2. Shoryu Ramen
Dish to order: Karaka TanTan Tonkotsu
Some meals comfort. Some meals impress. Shoryu Ramen does both, with the quiet confidence of a place that knows exactly what it’s doing. Specialising in Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, Shoryu serves up an incredibly rich and deep broth – the kind that lingers on your lips and in your thoughts long after you’ve left. Portions are huge, the noodles are springy, and the chashu pork is meltingly tender. The Karaka TanTan Tonkotsu is the one to order: a heady, umami-packed and deliciously textured upgrade on the classic featuring minced pork, kikurage mushrooms, and a generous splash of chilli oil. While the ramen is the main event, the sides more than hold their own. The hirata buns arrive steaming, their pillowy exteriors concealing crisp, yielding treasures (the pumpkin croquette outshines the char siu pork). The wasabi yuzu dressing on the wakame and green leaf salad is a sharp, clean, citrusy delight. The atmosphere is warm and buzzy, and the service is fast and friendly – the kind that makes you feel taken care of without any hovering. Shoryu is not about reinvention. It is about repetition (with several outposts across the city, they’ve mastered consistency) – the reassuring, soothing, good kind. Until that ticket to Japan is booked, this is where to go. Preshita Saha
Address: Multiple locations in central London
Website: shoryuramen.com
3. Tenmaru
Dish to Order: Tan Tan Men
Illuminated signage and a huge Japanese lantern make Finsbury Park’s best ramen spot easy to locate along a quiet road behind the station. It’s a casual dining space with unfussy interiors. Diners are here to enjoy the intense flavours and leave with full bellies, rather than settling in for a long evening meal. Broths are stewed in the kitchen for four hours to create a thick, rich base for the noodle soups, the most popular broth being the chicken, followed by the pork. Authentic flavours remind me of a previous trip to Japan. Start with a bunch of sharing starters – we loved the kimchi pancake, the crunchy cabbage coated in a sweet vinaigrette and the fried pork gyoza. Bowls are huge, and the minced pork topped with pak choi, bamboo shoots, fresh spring onions, and a runny boiled egg was our favourite. Finish with a trio of mochi for dessert. Plus, unique to other ramen spots in the city, Tenmaru caters to vegan customers. Its funky flavours include lemon and basil ramen with a broth made using cashews. If you don’t find yourself venturing North, there’s also a more central second branch in Oxford Circus or order for delivery. Sophie Knight
Address: 8 Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP
Website: tenmaru.co.uk