Best pork-free ramen in Tokyo

One of the most popular ramen chains in Tokyo, Ichiran’s formula for serving a fast, solid bowl of noodles to single diners is a foolproof strategy for success in this bustling city. But while customers have long been able to customise their bowls by choosing the firmness of their noodles and the level of garlic in their soup, they couldn’t until now deviate from Ichiran’s signature tonkotsu (pork-based) broth.

Fortunately, the company has opened its first pork-free, alcohol-free joint in Ikebukuro to serve diners with special dietary requirements – the soup is made with soy and chicken stock. If you’re Muslim please take note: the beef added to the bowl as a topping is not halal, but you can get your noodles without it and finish it off with an egg instead. 

Everything on the menu here is produced strictly to meet halal requirements – even the otefuki towelettes offered to you as soon as you’re seated are alcohol-free. While Ouka is an obvious choice for Muslim patrons craving noodles, the owner of this friendly Shinjuku joint draws a diverse crowd by making sure it’s as welcoming as possible to everyone. It offers easy access for anyone using a wheelchair as well as parents with strollers. Non-veggies usually opt for the spicy chicken ramen, or the halal-certified wagyu beef ramen on a splurge, but there are also vegan-friendly options for diners looking for a meat-free meal. 

The ramen broth here is so rich the restaurant describes it as a potage. Where as most places use pork bones for their stock, Tori no Ana uses chicken, boiling whole carcasses with vegetables for six hours. The key is the abundance of wings added to the mix, which are high in fat and collagen, resulting in a creamy, full-bodied broth.

The original soup recipe is delicious on its own, but there’s a spicier version with miso added to the base if you like ramen that has a kick to it. In lieu of traditional pork chashu, the ramen is topped with a combination of barbecued and minced chicken along with bamboo shoots and spring onions. Tsukemen is also an option if you prefer to dip your noodles in a stronger broth.

Only in the trendy yet relaxed Shimokitazawa will you find a ramen shop as cosy and nourishing as this one. You wouldn’t guess by looking at menu items such as curry ramen or ‘karaage’, but everything at Chabuzen Shokudo is vegan. In fact, the restaurant has turned many classic Japanese dishes into a healthy, nutritious spread, free of any additives or chemically processed seasonings like MSG. Using only organic produce in its dishes, right down to the flour used to make the bouncy noodles, the concept of good food has never been more apparent.

Can’t handle gluten? Just ask for the rice noodles instead. It seems Chabuzen has got pretty much everyone covered with plenty of halal options as well that don’t include any kind of miso or sake.