Tel Aviv is where Israeli ramen culture lives. The city accounts for the majority of the country’s dedicated ramen spots, and the gap between a good bowl and a great one is significant. This guide ranks every serious Tel Aviv ramen restaurant we’ve tried — eight venues, all scored honestly. For context on Israeli ramen culture and what we look for in a bowl, see the full Israel ramen ranking.
Want ramen outside Tel Aviv? Haifa has two dedicated spots, and the center region has surprises at Pardes Hanna and Emek Hefer.
The Tel Aviv Ramen Ranking#
1st Place: Tori Chashu Ramen at WABI — The Ramen University#
The tastiest ramen in Tel Aviv — WABI | Photo: Lin Levy, mako Food
Dean Shoshani, the “professor of ramen affairs,” has transformed his home-based operation into WABI, a permanent restaurant and true “university of ramen.” An employee patiently guides newcomers through the menu, explaining the nuances between salt tare (delicate) and soy tare (bolder) options, allowing for personalised ramen creations. From five menu options (60–65 NIS), we chose the Tori Chashu ramen (65 NIS) with a thick, soy-based chicken broth. It featured Shoshani’s on-site handmade ramen noodles (with egg for elasticity), a perfectly marinated egg with a runny yolk, bok choy, soy-marinated chicken thigh, green onion, and nori. WABI’s ramen was the most delicious and successful we tried — creamy, moderately oily, clear, deeply flavourful, and rich in ingredients, exactly as one imagines a perfect ramen.
WABI. De Figotto 23 (corner Yehuda HaLevi), Tel Aviv. Not Kosher
2nd Place: Pork Ramen at Koko Neko — A Florentin Gem#
Koko Neko Ramen | Photo: Lin Levy, mako Food
Koko Neko, a newer Florentin spot, boasts a fantastic atmosphere and a concise Japanese menu featuring three ramens: tofu, chicken thigh, or pork (68–72 NIS). The Tonkotsu ramen (72 NIS) with crispy chashu pork, handmade noodles, bamboo shoots, a marinated soft-boiled egg, bok choy, sprouts, green onion, cabbage, and seaweed is near-impossible to stop eating, even after feeling full. Its pleasant texture, delightful thickness, and toppings offer a new, delicious experience with every bite — relatively delicate yet deep and complex, with juicy meat and refreshing greens. Served at the perfect temperature for immediate indulgence.
Koko Neko. Florentin 5, Tel Aviv. Not Kosher
3rd Place: Chicken Ramen at Wat Sang — The Epitome of Balance#
Wat Sang Ramen | Photo: Lin Levy, mako Food
Wat Sang’s Tori Paitan chicken ramen, available with jumbo tempura shrimp (76 NIS), proved to be the most balanced ramen we tasted. With the waitress’s guidance, adding sansho pepper, togarashi, and chili oil transforms it into a perfect symphony where no single flavour dominates. The broth’s delicate texture is neither heavy nor overly oily, and the noodles — flexible, thin, and perfectly cooked — surpass others. This wonderfully understated ramen, coupled with a pleasant atmosphere and excellent service, truly stands out.
Wat Sang. HaRakevet 12, Tel Aviv. Not Kosher
4th Place: Tan Tan Ramen at Mententen — An Intense, Authentic Experience#
Mententen Ramen | Photo: Lin Levy, mako Food
Mententen, a successful Tel Aviv izakaya, offers an authentic Japanese ambiance, professional service, and a skilled team. With Japanese music and décor, it’s easy to forget you’re in Tel Aviv. Their menu features seven ramen types, including Tori Ramen (chicken broth), Kara Ramen (Japanese curry broth), and Tongara Ramen (pork broth), plus two cold options for summer. The Tan Tan Ramen (70 NIS, pork version) is spicy, intensely flavoured with a rich broth that lingers for hours. Its satisfying fattiness, slow-cooked ground meat, springy noodles, bamboo shoots, soft egg, red Japanese bean paste, chili, and tahini create a powerful, bold, less balanced dish — ideal for seasoned ramen enthusiasts. Flawlessly executed in a truly special setting.
Mententen. Nahalat Binyamin 57, Tel Aviv. Not Kosher
5th Place: Dirty Ramen at 2SR — A Bold, Modern Twist#
Dirty Ramen at 2SR | Photo: David Rozen, Public Relations
2SR, an Asian (not exclusively Japanese) restaurant, introduced us to “dirty ramen” — a modern, daring take on the traditional. This unique and affordable (64 NIS) Chinese-Korean ramen, based on beef broth, garlic, shiitake, and cabbage, is a revelation. Spicy, clear, and slightly oily, it features abundant sweet potato noodles and crispy shallots that deliver a delightful kick with every slurp. Tender, slow-cooked beef pieces, generous shiitake mushrooms, and chili oil elevate the experience. For those who’ve explored Tel Aviv’s ramen scene and seek something truly distinctive, 2SR’s dirty ramen is an unmissable, sophisticated adventure.
2SR. Rambam 16, Tel Aviv
6th Place: Chicken Ramen at Okasan — A Taste of Home#
Okasan Ramen from Carmel Market | Photo: Lin Levy, mako Food
Manami Ono’s Okasan offers the most homely, clear, and vegetable-rich ramen we tasted. Her Japanese café serves two child-friendly versions: chicken and soy-based broth or vegetable-based broth, making it the most affordable ramen on our list (60 NIS). Served in a generously filled bowl, the broth is remarkably clear and fat-free, with clean, delicate flavours reminiscent of a Jewish mother’s homemade chicken soup. Toppings include lettuce, carrots, seaweed, cabbage, “boiled chicken” slices, a marinated egg, and ramen noodles — enjoyed at the bar amidst the vibrant chaos of Carmel Market.
Okasan. Carmel Market, Tel Aviv. Not Kosher
7th Place: Sakana Ramen at Onami Kosher — The Only Kosher Option#
The only kosher ramen on the list — Onami Hilton | Photo: Lin Levy, mako Food
Onami Kosher offers a single ramen option: Sakana Ramen (118 NIS) with long-cooked fish broth, sea bass yakitori, ramen noodles, a semi-soft egg, and bok choy. The large, juicy fish skewer is a highlight. The broth, reminiscent of crab bisque in texture and aroma, is rich and aromatic — some will find it too heavy, others will love the intensity. The only kosher ramen restaurant in Tel Aviv worthy of the category.
Onami. Hilton Hotel, HaYarkon 205, Tel Aviv. Kosher
8th Place: Hokkaido Ramen at Oban Koban — A Departure from Tradition#
Oban Koban Ramen | Photo: Lin Levy, mako Food
Oban Koban, a Japanese restaurant established in 2014, predates Israel’s ramen craze. With seven ramen options (67–78 NIS), the Hokkaido Ramen (78 NIS) features fish broth, coconut milk, and cream — resulting in something closer to Tom Yum than traditional ramen. Dry pork fillet slices, thin noodles, a semi-soft egg, shiitake, green onion, and spinach complete the bowl. Worth a visit for the broader menu; the ramen is the weakest part of it.
Oban Koban. HaArba’a 16, Tel Aviv. Not Kosher
Also Worth Knowing in Tel Aviv#
Delivery Ramen#
Tom Tom Ramen by Tom Shamir is the oldest and most popular home-delivery ramen operation, available across Tel Aviv and other areas. Uri Foigel (Hato Ramen) also prepares highly praised ramens from his home, accessible via his WhatsApp group. Sagi Dadush (Downtown Ramen) crafts ramen in Tel Aviv’s Shapira neighbourhood.
Pop-ups#
Cichukai at the Jaffa Flea Market, Fifi’s at Levinsky Market (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), and pop-ups at Rumiya in Carmel Market are worth following on Instagram for current dates. At the upper end, ZO on HaArba’a Street offers the most expensive ramen in Israel (129 NIS) — dashi broth, soba noodles, sea fish wontons, tiger shrimp, and leeks. Worth it for a special occasion.
Ramen in Non-Japanese Restaurants#
Many Asian restaurants across Tel Aviv offer ramen alongside their broader menu: Nini Hachi, Ze Sushi, and the Kisso group (Kisso, Nishi, Notch, Nylon, Anzu) for kosher options. Herzl 16 and the Mina Tomey chain also worth checking.
See Also#
- Full Israel ramen ranking — includes Haifa, Pardes Hanna, and the Sharon region
- Best Japanese restaurants in Tel Aviv — beyond ramen
- Asian restaurants in Tel Aviv
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