Spicy and spicy ramen is popular with a “separate stomach”! Satoko Morimoto, a ramen girl who eats 600 bowls of ramen a year, recommends “10 ramen dishes you should eat in 2025”.

Listed in the Michelin Guide

③Yanagiya [Morioka, Iwate

Founded in 1975, Yanagiya is a very popular restaurant in Morioka City. It is called “soul food” by the locals, and its signature dish, “Ganso Kimchi Natto Ramen” is loved not only in Iwate Prefecture, but also in Hanoi, Vietnam. It tastes like kimchi nabe, and even I, who used to hate natto, could conquer it.

What is especially surprising is that they grow their own wheat on their farm. The chewy, homemade medium-thick noodles are irresistible!　This is a super-rare genre of ramen that is rarely seen in Japan, so if you see it, it is a must-try.

Address: [Sohonten] 2-1-23 Odori, Morioka-shi, Iwate, Sun Queen Bldg. 1F Business hours: (Mon. – Sat.) 11:00 – 27:00 (Sun.) 11:00 – 24:00 Closed: No holidays

4) Ramen Hidayoshi (Kaminoyama City, Yamagata)

This is a hot new restaurant in Yamagata Prefecture, which boasts the largest consumption of ramen in Japan. The owner fell in love with “Akayu spicy miso ramen” when he was a student, and opened the restaurant after about 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry.

He carefully prepares dried sardines from Yamagata and Kyoto, and adds his own blend of miso sauce to the double broth made from chicken and pork broths to bring out the deep flavor of the soup. The noodles are hand-kneaded special thin and frizzy noodles jointly developed with Sakai Noodles in Yamagata City. Once you try it, you will never forget it.

Address: 8-28 Tokamachi, Kaminoyama-shi, Yamagata Business hours: 10:50-14:30 Closed: Mondays (Tuesdays if Monday is a national holiday)

(5) Sousaku Menkobo Naruryu NAKIRYU (Toshima-ku, Tokyo)

Many people may have heard of this restaurant’s “tantanmen” from cup noodles, but when you taste it at the restaurant, you will be surprised at the perfection of the noodles. The owner, Mr. Saito, started his training in Chinese cuisine and worked as a chef in Hong Kong before setting up his own restaurant in Otsuka in 2012. The restaurant has gained worldwide acclaim as a famous restaurant listed in the Michelin Guide. The main attraction of this restaurant’s “Tantanmen” is that the spiciness of the noodles is accompanied by the delicious taste of dashi broth. Not only the “tantanmen” but also all of the ramen noodles are said to be of the highest class, the ultimate taste.

Address: SKY Minami-Otsuka 1F, 2-34-4 Minami-Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Hours: 11:00 – 15:30 (numbered tickets required) Closed: Tuesdays, December 31 – January 8

(6) Yakuzen Ramen Shinben (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)

This restaurant specializing in spicy ramen is owned by AFURI. It has also opened a branch in Harajuku and is attracting a lot of attention. The restaurant’s name is “Yakuzen Ramen,” which means “herbal ramen,” so you don’t have to feel guilty.

The spiciness can be selected from 0 to 8 choume and even up to 28 choume, which is extremely spicy. For those who do not like spicy food, there are also yuzu white soy sauce ramen and vegan ramen, making it easy to go along. The chicken soup is made with domestic whole chicken and seafood, and several kinds of chili peppers and hot sauce are added to give it a deep spicy flavor. I usually visit this restaurant only once, but I have already been five times!　Hee Haw ♪

Address: Onden Building 1F, 4-29-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Hours: 11:00 – 23:00 Closed: December 31 – January 2 and January 3, 11:00 – 21:00 (L-O 30 minutes before)