Iwate: Top 20 Recommended Ramen Shops

Iwate: Top 20 Recommended Ramen Shops

Top 20 Best Ramen Restaurants in Iwate Prefecture

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Recommended Ranking for Iwate

1

Kurofune

3840ptSakari Station Ramen, Tsukemen

A popular shop known for its specialized saury dashi. The clear saury soup has no fishy aftertaste and offers a deep, soul-satisfying flavor that is irresistible. The appeal lies in the perfectly thin straight noodles, which are delicious even on their own. The chashu topping provides an umami-rich accent. The restaurant has a calm atmosphere where you can fully focus on your ramen. It is well-known among ramen enthusiasts nationwide, and many people travel from afar to visit. The shop is located about a 4-minute drive from Sakari Station.

【Details】
Address: 39 Fujisawaguchi, Ikawa-cho, Ofunato, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–15:00 (L.O. 15:00), 17:00–21:00 (L.O. 20:45). Lunch service is generally open every day. Dinner service may have temporary closures.
Regular Holidays: None
Access: Approx. 4 minutes by car/taxi from Sakari Station

※Business hours may be subject to change. Please confirm details directly with the operator.


2

Sakaeya Main Branch

3832ptMurasakino Station Ramen, Set meals/Diner

Established in 1960. Their "Manshu Nira (Chinese Chive) Ramen (Soy Sauce)" packed with chives is very popular. Those who want more meat often opt for the deep-fried gyoza or the version with offal. The noodles are thin, firm, and easy to eat, pairing perfectly with the soup. With tatami seating available, it’s a great spot to visit as a group. This shop is famous among ramen fans, with many customers traveling from afar. It is located about a 6-minute drive from Murasakino Station.

【Details】
Address: 1000-1 Yamanokami, Hanamaki, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–15:00
Regular Holidays: Open all year round
Access: Approx. 6 minutes by car/taxi from Murasakino Station

※Business hours may be subject to change. Please confirm details directly with the operator.


3

Marucho

3793ptIchinoseki Station Ramen, Tsukemen, Gyoza

This shop specializes in just two items: seafood-based soy sauce ramen and tsukemen. The thin noodles are perfectly suited to the soup, and are delicious on their own. The chashu topping, slowly simmered to perfection, adds a great umami accent. Beyond the noodle dishes, the gyoza with their chewy skins and savory filling are a must-try. It is one of the places you definitely want to visit if you are eating ramen in Iwate Prefecture. The shop is a 1-minute walk from Ichinoseki Station.

【Details】
Address: 1F Marucho Bldg., 2-34 Kami-otsuki-machi, Ichinoseki, Iwate
Business Hours: Currently operating 4 days a week: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Lunch 11:30–14:45, Dinner 17:45–24:00. *For the time being, we are open until midnight. We look forward to serving you.
Regular Holidays: Sunday
Access: 1-minute walk from Ichinoseki Station

※Business hours may be subject to change. Please confirm details directly with the operator.


4

Tarafu

3755ptMiyako Station Ramen

First, you will be struck by the visual impact: a bowl filled to the brim with soup, containing a generous portion of flat curly thin noodles. The light soy sauce soup, primarily seafood-based, has a refreshing flavor that lets you truly taste the dashi broth. The portion of noodles is quite large, but it goes so well with the soup that you can slurp them up easily. The chashu garnish adds a savory meaty accent. This is a beloved shop among local ramen enthusiasts with many dedicated fans. The shop is a 6-minute walk from Miyako Station.

【Details】
Address: 1-1-20 Odori, Miyako, Iwate
Business Hours: 10:30–20:00
Regular Holidays: Tuesday
Access: 6-minute walk from Miyako Station

※Business hours may be subject to change. Please confirm details directly with the operator.


5

Ramen Sando

3754ptAoyama Station Ramen, Tsukemen

Their popular dish is Konbu-sui (kelp water) Tsukemen. Although called tsukemen, it has a unique style that one could arguably call ramen. The noodles, soaked in a kelp dashi, are delicious even if eaten just with salt. The soup is a chicken-based soy sauce flavor; dipping the noodles allows you to enjoy their taste in a pure form. The pork shoulder and chicken breast chashu toppings are also excellent. You can also mix the kelp water into the soy sauce soup at the end. Well-known among locals, this popular spot is often featured in magazines and pamphlets. The shop is about a 2-minute drive from Aoyama Station.

【Details】
Address: 2-26-20 Nishiaoyama, Morioka, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:30–15:00
Regular Holidays: Wednesday, 3rd Tuesday
Access: Approx. 2 minutes by car/taxi from Aoyama Station

※Business hours may be subject to change. Please confirm details directly with the operator.

6

Nakagawa

3732ptKamimorioka Station Ramen

Founded in 1955, this is a classic, long-established Chuka Soba shop in Morioka. Because photography is prohibited, its flavor remains shrouded in mystery—you have to try it yourself to know. A translucent soup with curly noodles, two slices of chashu, a sheet of nori, menma, and green onions. It is a truly simple Chuka Soba, and with no visible oil, you could easily call it a "super refreshing" style. Each bite brings out even more flavor. Many people consider this the place to go for delicious ramen, and the shop is always bustling. It is an 11-minute walk from Kamimorioka Station.

【Details】
Address: 1-7-37 Honcho-dori, Morioka, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–16:00
Regular Holidays: Sundays and Public Holidays
Access: 11-minute walk from Kamimorioka Station

※Business hours may be subject to change. Please confirm details directly with the operator.


7

Matoya Chuka Morioka Station Front

3717ptMorioka Station Ramen, Chinese Cuisine, Local Cuisine (Others)

A traditional ramen shop that carries on the flavor of the Chuka Soba from "Shinpukusaikan Main Branch," which started as a food stall in front of Kyoto Station in 1938. The highlight is their soy sauce ramen, where the savory taste of matured soy sauce spreads throughout your mouth. The straight noodles pair beautifully with the soup and are delicious on their own. The green onion topping complements the soup, providing a nice accent. Besides noodles, their fried rice features exquisite seasoning and is highly recommended. A highly reputable shop frequently featured in gourmet media and blogs. It is a 2-minute walk from Morioka Station.

【Details】
Address: 1F Morioka Ekimae Bldg., 8-11 Morioka Ekimae-dori, Morioka, Iwate
Business Hours: Monday–Saturday 17:00–0:00 (next day)
Regular Holidays: Sunday (if Monday is a public holiday, closed on Sunday/Monday)
Access: 2-minute walk from Morioka Station

※Business hours may be subject to change. Please confirm details directly with the operator.


8

UMAMI SOUP Noodles Nijisora

3669ptIchinoseki Station Ramen, Tsukemen, Soupless Tantanmen

A shop popular for its chilled ramen made with aromatic dried sardine dashi. The straight noodles pair well with the soup. The seasoned soft-boiled egg topping has a moist flavor that matches the soup perfectly. The restaurant has a stylish atmosphere, making it easy for women to enter alone. This is one shop you cannot miss if you are having ramen in Iwate Prefecture. It is an 8-minute walk from Ichinoseki Station.

【Details】
Address: 175-1 Kanda, Sanseki, Ichinoseki, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:30–15:00, 17:30–21:00 or until soup runs out
Regular Holidays: Friday (with some irregular holidays)
Access: 8-minute walk from Ichinoseki Station

※Business hours may be subject to change. Please confirm details directly with the operator.


9

Menya Wakana

3665ptHanamaki Station Ramen, Tsukemen

The restaurant is located a 10-minute walk from Hanamaki Station. You can enjoy niboshi (dried sardine) ramen made with broth simmered carefully over time. The medium-thick noodles, chosen for their specific thickness, are a highlight and are simply delicious. The accompanying chashu pork features a rich, savory flavor. As this is a popular spot, it can get crowded, but it is well worth a visit.

【Details】
Address: 9-32 Zaimoku-cho, Hanamaki-shi, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:30–14:30 (Weekdays), 11:15–14:30 (Sat/Sun)
Closed: Tuesdays
Access: 10-minute walk from Hanamaki Station

※Operating hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the establishment for details.


10

Chigusa

3657ptKuji Station Ramen

The restaurant is located a 4-minute walk from Kuji Station. Their soy sauce ramen, which fills the mouth with the rich umami of aged soy sauce, is very popular. They offer curly noodles that cling well to the soup, providing a satisfying texture and deep flavor. The chashu topping is slowly simmered and is simply irresistible.

【Details】
Address: 1-10 Nijuhachi-nichimachi, Kuji-shi, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–14:30 (Closes when sold out)
Closed: Tuesdays
Access: 4-minute walk from Kuji Station

※Operating hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the establishment for details.


11

Takamiya

3638ptSemboku-cho Station Ramen, Yakisoba

This restaurant serves a delicious soy sauce ramen with a lingering, time-honored soy sauce-based broth. It has a rich soy sauce flavor reminiscent of "Toyama Black Ramen." The chashu topping has just the right amount of fat and is outstanding. There is tatami seating available, making it easy to visit not only alone but also with family or friends. The restaurant is about a 2-minute drive from Semboku-cho Station.

【Details】
Address: 3-20 Sakana-cho, Morioka-shi, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–17:50
Closed: Wednesdays
Access: About 2 minutes by car/taxi from Semboku-cho Station

※Operating hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the establishment for details.


12

Ganju

3632ptYanagihara Station Ramen, Tsukemen

The restaurant is located an 11-minute walk from Yanagihara Station. You can enjoy miso ramen that packs a punch with the richness of high-umami miso. The chewy, medium-thick noodles are a highlight and are simply delicious. The accompanying chashu pork features a rich, savory flavor.

【Details】
Address: 5-22 Omagari-cho, Kitakami-shi, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–14:30 (Closes when sold out)
Closed: Irregular holidays, often Wednesdays or Thursdays.
Access: 11-minute walk from Yanagihara Station

※Operating hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the establishment for details.

  • Kuribayashi 1

13

Kuribayashi

3629ptIwate-Iioka Station Ramen, Regional cuisine (other)

Although it is a Jajamen restaurant, their Chicken Soba, which concentrates the savory flavor of carefully simmered chicken bones, is popular. Their Tori Paitan (chicken broth) ramen, packed with the rich flavor of chicken bones, is delicious. The noodles are straight and easy to eat, making them a perfect match for the soup. The tender chashu pork that comes with it pairs well with the soup. With tatami seating available, it seems like a great place to go with a group. The restaurant is about a 4-minute drive from Iwate-Iioka Station.

【Details】
Address: 69-7 Haba 13 Chiwari, Morioka-shi, Iwate
Business Hours: [Mon–Sat, Sun] Until around 11:30–15:00
Closed: Irregular holidays
Access: About 4 minutes by car/taxi from Iwate-Iioka Station

※Operating hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the establishment for details.


14

Kaidashi Ramen Kurofune SECOND

3625ptOfunato Station Ramen, Tsukemen, Gyoza

Following their main "Saury Broth" store, this is the second branch of Kurofune, focusing on "Shellfish Broth." It's a bowl packed with the savory flavors of shellfish. The noodles are just the right thickness, an exquisite straight type that goes well with the soup. The accompanying chashu pork is slowly simmered and matches the soup nicely. While it is on a separate menu, their gyoza with chewy skins and delicious filling are worth a try if you have room. The restaurant is a 2-minute walk from Ofunato Station.

【Details】
Address: 3-2-2140 Chayamae, Ofunato-cho, Ofunato-shi, Iwate (Kassen Food Village)
Business Hours: [Weekdays] 11:00–14:45, 17:30–21:00 [Sat] 11:00–14:45, 17:30–21:00 [Sun] 11:00–14:45
Closed: Sunday nights, Mondays
Access: 2-minute walk from Ofunato Station

※Operating hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the establishment for details.


15

Ramen Taijuku

3603ptFurudate Station Ramen

Founded in 1996, this popular restaurant is a pioneer of additive-free ramen in Iwate. Their niboshi (dried sardine) ramen, made with broth simmered carefully over time, is well-regarded. The noodles are just the right thickness, an exquisite straight type that goes well with the soup. The accompanying chashu pork is slowly simmered and matches the soup nicely. The restaurant is about a 2-minute drive from Furudate Station.

【Details】
Address: 48-18 Inamura, Kousuiji, Shiwa-cho, Shiwa-gun, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:30–15:00 (Closes when noodles/soup run out)
Closed: Thursdays, 1st Wednesday
Access: About 2 minutes by car/taxi from Furudate Station

※Operating hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the establishment for details.


16

Men SAMURAI Momotaro

3602pt Ramen

This restaurant is known for its soy sauce ramen, which features a chicken-based soup made with local Iwate Oshu "Iwai-dori" chicken and a deep, flavorful blended soy sauce. They serve firm, smooth, thick noodles that offer a wonderful texture and satisfying chew. The chashu topping is slowly simmered and is simply irresistible.

【Details】
Address: 4-25 Esashisugino-cho, Oshu-shi, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–15:00 (L.O. 14:30), 18:00–20:00 (L.O. 19:30)
Closed: Irregular holidays
Access: 7 minutes by taxi from Mizusawa-Esashi Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen

※Operating hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the establishment for details.


17

Gincho

3601ptMizusawa Station Ramen

The restaurant is located a 3-minute walk from Mizusawa Station. You can eat simple, old-school chuka-soba. The medium-thick noodles are chosen for their specific thickness and pair perfectly with the soup. The accompanying tender chashu pork matches the soup nicely.

【Details】
Address: 1-7-5 Mizusawahigashi-odori, Oshu-shi, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–19:30 (They don't open exactly at 11:00) May close early.
Closed: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
Access: 3-minute walk from Mizusawa Station

※Operating hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the establishment for details.


18

Shotaro

3585ptAoyama Station Ramen, Gyoza

The restaurant is located a 10-minute walk from Aoyama Station. It is well-known for its simple yet high-quality Chuka soba, where you can truly taste the chef's dedication to the soup and noodles. The thick, smooth, and firm noodles are exceptional on their own, allowing you to fully enjoy the deliciousness of this ramen. The chashu topping, slow-cooked to bring out its umami, provides a great accent. I highly recommend trying the fried rice as a side dish—its light and fluffy texture is wonderful.

【Detailed Information】
Address: 4-27-11 Aoyama, Morioka, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–16:00
Closed: Thursday (or the following day if it is a public holiday)
Access: 10-minute walk from Aoyama Station

※Business hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the operator for details.


19

Azuma-za

3585ptSenbokucho Station Ramen

A popular Morioka restaurant with three undisputed fan favorites: "Chicken Paitan Soba," "Rich Miso Chicken Paitan Soba," and "Light Broth Soba." The shop is best known for its chicken paitan ramen, which features the rich umami of chicken slow-boiled for hours. The thin, firm noodles are very easy to eat and simply delicious. The chashu topping is also excellent, made from tender, flavorful meat. The shop is located about a 2-minute drive from Senbokucho Station.

【Detailed Information】
Address: 1-2-15 Minamidori, Morioka, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:00–14:00, 17:30 until soup runs out
Closed: Tuesday, 2nd Monday
Access: About 2 minutes by car/taxi from Senbokucho Station

※Business hours are subject to change. Please check directly with the operator for details.


20

Niboshi Ramen Shirokuro

3584ptYahaba Station Ramen

The restaurant is located a 7-minute walk from Yahaba Station. They serve delicious Niboshi (dried sardine) ramen with a savory aroma wafting from the soup. The thin noodles have a rich, smooth texture, and they are so good you could eat bowl after bowl. The chashu topping, which comes with the ramen, is slow-cooked to bring out an indescribably delicious flavor.

【Detailed Information】
Address: 7-8-9 Matabee-shinden, Yahaba Town, Shiwa District, Iwate
Business Hours: 11:30–15:00, 17:30–19:30 (Closes when ingredients run out)
Closed: Sunday (Other closures announced on site or Twitter)
Access: 7-minute walk from Yahaba Station


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