On a cold winter's day, there's only one food that will both fill and warm you up: ramen. That beautiful rich broth will magically warm your bones, and those delicious noodles, meat and vegetables will sate even the biggest appetites. Almost every region in Japan has its own variation on the dish, and, here in Berlin, we also have a wide variety of ramen options to choose from.
Tip: You can also find more about Asian cuisine in Berlin on our website.
Tip 1: The future is vegan: Beyond Ramen
The name Beyond Ramen clues you into the fact that it represents a significant break from the usual meaty traditions of ramen—but meat lovers will barely even notice. Everything on the menu is vegan. The talented chefs have worked hard to ensure you won't miss the usual hearty bone broth. The waiting staff here are renowned for their helpfulness and friendliness and are always ready to help and reassure you that all of the convincingly meaty-looking and meaty-tasting dishes are, in fact, vegan.
Where: Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse 5, Mitte
When: Sunday to Thursday Noon - 10:30pm, Friday/Saturday Noon - 11:30pm
Tip 2: Worth the wait: Cocolo Ramen X-berg
You may need to wait a while to get a seat at Cocolo, but it's worth it. There's a reason this place is most Berliners' go-to for ramen. All of their ingredients are made in-house, even their noodles and gyozas. And, if you're lucky enough to get a seat at the bar, you can watch the chefs work their magic. This branch is the little sister to the original Cocolo on Gipsstraße in Mitte—one of Berlin's original ramen shops—but has quite a bit more space than the original, especially in the summer months when the outdoor seating is open.
Where: Kreuzberg Gräfestraße 11, Mitte Gipsstraße 3
When: Kreuzberg Monday - Saturday 12 - 9 pm, Mitte Mon - Sat 6 - 11 pm
Tip 3: Outdoor ramen: Morimori
Step inside the door of Morimori and find yourself in a very snug little ramen joint. But don't panic if there aren't any free seats among the happy punters slurping from steaming bowls—there is more space out the back in their very cute outdoor garden. Morimori's noodles stand out from the pack; they are made in-house without eggs and are just the right consistency to bind nicely with the broth.
Where: Oranienstraße 201. Kreuzberg
When: Monday and Wednesday - Friday 11:45 am. - 10:15 pm., Saturday and Sunday Noon. - 10:15 pm, closed Tuesday.
Tip 4: Canalside dining: Life
There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating at Life, but it's an indicator of its popularity and quality that you will probably still have a short wait for your ramen. Among other things, the waiting staff are known for their friendliness. There are plenty of vegan options on the menu, and be sure to check out their drinks as well—the Yuzuschorle is quite special.
Where: Maybachufer 39, Kreuzberg
When: Wednesday - Sunday 12.30 - 2.30pm and 6 - 9pm
Tip 5: Personalise your meal: Niko Niko Ramen
Niko Niko Ramen takes care of the ramen supply in Friedrichshain. Niko Niko means smile in Japanese, and that's exactly what you'll get when enjoying these ramen soups, which are highly popular with the public and are prepared in the traditional way. It is a matter of honour for the ramen artists at Niko Niko Ramen to cook with natural ingredients. You won't find any artificial flavour enhancers here. The broth comes either from chicken or as vegetable broth for the vegetarian versions. Japanese tapas round off the menu.
Where: Friedrichshain Boxhagener Straße 26
When: daily 12 - 22 h; Monday and Tuesday only from 15 h onwards
Tip 6: Loyal customers: Hachiko Ramen
This modern ramen shop is named after a dog in Tokyo who used to visit a train station to greet his owner on his way home from work at the same time every day. Even after his owner died suddenly at work, the dog continued to go to the station every day for ten years, becoming an icon of everlasting loyalty. The team at Hachiko Ramen want to win your loyalty for their excellent ramen, and it's certainly good enough to earn a lifetime of fidelity. Make sure to try their spicy kimchi, too.
Where: Kantstraße 140, Charlottenburg
Wann: daily Noon - 10pm
Tip 7: Ramen fusion: Buya Izakaya Ramen
Hidden away in a Hinterhof off Reichenberger Straße is one of Berlin's more down-to-earth ramen shops. You won't find any kitschy Japanese décor here, just a bustling kitchen that experiments with the traditional ramen ingredients. They fuse Korean kimchi and Japanese ramen, an idea so obviously good we can't believe we don't see it everywhere. Their sake-tasting set is also an excellent and fun compliment to their outstanding food.
Where: Reichenberger Str. 36, Kreuzberg
When: Tuesday - Thursday and Sunday Noon - 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 12:30 - 9 pm
Tip 8: Sublime Sapporo satisfaction: Takumi Nine
The clean and crisp interior design in Iimori Ramen offers treats for the eyes as soon as you walk in and, then, treats for your tastebuds as soon as you sit down. Their homemade gyoza are about as close to perfection as it gets. The ramen is designed with just as much aesthetic style as the interior and tastes just as good as it looks.
Where: Pappelallee 19 and Chausseestraße 124, Mitte
When: Monday - Friday Noon - 2:30 pm and 5 - 9:30 pm, Saturday/Sunday Noon - 9:30 pm
Tip 9: Amazing price: Marubi Ramen
Marubi has by miles the cheapest ramen of any of the shops on this list. But the quality certainly doesn't lag behind its more well-known competitors. It has only five ramen bowls to choose from, and you'd be wise to try their delicious homemade gyoza, too.
Where: Schönhauser Allee 177, Prenzlauer Berg
When: daily Noon - 8pm
Tip 10: ULT Ramen
Plan to spend your entire evening at this cute Wedding spot. After a generously portioned ramen (for a very decent price), you can then migrate to the back of the joint for some drinks and karaoke. You'll probably hear others singing while you're eating, which only adds to ULT Ramen's significant charm.
Where: Schulstraße 29, Wedding
When: Monday - Saturday 6 - 10.30 pm
Tip 11: Beautiful décor: Limori Ramen
The clean and crisp interior design in Iimori Ramen offers treats for the eyes as soon as you walk in and, then, treats for your tastebuds as soon as you sit down. Their homemade gyoza are about as close to perfection as it gets. The ramen is designed with just as much aesthetic style as the interior and tastes just as good as it looks.
Where: Mulackstraße 29, Mitte
When: Monday - Friday Noon - 10pm, Saturday 1pm - 10pm
