The best spots for Ramen in Cape Town

Located on Parliament Street, Ramenhead embodies the true art form of ramen making, preparing fresh noodles using the Yamato machine, an imported machine from Japan, and applying the same principles and commitment of the old age craft to each and every bowl served.

With no shortage of flavour in sight, each bowl features an umami-rich broth and daily freshly-made noodles

Offering two bowl sizes, the dishes average around R145 for the small bowls and R230 for the regular bowls.

Dishes from their ramen section include Tonkotsu, a rich pork bone broth paired with Tokyo-style noodles, pork belly chashu, pickled ginger, ajitamago, mayu, rayi and kikurage. For Wagyu lovers, a torches Cape Wagyu and wagyu sirloin with beef broth, Tokyo-style noodles, shitake, truffled kikurage is the go-to!

Led by Head Chef Julia Du Toit, Ramehhead's ramen is an ode to tradition and skilful technique.

Be sure to pair your steaming bowl of ramen with Japanese sake from their wide selection available.

Address: 37 Parliament St, Cape Town City Centre

Open times: Monday to Wednesday from 5pm to 9pm for dinner service, Thursdays to Saturdays from 6pm to 10pm for dinner and Thursday to Saturday from 12pm to 2.30pm for lunch.

At the time of publication, Ramenhead is closed for winter break from 1 - 24 July 2025.

Nestled away in a building on Wale Street, and revered for its steaming and delicious bowls of Ramen, Bodega Ramen is a staple among ramen lovers in the Mother City.

As Bodega offers a rotating menu, it's an adventurous opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Another alternative is asking the waiters on service what their pick is according to your tastes and preferred spice levels.

Ramen dishes that have featured on their menu include prawn tom yum, hot fried chicken tantanmen, hot fried cauli tantanmen and more.

One thing is for sure, Bodega does not shy away from portion sizes, offering large bowls that pack a punch of flavour and enough broth to savour each bite. Catering to meat-free eaters, there will always be a vegan ramen dish and starters available for diners.

Gluten-free diners will be happy to know that Bodega Ramen offers rice noodles as an alternative. Ramen bowls range from R165 upwards.

Address: 64A Wale St, CBD, Cape Town

Open times: Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 9.30pm

Opening its doors in November 2024, Yatai Ramen provides an elevated Japanese street food dining experience.

As no surprise, the star of the show on their menu is their wide selection of ramen. From miso grilled kinglip, served in a rich and creamy broth, with sea veg, fish cake, all within a steaming elderflower dashi broth and topped with marinated egg and chilli crisp oil, to miso dashi tofu.

All the ramen dishes on their menu use Tokyo-style noodles, made from wheat with a medium thickness, ensuring maximum noodle to broth coverage for the perfect slurp. Medium and large bowls are available for each of their ramen dishes on offer.

If you are looking for a pick-me-up from those Monday blues, Yatai Ramen runs a special offering of medium bowls of ramen for R99, excluding the Truffle Shoyu Wagyu Ramen. Be sure to book in advance to avoid missing out on this special, as it has become a hit amongst diners.

Address: 87 Bree St, CBD, Cape Town

Open times: Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 10.30pm.

With an unassuming entrance as you walk up the stairway, Downtown Ramen prides itself on offering dishes made from scratch and only sources what it cannot make from local producers.

Authentic to the culinary roots of ramen, fresh noodles are handmade daily, and each bowl is served with nori, egg, and chilli, if you are feeling adventurous or have a palate for all things hot.

Ramen bowls are offered in small and large sizes, with classics available such as the Shoyu ramen, also known as Tokyo ramen, served with a rich, smoky broth and pork. There is a vegetarian option, the Kimiko, which features vegetables and tofu, for those opting to go meat-free.

Address: 103 Harrington Street, Cape Town

Open times: Monday to Saturday from 12pm to 10pm

Often, the first spot that comes to mind for many diners when they think of ramen is Three Wise Monkeys in Sea Point.

Preparing fresh noodles daily, the menu features five ramen options to choose from, each featuring an alternative protein option: chicken, beef brisket, beef fillet, tofu or duck.

Diners opting for the chicken ramen can expect a chicken-based broth, with a secret (we do not even know, soy sauce), pickled mushrooms, den miso corn, a five-minute marinated egg, spinach, leeks and nori, a true hug in a bowl of comfort.

If you are in the mood for dessert, opt for their matcha & salted custard Bun, a 'match-a' of flavour made in heaven.

Address: La Rhone Building, 77 Regent Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town

Open times: Monday to Sunday from 12pm (noon) to 11pm

Located on the bustling Kloof Nek road in Tamboerskloof, Kanji Ramen's setting may be small, but their ramen bowls are anything but that.

Founded by Chef Seelan Sundoo and seasoned restaurateur Gavin Hagger, the restaurant's menu is a showcase of traditional ramen alongside Japanese street food-style dishes served as small plates.

Each of their ramen dishes features hand-pulled noodles and is usually paired with tender slices of meat. Pricing for their ramen starts from R160 to R180. With only four ramen options available, great attention to detail is placed with each bowl served.

Waygu fans will be delighted to know that Kanji offers a beef fillet, wagyu beef mince, chilli oil, baby spinach with bean sprouts and miso corn ramen dish, one that has crave-inducing abilities.

If you are feeling a bit extra peckish before you dive into a bowl of bouncy noodles and broth, opt to try out their gyoza dumplings, fried dumplings either filled with spinach and wild mushrooms or chicken and cabbage.

With limited seating available, be sure to make a reservation in advance.

Address: 12, 16 Kloof Nek Rd, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town

Open times: Monday to Sunday from 12pm (noon) to 12pm (midnight)

Tucked away in Green Point and not easy to spot by walking by, Izakaya Matsuri, somewhat of a truly hidden restaurant.

With its dim and low lighting, Japanese-themed art and interior decor, and ramen options that brim with bold flavours, tender and crunchy toppings, it's the ideal hideaway for a cosy lunch or dinner. A must-try is the rich and creamy Tonkatsu ramen, prepared with pork broth and served with Chashu pork, which is pork belly rolled and sliced, topped with spring onions, boiled egg and sesame seeds.

The menu currently does not feature any vegan or vegetarian ramen options.

Address: 6, The Rockwell, 32 Prestwich St, Green Point, Cape Town

Open times: Monday to Saturday from 11.30am to 10pm and Sunday from 11.30am to 9pm

Located in the heart of the CBD, Tomo Japanese Restaurant is a dining escape from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding area. With a non-fusion approach, Tomo Japanese Restaurant aims to provide an authentic dining experience.

At the helm of the kitchen is chef David Yan, who ensures that each of the Japanese and Asian dishes is prepared with utmost precision.

Serving up beef (a signature dish), veggie, lamb and seafood miso ramen in a broth that wraps around you like a blanket with each spoonful savoured, paired with the freshly made noodles, it transports you to the bustling streets of Tokyo.

Time Out Insider Info: Make the most of their ramen offering by opting for their winter special. From 12pm to 3pm daily, a hearty bowl of ramen will cost you R98.

Address: 160 Longmarket St, Cape Town 

Open times: Monday to Sunday from 12pm (noon) to 10pm

If you have scrolled through Instagram, the chances are that you have spotted chef Hatsushiro Muraoka, a sushi icon in Cape Town, alongside chef Ben Bettendorf, are very high.

This unlikely duo are the co-founders and powerhouse behind the loved Obi Restaurant on Long Street. Celebrating nine years since it opened its doors, Obi restaurant has cemented itself as a cornerstone restaurant offering refined Japanese cuisine in Cape Town.

While the restaurant may often be visited by diners for its celebrated and excellent sushi offering, the ramen of the day is not to be missed, prepared in a broth of the day, with pork belly chashu, and topped with a six-minute egg, spring onions and nori.

Address: 14 Long Street, Cape Town

Open times: Closed on Mondays. Tuesday to Saturday for lunch service from 12pm - 2pm and at 6pm for dinner.

Tjing Tjing House on Longmarket Street is home to three levels, with the base level, Torii, serving up a selection of bowls of ramen that are worth a second trip back for.

With a curated selection, each ramen dish featured house-made wheat noodles, ajitsuke tamago, soft-boiled eggs marinated in a sweet and salty soy sauce, nori, spring onions and sesame seeds.

The ramen section features classic pork Tonkotsu ramen, Chicken paitan ramen, a hearty bowl of grilled chicken thighs and tsukudane mushrooms, miso mushroom for the plant-based diners that features mixed mushrooms and spinach and last but not least, the smokey beef ramen, with beef mince, pickled shimeji mushrooms and charred corn.

For those who love an extra kick, be sure to ask for the addition of spicy sansho tare.

Time Out Insider Info: While many people may believe that ramen originated in Japan, it is important to note that the noodles actually have their origins in China.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, ramen was first found steaming up the kitchens and glasses of diners as they ate, in 1910 at a Chinese restaurant in Asakusa, Tokyo. This restaurant served a Chinese-style wheat noodle, a noodle prepared with Kansui, an alkaline solution, served in a meat or fish-based broth, which is now known as Ramen.