen spots around. Will definitely be back.”
- SoutMelon, Google Reviews
4. Mr Ramen San
Address: 12a/200 Bourke St, Melbourne
Contact Details: +61 3 9042 1588
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM & 5 PM to 9 PM
- Friday – 11:30 AM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday – 12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM
Mr Ramen San offers some of the best deals we found in Melbourne.
For starters, they offer free extra noodles with every bowl. Their bowls are so filling that we never leave hungry whenever we eat here.
Their Kyushu-style broth is incredibly rich. They boil it for ten hours, resulting in a cloudy, creamy soup full of collagen. The chashu practically melted in our mouths when we tried it.
We also found the Chilled Ramen (Hiyashi Chuka) a brilliant alternative for a hot Melbourne summer. It comes with a refreshing yuzu dressing and toppings such as a Japanese fried egg, ham, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
The variety is great too. There are over 30 types of ramen to choose from, so it’s almost impossible to get bored of the menu.
That said, the service can feel a bit rushed. One guest felt like the staff was clearing her table before she had even finished her last spoonful of broth.
The spicy ramen broth was thick and flavorful,
“Had a wonderful meal at Mr Ramen San. Located in an arcade off Little Bourke Street, is an authentic Japanese ramen place. We had the gyoza which was perfectly cooked with a bit of crunch. The spicy ramen broth was thick and flavorful, not too salty, not oily, didn’t burn your mouth but warmed your stomach. They offer free extra noodle portions 1/2 or full serve. My husband had the Katsu Don and he was impressed with the thickness of the pork and the flavor of the sauce. Definitely will come back again”
- Eva Chen, Google Reviews
Great ramen with rich, flavourful broth
“Great ramen with rich, flavourful broth and perfectly cooked noodles. Fast service, casual atmosphere, and consistently good quality. Solid go-to spot in Melbourne for ramen cravings.”
- Fabi, Google Review
5. Sara Craft Ramen & Bar
Address: Shop 3/391-393 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Contact Details: You can contact them here.
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM & 5:30 PM to 9 PM
- Friday – 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM & 5:30 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday – 11:30 AM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM
Sara Craft Ramen & Bar is a ramen bar Melbourne locals love for its “wave noodles,” which are aged for two weeks. This aging process gives the noodles a chewy, artisanal texture that holds onto the broth better than standard straight noodles.
They have an impressive range of options, including premium wagyu, spicy pork shoyu, and yuzu duck. There’s even a mentaiko mazesoba, a dry-style ramen served with cod roe and tempura calamari.
We tried their Signature Pork Shoyu. The aromatic light tonkotsu shoyu base paired perfectly with the tender pork belly and crunchy gobo chips.
The Asari Shoyu ramen is equally great. We loved its delicate clam broth. It has a hint of burnt butter that just made the dish even better.
If you’re looking to splurge, we recommend trying the Premium Wagyu bowl. It comes with an M9 wagyu sirloin that makes the bowl worth every cent of the premium price.
However, they have a strict no-reservation policy. This means there is usually a 20-minute wait in the evenings when they are busy.
The soup bases of both ramen were so good
“Wooooooahhhhhh blew my mind!!! Went there because my friend recommended and told me the story behind the restaurant owner! The soup bases of both ramen were so good, clear, not heavy but full of umami! Everything is perfect in the bowl, I LOVE it so much! Planning to go back to try everything on the menu! Thank you for bringing quality ramen to us in Melbourne! ❤️ So I went back again for the tsukemen, also very impressed by it, super fresh with Yuzu flavour and so suitable for hot weather!! Highly recommend it as well!! 😋😋”
- Dani L, Google Reviews
Definitely try their special ramen
“The little ramen joint that everyone should give a try! You get your usual tokotsu ramen however definitely try their special ramen. We had creamy clam truffle ramen and Yuzu duck which was realllly goood. The side dish fried crab was yummy too. Small interior yet cozy. Team was smart and easy to talk to. Give it a shot.”
- Nick, Google Reviews