The Best Ramen Shops in the Netherlands

Amsterdam

The Amsterdam shops differ in price and format. Gifu Ramen Bar on the Elandsgracht is a dark room with an open kitchen, sake and cocktails, where bowls cost around 20 to 32 euros and walk-ins get a table for a limited time. Ramen Kingdom, near Amsterdam Centraal, is a counter of about 20 seats where diners order and pay at a kiosk, and the queue can last up to an hour. Tensai Ramen Amsterdam usually has tables free without a booking, and staff ask if the broth is too salty or too bland and adjust it at the table.

Vegan kitchens

Two Amsterdam restaurants cook without any animal products. Kitchen Impossible makes its noodles fresh and serves them in soup, in sauce or as dipping noodles, with fried seitan among the sides; guests wait on a bench outside and share tables. At Men Impossible everyone sits at one large communal table and eats a set five-course menu built around ramen, with only the ramen flavour and the drinks left to choose, so a reservation is advisable.

Schiedam and Rotterdam

Yokohama Ramen Saito is a small Japanese-run shop near Parkweg metro in Schiedam. It serves tonkotsu in soy, salt and miso versions, with noodles made in house from windmill-ground flour. A queue forms before the 17:00 opening; diners order at the entrance before sitting and leave promptly while others wait. Tensai Ramen in central Rotterdam serves large portions of thick, creamy broth in front of an open kitchen, and booking ahead helps on busy evenings.