The best ramen in Milan: five restaurants to try
A dish whose origins are still disputed between China and Japan, and presented in a thousand different variations from region to region, ramen is a hand-rolled noodle soup steeped in fish, beef, chicken, miso, or vegetable broth.
The best ramen in Milan
SARPI
Ramenamano
A young and welcoming place in the heart of Chinatown, perfect for a casual dinner. The recipe here follows a Chinese tradition: the typical Lanzhou Lamian (the quintessential Chinese noodle) is, as you might expect, rigorously hand-rolled and immersed in a beef broth cooked for four hours with over 15 different spices and homemade spicy sauce (from €10 to €12). Just a few ingredients, like the original, and the star of the show are the noodles, which you can choose from a variety of shapes and thicknesses.
Via Paolo Lomazzo, 20, 20154 Milan MI – Tel. 02 3653 6559 – Website.
ISLAND
Ramen House
Another place, another style: here, the cuisine is inspired by Japan and made with Italian ingredients from small local producers. Traditional dishes are revisited with a focus on quality and seasonality, immersed in a creamy 100% chicken broth. Since 2017, the brand has split: two locations in the same neighborhood, both inspired by the style of izakaya, the typical Japanese meeting places for after-work gatherings. This completes the offering: Casa Ramen, a small place for a casual meal with friends, open daily for lunch, and Casa Ramen Super for a relaxed dinner where you can also enjoy the five-course menu (€35 excluding drinks). They reopen on October 6th, so try them now!
Via Luigi Porro Lambertenghi, 25, 20159 Milan MI – Tel. 02 3944 4560. Website.
GARIBALDI
Zaza Ramen
This, too, is a contemporary Italian interpretation of the classic Japanese dish, in a refined restaurant/saké bar just steps from Brera. Here, the izakaya style is revisited with an elegant twist, in a designer setting that hosts temporary installations by international artists. The menu features a few zensai (appetizers, from €5 to €8) and five different types of ramen (from €15 to €18), including special versions with fresh octopus or meatballs. All dishes are made with fresh, freshly cooked noodles, and can be topped with any desired ingredients. The name Zazà refers to Inspector Zenigatta, from Lupin III, a huge ramen eater.
Via Solferino, 48, 20121 Milan MI – Tel. 02 3679 9000. Website.
INDEPENDENCE
Nozomi
A vast menu in this authentic corner of Japan, where ramen is the star of the show. The dishes are varied, from the most traditional to the most sophisticated: try the Tantan ramen, with a thick and spicy sesame pesto broth, served with minced chicken, leeks, and vegetables (13 euros), and the Paitan ramen, which means "white soup" due to the milky color of the broth.
Via Pietro Calvi, 2, 20129 Milan MI – Tel. 02 7602 3197. Website.
GENOA GATE
Tenoha Ramen
Next to the Japanese-inspired co-working and concept store is this industrial-style venue: red brick walls and large communal tables, where the Japanese chef creates traditional Asian dishes with a contemporary twist. For lunch, it offers a full menu featuring ramen (€16 for a set including a main course, water, and sides), while for dinner, the menu is à la carte (ramen from €12 to €18). Vegan-friendly, too: a ramen option is made with vegetable broth, sesame cream, and soy milk, served with fried tofu, bamboo shoots, spring onions, and sweet potato fries (€15).
Via Vigevano, 20, 20144 Milan MI – Tel. 02 8339 0042. Website.