7 Ramen Shops in Osaka Honored with the Michelin Bib Gourmand

Enjoying Ramen in the Osaka Area

Osaka has long been a cultural crossroads, absorbing culinary influences from across Japan. As a result, the city offers an exceptional diversity of regional ramen styles from around the country. Ramen featured in the Michelin Guide tends to favor what might be described as clean, elegant expressions—such as soy sauce, salt, and chicken paitan broths—while heavily fatty styles loaded with back fat are comparatively rare.

It is not uncommon for Michelin-listed ramen shops to have also secured places in Japan’s Top 100 Ramen rankings, earning recognition on multiple fronts.

While some shops operate with reservations or numbered ticket systems, most require diners to queue to secure a bowl. Many establishments close once their ingredients are sold out, and for shops that do not accept reservations, arriving early is strongly recommended. Given Osaka’s popularity with international visitors, the area also features a large number of foreigner-friendly ramen shops, many of which offer English-language menus.

7 Ramen Shops in Osaka Honored with the Michelin Bib Gourmand

1. Ramen Kuon (らーめん久遠)

Bib Gourmand

Michelin Guide, 2025

Ramen Kuon has been recognized with the Michelin Bib Gourmand on four occasions and has also secured a place in Japan’s Top 100 Ramen rankings.

The restaurant’s signature offering is an elegant shio (salt) ramen that showcases the natural character of its ingredients. The broth is meticulously prepared using Omi black chicken, iriko (dried sardines), and shellfish, with their umami gently drawn out through the use of π Water—a highly permeable water prized for creating a smooth, rounded mouthfeel. The house-made noodles are high in hydration and produced on a custom-built noodle machine, then carefully matured under precise temperature control to achieve a texture reminiscent of hand-pulled noodles.

The serene, minimalist space features just eight counter seats, offering an intimate and focused dining experience. An English-language menu is available, accompanied by clear explanations covering toppings, customization options, and in-house etiquette. While queues are common due to the shop’s popularity, reservations can be made via the OMAKASE platform, making Ramen Kuon one of the more accessible Michelin-recognized ramen shops for international visitors.

2. Hommachi Seimenjo Chukasobakobo (本町製麺所 中華そば工房)

・Michelin (2022-2025): Bib Gourmand

Hommachi Seimenjo Chukasobakobo, a four-time Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree, is operated by a dry goods wholesaler with roots dating back to the Edo period. The restaurant specializes in soy sauce ramen crafted from natural ingredients, offering a refined taste experience.

What sets it apart is its broth, made from richly umami-packed dried ingredients such as kelp and dried fish flakes, combined with chicken bones and the uniquely Kansai ingredient hamo (pike conger) heads. The carefully extracted stock is blended with additive-free raw soy sauce to create a fragrant, deeply flavorful soup that balances elegance with umami richness.

The house-made, high-hydration noodles incorporate whole wheat flour and are offered in two varieties. The round noodles provide a pleasantly chewy texture and smooth, slippery mouthfeel, while the firm, flat noodles cling beautifully to the soup for a more robust bite.

The stylish, café-like interior features nine counter seats and 14 table seats. With English labeling on the menu, international visitors can easily navigate their options without difficulty.

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3. Ramen Hayato (らーめん 颯人)

・Michelin (2022-2025): Bib Gourmand

・Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2017 - 2024)

Ramen Hayato is a distinguished ramen shop, recognized four times with the Michelin Bib Gourmand and appearing nine times in Japan’s Top 100 Ramen rankings. The restaurant offers three varieties of ramen—soy sauce, miso, and salt—each paired with house-made noodles crafted from aromatic Hokkaido wheat, perfectly complementing the flavor of each broth.

Among these, the miso ramen is particularly popular. The Hokkaido-born chef perfected this style in Sapporo, the birthplace of miso ramen. The rich, complex broth combines several types of miso with the toasty notes of sesame and nuts, balanced by a refreshing hint of citrus, and clings beautifully to the firm, thick noodles. The chashu, available in both belly and loin cuts, is also highly praised.

The quiet interior seats just seven at the counter, allowing every guest to focus fully on their bowl. With a complete table turnover system in place, wait times can be long.

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4. Chukasoba Mugen (中華そば 無限)

・Michelin (2022-2025): Bib Gourmand

・Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2017 - 2024)

Chukasoba Mugen, a seven-time Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree and nine-time entrant in Japan’s Top 100 Ramen, has been a beloved fixture in Osaka’s fiercely competitive ramen scene for 15 years. The restaurant specializes in soy sauce ramen crafted without additives or chemical seasonings, allowing the natural flavors to shine.

The signature broth is luxuriously made with several types of Jidori and premium chicken, delivering a rich, concentrated umami that speaks directly to the palate. The house-made medium-thick straight noodles, produced with Hokkaido wheat, offer a satisfying chew and smooth texture, perfectly absorbing the deep, flavorful soup.

The intimate, eight-seat counter space exudes a subtle Japanese ambiance. While the menu itself is not in English, the vending machine provides clear guidance with prompts such as “Insert bill” and “Insert coins.” Open from Wednesday to Sunday evenings, the restaurant is generally quieter around 8 p.m., making it an ideal time for those seeking a more relaxed dining experience.

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5. Chukasoba Uemachi (中華そば うえまち)

・Michelin (2022-2025): Bib Gourmand

・Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2017 - 2024)

Chukasoba Uemachi has earned the Michelin Bib Gourmand for four consecutive years and has appeared nine times in Japan’s Top 100 Ramen rankings. The restaurant’s signature offering is its soy-based chukasoba (Chinese-style ramen), which masterfully showcases the natural flavors of its ingredients.

The broth combines rich chicken and pork stocks with seafood-based dashi from dried fish and bonito, resulting in a soup that balances umami, depth, and aroma in perfect harmony. The house-made straight noodles emphasize a smooth, satisfying texture and pair flawlessly with the broth. A proprietary blend of several wheat varieties ensures that the flavor and aroma of the noodles themselves are fully pronounced. The chashu, made from Kagoshima black pork, is served in both loin and belly cuts, offering a satisfying contrast in texture and taste.

The clean, minimalist interior features a single row of eight counter seats. As the restaurant closes once ingredients run out, early arrival is strongly recommended to secure a bowl.

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6. Mugito Mensuke (麦と麺助)

・Michelin (2022-2025): Bib Gourmand

・Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2019 - 2024)

Mugito Mensuke has been featured in the Michelin Bib Gourmand for four consecutive years and has appeared seven times in Japan’s Top 100 Ramen rankings. The restaurant is renowned for its dedication to ingredients, even producing its own original local chicken, Mensuke Chicken, specifically for its soups.

The signature dish is a soy-based ramen that fully showcases the natural flavor of chicken. The broth is crafted from a luxurious mix of premium birds, including Horo-Horo chicken, Hinai chicken, and the specially raised Mensuke Chicken used by top yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) restaurants, resulting in a deeply flavorful, umami-rich soup. House-made medium-thin straight noodles with a smooth texture lift the soup perfectly, while toppings such as three types of chashu and Wagyu beef wontons add a touch of indulgence.

The interior, seating 12 at the counter, exudes the refined atmosphere of a kappo-style restaurant (traditional Japanese chef-led dining). With no reservations accepted and lunch-only service, long queues are common.

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7. Kamigata Rainbow (上方レインボー)

Kamigata Rainbow has been featured in the Michelin Bib Gourmand for three consecutive years and has appeared three times in Japan’s Top 100 Ramen rankings. The restaurant is known for its creative and diverse menu offerings.

The signature dishes include two types of soy-based ramen and wonton noodles. One soy ramen combines three types of iriko (dried sardines) with Kurobuta pork and naturally brewed soy sauce, while the other features a rich animal-based soy broth made solely from chicken, pork, and beef stocks with two types of soy sauce. The wonton noodles feature a double soup of Kurobuta pork and seafood, topped with four oversized handmade wontons in a ginger-soy base. The house-made noodles are prepared in-store, with different varieties used to best complement each dish.

The bright, predominantly white interior seats six at the counter. Reservations can be made online, allowing diners to skip the queue. While the menu is not in English, the vending machine provides English instructions and photo menus for easy ordering.

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