The 10 Most-Recommended Ramen Shops in Singapore
Tonkotsu, shoyu, mazesoba — ranked by how many published lists name each shop.
Counted from 3 published lists as of 2026-09-06. 36 ramen shops were named in total.
In short: Across 3 independently published Singapore lists of the best ramen shops, Nantsuttei is named most often — on 3 of them. Ippudo (2) and Bari-Uma (2) follow.
We read 3 independently published Singapore food lists for ramen shops, took only the venue names, and counted how many named each one. Venues on the same count are tied — shown with a verified NEA licence first, then alphabetically. We have not eaten at these places, we take no payment for placement, and we reproduce none of the sources’ writing. Every list we counted is linked at the foot of this page.
Nantsuttei
NEA ANamed on 3 of the 3 published lists we counted. Licensed in Orchard (2 licensed outlets).
Ippudo
NEA ANamed on 2 of the 3 published lists we counted. Licensed in Changi (6 licensed outlets).
Outlets across Changi, Downtown Core, Jurong East, Orchard, Singapore River.
| # | Venue | Lists | NEA grade | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen | 2 | — | — |
| 7 | Mensho Tokyo | 2 | — | — |
| 8 | MENSHO X | 2 | — | — |
| 9 | Ramen Keisuke (various concepts) | 2 | — | — |
| 10 | Tonkotsu Kazan Volcano Ramen | 2 | — | — |
About ramen shops in Singapore
Singapore has an unusually deep ramen scene for a city this size, largely because Japanese chains chose it as their first stop outside Japan and independent shops followed. The result is a market where a tiny ten-seater running a single clear shoyu broth sits a few streets from a chain with outlets in six countries, and both have genuine partisans.
Tonkotsu still dominates the lists, which reflects Singapore's taste rather than Japan's full range. The clear-broth shops — shio, shoyu, and the dry mazesoba that has quietly grown a following here — are consistently the ones that reward seeking out.
What to look for
- Broth first, before the noodles or the chashu. A tonkotsu that coats the spoon has been boiled for many hours; a thin one has not.
- Ask for firm noodles if you are eating slowly — most shops cook to order and will adjust.
- A small menu is a good sign. Shops that do one broth properly usually do it very well.
Why we count instead of ranking
Every food list is one person’s palate on one visit. That is not a flaw — it is what makes food writing worth reading — but it does mean a single list tells you more about the writer than about the field. Counting across 3 of them cancels out individual preference and leaves the venues that different people, eating on different days, arrived at independently.
It is a deliberately narrow claim. This page does not tell you which ramen shop is best; it tells you which ones Singapore’s food press keeps returning to, and exactly how many times. Where the count is close, the honest answer is that the field is close — and we would rather show you that than manufacture a ranking to hide it.
Of the 10 venues here, 2 matched a current NEA licence, concentrated in Changi and Orchard. This site scores every HDB block in Singapore 0–100 for food access — how close hawker centres and licensed eateries actually are on foot — so you can see what living beside this food is worth.
What are the best ramen shops in Singapore?
Across 3 independently published Singapore lists of the best ramen shops, Nantsuttei is named most often — on 3 of them. Ippudo (2) and Bari-Uma (2) follow.
How is this ramen shops ranking put together?
We read 3 independently published Singapore food lists, took only the venue names, and counted how many of them named each venue. 36 distinct venues were named in total; the 10 shown here appeared on at least 2. We do not taste, rank or accept payment for placement, and no source's writing is reproduced — every list we counted is linked below.
Are these ramen shops verified as real businesses?
Each venue is cross-checked against NEA's licensed-premises register. 2 of 10 matched a current licence, 2 of them holding a grade A hygiene rating. The rest are shown without a grade — the register lists the licence holder's registered company name, which often differs from the shopfront brand, so no match is not evidence of a problem.
What is mazesoba?
Brothless ramen — thick noodles tossed with a concentrated tare, minced pork, egg yolk, chives and nori, mixed vigorously at the table. It originated in Nagoya and has become one of the more interesting corners of Singapore's ramen scene.
- 20 Best Ramen In Singapore You Must Try | Eatbook.sg — eatbook.sg
- Best Ramen Restaurants In Singapore | URBAN LIST SINGAPORE — www.theurbanlist.com
- Japan Travel, Food & Lifestyle Guide in Singapore — www.nani.sg
We counted venue names from these lists and linked back to every one. Their words, photographs, ratings and ordering are their own and are not reproduced here. Hygiene grades and licensed addresses come from NEA’s licensed-premises register via data.gov.sg. Contains information from data.gov.sg and OneMap, Singapore Land Authority.