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Time Out Dubai

18 tasty ramen spots in Dubai worth ruining a clean t-shirt for

There is nothing better in this world than a warm, comforting bowl of ramen. That's just an objective fact. And whether you're into thick, creamy broths or crystal clear soups, you're going to find something worth tucking into here. Ramen is meant to be slurped, and that will often mean that you'll leave the restaurant with a full belly and a messy shirt. But wear these stains with pride. Make it a fashion statement. Oh, this orange splodge? I'm wearing Kinoya's chef special. For the ramen-heads among us, there are a few go-to established names that we love to keep going back to and a few newcomers well worth checking out. Plus, we shine a spotlight on some of the instant ramen libraries that have been popping up across Dubai in recent times. Best ramen restaurants in Dubai Bento-ya One of Dubai's OG Japanese dining spots, Bento-ya serves up some of the most slurpable ramen in the city. Serving one of Dubai's best ramen menus, by virtue of its broad scope (and relatively keen prices), Bento-Ya's offering ranges from spicy miso corn ramen to classic shio and tantanmen. Portions are hearty, and if you fancy veering off-piste, there's a selection of udon noodle soups to slurp your way through too. And, if you fancy giving some home cooking a try, then check out the Gourmet-ya Japanese grocery store a stone's throw away from the Sheikh Zayed Road restaurant. Multiple locations Daikan Daikan has proved to be so popular that you can now find it at four locations across the city. There are ramen bars at the Depachika Food Hall in Nakheel Mall, at Lakeshore Tower in JLT and now at Nad Al Sheba Mall, plus a licensed izakaya-style venue that opened in City Walk back in 2024. In Dubai, the City Walk venue has the most expansive menu and an effortlessly cool vibe —think concrete, vinyl, hip-hop, and open kitchens—with the same ramen Dubai fell in love with at the heart of it all. A similar izakaya-style venue can be found at Yas Bay in Abu Dhabi. Menu highlights include the Daikan OG (Chef's Special), a spicy miso broth topped with tantan chicken, chicken chashu, veal bacon, and the signature ajitama egg, as well as the smoked shio dashi—a rich, shellfish-based salt broth with layers of umami depth. Stylish yet laid-back, Daikan Izakaya delivers authentic Japanese dining with bold flavours and unbeatable value, making it a must-visit for both ramen enthusiasts and casual diners. Fujiya Looking for authentic Japanese cuisine? It doesn't get more traditional than this. The menu is packed full of low-key dishes including ramen, hot pot and sushi. The vibe is friendly and the interiors are suitably pared back. For Japanese restaurants in Dubai, this should be on your hit list. Garhoud. Kinoya Credit: Kinoya One of Dubai's more low-key spots, this chilled-out ramen bar is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Dubai. With a laid-back vibe and a come-as-you-are dress code, there are little pockets of spaces for cosy dinners in this traditionally styled restaurant with the ramen counter and chef's table offering visitors a close-up look at their bowl being assembled before their very eyes. Set up by Neha Mishra, of Dubai supper club fame, Kinoya has become such a hit in Dubai that it now has a branch in London's most exclusive department store – Harrods. Read through the menu for the story behind each specially curated bowl. Here in Dubai, it can be found in The Greens in an unassuming office block tower, serving up a wide range of utterly delicious chicken, duck or vegetarian-based ramen. Licensed. Onyx Tower The Greens, (04 220 2920). Kiku Something of a local ancient, but as awesome as ever. A classic, licensed Japanese restaurant (with a few Korean touches to the menu), Kiku's offering runs the full spectrum of Japanese cuisine, from sashimi to soba, via a hairpin turn at yakitori and live barbecue. Most appealingly for many fans, it uses the most authentic and traditional meat for ramen and makes it worth the journey to Garhoud. Airport Road. @kikudubai Konjiki Hotogisu (Credit: Konjiki Hotogisu MOE) Perched on the Mall of the Emirates' second floor, this charming spot expands on the menu provided by its Tokyo namesake. The mall setting is in stark contrast to its quiet setting down an alleyway in Shinjuku, but the result is no less tasty. The menu stars comforting bowls of ramen based on Chef Yamamoto's signature clam-based tare, which was meticulously evolved out of endless trial-and-error, and adapts it for the Dubai audience. For dessert, treat yourself to a classic Japanese shaved ice dish of kakigori. No bookings here, but the doors open just before noon and there's usually a seat waiting for you at the counter. Unlicensed. Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha (04 227 6811). IchiRyu Ramen House Take one step inside IchiRyu Ramen House and you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd accidentally wandered into the background of an anime scene. You'll find a fake cherry blossom tree, a livestream of the iconic Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, a whole range of colourful characters and some of the best ramen bowls in the city. This spot is run by a group of three Filipino brothers, including one who studied the art of ramen in Japan since the 1980s. Over the decades, he's refined his recipe and landed on a selection of dishes that resonate with the Dubai audience. Based at Wasl Ports, IchiRyu Ramen House was the first to introduce Bocchi Seki, translated to 'lonely seats', style dining in the UAE. These seats are perfect for those who want to hide away and slurp their bowl in solitude. Wasl Ports Views Building 7. Maru Udon Let's get this out of the way, shall we? Udon noodles, the thicker and chewier cousin of thin and firm ramen noodles, are not typically found in bowls of ramen. However, there's no denying that Maru Udon serves up some of the most slurp-worthy Japanese soups in Dubai. Found at the Neighbourhood Food Hall in Motor City and Majestic Tower in Business Bay, it's one of the most popular places to get budget Japanese bites. Included in the extensive menu is an extensive range of soups such as paitan chicken, tantan shezuan and karamiso spice. Multiple venues. @ Rameow This cat-obsessed ramen bar is hidden away inside the popular Electric Pawn Shop bar at The H Dubai. It's a casual dining spot open in the daytime before the venue converts into a rowdy bar. During the day, things are more relaxed and serene. Here, you'll find a rich, foamy shoyu (soy-sauce) ramen broth in their signature chicken paitan in addition to duck-based and miso-based vegan broth. A business lunch starts from a reasonable Dhs54, and includes a drink. Décor here is effortlessly cool with neon signs and the restaurant's cute cat mascot all over the place. Licensed. The H Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road. @rameowramen REIF Japanese Kushiyaki Credit: Reif Japanese Kushiyaki Chef Reif Othman is a well-known name here in Dubai, and his cooking is so good that he even has a spot in Time Out Market Dubai. This licensed branch of his eponymous restaurant is a top spot for when you're in the mood for tasty, Japanese dishes in a cool, low-key setting. Renowned for its silky smooth ramen and delicious kushiyaki, there are plenty of street food-style plates to get stuck into, so gather your mates and order a bunch of stuff to share. One of the best Japanese restaurants in Dubai, ideal for when you want something more casual but just as tasty. Licensed. Dubai Hills Business Park, (04 255 5142). SIO Named after the Japanese word for 'salt', this dedicated ramen house is all about soul-warming bowls made with serious love and tradition. Expect elevated classics like the signature SIO Ramen, a masterful blend of Reif Othman's homemade broth, steamed chicken, marinated egg and a bright zing of sudachi citrus. Feeling a little extra hungry? The carbonara udon delivers with silky onsen egg, crispy beef bacon and a snowstorm of shaved pecorino. And for spice lovers, the spicy vongole ramen brings the heat – a broth-less, flavour-packed bowl bursting with fresh clams, hojiso, shiso, and a fiery yuzu togarashi punch. Licensed. The Link, One&Only One Za'abeel, @siobyreif TakaHisa (Credit: TakaHisa) TakaHisa takes Japanese food very, very seriously, with two exclusive omakase dining experiences to choose from. Led by sushi master chef Takashi and wagyu master chef Hiseo, the restaurant prides itself on using the finest ingredients and bringing original flavours to its diners every time. This restaurant is absolute top-tier and definitely one for a special occasion. While ramen isn't technically on the menu here, you'll get one of the best bowls in the city if you ask the highly attentive staff. So, what will you get? An outstanding bowl packed with A5-grade Kobe beef wagyu, noodles using specially sourced wheat from Hokkaido and a chicken and vegetable broth that's simmered away for 10 hours. Bluewaters. @takahisa_dubai Uchi DIFC has long been one of the most popular dinner spots in Dubai. Whether you're into seeing, being seen, or fancy food served in a buzzing setting, there's always something new to try here. And one of these is Uchi, a petite, intimate Japanese izakaya, located on the edge of Gate Village at the street level. The restaurant offers a wide array of Japanese dishes and one of the standouts is its 48-hour simmered broth. The short-rib ramen includes sweetcorn, asparagus, den miso, a sprinkle of sesame and jammy egg. And the egg is the star of the show here, it's cooked over a low temperature and the result is a unique texture likened to a delicate custard. DIFC. Wokyo One of the more budget-friendly options for ramen in the city, Wokyo packs a whole lot of flavour into its boxes and bowls. A busy open-kitchen is somehow combined with a very casual dining atmosphere, making it low-key one of the best places for ramen in the city. Wokyo specialises in Sapporo-style ramen, perfected in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. This style of ramen is typically miso-based and, at Wokyo, they slow-cook the broth for over 10 hours and toss it over some wok-tossed vegetables. While the more authentic Sapporo-style is miso-based, you can opt for a shoyu broth as well. Choices also include a meat-based broth with chicken, beef and a jammy nitamago egg and vegan broth with corn, menma and pak choi. Wokyo has several locations across Dubai and can be found in Al Seef, Ribbon Mall, JLT Cluster J and Wasl Square. Multiple locations. @wokyo YUi Ramen House (Credit: YUi Ramen) This is Dubai Design District's homegrown ramen spot. Try the signature YUi ramen (with rich paitan broth and yakiniku rib eye), alongside favourites like tantanmen and miso veggie ramen. If you prefer not to slurp, go for the yakitori skewers (hello, wagyu and king oyster mushroom) or a tight list of Japanese bites to round out the offering. It's minimalist, flavour-packed, and seriously satisfying. Ramen lovers, your D3 slurp stop is calling. Unlicensed. Ground Floor of Building 7, Dubai Design District, Dubai, (042434217). And some cool instant ramen libraries worth checking out If money is tight and you don't want to wait around for a homemade bowl, then why not check out an instant ramen library? These spots in Dubai will offer a wide range of top instant ramen brands from across the world and allow for greater customisation and the chance to DIY in a pinch. It's typically more common to find Korean-style ramyeon noodles at these spots, with the likes of the ultra-spicy Buldak proving to be a particularly popular choice. K Myeon Here, you'll find a range of top Korean instant noodle brands and various toppings including lobster balls, crab rolls, carrots, spring onions and kimchi. This one can be found at the Korean pavilion in Global Village so look out for it when it returns. Ghil Dabang Found in JLT, this is a Korean café with a massive selection of top brands from South Korea. You'll be able to tuck into top Korean snacks and drinks, while adding your favourite toppings to your instant bowl. Meokja This spot can be found at BurJuman Mall and allows you to DIY your bowl to your liking and add some toppings you might not typically have in your pantry at home. Toppings include kimchi, cheese and rice cakes. Still hungry? New restaurants in Dubai that you need to visit right now From casual eats to fine dining, there's bound to be a new venue you'll want to try These are Dubai's best restaurants: 85 incredible places to dine All the winners of the Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 25 of the best restaurants in DIFC: Reservations you have to make now Tried, tested and highly rated restaurants to try in Dubai's financial district