Ramen is one of those meals few amateurs dare to make. It could be the anxiety of perfectly boiling the soba noodles, or, more likely, creating the rich, thick broth that separates a ramen bowl from the rest of the world’s long grain specialties. The point being: if you’re craving ramen, it’s best to venture outside the comfy confines of your noodle-less home.
So, next time the craving hits, pay a visit to some of our favorite ramen shops, which are sprinkled around Guangzhou like finely chopped spring onions sitting atop a fresh bowl of Japan’s world-renowned specialty.
1. Hakata Ikkousha
Image via Ryan Gandolfo/That's
Image via Ryan Gandolfo/That's
When you walk into Hakata Ikkousha, you are greeted with a resounding welcome, not just from the waitstaff but also the cooks laboring in the open-style kitchen. The greeting sets the tone and makes you feel like you’re returning home for a dinner amongst friends and family. With a menu full of delicious ramen, dumplings and other savory treats, Hakata Ikkousha has been one of our go-to places when in need of a hearty dose of Japanese noodles. At RMB39, their standard ramen bowl can be difficult to finish, due to the generous portion of noodles and delicious cuts of pork set in the restaurant’s tasty, dense broth. We like to take it to the next level, adding a soft-boiled egg (RMB8) and extra cuts of chashao (roasted pork, RMB15) for the ultimate dining experience.
See listings for Hakata Ikkousha.
2. Ton-Ichi
Image via Ryan Gandolfo/That's
Tucked away on the basement floor of Huacheng Square, Ton-Ichi offers four very different kinds of ramen: the classic, the spicy, the garlic and the midori. These bowls (RMB36-42) each cater to different cravings and they do not disappoint: loaded with noodles, an egg, two cuts of pork and veggies. The restaurant is ideal for lunch or dinner and is known to draw in quite a crowd due to the fact that it is conveniently located adjacent to a movie theater. The shop’s cleanliness and friendly staff make it a worthwhile stop before or after the hit film you've been dying to see.
See listings for Ton-Ichi.
3. Butao Ramen
Image via Ryan Gandolfo/That's
Image via Ryan Gandolfo/That's
Located on the third floor of the Kingold Century building, situated in the heart of Zhujiang New Town, Butao provides a quaint atmosphere that sees a flood of patrons during their lunchtime rush. The restaurant has an English menu that perfectly lays out what you need in your noodle bowl for peak enjoyment. The original ramen bowl (RMB72) comes loaded with a thick, pork-based broth and noodles that are not too firm and not too mushy (read: cooked just right). We recommend ordering their delicious soft-boiled egg (RMB13) and extra fresh spring onions (RMB5) to give you a truly satisfying ramen experience. Butao also features a zesty ‘red ramen’ (RMB68) that adds an extra kick of spice to the classic Japanese dish. Be sure to try to arrive at the restaurant before 8.30pm as they start packing it in around 9.
See listing for Butao Ramen.
4. One Dragon Ramen
Image via Ryan Gandolfo/That's
In classic Japanese ramen shop fashion, One Dragon Ramen is set up with an L-shaped row of seats facing a red, wooden backdrop piled with condiments such as ramen sauce, soy sauce, red ginger, sesame and pepper. This shop is ideal for your early afternoon cravings, as the nighttime crowd tends to generate a lengthy line. Although the shop doesn’t do their ramen justice with the lack of pictures on the menu, sitting in such close proximity to other customers may be your best guide to which bowl you’d like to sample. In our opinion, each and every bowl offers up a masterful combination of broth, spring onions, noodles and pork. With affordable pricing (RMB39-49), these ramen bowls provide major bang for your buck. One Dragon also crafts a delicious side dish that’s perfect for sharing: the spring onion pork roll (RMB18), which is definitely worth a bite (any more than that and you’ll need to renew that gym membership).
See listings for One Dragon Ramen.
5. Yamato Cherry Blossom Ramen
Image via Ryan Gandolfo/That's
Image via Ryan Gandolfo/That's
Another top-notch ramen spot is hidden in plain sight: Yamato Cherry Blossom Ramen. Located only 100 meters from the Burger King on Huacheng Dadao, this spot will more than satisfy both your ramen hankering and the empty feeling in your stomach. The establishment has six different ramen bowls (RMB32-52), each loaded with a creamy broth, slurp-able noodles and quality fixings. If you’re a first-timer, we highly recommend the classic, thick-broth ramen (located at the top-left of the menu) for its rich taste, which is flavorfully complemented by savory spring onions and mushrooms. We also encourage you to order Yamato’s deep-fried chicken (RMB15), which comes extra crispy with an approachable level of spice, to share.
See listings for Yamato Cherry Blossom Ramen.
For more helpful Guangzhou city guides, click here.
[Cover image via Pixabay]
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