The Atlas · Ramen, Sushi & Rice

Japanese Noodles & Pasta

128 of Japan's 403 ranked dishes fall in this department, 31.8% of the whole cuisine, and its heart is Ramen, the noodle bowl that conquered the world, Nº 81 worldwide.

128 dishes ranked·31.8% of the cuisine·6,166 diner ratings·Top rank Nº 81

Japan's entry in this department is a story of two obsessions: the noodle and the grain of rice. 128 ranked dishes fall here, 31.8% of the entire cuisine, and they split between the ramen bowls, in every regional broth, and the vinegared-rice world of sushi and nigiri that the ledger files as rice dishes.

The best-rated is ramen at Nº 81, ahead of its own variations: shoyu, tonkotsu and miso, each a city's signature. Sushi is the most-reviewed of all, the export that needs no translation. Tokyo has the deepest regional bench, though most dishes here are logged simply as Japanese. Read them below: the signature bowls, by region, or the complete list of all 128.

The Signature Bowls

Twelve signature bowls in rank order, four told in full, then eight more from the counter.

Ramen, noodle dish from Japan
Plate INoodle Dish · Japan

1Nº 81 worldwide

Ramen

Noodle Dish · Japan

The noodle soup that took over Japan and then the world, curly wheat noodles in a broth that ranges from clear to thick and fatty, topped with pork, egg, and scallion. It arrived from China around 1910 and grew into a national obsession with endless regional schools.

★ 4.4|756 ratings

Shoyu ramen, noodle dish from Japan

2Shoyu ramenNº 84

Noodle Dish · Tokyo

The soy-sauce style of ramen, and the Tokyo classic: a clear, brown, savory broth seasoned with shoyu, with springy noodles, chashu pork, bamboo, and a soft egg. The oldest of the four main ramen schools, it is the balanced, unshowy benchmark.

★ 4.4|202 ratings

Maguro nigiri sushi, rice dish from Japan

3Maguro nigiri sushiNº 90

Rice Dish · Japan

Nigiri sushi at its most classic, a hand-pressed pillow of vinegared rice topped with a slice of maguro, lean bluefin tuna, and a dab of wasabi. Simple and exact, it is the piece a sushi chef is judged by, meant to be eaten in a single bite.

★ 4.4|82 ratings

Tonkotsu ramen, noodle dish from Japan

4Tonkotsu ramenNº 138

Noodle Dish · Fukuoka

The rich style from Kyushu, a ramen built on tonkotsu, pork bones boiled hard for hours until the broth turns milky, thick, and deeply porky. Served with thin, firm noodles, melting chashu, and a jammy egg, it is the most indulgent of the ramen family.

★ 4.4|271 ratings

  1. Otoro nigiri sushi, rice dish from Japan5

    Otoro nigiri sushi

    Nº 152

    Rice Dish · Japan★ 4.4

  2. Miso ramen, noodle dish from Japan6

    Miso ramen

    Nº 200

    Noodle Dish · Sapporo★ 4.3

  3. Maki, rice dish from Japan7

    Maki

    Nº 212

    Rice Dish · Japan★ 4.3

  4. Tsukemen, noodle dish from Japan8

    Tsukemen

    Nº 297

    Noodle Dish · Tokyo★ 4.3

  5. Nigiri, rice dish from Japan9

    Nigiri

    Nº 321

    Rice Dish · Tokyo★ 4.2

  6. Sushi, rice dish from Japan10

    Sushi

    Nº 333

    Rice Dish · Japan★ 4.2

  7. Katsudon, rice dish from Japan11

    Katsudon

    Nº 447

    Rice Dish · Japan★ 4.2

  8. Gunkanmaki, rice dish from Japan12

    Gunkanmaki

    Nº 561

    Rice Dish · Tokyo★ 4.1

The Gazetteer

Where the bowls are filled

The regions of Japan with the deepest noodle and rice traditions. Choose one to filter the complete ledger below.

Placed dishes only · top 6 regions

  7. Another 76 ranked dishes are logged simply as pan-Japanese, with no single regional home.

The Complete Ledger

All 128 Japanese noodle, pasta and rice dishes in the world ranking, every entry.

128 entries
  1. 81 Ramen Noodle Dish Japan ★ 4.4
  2. 84 Shoyu ramen Noodle Dish Tokyo ★ 4.4
  3. 90 Maguro nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.4
  4. 138 Tonkotsu ramen Noodle Dish Fukuoka ★ 4.4
  5. 152 Otoro nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.4
  6. 200 Miso ramen Noodle Dish Sapporo ★ 4.3
  7. 212 Maki Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.3
  8. 297 Tsukemen Noodle Dish Tokyo ★ 4.3
  9. 321 Nigiri Rice Dish Tokyo ★ 4.2
  10. 333 Sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.2
  11. 447 Katsudon Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.2
  12. 561 Gunkanmaki Rice Dish Tokyo ★ 4.1
  13. 591 Tendon Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.1
  14. 610 Hakata ramen Noodle Dish Fukuoka ★ 4.1
  15. 707 Chutoro nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.1
  16. 708 Tekkadon Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.1
  17. 747 Hamachi nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.1
  18. 871 Shio ramen Noodle Dish Hakodate ★ 4.0
  19. 913 Yokohama-Style Ramen Noodle Dish Yokohama ★ 4.0
  20. 964 Unagi nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.0
  21. 1,147 Sake nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 4.0
  22. 1,342 Tempura udon Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.9
  23. 1,352 Futomaki Rice Dish Kansai Region ★ 3.9
  24. 1,415 Temaki Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.9
  25. 1,416 Ikura Sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.9
  26. 1,428 Kaisendon Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.9
  27. 1,433 Buri nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.9
  28. 1,872 Tororo soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.9
  29. 1,874 Hōtō Noodle Dish Yamanashi Prefecture ★ 3.9
  30. 1,893 Shirasu don Rice Dish Kanagawa Prefecture ★ 3.9
  31. 2,008 Onigiri Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.9
  32. 2,027 Saba zushi Rice Dish Kyoto ★ 3.9
  33. 2,122 Donburi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  34. 2,168 Kamonanban Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  35. 2,170 Akami nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  36. 2,191 Negitorodon Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  37. 2,192 Dorai karē Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  38. 2,212 Wakame udon Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  39. 2,346 Hiyashi chūka Noodle Dish Sendai ★ 3.8
  40. 2,381 Ikuradon Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  41. 2,583 Miso nikomi udon Noodle Dish Nagoya ★ 3.8
  42. 2,619 Uni gunkan maki Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  43. 2,648 Tsukimi soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  44. 2,649 Ita soba Noodle Dish Yamagata Prefecture ★ 3.8
  45. 2,748 Tarako Spaghetti Pasta Japan ★ 3.8
  46. 2,825 Okinawa soba Noodle Dish Okinawa Prefecture ★ 3.8
  47. 2,842 Udon Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  48. 2,862 Kamameshi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  49. 2,873 Uni nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  50. 2,995 Chirashizushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  51. 3,030 Tokushima ramen Noodle Dish Tokushima ★ 3.8
  52. 3,045 Hotate nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  53. 3,058 Asahikawa ramen Noodle Dish Asahikawa ★ 3.8
  54. 3,070 Takayama ramen Noodle Dish Takayama ★ 3.8
  55. 3,104 Matcha soba Noodle Dish Uji ★ 3.8
  56. 3,115 Iwakunizushi Rice Dish Iwakuni ★ 3.8
  57. 3,151 Hadaka soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  58. 3,244 Takikomi gohan Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.8
  59. 3,368 Tai-meshi Rice Dish Ehime Prefecture ★ 3.8
  60. 3,639 Wakayama ramen Noodle Dish Wakayama ★ 3.7
  61. 3,650 Aji nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  62. 3,702 Temarizushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  63. 3,703 Chakin zushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  64. 3,704 Battera Rice Dish Kansai Region ★ 3.7
  65. 3,705 Hirame nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  66. 3,726 Salmon Chazuke (Sake chazuke) Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  67. 3,745 Nishin soba Noodle Dish Kyoto Prefecture ★ 3.7
  68. 3,746 Hegi soba Noodle Dish Niigata Prefecture ★ 3.7
  69. 3,965 Kishimen Noodle Dish Nagoya ★ 3.7
  70. 4,109 Ise udon Noodle Dish Ise ★ 3.7
  71. 4,151 Zaru soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  72. 4,170 Wanko soba Noodle Dish Morioka ★ 3.7
  73. 4,381 Abura soba Noodle Dish Tokyo ★ 3.7
  74. 4,531 Mori soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  75. 4,540 Saltwater Eel Nigiri Sushi (Anago nigiri sushi) Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  76. 4,606 Tekkamaki Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  77. 4,613 Oshizushi Rice Dish Kansai Region ★ 3.7
  78. 4,917 S Sumi ika nigiri Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  79. 4,918 Hamaguri nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  80. 4,933 Nameko soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.7
  81. 5,078 Soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.6
  82. 5,087 Kitakata ramen Noodle Dish Kitakata ★ 3.6
  83. 5,097 Tsukimi udon Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.6
  84. 5,109 Kitsune udon Noodle Dish Osaka ★ 3.6
  85. 5,159 Kiritanpo Rice Dish Akita Prefecture ★ 3.6
  86. 5,264 Kagoshima ramen Noodle Dish Kagoshima ★ 3.6
  87. 5,343 Ebi nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.6
  88. 5,489 Mugi gohan Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.6
  89. 5,739 Tenshindon Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.6
  90. 5,772 Kake udon Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.6
  91. 5,838 Kumamoto ramen Noodle Dish Kumamoto ★ 3.6
  92. 5,921 Oyakodon Rice Dish Tokyo ★ 3.6
  93. 5,990 Onomichi ramen Noodle Dish Onomichi ★ 3.6
  94. 6,039 Bukkake udon Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.6
  95. 6,070 Kitsune soba Noodle Dish Kanto Region ★ 3.6
  96. 6,162 Tempura soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.6
  97. 6,164 Nabeyaki udon Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.6
  98. 6,289 Gizzard Shad Nigiri Sushi (Kohada nigiri sushi) Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  99. 6,300 Soba maki Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  100. 6,457 Sara udon Noodle Dish Nagasaki ★ 3.5
  101. 6,501 Wakame gunkan maki Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  102. 6,528 Inarizushi Rice Dish Toyokawa ★ 3.5
  103. 6,589 Negitoro gunkan maki Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  104. 6,627 Tobiko gunkan maki Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  105. 6,722 Sansai soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  106. 6,727 Tanuki soba Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  107. 6,767 Ehomaki Rice Dish Kansai Region ★ 3.5
  108. 6,906 Hosomaki Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  109. 6,948 Kamaage udon Noodle Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  110. 7,035 Ika nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.5
  111. 7,314 Iwashi nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.4
  112. 7,532 Tako nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.4
  113. 7,538 Sekihan Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.4
  114. 7,559 Tamago kake gohan Rice Dish Japan ★ 3.4
  115. 8,408 Burnt Miso Ramen Noodle Dish Hakata Ward ★ 0.0
  116. 8,441 Funazushi Rice Dish Shiga Prefecture ★ 0.0
  117. 8,465 Naporitan Pasta Yokohama ★ 3.0
  118. 8,593 Tamago nigiri sushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 2.8
  119. 8,639 Udon-suki Noodle Dish Sakai ★ 0.0
  120. 8,674 Kappamaki Rice Dish Japan ★ 2.7
  121. 8,711 Cup Noodles Noodle Dish Japan ★ 2.6
  122. 9,452 Muroran Curry Ramen Noodle Dish Muroran ★ 0.0
  123. 9,463 Narezushi Rice Dish Japan ★ 0.0
  124. 9,543 Konoha-don Rice Dish Kansai Region ★ 0.0
  125. 9,656 Mimi udon Noodle Dish Tochigi Prefecture ★ 0.0
  126. 9,657 Kijoyu udon Noodle Dish Kagawa Prefecture ★ 0.0
  127. 9,658 Stamina Udon Noodle Dish Japan ★ 0.0
  128. 10,807 Dango-jiru Noodle Dish Ōita ★ 0.0
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Questions, Answered

Japanese ramen and sushi, frequently asked, answered from 6,166 ratings.

What is the best Japanese noodle dish?
By our diners' ratings it's ramen at Nº 81 worldwide, the wheat-noodle bowl in a long-simmered broth. Its regional forms follow close behind: Tokyo's soy-based shoyu ramen (Nº 84), Fukuoka's pork-bone tonkotsu (Nº 138) and Sapporo's miso ramen (Nº 200).
Is sushi a noodle or a rice dish?
Rice. Sushi is defined by its seasoned vinegared rice as much as its fish, so the ledger files it, along with nigiri and maki, as a rice dish in this department. Sushi is also the most-reviewed dish here, well ahead of ramen by number of ratings.
What is the difference between ramen types?
Mostly the broth. Shoyu ramen is soy-seasoned and clear; tonkotsu is a cloudy, rich pork-bone broth from Fukuoka; miso ramen, a Sapporo invention, is thick and savoury. All rank inside the top 200 of Japan's bowls, led by shoyu at Nº 84.
Which Japanese city has the best ramen?
Each broth has a home: Tokyo for shoyu, Fukuoka for tonkotsu, Sapporo for miso. In our data Tokyo has the deepest bench, with 6 ranked dishes, ahead of the Kansai region's 5, though many Japanese dishes are logged with no single city.
What is tsukemen?
Tsukemen is dipping ramen: the noodles and a concentrated broth arrive in separate bowls, and you dip cool noodles into the hot, intense soup a few at a time. A Tokyo creation, it ranks Nº 297 among Japan's bowls.
Where else should I look for great noodles?
Italy, oddly, leads the department: worldwide it runs to 783 dishes from 96 countries, and Italy's 226 pasta plates edge out Japan's 128. For noodles proper, though, Japan and the rest of Asia rule. See Noodles & Pasta worldwide.

This Department, Elsewhere

Noodles, pasta and rice from Japan's neighbours, ranked the same way.

South KoreanNoodles & Pasta25ChineseNoodles & Pasta18TaiwaneseNoodles & Pasta5North KoreanNoodles & Pasta3MongolianNoodles & Pasta1
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