Among Tokyo late night ramen shops, these 6 are the very best for a delicious, end of the night fix. After a night out, there’s no other Japanese food that satisfies like a steaming bowl of mouth-watering ramen. 

Located in the nightlife-heavy areas of Shinjuku and Roppongi, these 6 ramen shops serve everything from milky pork bone ramen to burnt miso ramen. Let’s get to it! 

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Roppongi Area

With a cosmopolitan clubbing scene and known for being a bit edgy, Roppongi stays up late! Here are my 3 top picks for late night, Roppongi ramen. 

#1 Milky Tonkotsu Ramen at Aka no Ren 

博多麺房 赤のれん

Ramen shop Aka no Ren was one the first in Tokyo to serve authentic Hakata style tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen. Pork bone ramen is a heavier affair. Aka no Ren is no exception. Their thick and milky tonkotsu ramen perfectly hits the spot after a night on the town.

If liquid courage tempts you to splurge, order the “chamenma” ramen. It comes with 5 slices of pork chashu and a mountain of crunchy bamboo shoots. 

Shop Hours: 11 am ~ 3 pm / 9 pm ~ 5 AM (Closed on Sundays)

#2 Classic Soy Sauce Ramen at Kaotan 

かおたんラーメンえんとつ屋

Kaotan looks more like a log cabin than a ramen shop. But their cozy interior is a huge part of the appeal, alongside that they’re open until 6 AM on weekends (5 AM on weekends). 

Their go-to ramen is shoyu (soy sauce) based and doesn’t leave you feeling too heavy when you stumble out. Little bits of negi in the broth add sweetness while bamboo shoots and beansprouts provide crunch. But the snow pea toppings visually steal the show. 

Shop Hours: 11:30 am ~ 5 AM (6 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, closed on Sundays)

#3 Burnt Miso Ramen at Gogyo 西麻布 五行

Part of the Ippudo group, Gogyo’s claim to fame is BURNT ramen. You read that right. Their signature burnt broth provides a unique, caramelized taste. From all the burnt ramen choices, the miso is best, in my opinion. 

While they don’t stay open as late as the previous two entries, they still clock in a respectable 2:30 am close time! 

Shop Hours: Weekdays: 11:30 am ~ 2:30 pm / 5 pm ~ 2:30 am // Sat: 11:30 am ~ 3:30 pm / 5 pm ~ 2:30 am // Sun: 11:30 am ~ 3:30 pm / 5 pm ~ 11:30 pm

Shinjuku area

Shinjuku is more of a local scene, although it’s become popular with tourists recently. Shinjuku’s neon-drenched madness is the Tokyo you see in the movies. 

#1 Unique Sardine Ramen at Ramen Nagi

ラーメン凪 新宿ゴールデン街店本館

Smack dab in the middle of Kabukicho’s ever-popular Golden Gai drinking area, Ramen Nagi is a late night ramen institution. They changed the game, using niboshi (dried sardines) in a way that hadn’t been done before. 

Their soy sauce-seasoned broth is deeply flavored, with over 20 types of niboshi going into it. Its salty bitterness might be intense for ramen beginners. But if you’re feeling adventurous, this is high-level, amazing ramen. Did I mention they’re also open 24 hours? 

Shop Hours: 24 Hours! 

#2 Garlicky, Spicy Ramen at Rishiri 

利しり

For those looking for a spicy way to end the night, ramen restaurant Rishiri has your name on it. You can customize their “Orochon Ramen” with a spice level from 1 to 9!

The hot and sour, garlicly broth is made from chicken, pork, and…suppon turtle! Minced onions and green peppers add flair and round, firm noodles round it all out. The old-school interior and over 50 year history make this place a favorite among drunk locals. 

Shop Hours: 6:30 pm ~ 5 am (closed on Sundays, holidays) 

#3 Creamy Pork Bone Ramen Zundo-ya

ラー麺 ずんどう屋 新宿店

Like Aka no Ren on this list, Zundo-ya is all about tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen. But their version is thicker, creamier and carries a greater garlic jolt. The perfect heavy ramen nightcap. 

All tables include takana (spicy leaf mustard) and this helps cut through some of that creamy broth. In addition, you can customize your noodles – thin or thick. Lastly, Zundo-ya has a large floor space (43 seats). This is perfect if you’ve been out with a big group! 

Shop Hours: Almost 24 Hours! (closed on Mondays from 6 am to 11 am) 

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There you have it – 6 delicious late night ramen shops for Tokyo late night ramen! Check out more about all the different kinds of ramen here and if you’re interested, check out the famous ramen chains and see if they are worth it.

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