Manchester is full of incredible Asian restaurants, from Chinese and Japanese to Vietnamese and Thai, and one thing we do particularly well is ramen – the steaming, slurp-worthy Japanese noodle dish, perfect for warming your insides. With endless variations of broth and toppings, the dish differs hugely from place to place, but one thing’s for certain: it’s always delicious. Here’s our rundown of the best places to get ramen in Manchester.
1. House of Fu
House of Fu brings their modern rice bowls and small plates to Manchester from 11:30am everyday, including top dishes like pork and shiitake gyoza, and lip-smackingly good cucumber salad, but what we’re particularly interested in is their sumptuous choice of ramen.
House of Fu has an astonishing selection of ramen to choose from, from their Original Fu Ramen (Tonkotsu broth, shoyu & shio tare, Hakata noodles, BBQ chashu pork, menma, spring onion, egg, burnt garlic oil) and Shoyu Chicken Ramen (Chicken broth, Henderson’s relish tare, Tokyo noodles, chicken chashu, charred corn, menma, spring onion, katsuobushi & coal oil), to more unconventional recipes like Tantanmen, Tonkotsu and even Kimchi and Cheese Ramen, you’ll most definitely find something to suit your taste. What’s more, you can choose to top your ramen with a whole load of added extras to make it your own – you can’t go wrong! Wash it all down with a kombucha (or cocktail) and a bit of karaoke, and you’ve got the perfect ramen experience. House of Fu, 113-115 Portland Street, Manchester M1 6DW.
2. Hello Oriental
One of our favourite spots for many types of Asian cuisine, Hello Oriental doesn’t offer the masses of ramen that others do, but what it does offer is a unique experience and the option to try several different tastes of Asia in one sitting. The ramen on the menu is the Spicy Korean Carbonara Ramen, which in itself sounds just kooky enough to work.
The ramen is offered with the option of chicken or prawns, and boasts a harmonious blend of perfectly al-dente noodles immersed in a luscious cream sauce infused with spicy gochujang. This is a ramen like no other you have got to try in Manchester. Hello Oriental, Circle Square, South Pavilion, 2 Symphony Park, Manchester M1 7FS.
3. Banana Tree
New to Salford Quays, Banana Tree boasts a mouthwatering selection of ramen to waiting for you to slurp away. Choose from chicken or vegan gyoza ramen, in either white miso or aromatic soy broth, all simmered with pak choi and beansprouts, and garnished with fresh mixed herbs, crispy shallots and chilli – we’re actually drooling… There’s also plenty to have on the side at Banana Tree, so go to town and fill your boots. Banana Tree Salford Quays, Unit G40B, The Lowry Outlet Mall, Salford M50 3AZ.
4. Shoryu Ramen
Shoryu Manchester is the brand’s first ramen bar outside London, bringing authentic Hakata tonkotsu ramen to the good folk of Manchester. Shoryu Ramen is an absolute treasure trove for ramen lovers, with all sorts on the menu from ‘Dracula’ Tonkotsu (with black garlic), Miso Tonkotsu and Piri Piri Tonkotsu, to Kimchi Seafood Natural Ramen and even Chicken Katsu Curry Ramen… we can’t choose! There’s also a dedicated section for vegan ramen, of which we’re particularly excited about the Spicy Goma Tan Tan – give us all the sesame chilli goodness. Shoryu Ramen, 1 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1RG.
5. Tokyo Ramen
Boasting the claim of ‘Manchester’s #1 Ramen Shop’, Tokyo Ramen takes a no-nonsense approach to their ramen – simply good stuff with walk-ins only. There are four types of ramen available: shoyu (chicken bone broth with pork belly), shio (chicken bone broth with chicken chashu), fire (chicken bone broth with koji fried chicken), and kinoko (shiitake dashi with roast tomato and Katsu-pickled mushroom), with sides of koji fried chicken and vegetable gyoza, keeping it simple but effective. If you’re after no funny business and seriously good ramen, Tokyo Ramen is the perfect option. Tokyo Ramen, 55 Church St, Manchester M4 1PD.
6. Maki & Ramen
Bringing the flavours and culture of Japan to Manchester (the first in England), Maki & Ramen offers a unique dining experience for locals and visitors alike. Sleek decoration, Sakura vibes, Japanese inspired cocktails, and their famous bowls of ramen make a visit to Maki & Ramen a truly unique and delicious experience. Choose from tataki, tantan and tonkotsu, amongst others, with flavours and fillings of chicken, steak and black garlic.
Do you dare to try the ‘Hell Ramen‘? The fan favourite is a chilli infused tonkotsu based broth topped with marinated chashu and half ramen egg, and you’ll be lucky to leave without breaking a sweat. Maki & Ramen also has a separate vegan page on their menu, with incredible flavours for the plant-based amongst us. Maki & Ramen, 11 York St, Manchester M2 2AW.
7. New Wave Ramen
Residing in Manchester’s favourite food hall Mackie Mayor, and now with its very own spot on Tib Lane, New Wave Ramen provides cosy and casual dining, aiming to keep things social to accompany slurp-worthy ramen made with the best ingredients. The noodles are made on the premises in the ‘noodle room‘ (whatever one of those is, we want one), and carefully cooked with curated flavoursome broths.
New Wave offers all the classics from shoyu and tantanmen, to paitan (creamy broth with pork belly) and vegan miso, alongside pickled and fermented sides to give you the most authentic Japanese experience. Top it all off with carefully curated wine and sake, and you’ve got one of the best spots in Manchester for ramen. New Wave Ramen, 16 Tib Lane, Manchester M2 4JB | Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU.
8. Lücky Ramen and Sushi
Having operated as a residency in Ancoats’ Mule, Lücky Ramen and Sushi is now taking on the restaurant space full time due to the closure of its former resident. Bringing incredible ramen (and sushi, obvs) to Ancoats, Lücky Ramen and Sushi operates on a walk-in only basis, serving a whole load of the warming stuff. Choose from the likes of the signature Tonkotsu, to spicy Nagoya and seafood Gyokai, whatever your taste may be. What’s more, the ramen spot is set to bring a truly unique brunch offering to its Manchester restaurant in the near future, so watch this space. Lücky Ramen and Sushi, 13 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5AF.