I just love Japanese ramen!! Here are 8 popular ramen spots in Taipei’s East District you should check out

Reporter Huang Shiyuan / Special Report

Remember the ramen craze that swept Taiwan when Ippudo and Yamagataken Ramen opened here? The hype died down for a while, but at the end of 2014, another wave of Japanese ramen brands landed in Taiwan—Sapporo Enjin Ramen, Setagaya Ramen, and Onikinbou Ramen all started opening shops. Among them, Sapporo Enjin Ramen and Setagaya Ramen set up shop in the East District. Add to that the already established Nagi Tonkotsu King, Menya Musashi, Tonchin Ramen, Yamagataken Ramen, and Ippudo, and the East District has practically become the ultimate battleground for ramen.

Sapporo Enjin Ramen
Sapporo Enjin Ramen, which has risen to prominence in Japan in recent years, owes its place in Sapporo’s competitive ramen scene not only to its commitment to using local ingredients but also to its unique and eye-catching flame-grilling cooking method. The ramen is cooked with a 1300-degree high-temperature torch, which instantly blends the fat and broth, resulting in a rich and aromatic flavor that’s the brand’s biggest selling point.


▲ The ramen is cooked with a 1300-degree high-temperature torch. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Address: No. 49, Lane 280, Guangfu South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Business hours: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Phone: 02-2775-2783
Note: 10% service charge applies

Setagaya Ramen
The only Japanese ramen shop in Japan to have won the “Best Of New York” award, Setagaya Ramen’s Taipei Zhongxiao store officially opened on the 24th. While the signature Setagaya ramen is said to have a double soup base, James, the deputy manager of the Taipei Setagaya branch, says the broth is actually made from a combination of fish stock, pork bone, and soy sauce. Moreover, the pork slices are grilled again with an imported Japanese machine just before serving. James added that although all ingredients are sourced locally in Taiwan, the Japanese head office maintains strict standards for taste, so all seasonings are imported from Japan.


Signature Setagaya ramen. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Address: No. 15, Lane 27, Alley 216, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27311958
Business hours: Weekdays 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM; 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Weekends 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM.

Tokyo Takadanobaba Takatora Ramen
Takatora Ramen started as a street food stall (yatai) in Tokyo’s Ikubo area in Shinjuku before opening a physical store. Its menu focuses mainly on shio (salt) ramen, with the standout being the “Beauty Skin Ramen” that has captured the hearts of Japanese women. This ramen is made with Hokkaido flour and Takatora’s unique noodle-making technique, incorporating natural grains to create a healthy and reassuring dish. As for the broth, it is prepared differently according to the season using free-range chicken, pork bones, and fresh vegetables, with each batch taking two days to make.


Tokyo Takadanobaba Takatora Ramen. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Address: No. 14, Lane 27, Alley 216, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27781177
Business hours: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM (irregular holidays)

Menya Musashi - Tiger Roar
Since its establishment in 1996, Menya Musashi has embodied a strong samurai aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the two-sword style of the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi to create the first W Soup (double broth) ramen in the industry. Each of the 11 Menya Musashi locations in Tokyo has its own distinct character and style, but every branch adheres strictly to three core principles: “Adaptability,” “Execution,” and “Creativity.” These guide the brand as it constantly challenges traditional Japanese ramen concepts and develops seasonal specials.


▲Menya Musashi Tiger Roar. (Photo / Provided by Menya Musashi Tiger Roar)

Address: No. 4, Lane 11, Alley 216, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-8771-9222
Business hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Nagi Tonkotsu King Zhongxiao Store
Tonkotsu ramen "Qbbitagi (Tonkotsu King)" already has 7 directly operated stores in Tokyo and 5 branches in Taiwan. Its biggest feature is launching a limited-edition ramen every week, and even evolved into a "One Ramen Per Day" concept at its Shibuya store from June 2006 to March 2009, creating a thousand different ramen flavors. In Taiwan, customers can customize their favorite flavors, which caused a craze online. In addition to the Four Heavenly Kings flavors, there's also a daily limited "King of Limited Editions."


▲ One of the Four Heavenly Kings of Tonkotsu King — Black King Ramen. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Address: 1F, No. 5, Lane 75, Section 1, Da’an Rd., Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2778-1899
Business Hours: Sun–Thu 11:30–22:30 (last order 22:00) / Fri–Sat 11:30–23:00 (last order 22:30)

Tonchin Ramen
Tonchin Ramen is a ramen brand from Tokyo, Japan. It expanded its business to Taiwan in 2011. Its noodles are handmade medium-thick curly noodles. The broth is based on pork bones and flavored with soy sauce. Service is a key highlight for Tonchin Ramen, so many customers are quite satisfied with the service quality. This location is in the Dongcheng area.

▲ Tonchin Ramen. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Address: No. 36, Lane 187, Section 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Taipei City
Phone: 02-2731-7897
Business Hours: 11:00–23:00

Yamato no Hikari SOGO Fuxing Branch
When talking about Yamato no Hikari Ramen, many people mispronounce it as “Volcano Head” or “Fire Head Mountain.” Established in 1988 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan, Yamato no Hikari entered Taiwan in 2012. It now has over 51 branches across Japan and globally. Its signature is a rich, milky-white broth made from simmering pork bones, vegetables, and dried fish. Yamato no Hikari has two branches in Taipei, one of which is located in B2 of SOGO Fuxing in the Dongcheng area.

Address: B2, 300, Section 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2731-7533
Service Hours: 11:00–21:30

Ippudo Dunhua Branch
Ippudo was founded in 1985 and originated in Hakata. When Ippudo entered Taiwan, it caused a long queueing craze. While online reviews about the service are positive, opinions are divided on the side dishes and flavor, especially regarding the specially made red-oil-sesame-chashu that is free in Japan but charged for in Taiwan. There are now 8 branches in Taiwan, with the Dongcheng branch located at 165, Section 1, Dunhua S. Rd.


▲ Ippudo Dunhua Branch. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Address: 1F, No. 165, Section 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Da’an District, Taipei City (near Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT Station)
Phone: 02-2772-9222
Business Hours: Weekdays 11:30–22:00; Holidays 11:30–23:00