This list was compiled through personal experience and online research, as well as through commentary from food critics and expert restaurant reviewers.

Transport yourself to Japan for an evening, without the price tag, by checking out this popular ramen restaurant in Sydney, Ryo’s Noodles. Serving traditional Japanese cuisine, Ryo’s is known particularly for its flavourful ramen – the ideal meal for lunch or dinner. The friendly staff, warm atmosphere and out-of-this-world ramen makes for a perfect evening with your date or group of mates.

Gumshara is an unassuming joint that easily offers some of the best ramen in Sydney. Its thick noodles and rich, salty soup always leaves customers coming back for more, surprisingly soon after they leave. With no MSG and a variety of flavours to suit every palate, you can even make specific requests and customisations to create your dream ramen.

With stores in Kyoto, Tokyo Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sydney, you can be sure that Gogyo brings the taste of Japan to Surry Hills. It is a casual-chic ramen restaurant in Sydney that allows you to “start with drinks, taste a few ‘tsumami’ and end with ramen.” Their Kogashi-style ramen is a must-try as it involves a charring technique to exude fragrant and bittersweet flavours that will revolutionise your expectations of Japanese ramen in Sydney.

Best for: Dietary Preferences/Restrictions

If you’re after an exquisite ramen meal in a homey atmosphere – complete with Japanese cooks and characters hung on the wall – look no further than Chaco Ramen. Its ramen flavours range from chilli coriander to yuzu scallop with all the novel Japanese treats you could dream of as toppings. Throw in some of the best yakitori and sake, and you’ve got an evening filled with the most arresting aromas and flavours.

Best for: Fusion

Twelve-hour boiled authentic ramen is a standard at Ramen Zundo. Their more novel dish is their signature tsukeman; a thick, chewy cold noodle served with hot dipping soup. After dipping the noodles into the soup and devouring the resulting concoction of bliss, ask for the ‘extra soup’ to mix with the dipping soup to enjoy the final soup. Visit Ramen Zundo for an exciting dining experience and a taste of the best Japanese ramen in Sydney.

Best for: Speedy service

Just like the protagonist of the anime series, Dragon Ball Z, from which this Sydney ramen joint acquired its name, Ramen Bar Goku is fierce and unbeatable. The lower key sister restaurant to Menya, Goku retains the flavour from this well-known Japanese favourite but at a more affordable price. Choose from five different bases – salt, miso, soy, seafood or tonkotsu – and swap out various toppings of your choice.

Best for: Fish

If your stomach gets a tingling, the satisfying fix of Hakata-Maru Ramen will definitely hit the spot. The photos alone will be sure to get your salivary glands working, and the smell will transport you to a Japanese kitchen with a sensei chef at work. We’ll leave the taste up to you.

Everything at Ichi-Ban Boshi is made fresh by hand. Every ingredient in the ramen is carefully picked to complement the flavours of the other ingredients. This is why Sydney-siders have been loving the boldness of flavour for over 20 years. The restaurant has a variety of noodles, soups and ingredients to suit every palate, so get yourself into one of the stores today to give it a run.

Delicious, friendly and affordable are just three descriptions that come to mind when you talk about Manpuku. They have two locations at Kingsford and Chatswood, meaning you can enjoy these ramen noodles in Sydney, or ‘millions of happiness/luck’ no matter where you are located. Their seasonal menu uses only the freshest ingredients to create cheap yet authentic ramen. Be sure to try the novel hiyashi chuka (cold noodles), though everything they dish up is about as good as it gets.

The key factors to keep in mind when deciding where to go:

If you’re looking for other things to do in and around Sydney, we’ve got you covered with some of the options listed below. You can also check out our list of Fun Thing To Do in Sydney. If you’re looking for a more specific cuisine, check out our list of Mexican Restaurants in Sydney or the Best Burgers in Sydney. If you’re full, we can also help you with your search for the Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney or show you the Best Sydney Museums.