The Best Ramen in Japan - 2019

It's time for my annual best-of list, where I look back over the year at my favorite bowls. Thirteen shops made the non-Tokyo lists this time. My non-ramen job takes me far and wide around Japan and gives me the opportunity to really try some excellent shops.

Head over to

Best of Ramen

for the details and maps. For reference, here are the shops.

中華蕎麦うゑず (Uwezu in Yamanashi Prefecture)



生姜ラーメン みづの (Mizuno in Asahikawa, Hokkaido)



海老麺総本家 地元家 (Jimotoya in Hakodate, Hokkaido)



大阪麺哲 (Mentetsu in Osaka)



人類みな麺類 (Jinrui in Osaka)



製麺処 蔵木 (Kuraki in Kochi, Kochi Prefecture)



橋本食堂 (Hashimoto in Susaki, Kochi Prefecture)



ラーメンエアーストリーム (Ramen Airstream in Toyama)



麺屋鶏冠 (Tosaka in Oita Prefecture)



Sakanoue Unique in Kagoshima



ハンディクラフトワークス (Handicraft Works in Yashio, Saitama)



らぁ麺 とうひち (Touhichi in Kyoto)



天理スタミナラーメン (Tenri Stamina Ramen in Nara)



猪骨ラーメン (Shishikotsu Wild Boar Ramen in Ehime)

欽山 (Kinzan in Takamatsu, Kagawa)

Le Sel Organic Ramen in Kyoto

さんわ (Sanwa in Ehime)

自家製麺うろた (Urota Homamade Noodles in Fukushima)

つけ麺 繁田 (Shigeta in Kobe, Hyogo)