For those hankering after a quality Japanese meal, especially so when it’s late in the dead of night, they will have no trouble in Bangkok. Bangkok’s Japanese food scene is booming and we’re not talking about swanky upscale joints.
Taking the city by storm, from humble hole-in-a-wall ramen joints to five-star-hotel-level Japanese fine-dining establishments, we zero in on 10 notable ones that open till late so you’ll never have to resort to cooking instant, MSG-loaded ramen.
1. A Ramen – This Ichiran-Esque Joint Opens 24 Hours
Adopting the same solo-dining concept from world-famous Ichiran chain from Japan, A Ramen follows suit, bringing a similar 24-hour concept to Bangkok. Similar to Ichiran, your experience begins by filling out an order sheet. On it, you can either opt to add on additional sides, exclude certain garnishes and even decide how rich you want your ramen broth to be. A Ramen has a pretty extensive selection of side dishes to choose from; ranging from the humble gyoza to other less conventional items such as their Spicy & Sour Pork—a lean pork dish marinated in Thai spices.
Address: B Floor , The Street Ratchada, 139 Ratchadaphisek Rd, Din Daeng, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 24-Hours
Contact: +66 81 545 3655
2. Chita Yutaka-Tei – Opens till Midnight Daily
In this small, traditionally decorated ramen shop, you’ll find no pretence nor gimmicks. Just a humble lot of passionate makers doling out excellent bowls of Japanese ramen. Their service is impeccable and the speed in which they prepare and serve their food is almost too quick to fathom.
Among their list of choices, we recommend going straight for their “Excellent Miso”. For less than 300THB a bowl, what you can expect is a generous portion of tender chashu pork, springy egg noodles and perhaps one of the richest miso-based broths around. If you’re not feeling super hungry, they also serve oden—using the same rich miso broth.
Address: 2/17 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11AM – 12AM (Daily)
Contact: +66 89 888 3147
3. Ikkousha Ramen – Located in the Bustling Thonglor District
This Fukuoka-born ramen chain of restaurants boasts 40 outlets worldwide and how fortunate for us that they decided to set up shop in Bangkok, right in the heart of Thonglor. If their signature Tokusei Ramen doesn’t impress you, we honestly don’t know what will.
Featuring four huge slices of chashu pork draped over the sides of the bowl with a mound of noodles, an marinated egg and broth in the middle, this dish is not one delicious, it is also a beauty to look at. If you’re looking to share some sides, we hear their gyoza is phenomenal!
Address: 271 Thong Lo 13 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11AM – 2AM (Daily)
Contact: +66 2 712 9487
4. Koi Restaurant & Lounge – High-end Japanese Establishment
Situated on the 39th floor of Sathorn Square, upscale Koi Bangkok offers diners a breath-taking view of the Bangkok skyline along with a modern approach to Japanese cuisine that’s nuanced with a Californian twist.
Heading the kitchen at Koi is Chef Hisashi Iwata, a world-class sushi chef who happens to also be a celebrated veteran of Japanese Fusion cuisine. Chef Hisashi spent time at both Koi Los Angeles and Koi New York as the Executive Sushi Chef of both establishments before joining Koi Bangkok as the Executive Chef in 2010. Koi offers Japanese-fusion fine dining at its best.
Address: Sathorn Square, 108 N Sathon Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11AM – 4PM, 5PM – 12AM (Daily)
Contact: +66 2 036 8899
5. Nanase Ramen – Famous for their Chicken Ramen
Judging from its simple exterior and limited seating capacity, you probably wouldn’t think too much about a joint like Nanase Ramen. But to assume that their food is anything but delicious would be a huge mistake. Granted that their chicken ramen is one of the most affordable around, it doesn’t lack in the flavour department. There are about 10 different ramen varieties to choose from… But the one to get is, without a doubt, their signature chicken ramen.
Address: 1095 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11AM – 3AM (Daily)
Contact: +66 2 013 4159
6. Seiryu Ramen – Try their Okonomiyaki
In the area where this humble ramen joint resides, you’ll find no shortage of Japanese eateries especially ones specialising in ramen. By all means, stop by Seiryu Ramen to try one of their signature bowls of ramen. But do not make the mistake of skipping out on their okonomiyaki! That’s what these folks are known for.
Address: Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11AM – 3AM (Daily)
7. Sendai Ramen Mokkori – Owned by a Japanese Actor
Opened by the renowned Japanese actor, Norio Suzuki, Sendai Ramen Mookori is one of the few Japanese ramen joints in Bangkok that’s been given the nod by many celebrities worldwide—and the many photographs adorning the wall will prove that.
Scoring in both its atmosphere and tasty ramen. Their signature Karamiso ramen—a spicy ramen variant made from miso—is among their top-sellers but if you’re feeling adventurous, we implore you to give their Hiroshima Kaki Ramen—a clear soup ramen variant served with plump Hokkaido oysters.
Address: 8/3 Thong Lo 2, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11AM – 2AM (Daily)
Contact: +66 2 392 0811
8. Tonkotsu Kazan – Famous for its “Volcano” Ramen
If you haven’t heard the hype surrounding this Osaka-born ramen chain, this famous ramen joint—famed for its iconic “Volcanic” ramen—has already cemented itself in many parts outside of Japan, namely Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok.
Gimmicks aside, Tonkotsu Kazan’s expertise lies in its Osaka-style ramen which is creamier and more intensely flavoured and the fact that unlike many other ramen restaurants, they serve their ramen in an earthen bowl which helps your broth stay hot longer.
Address: Jasmine Building, 2 Soi Sukhumvit 23, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11AM – 11PM (Sun to Thu), 11AM – 2AM (Fri & Sat)
Contact: +66 2 661 6788
9. Uchidaya Ramen – Only 20 Bowls of Tsukemen Ramen Available
Hailing from Yokohama, this ramen restaurant chain is known for their thicker, fattier and more full-bodied bowls of tonkotsu ramen which is typical of the region it comes from. The pork-bone broth they serve here is considerably richer, sharper and a lot more intense. They’re also known for serving a small yet modest selection of tsukemen ramen (dipping-style ramen), although they only serve up to twenty bowls a day.
Address: 23/12-13 ซอย ธนิยะ สีลม Suriya Wong, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11AM – 2AM (Daily)
Contact: +66 2 237 7365
10. Zuma – Fine Dining Japanese at The St. Regis Bangkok Hotel
The swanky branch of this global chain is in five-star St. Regis Hotel in Bangkok delivers an elegant, yet convivial, casual dining experience centred around the traditional izakaya style of dining. Boasting a large, open kitchen and chic, minimalist wood and stone décor, the restaurant also has a landscaped terrace which is ideal for evening lounging. The modern Japanese menu includes the restaurant’s signatures, an impressive selection of sushi and impeccably prepared drinks enough to warrant a nightly crowd.
Address: 159 Ratchadamri Rd, Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11.30AM – 12AM
Contact: +66 2 252 4707
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