In the mood for noods? Here is a list of Brisbane’s best ramen spots

Taro’s Ramen, various locations: One of the longest-running Brisbane ramen institutions, Taro’s is a must-try for those seeking some of the best ramen in Brisbane. Taro boasts four locations in Brisbane – one inside the 480 Queen Street building, one in South Brisbane, a spot in Stones Corner and one on Racecourse Road in Ascot. Taro’s popular ramen (every single component of which  is made from scratch) often features high-quality ingredients, such as succulent Bangalow sweetpork, organic free-range eggs and Australian durum wheat. Special mention must also be made of Taro’s Ramen’s Underwood offshoot, Lambkotsu Ramen, which specialises in halal lamb-based ramen broth.

Ramen Danbo, various locations: Us Brisbane ramen fiends breathed a sweet sigh of FOMO-induced relief when beloved Japanese ramen chain Ramen Danbo finally opened its doors in our city. Following the raging success of its Gold Coast siblings, Ramen Danbo’s four Brisbane locales (Brisbane City, Sunnybank and two in South Brisbane, one of which is an experimental outlet) dish out mouth-watering broths in a number of pitch-perfect varieties. In addition to the signature tonkotsu pork broth, one can select a negi-goma ramen with sliced spring onions and toasted sesame, miso tonkotsu, and a vegetarian soup that is made using a miso and konbu blend.

Beppin Ramen & Cake, Brisbane City: Highly regarded by broth-and-noodle aficionados as one of the best bowl slingers in town, Beppin should be one of the first spots you check out on your ramen hunt. The menu boasts a jaw-dropping selection, including standard creamy tonkotsu and black-garlic tonkotsu varieties, as well as tongue-tingling hot chilli ramen and a spicy mabo tofu ramen. If you’re not a fan of pork, don’t stress – Beppin also serves clear-broth slow-cooked chicken ramen.

Genkotsu Ramen, Toowong: If you live in Runcorn or Toowong then you are one of the lucky few to boast a Genkotsu in your suburb. The chefs at Genkotsu use traditional recipes and methods when creating their bowls – broth is boiled for more than 12 hours and the flavoured boiled eggs are marinated overnight. Choose a salt, soy or fish broth or go all out and add soft-shell crab or prawn.

Hai Hai Ramen, Paddington and West End: A heavy-hitter in the Brisbane ramen scene, Hai Hai Ramen quickly established itself as one of the most creative joints when it comes to bowls of noodle soup. The concise menu features three kinds of ramen boasting two types of broth – soy or salt-based. A must-try is the vegetarian ramen with kelp and shiitaki broth, tofu and greens – even carnivores will be greedily sipping every drop.

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Ramen Tensho, Runcorn: Inspired by the traditional cosy ramen shops of Japan, Ramen Tensho looks to give diners an authentic ramen-eating experience. Operated by a chef with more than 25 years of industry experience, Ramen Tensho’s menu is flush with classic options, with its core range boasting shio-, shoyu-, miso- and gyokai- (fish) based broths, as well as a clutch of signatures. Pop in for ramen with grilled eel, chicken katsu, miso butter and soft-shell crab, but we recommend the black-garlic ramen – a Ramen Tensho specialty.

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Ramen Champion, Sunnybank: Those looking for a seriously big bowl of ramen should know that there is one place in town that caters to humungous appetites. This Sunnybank spot offers Brisbane’s only giant ramen challenge – an impossibly large bowl of broth, noodles, meat and egg that only ten percent of eaters finish. If you are only after a regular bowl, Ramen Champion serves up plenty of those as well with the pork bone soup ramen with black sauce and flame-grilled chicken ramen being certified standouts.

Ramen Kann, Woolloongabba: Another paitan ramen specialist, Ramen Kann on Annerley Road is a cult-fave among ramen purists. The original ramen, made with chicken bone-broth soup, green onion, bean sprouts and slices of char siu pork, hits the spot. With spicy and deluxe versions also available alongside sides, you’ve got plenty of reasons to pencil in a visit.

Lulu Ramen, Paddington: Nestled in Rosalie Village, Lulu Ramen is a bright and welcoming ramen restaurant that specialises in chicken-based broth. The passion project of two long-time hospitality professionals, the recipes here have been long honed in home kitchens until the perfect balance and depth of flavour was reached. Of the chicken-based selections, two are made using chintan broth –a clear soup lovingly crafted over a 12-hour process – and two featuring a paitan-style broth, which is a creamier white broth. There is also two vegan options and one dry variety served with succulent duck breast.

Supernormal, Brisbane City: Its not often you see ramen getting the fine-dining treatment. Supernormal’s chefs have put their signature detail-oriented spin on the hearty noodle soup, creating a special bone broth over an elaborate, two-day process. The slowly simmered double chicken stock is infused with dried shiitake, kombu and white miso before being poured over noodles and topped with grilled chicken, prawn and chicken dumplings, and a soy-marinated egg. Though originally a limited-edition lunch menu addition, we hear word that Supernormal’s ramen might be sticking around for a while. The dish is available for lunch every weekday from 11:30 am until sold out.

Neon Ramen, Everton Park: If you’re looking for a soup spot with a twist, then Neon Ramen is one worth a try. Not only does this ramen joint boast a vivid anime and cyberpunk interior aesthetic (complete with neon lights and cherry blossoms), but the entire menu is plant based. Diners are free to make their own ramen bowls, picking their own broth (miso, shiitake and tan tan), noodles (white, yellow or gluten-free noodles) and protein (salt and pepper tofu, alternative char sui pork, alternative katsu chicken or alternative smoked duck). Then, go hard on toppings like braised mushrooms, edamame, shredded seaweed, kimchi and marinated bamboo shoots.

Men Ya Go, Brisbane City and Fortitude Valley: City slickers flock to all of Men Ya Go’s inner-city locations (two in The City and one tucked inside The Valley Metro) at lunch for its ramen. You can’t beat the classics, and Men Ya Go’s shoyu tonkotsu is as tasty as it gets. Adventurous types can sample chicken shio and spicy minced chicken ramen. The best thing about Men Ya Go? Extra kaedama (noodles) are free.

Hakataya Ramen, various locations: Sunnybank Market Square, Westfield Garden City, Queen Street Mall, the Myer Centre and Indooroopilly Shopping Centre are large hubs of retail activity. If shopping makes you hungry (or if you need to rest your feet for a spell), Hakataya Ramen is on hand to replenish fuel reserves with its selection of tasty ramen. Try the Japanese spicy pork noodle soup with a side of gyoza – it’ll get you energised for more window shopping in no time.

Pompoko Ramen, Coorparoo: After building a cult following in the Byron Bay hinterland with his pop-up concept Gentlemen Noodle, former ramen restaurateur Koji Numata has opened Pompoko Ramen in Coorparoo, bringing his distinctive fish-based ramen to Brisbane. Inspired by the seafood-rich ramen styles of northern Japan, Koji’s signature bowls feature a deeply umami broth made over 36 hours using dried fish, kombu, shiitake mushrooms and vegetables, offering a point of difference from the pork- and chicken-based broths more commonly found in Australia. Guests can choose from shoyu, miso, spicy miso and yuzu shio variations, alongside a vegetarian option and a lighter chicken-chintan ramen available at dinner.

Ramen Works, West End: They say good things come in small packages, we’ve found this is especially true where ramen joints are concerned. Although it’s on the cosy side, this joint serves a pretty stacked menu featuring ramen (of course), sides and booze. When visiting for the first time, we suggest going for the Works Ramen – a loaded bowl boasting pork bone-broth soup, pork char siu, chicken karaage, wood ear mushroom, flavoured egg and bean sprouts. Other slurp-worthy picks include spicy miso leek ramen, classic tonkotsu ramen and the vegetable ramen with deep-fried eggplant.

Ikkairo Ramen, Underwood: If you’re looking to slurp up a more experimental broth, Underwood’s Ikkairo Ramen has a tasty variation you need to try. Taking inspiration from French bisques, Ikkairo dishes up an inventive prawn-based broth, mixing milky tonkotsu with tiger prawns, chashu pork and hand-made noodles.

Gung Ho! Dumpling Ramen Bar, Fortitude Valley: Situated in the heart of The Valley’s nightlife precinct, Gung Ho is a great spot to fill up before painting the town red. The specialty here is the tri-garlic ramen, which boasts a ten-hour-simmered broth infused with black-garlic oil, golden-fried garlic and more garlic, as well as chashu pork, free-range egg, bamboo shoots, black fungi, shallots and seaweed. Other highlights include the miso tonkotsu ramen, red ton ramen and chicken katsu ramen.

Honourable mentions: We’ve also heard many good things about Motto Motto’s ramen options, Fortitude Valley’s Wagaya and Tatsu Ramen & Gyoza Bar, Ramen Ye in Jamboree Heights, as well as Okuman Karaage & Ramen Bar in South Brisbane.