Akita is Filled with Delicious Ramen Shops!

Akita is dotted with unique ramen shops so good you'll want to go on a crawl. The variety is vast, ranging from rich, hearty styles perfect for warming up in snowy weather to light soy sauce bases with clear, soul-soothing broth, fragrant seafood dashi, and mellow miso. A true charm of Akita is encountering not just the crowded shops in the city center, but also the small, suburban hidden gems that only locals know about. Whether for a quick lunch, a post-drinking bowl at night, or a stop during a drive, it’s fun to find the perfect shop for any occasion. Whether you're stopping by while sightseeing or choosing a travel route specifically for the ramen, you're bound to discover new flavors no matter how many times you visit. If you try shops based on your preferred soup style or noodle thickness, you can even enjoy the sense of creating your own personal Akita ramen map.

9 Recommended Ramen Shops in Akita

Tombo-an

"Tombo-an" in Nakadori, Akita City, is a popular ramen shop located about a 7-minute walk from JR Akita Station. It has a dedicated parking lot for 7 cars. Opened in 2018, this shop offers authentic bowls crafted by a proprietor who trained at a famous establishment in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The balance between the carefully prepared broth and their homemade noodles is exquisite, and the ramen, made with heart in every bowl, has captivated many fans in Akita.

The standard soy sauce ramen is a classic, featuring a clear soup that pairs perfectly with chewy noodles. They also offer a rich menu of unique items like Ginger Soy Sauce Ramen and Sesame Spicy Ramen. The Chashu Ramen and Special Ramen are also popular, and sets including a Rare Chashu Rice Bowl are highly recommended. It is a cozy space with only 9 counter seats, so arriving early is recommended as they close once the noodles run out.

Niboshi Chuka Asari

"Niboshi Chuka Asari" in Kawaguchi, Odate City, Akita Prefecture, is a house-style ramen shop located about a 5-minute drive from JR Hayaguchi Station. It has a parking lot for 18 cars. Since opening in 2013, it has become a popular destination for ramen fans from both inside and outside the prefecture, known for its dried-sardine (niboshi) ramen. Being open from 7:00 AM, they offer the appeal of "morning ramen."

They pride themselves on a rich broth that fully draws out the umami of the niboshi, and the classic Niboshi Soba pairs perfectly with their hand-kneaded thick noodles. For those who prefer a lighter taste, the Salt Chuka Soba is also recommended. The Niboshi Abura Soba (oil noodles), made with flat thick noodles, comes with soup and lets you fully enjoy the flavor of niboshi coating the noodles. Their dipping noodles (tsuke-niboshi) are also a steady favorite, and the winter-limited Miso Niboshi is not to be missed. With a total of 21 seats including counter and table seating, it is widely used by everyone from solo diners to families.

China Town

"China Town" in Oroshimachi, Akita City, is a house-style ramen shop located about a 10-minute drive from JR Akita Station or a 10-minute walk from Ugo-Ushijima Station. They have 11 parking spaces available beneath the shop and nearby. Since its founding in 1984, this renowned shop has been long-loved by locals as a soul food of Akita.

Their most popular item, Miso Champon, is a satisfying, voluminous bowl packed with over 10 ingredients, including pork, squid, shrimp, Chinese cabbage, and leeks. The rich miso soup pairs perfectly with thick noodles, and it will leave you feeling warm and cozy as you eat. For those who prefer a lighter flavor, Salt Champon is also recommended. They have a full menu of gyoza and ramen, and since they also offer a mini-size Champon, you can enjoy it as part of a set. With 40 seats in total including counter and table seating, it is well-suited for everyone from solo diners to families.

Menkyo Shoin

A house-style ramen shop located along National Route 7 in Ishiwaki, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture. It is about a 10-minute drive from JR Ugo-Honjo Station, and there are 5 parking spaces available next to and in front of the shop. This high-performing restaurant has been featured as one of Tabelog's "Ramen 100 Famous Stores EAST" for multiple years, drawing many ramen fans from inside and outside the prefecture.

Their signature Chuka Soba is notable for allowing you to choose between "light" and "rich" versions. The "light" version is a Japanese-style bowl where niboshi dashi forms a base harmonized with the umami of pork and chicken, while the "rich" version allows you to fully enjoy a thick pork bone flavor. Limited-time noodles are also popular, and you won't want to miss seasonal offerings like Miso Ramen, Tantanmen, and Salt Ramen. On Saturdays and Sundays, they are open from 5:30 AM, offering the appeal of authentic "morning ramen" starting early in the day. It is a cozy space with only 9 counter seats where you can enjoy ramen made with single-minded devotion.

Chuka Soba de Komatsu

A ramen shop in Omagarimaru-no-machi, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, located about a 7-minute walk from JR Omagari Station. There are 5 parking spaces available nearby. Since opening in 2014, it has been a popular shop captivating many fans with creative ramen that highlights the proprietor's commitment to quality.

Their signature Salt Chuka is an elegant bowl where the chicken umami is condensed into a clear soup. The Soy Sauce Chuka is also a steady favorite. Their inventive Junk Tantanmen is a masterpiece featuring an exquisite match of rich sesame flavor and a spicy kick. The summer-limited Cold Tantanmen is perfect for hot days, with cold soup and noodles firmed in ice water. They have a full range of unique menus like Sanra-Salt Chuka and Abura Soba, so you can encounter new flavors no matter how many times you visit. It is a cozy space with 4 counter seats and 2 tables, and they offer alcoholic drinks until 9:00 PM.

Touichi

A ramen shop in Higashidori, Akita City, located about a 12-minute walk from JR Akita Station. Parking is also available, making it convenient for access by car. Opened in 2018, they are popular for being one of the few shops in Akita where you can enjoy "morning ramen," as they open from 6:00 AM.

Their signature Dashi Chuka boasts a rich chicken-broth soup made by slowly simmering chicken bones. The chicken umami is thoroughly dissolved into the clear soup, pairing perfectly with their thin, low-hydration straight noodles. The melt-in-your-mouth chicken chashu is also exceptional, allowing you to enjoy a satisfying, voluminous bowl. Their Chicken Miso Chuka is famous for being even tastier when you add grated ginger. Their side dish, Torimeshi (chicken rice), is also popular, and many regulars order it as a set with their ramen. With 18 seats in total, including 6 counter seats and 12 table seats, it is widely used by everyone from solo diners to families.

Ramen Machine Gun

A house-style ramen shop in Hiroomendote-shita, Akita City, located about a 5-minute drive from JR Akita Station. There are 5 parking spaces in total available in front of and near the shop. Opened in 2009, this popular shop is known as a pioneer of Jiro-inspired ramen in Akita.

A bowl featuring rich pork-bone-based soup paired with chewy, extra-thick noodles is incredibly voluminous. You can top the standard Shoyu Type 1 or Miso Type 1 with bean sprouts or garlic to your liking, which is irresistible for fans of hearty ramen. For those who prefer a lighter taste, the visually stunning Yuzu Ponzu Soba is recommended. Their winter-limited Curry Ramen, popular with pork or cheese toppings, is perfect for the cold season. They also offer a full menu of unique items like Spicy Soba and Soup-less Ponzu Soba. It is a hidden-away space with only 13 counter seats, where you can enjoy hearty ramen made with single-minded devotion.

Menya Jurobei

A house-style ramen shop in Omagarikamie-machi, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, located about a 5-minute drive from JR Omagari Station. There are 5 parking spaces available. Opened in 2010, this is one of Akita’s leading popular shops, boasting a 3.60 Tabelog rating and recognized as a high-performing shop that has even appeared on the TV show "Bananaman no Sekkaku Gourmet." They open from 7:00 AM and are also known as a valuable place to enjoy "morning ramen" in Akita.

Their No. 1 popular Salt Ramen is an elegant bowl with clear soup condensed with chicken and seafood umami. Their Seafood Pork Bone Ramen features a superb match of rich soup and homemade noodles, and adding wontons is also popular. The appeal also includes a colorful menu featuring Niboshi Soba, Miso Champon, Toyama Black, and Kumamoto Ramen. You also won't want to miss the limited monthly noodles. It is a cozy space with only 10 counter seats where you can enjoy ramen made with single-minded devotion.

Jikaseimen Sato

A house-style ramen shop in Omagarikamie-machi, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, located about a 5-minute drive from JR Omagari Station. There are 3 parking spaces available. Opened in 2013, this is a niboshi ramen specialty shop that was born as the second branch of the popular shop "Menya Jurobei." True to their name, they are committed to homemade noodles, using different thick and thin noodles depending on the soup.

Their signature Niboshi Chuka boasts a rich soup that really brings out the umami of the niboshi. It has a reputation for allowing you to taste authentic, rich niboshi ramen in Akita similar to what you would eat in Aomori. The Niboshi Pork Bone Salt flavor also has many fans, with a bowl where the niboshi flavor matches perfectly with the mellow pork bone. Their Meat Dashi Chuka allows you to enjoy a deep-bodied soup infused with the umami of meat. It is popular enough to have lines out the door during the Omagari Fireworks Festival. It is a cozy space with only 10 counter seats where you can enjoy authentic niboshi ramen.

Let's Eat Delicious Ramen in Akita!

When you think about eating delicious ramen in Akita, the imagination of which town you'll visit next and what kind of bowl you'll encounter is enough to get you excited, isn't it? Slurping from a steaming bowl while gazing at the snowy scenery, or casually stepping through the noren curtain during a drive amidst the fresh greenery—the ability to taste ramen in different situations each season is also part of the fun of Akita ramen. Using the shops introduced here as a starting point, why not take note of one that catches your interest and travel just a little further on your next day off? You can revisit your favorite shops during your travels, or try touring undeveloped areas in search of new ramen encounters. Please enjoy Akita's ramen scene to the fullest at your own pace, where there are discoveries to be made no matter how many times you visit. When you visit Akita next, do enjoy the fun of choosing a bowl based on your mood for the day.