While Saigon’s got no shortage of noodles and street food eateries to keep your belly full, sometimes all you want is a taste of another cuisine. When you’re craving something else, there’s often no better answer than a nice bowl of that Japanese classic, ramen. From staples like shio (salt) and shōyu (soy sauce) based broths, all the way to lesser-known flavours that are sure to have your taste buds singing, here’s a list of some of Saigon’s best ramen joints.
These locations come from recommendations from people who live in Ho Chi Minh City that we've recently profiled.
📍 Open the Ramen map on District 0 Discover to see all locations and save them to your passport!
Aoya Ramen: A Hip Roadside Stall Serving Shio & Shōyu (soy sauce and salt) Ramen
Recommended by Shōzō & Tatsuo, Oanh, Tomoki, and District 0
About Aoya Ramen: A sidewalk stall serving up some of the tastiest shio (salt) and shōyu (soy sauce) based ramen, Aoya is a must-visit for anyone looking for a uniquely Vietnamese ramen experience. Run by husband and wife duo Hai and Vy, Aoya is beloved in the community as much for its tasty food as it is for its stylish setting. Expect Nujabes to be playing on the speakers while you slurp away at your bowl—If you’re still hungry after one, try out some of their yakitori (meats on a skewer), grilled right by the bubbling pots of ramen!
Price: 130k for a bowl of shio or shōyu
Address: 30 Ngô Thời Nhiệm, Xuân Hòa
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Watch their videos: Shōzō & Tatsuo pt. 1, Shōzō & Tatsuo pt. 2, Oanh pt. 1, Oanh pt. 2, Tomoki
Ittou Ramen: Delectable Gyokai (seafood) Ramen on Lê Thánh Tôn
Recommended by Shuntaro
About Ittou Ramen: As Shuntaro aptly put it, “If you’re hungover, go to Ittou”. There’s a reason behind these words. Known for its thick, creamy gyokai (seafood) based broth, a bowl of Ittou ramen is the perfect cure to a night of heavy drinking and debauchery. If you want to try something new, go for their tsukemen (dipping noodles). Otherwise, they’ve got a curry ramen and aburasoba (a mixing noodle without soup).
Price: 200k for a special gyokai ramen, 200k for a special tsukemen
Address: 8/8 Lê Thánh Tôn
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Watch their videos: Shuntaro pt.1, Shuntaro pt. 2, Shuntaro pt. 3
🗺️Want more info about each location? Find and save them to your passport on the District 0 Discover!
Kairyu Yatai: Hakata-Tonkotsu style (pork based broth from Hakata) Streetside Ramen near Phạm Viết Chánh
Recommended by Pranaay
About Kairyu Yatai: Another streetside ramen stall, Kairyu is located outside of the Phạm Viết Chánh neighbourhood, making it the perfect last-stop after a night out with friends. They serve tonkotsu (pork based broth) ramen in the Hakata-style (a region in Fukuoka prefecture known for its distinct food culture). The creamy broth and thin, bouncy noodles are a match made in heaven, and if you’re still hungry, try ordering some of their yakitori!
Price: 60k for a Hakata ramen, yakitori from 15k
Address: 19Z Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, Thạnh Mỹ Tây
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Watch their video: Pranaay
Miso Chikura: Spicy & Creamy Miso (fermented soybean paste) Ramen in The Heart of Japan Town
Recommended by Shuntaro
About Miso Chikura: Specialising in miso ramen (fermented soybean paste), Miso Chikura is your one-stop-shop for enjoying this beloved style of Japanese ramen. The store recommends its spicy scallion miso ramen or aburasoba. Having said that, a personal favourite is their Chinese-inspired tan-tan miso ramen, which is a perfect blend of spice and creaminess. They’ve even got classic izakaya fare (Japanese style pub) like gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) and karaage (Japanese style fried chicken) to get you primed before a night out in Japan Town.
Price: 180k for a medium spicy scallion miso ramen, 210k for a medium tan-tan miso ramen
Addresses: Hẻm 8 Lê Thánh Tôn, Sài Gòn
📍 View and save on District 0 Discover
Watch their videos: Shuntaro pt.1, Shuntaro pt. 2, Shuntaro pt. 3
🥂Looking for the best hidden bars in the city? Check out this list of Saigon’s best hidden bars!
Yukichi Ramen: Delightful & Hearty Yokohama Iekei (Yokohama region's 'house' style) Ramen in the Heart of Japan Town
Recommended by Chico
About Yukichi Ramen: Known for its Yokohama iekei ramen (Yokohama region’s ‘house’-style ramen), Yukichi offers customers a broth that’s a mix of tonkotsu and shōyu, along with thicker noodles for that perfect bite. Toppings include your standard chāshū (braised pork), soft-boiled egg, nori (seaweed), and naruto (fish cake). If you want to eat it the traditional way, order a bowl of rice as well and dunk it into the bowl at the end to soak up all that rich, fatty soup. Looking for a place to relax afterwards? Head on upstairs to one of Saigon's best hidden bars, Bar Commune, and say hello to Tomoki!
Price: Yokohama iekei ramen from 140k, fried rice from 50k
Address: 8A/2B1 Thái Văn Lung
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Watch their video: Chico
Gifu Ramen Aki: Pure, Polished Chūka Soba (shōyu ramen with Chinese-style noodles) Along Lê Thánh Tôn
Recommended by Shuntaro
About Gifu Ramen Aki: The best restaurants are usually those that focus on as few dishes as possible in order to make them as best they can. Gifu Ramen Aki is one such believer in this philosophy. Focusing on Chūka soba, which is essentially a classic shōyu ramen with roots in Chinese-style noodles, their bowls are simple yet refined and stand out for the delicate yet deep soy-sauce based soup. After you’ve had a bowl, why not take a short walk over to Enigma Mansion for some of the best cocktails in town?
Price: 120k for a small Chūka soba
Address: Tầng trệt, 11 Lê Thánh Tôn
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Watch their videos: Shuntaro pt.1, Shuntaro pt. 2, Shuntaro pt. 3
Want to get to know the people who recommended these locations? Check out our Instagram for more!
FUME: Monthly Ramen Weekends in Saigon’s Premier Japanese Fine Dining Restaurant
Recommended by Tomoki
About FUME: While more of a high-end Japanese restaurant, FUME has begun to host monthly ramen weekends. Led by chefs Shōzō & Tatsuo the idea here is to elevate the Japanese classic to new heights by using fine-dining tastes and techniques. One example of this has been their kamo shōyu (duck soy-sauce) ramen. Featuring a broth made from a blend of a Kyūshū-style soy sauce and a local duck that’d been slow-cooked for ten hours, the result was a bowl that belongs in a class of its own.
Price: From 780k for the kamo shōyu ramen course (*prices vary depending on monthly ramen)
Address: 74/7 Hai Bà Trưng, Sài Gòn
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Watch their video: Tomoki
Tori Soba Mutahiro: Underrated Tori (chicken) & Kani Soba (crab noodles) in a Japan Town Backalley
Recommended by Shuntaro and Phúc Mập
About Tori Soba Mutahiro: For a bowl of ramen that you likely never had a chance to try before, Mutahiro’s kani soba (crab noodle) is a dish like no other. Limited to fifteen servings per day, the bowl is made from a broth that blends local crab stock with chicken stock to create a thick, silky, and immensely flavourful soup. If you missed out on one of their servings, don’t worry, their tori soba (chicken noodles) are also legendary!
Price: 180k for a kani soba
Address: 8a/g7 Thái Văn Lung, Sài Gòn
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Watch their videos: Shuntaro pt.1, Shuntaro pt. 2, Shuntaro pt. 3, Phúc Mập pt. 1, Phúc Mập pt. 2
Ramen Ippudo: A Japanese Ramen Institution Known For Hakata style (region in Fukuoka) Bowls
Recommended by Son Lam
About Ramen Ippudo: Ippudo is as synonymous to ramen in Japan as Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa is to bánh mì in Saigon. Hailing from Japan’s ramen capital of Hakata, Ippudo has been in operation since 1985 and is now open in more than 135+ stores in Japan and 80+ worldwide. Known for their Hakata-style ramen, try their Akamaru bowl, a modern take on the dish based on an original tonkotsu broth enhanced with a blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil. Try out on of their many appetizers for an even more complete experience of Japanese cuisine!
Price: 134k for an Akamaru regular, appetizers from 69k
Address: 17/5 Lê Thánh Tôn, Sài Gòn
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Watch their videos: Son Lam pt. 1, Son Lam pt. 2
