6 of the Best Places to Cosy up with a Steaming Bowl of Ramen this Winter in Melbourne

Seriously, a steaming hot bowl of ramen chases those winter blues from the inside out, and makes you think maybe, just maybe you can make it to the other side of winter intact.

Where to go? Why, we're so glad you asked.

1. Dojo Ramen Bar

Look, if you can get past the deep fried cheesy spring rolls on the menu (actually don't get past them, order them!), there is a bowl of ramen for every single need here at Dojo, with quirky cartoon, videogame, manga kitsch over every available surface to really get you in the vibe.

Vegans are super-well catered for, with some of the best veg-friendly ramen to be seen outside of Japan. Four options include spicy, miso, shoyu and the nut-milky veggie original, thick with noodles, secret veggie stock, exceptional tare and a shallot/nori mix.

Traditional ramen will see you slurping down bowls of chilli miso, shoyu, shio, and sesame paste chilli bean tare ramen chock full of dojo broth, ajitama egg and big chunks of pork.

What you need to know

• Where: 33 High St Northcote
• Opening Hours: Tues - Fri 5 - 9pm, weekends 12 - 9pm, Monday closed
• To book: Phone (03) 9482-1247 or email dojoramen@gmail.com
• For more info: Head to the website

2. Misoya Sake Bar

Another place with fantastic vegan options as well as meatier mains, Misoya is an excellent choice if you're in or around Brunswick to get an authentic bowl of ramen.

Choose from Misoya Special Ramen with slow-cooked pork belly in a chicken-based soup, topped with cabbage, bean shoots and tomato; Vege Miso Ramen with egg noodles, corn, tomato and green beans (hot tip: get the butter and an egg on top), the vegan option is Vege Miso with rice noodles, and for our gluten free friends, you can get rice noodles in any ramen, or the gluten-free Shio Ramen, which comes with chicken soup seasoned with fish and kelp salt.

The menu is quite extensive, and runs from agedashi tofu (for three bucks!) and tori karaage to yakisoba, curry don, and gyoza.

What you need to know

• Where: 165A Sydney Rd, Brunswick
• Opening Hours: Tues - Fri 11.30am - 3pm, and 5 - 10pm, weekends 11.30am - 10pm
• To book: Phone (03) 8589 3685
• For more info: Head to the website

3. Little Ramen Bar

And when we say "little", we mean little! A tiny spot not unlike traditional ramen bars up and down Japan, this wee space packs a big flavour punch. You absolutely cannot go wrong here, with one of the most extensive ramen menus you can get. 

Check it out:

• Garlic shio ramen: Garlic infused rich pork soup with a Shio base, mildly spiced and topped with 3 pieces of marinated BBQ pork and a traditional seasoned egg.
• Vegetarian ramen: Miso, spices and a dash of rice wine form the base of our Vegetarian Ramen. Topped with beansprouts, seaweed, bamboo shoots, spring onions, & a traditional seasoned egg
• Abu ramen: A flavourful savoury soup-less ramen comes with spring onions, seaweed, bamboo shoots, three slices of marinated BBQ pork & a traditional seasoned egg
• Shio ramen: This lighter slightly salty clear chicken broth comes topped with beansprouts, seaweed, bamboo shoots, spring onions & a slice of BBQ pork.
• Shoyu ramen: Special Tokyo style soy and clear chicken broth served with beansprouts, seaweed, bamboo shoots, spring onions, BBQ pork and a happy fish cake slice.

What you need to know

• Where: 346 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
• Opening Hours: Mon - Sat: 11.30am - 3pm and 5.30pm - 9.30pm, closed Sunday
• To book: Phone (03) 9670 5558
• For more info: Head to the website

4. Hakata Gensuke

You're sure to get the perfect bowl of ramen for all your winter ramen needs at any of the Hakata locations - Russell St, Hawthorn, Doncaster or the QV - which specialise in traditional tonkotsu ramen.

Straight out of Fukuoka where Tonkotsu (pork bone base) ramen was first invented in Japan, you really can't go past the Signature Tonkotsu Ramen, featuring home-made thin noodles (created with care in a temperature-controlled room) with tender pork cha-shu, black fungus and spring onions. Of course, there's Black Tonkotsu, the mega-hot "God Fire", and shio versions also.

What you need to know

• Where: Russell St, Hawthorn, Doncaster and the QV 
• Opening Hours: Check your closest location's opening hours here.
• To book: Phone (03) 9482-1247 or email dojoramen@gmail.com
• For more info: Head to the website

5. Po's Kitchen

Not only some of the best ramen at Po's Kitchen in Barkly Square, but some of the best bento getting around! Some of the best Japanese food in general, really. It's such a Melbourne standout.

The menu sounds simple but the flavours are absolutely not - choose from teriyaki beef ramen, teriyaki chicken, seafood, or chicken dumpling ramen and watch the world go by.

What you need to know

• Where: Barkly Square Shopping Centre, 90 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
• Opening Hours: 10.30am - 8pm daily

6. Shujinko

Let's just preface this by saying Shujinko is open 24 hours, so if you're ever in need of a ramen at 2am, they've got ya covered.

Choose from the signature Shujinko ramen filled with spring onion, bok choy, bean sprouts, marinated egg and grilled pork belly in a tonkotsu (pork) broth, Black Ramen with spicy sauce, Tsukemen (where the broth and noodles are served separately), Karakuchi Ramen, the seafood-filled Yaki Ramen, Hiyashi Tantanmen (a peanut and sesame-based soup served cold), Salad Ramen, or Vegetable Ramen, complete with veggies and mushroom in a soy-based soup. Yum!

What you need to know

• Where: 225 Russell St, Melbourne
• Opening Hours: 24 hours
• To book: No reservations available, and in busy times you may have to wait a few minutes for a table.
• For more info: Head to the website

Main image credit: Dojo Ramen Bar