The Best Ramen Joints In Amsterdam

Calling the current frenzy over ramen a trend or craze would certainly be an injustice, considering the dish’s almost universal appeal and enduring versatility. This simple, yet refined Japanese staple is now prized throughout the world and has found its way into thousands of menus across Europe. In Amsterdam, there are a number of outstanding restaurants that are primarily dedicated to cooking and serving steaming bowls of delicious ramen. Here’s where you can find the best ones.

TonTon Club West

Although first and foremost, TonTon Club West is an old-school arcade, with over 20 coin-op machines amid its repertoire, it also doubles as one of the best Japanese style kitchens in Amsterdam. Whilst its menu mainly revolves around noodle bowls, it also features several other iconic Japanese dishes such as edamame and delicious ramen burgers.

Ramen-ya

After sampling one of their ramen bowls, it becomes plainly clear that ramen-ya puts an unbelievably amount of effort into their recipes. In fact, the restaurant only uses noodles that they have made themselves, and cooks up fresh batches every day meaning that ramen-ya’s soup bowls are invariably fresh, delicious and filling.

Fou Fow Ramen

Despite being a relative newcomer to Amsterdam’s culinary scene, Fou Fow ramen has already amassed a large following thanks to its down-to-earth approach to gastronomy, affordable menu and glorious ramen bowls. The restaurant is notoriously popular during lunchtime and regularly attracts scores of hungry Amsterdammers searching for a much needed ramen fix.

Taka Japanese Kitchen

Due to its almost clandestine location above a Japanese supermarket, unconventional opening hours and highly esteemed ramen bowls, Taka Japanese Kitchen is something of a legend amongst Amsterdammers. The kitchen’s menu is simply outstanding and considering its revered nature, miraculously affordable. Indeed, Taka Japanese Kitchen might be the best lunch spot in central Amsterdam.

Sapporo Ramen Sora

Considering the high concentration of excellent internationally oriented lunch and dinner spots in de Pijp, it was only a matter of time before someone added ramen to the mix. As its names suggests, this cosy Japanese restaurant on Ceintuurbaan specialises in sapporo ramen and submerges its authentic Japanese noodle bowls in rich, homemade broth.

Nooch

While Amsterdam’s Nine Streets are primarily associated with boutique fashion rather than cuisine, there are several excellent restaurants hidden amid the neighbourhood’s picturesque townhouses and canals. Nooch, for example, is located on Reestraat and serves, high-quality Asian-fusion at an affordable price. Three types of ramen are on offer inside Nooch, alongside many other Asian delicacies such as pho, sushi and dim sum.

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