Like so many great cuisines, ramen started at the meeting of two cultures: it’s a Japanese take on Chinese wheat noodles soup. Even the name is supposedly borrowed from a Japanese take on the Chinese word (lāmiàn). In Berlin, though, the ramen offerings have been growing steadily over the years. Here is our pick of some of the best:
Cocolo Ramen
Not all that long ago, street food was barely a thing in Berlin, then along came Cocolo Ramen. Starting up as a food stall, it first moved to Paul-Linke-Ufer before moving again to Kreuzberg and Mitte. Tasty, reliable, always packed: there is no list of Berlin ramen without Cocolo.
- Cocolo Ramen Kreuzberg, Graefestr. 11, Kreuzberg, details.
- Cocolo Ramen Mitte, Gipsstr. 3, Mitte.
Beyond Ramen
Ramen goes vegan. For years, fans of Japan’s most famous noodle soup didn’t have much of a meat-free option (the broth is quite often made with boiled animal bones). But at Beyond Ramen, this is turned on its head. Not only is the soup vegan, but even the popular meaty topping like TanTan or pink belly chashu are now meat-free. And it really works. Don’t forget to taste their delicious lemonade and tea, either.
- Beyond Ramen, Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 5, Mitte, details.
Life Berlin
On a little corner of Maybachufer, find Life Berlin. Here you can not only tuck into excellent ramen, but also deep fried meat and fish dishes, all prepared in laidback Izakaya style. A plate of kara-age, a bowl of noodle soup, a cold drink: it doesn’t get much better.
- Life Berlin, Maybachufer 39, Neukölln, details.
Buya Ramen Factory
Recently CDU leader Friedrich Merz proclaimed that “Germany is not Kreuzberg”. Sitting at Buya Ramen on Reichenbergerstraße you can’t help but think “good”. This place is meant to be an izakaya, that is: a Japanese pub. They’ve got delicious soup with homemade noodles with tonkotsu, tantan or shio broth. The shio is especially funky when embellished with the Japanese fruit yuzu.
- Buya Ramen Factory, Reichenberger Str. 36, Kreuzberg, details.
Takumi Nine
In true Japanese style, this place is small, always full and focused on one dish: ramen. They order their noodles from a factory in Sapporo and anyone would admit they’re fantastic. The most surprising thing about these noodles is their consistency: no matter how long you sip the intense chicken broth they remain wonderfully firm to the bite. It isn’t cheap, but the portions are hefty.
- Takumi NINE, Pappelallee 19, (entrance on Raumerstr.), Prenzlauer Berg, details.
- Takumi’9 Sapporo, Chausseestr. 124, Mitte, details.
- Takumi NINE Tonkotsu, Knaackstr. 99, Prenzlauer Berg, details.
Kuma Ramen
This one came to our attention during the pandemic, and has quickly become one of our favourites. Nam started selling his noodles over Instagram and then meeting customers with soup-kits outside an Asian supermarket. A lot has changed since then! While you’d normally find his delicious offerings at Markthalle Pfefferberg, the market hall has been closed for renovations since summer 2024, with plans to reopen sometime in 2025. In the meantime, stay tuned to Kuma Ramen’s Instagram for updates on their Supper Club (an intimate multi-course dining experience) and the latest news on their reopening.
- Kuma Ramen (Markthalle Pfefferberg), Schönhauser Allee 176, Prenzlauer Berg, details.
Food Technique Berlin
The next entry on our list is also one of the most unusual. Another pandemic project, these soup-kits are still available from a bucket lowered from the apartment window of Japanophile Christopher Selig. But don’t judge a soup by its bucket, this is incredible cooking. Our personal favourite is the mushroom shoyu ramen. You can order ramen kits online or pick them up directly from Christopher’s apartment near Zionskirchplatz. For the full experience, follow him on Instagram to stay updated on his many collaborations with restaurants across Berlin, where you can enjoy his ramen freshly prepared.
- Food Technique Berlin, pickup in Zionskirche, Mitte and order online, details.
Fukagawa Ramen
Founder Leonardo Tsubasa Donati masterfully blends Japanese tradition with Italian flair at Fukagawa. What began as a Christmas market stall and Prenzlauer Berg pop-up at Tenzan Lab now has a permanent, sleek home near Moritzplatz. From truffle-infused ramen to rich Wagyu specials and umami asari broth, this eatery delivers bold flavours and serious finesse. While you can still catch them at their Kollwitzkiez pop-up or Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market, their Kreuzberg location is where they truly shine.
- Fukagawa Moritzplatz, Prinzessinnenstr. 17, Kreuzberg, details.
- Fukagawa (Tenzan Lab), Wörtherstr. 22, Prenzlauer Berg.
Iimori Ramen
Iimori Ramen delivers a solid lineup of classics, like the seafood and pork-based gyokai ramen, but the real standout is their fully vegan counterpart next door. The vegan tonkotsu is rich with salty garlic depth and tender plant-based beef patties. Meanwhile, the brothless plant-based duck aburasoba is unexpectedly piquant and the crispy dumpling skirt perfectly rounds out the meal, assuming you have room for it. We’d pass on the basil ramen next time though – just arrive before or after lunch/dinner rush, or be ready to queue.
Ult Ramen
Ult Ramen brings comfort in a bowl, using the co-owner’s grandma’s recipe to serve up rich, flavourful ramen in an inviting space. The signature Ult Ramen puts a spicy twist on classic tonkotsu, with all bowls featuring house-made noodles and broths simmered for at least a few hours. Tucked away in Friedenau, it’s a gem worth seeking out.
- Ult, Bundesallee 110, Friedenau, details.
Ippai No Ramen
Channelling the spirit of Japan’s iconic solo dining booths, this spot lets you order from a ticket machine and enjoy your ramen in quiet privacy, with a curtain briefly lifting to reveal a steaming bowl of luscious noodles. There’s also standard seating for groups, and the menu highlights items like light shio ramen, vegan miso spicy curry ramen and sesame chilli aburasoba.
- Ippai No Ramen, Gabriel-Max-Str. 2, Friedrichshain, details.
Shisomen Vegan Ramen
Fully vegan and full of personality, Shisomen dishes out ramen that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the city, from green cheese (named for its basil and dairy-free cheese components) to matcha (fashioned with matcha powder, vegan pork belly and cabbage). The duck ramen features fried plant-based duck with an impressively meaty texture; though its broth is quite mild, a splash of chilli oil and sesame seeds brings the bowl to life. Nestled between Potsdamer Platz and Brandenburg Gate, it’s a convenient stop if you’re showing your plant-based friends around the city.
- Shisomen, Gertrud-Kolmar-Str. 4, Mitte, details.
This guide was written by Natalie Avila.
