2021 TRY “Tokyo Ramen of the Year” TOP Newcomer Shops List

Like every year, the TRY magazine (Tokyo Ramen of the Year) has published their top newcomers which opened in the last 12 months since the previous magazine was published, which is always around October. In case you would like to get a copy for yourself, you can order it here.

I listed them all here and searched their locations on Google Maps, so you don’t have to. In case the borders open up again, this will surely help you to hit all the big hits among the newcomers in the ramen scene.

TRY has categorized them into the following categories:

1. Best newcomer overall
   The top of the top of the newcomers. If you only have time for 3 ramen shops, it should probably be these 3.

2. Shoyu ramen
   Ramen made with shoyu (soy sauce) tare and various broth bases.

3. Shio ramen
   Ramen made with shio (salt) tare and various broth bases.

4. Miso ramen
   Ramen made with miso tare and various broth bases.

5. Tonkotsu ramen
   Ramen with various tare seasonings and a pork bone broth base. If you expect white Fukuoka style tonkotsu ramen, you will be disappointed. The ramen in this category range from creamy and heavy ones all the way to clear and light chintan soups.

6. MIX
   This is the double soup category where things are get a bit messy. Mostly you can find animal broths mixed with seafood broths in this category. Intense and deep aromas are abound.

7. Niboshi

   Niboshi is dried fish, although it is often synonymously used for dried sardines. The soups in this category are either made purely with dried sardines or a mix of dried fish. Sometimes animal broths are mixed in as well, but the dried fish is the dominant component.

8. Tsukemen
   The dipping noodle category. The soup is often more concentrated and more heavily seasoned, noodles are served on the side, most of the time cold.

9. Shirunashi
   The literally “soupless” category, which often means just very little and concentrated soup at the bottom of the bowl, which is more used like a pasta sauce. It also often requires you to mix the noodles around in the bowl, which is then called “mazesoba”.

10. Trend
    Creative and new styles of ramen get lumped into the trend category.

Best newcomers overall

1. Ramen FeeL - Ramen FeeL on Google Maps

2. Chukasoba Fukamidori - Chukasoba Fukamidori on Google Maps

3. Chukasoba Hirai - Chukasoba Hirai on Google Maps

Shoyu

1. Chukasoba Fukamidori - Chukasoba Fukamidori on Google Maps

2. Ramen FeeL - Ramen FeeL on Google Maps

3. Gocchimen - Gocchimen on Google Maps

4. Teuchi Oyadori Chukasoba Ayagawa - Written Review of Teuchi Oyadori Chukasoba Ayagawa - Teuchi Oyadori Chukasoba Ayagawa on Google Maps

5. Temomi Chukasoba Nakamura - Temomi Chukasoba Nakamura on Google Maps

6. Shinasoba Sawada - Shinasoba Sawada on Google Maps

Shio

1. Ramen FeeL - Ramen FeeL on Google Maps

2. Chukasoba Issei - Chukasoba Issei on Google Maps

3. Temomi Chukasoba Nakamura - Temomi Chukasoba Nakamura on Google Maps

4. Gocchimen - Gocchimen on Google Maps

5. Marue Chukasoba - Marue Chukasoba on Google Maps

6. Chukasoba Yamafuku - Chukasoba Yamafuku on Google Maps

Miso

1. Menya Kousei - Menya Kousei on Google Maps

2. Misomendokoro Dekoboko - Misomendokoro Dekoboko on Google Maps

3. Mendokoro Rafuteru - Mendokoro Rafuteru on Google Maps

4. Misoramen Kakitagawa Hibari - Video review of Misoramen Kakitagawa Hibari - Misoramen Kakitagawa Hibari on Google Maps

5. Sapporo Miso Ramen Hitsujinoki - Sapporo Miso Ramen Hitsujinoki on Google Maps

Tonkotsu

1. Chukasoba Hirai - Chukasoba Hirai on Google Maps

2. Edomondo - Edomondo on Google Maps

3. Ramen Hamanoya - Ramen Hamanoya on Google Maps

4. Tokusei Ramen Hasegawa - Tokusei Ramen Hasegawa on Google Maps

5. Butasoba Tsukiya Tokyo - Short review with pictures on Instagram - Butasoba Tsukiya Tokyo on Google Maps

MIX

1. Ramen Kanade - Ramen Kanade on Google Maps

Niboshi

1. Menya Berabou - Menya Berabou on Google Maps

2. Chukasoba Furuichi - Chukasoba Furuichi on Google Maps

3. Niboshi Chuka Yoin - Niboshi Chuka Yoin on Google Maps

4. Old Ramen Shop Gyakuryu - Old Ramen Shop Gyakuryu on Google Maps

5. Kareto Men - Video review of Kareto Men - Kareto Men on Google Maps

6. Seabura Niboshi Chukasoba Waichi - Seabura Niboshi Chukasoba Waichi on Google Maps

Tsukemen

1. Chukasoba Hirai - Chukasoba Hirai on Google Maps

2. Kirin Shokudou - Kirin Shokudou on Google Maps

3. Tsukemen Muginoka - Tsukemen Muginoka on Google Maps

4. Ramen FeeL - Ramen FeeL on Google Maps

Shirunashi

1. MEN Kurai - MEN Kurai on Google Maps

2. Temomi Chukasoba Nakamura - Temomi Chukasoba Nakamura on Google Maps

3. JUNK NOODLE FACTORY - JUNK NOODLE FACTORY on Google Maps

Trend

1. Chukasoba Tatami - Video Review of Chukasoba Tatami - Chukasoba Tatami on Google Maps

2. Sumibiyaki Nokou Chukasoba Rindou - Sumibiyaki Nokou Chukasoba Rindou on Google Maps

3. Kitanomen Moriuchi - Kitanomen Moriuchi on Google Maps