Sugoi Niboshi Rāmen Nagi Shinjuku Golden Gai
Sugoi Niboshi Rāmen Nagi Shinjuku Golden Gai things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Tokyo Ramen Even the Japanese Line Up For! Tabelog High-Rated Picks
mystic_mind
3110
Ramen Nagi is absolutely amazing. It’s a must-go if you’re in Japan. Let me get straight to the point: this place is worth the hype, and some people just don’t get it—like a certain Sharon Moritz, who clearly doesn’t understand ramen or Japanese culture. If you’re traveling to experience something different, you need to go in with an open mind. Otherwise, what’s the point? Yes, you wait in the alley—and yes, that’s exactly how it should be. It’s not rude, it’s not dirty—it’s efficient, respectful, and part of the charm. Standing in an alley while waiting for a spot in a legendary ramen shop is part of the experience. Would you rather stand in the middle of the street blocking the way? No. The alley is clean, organized, and even fun if you understand the vibe. And about the small size of the place—yes, it’s tiny. That’s the beauty of it. It’s focused on quality, not mass production. A small space allows the chefs to perfect every single bowl. Why would you want a big, soulless restaurant that just pumps out mediocre food? No, thank you. You also pay before you eat, which honestly is brilliant. No awkward waiting for the bill. You enjoy your food, and then you’re free to go. Efficient and simple. Now, let’s talk about the food: This was the best ramen I’ve ever had in my life. So good that I swore I’d never eat ramen again until I’m back in Japan. We were in the area for five days, and we ate at Ramen Nagi most of those days. That’s how incredible it was. The broth? Unforgettable. The noodles? Perfect texture. The flavor? Deep, rich, complex—it hits every note. You’ll taste ramen in a way you didn’t even know was possible. The staff? Polite, respectful, kind. The place has character, culture, and soul. If you travel just to feel like you’re at home, maybe you shouldn’t be traveling. But if you’re someone who appreciates different ways of doing things—this is where you need to be. So no—don’t listen to someone who left just a handful of clueless reviews. Take it from someone who’s been around, knows food, and respects culture. Highly, highly recommend. Don’t miss it. Take pictures, enjoy the atmosphere, and if someone ends up in your shot, just be polite and ask—it’s not hard. Respect the culture, and it’ll reward you with an experience you’ll never forget.
Miriam Isaac
00
The most unique and iconic bowl of ramen I have ever had came from this amazing experience. I came here after wandering around for the night and having a couple of drinks and arrived at about midnight to satisfy my craving for an epic meal before turning in for the night. I had a little trouble finding the line due to the previously mentioned drinks but once I found the alley that contained the line I waited happily for what ended up only being about 20 minutes surprisingly. However now that I have already eaten here I know that next time I’d be willing to wait even exponentially longer for another chance to savor this rich and fishy(in the best way) bowl of pure gold. Made my way up the stairs and sat down at the small bar. The great thing about this place and most places in Tokyo is that you’re meant to get in, enjoy your food and move on which is exactly how I prefer my dining experiences to be. I was almost immediately served after ordering and I could already smell the delicious sardine laden scent coming off of my steaming hot personal bowl. Two types of noodles in this ramen and the thicker flat noodles are such a welcome addition to the standard ramen noodles. I can only describe this as one of the most rich broths I have ever tasted and the flavors are just packed densely into it. This one is all about complexity of the flavor and doesn’t really contain any level of spicy in my personal opinion but that fits what this is supposed to be. Something about slurping down these intensely fishy noodles in the famous Golden Gai district after wandering around partially drunk at the end of the evening is just magic. Can’t wait to visit again next year.
Ryan Sasek
00
Disappointing from Start to Finish The experience started in a foul-smelling alley where we had to wait before even entering the restaurant—definitely not the welcoming atmosphere you’d hope for. The menu was limited to just three options, and to make matters worse, you had to pay before eating—probably the first red flag we should’ve taken more seriously. Once we were finally allowed upstairs, we found ourselves crammed into a tiny, closet-sized room with maybe six chairs total and a single window. We were elbow-to-elbow with strangers, which made for an uncomfortable dining experience before the food even arrived. When it did, the ramen was incredibly underwhelming. The noodles were thick, eggy, and heavy—not in a satisfying way. The broth was the real disaster: it had the consistency of gravy, the kind you’d expect at Easter dinner, but somehow managed to be even worse. Overpoweringly salty with a strong fishy taste (which I actually don’t mind fishy taste) that ruined any chance of balance or comfort in the bowl. I ordered pork, but I’m fairly certain I was served cold, dry beef instead. The meat was stale and flavorless. The “seasoned egg” was literally just a plain boiled egg, no seasoning to speak of. While they were generous with green onions, every topping—including that—came with an extra charge. And despite asking for my bowl to be spicy, there was absolutely no heat at all. Overall, this place felt more like a trap than a treat. With so many better ramen spots out there, this one is an easy pass don’t get drawn in by the art outside.
Sharon Moritz
00
traveling from the US, we visited Ramen Nagi when we inevitably woke up at 7am our first morning in town. we walked up the stairs and were immediately welcomed and showed how to order via the (non computerized) kiosk. it is cash only! make sure to put in all of your money first before making your selections, as it is not like america where you add everything then get a total cost. once you make your selection, if you’ve entered exact change your ticket slip will automatically print our. If you need change, simply select the distribute change button and then you will receive your change and your ticket slip. hand those ticket slips to the person working and they will ask for your spice level before you find a seat. (small seating area, 10-12 people tops) looking at reviews, I was nervous at first as I’m admittedly not the best eater especially when it comes to fish. WOW, was I happy to go against my gut. I did not find the broth to be too fishy or too salty like others have mentioned, I found everything about the bowl to be out of this world. I ordered the regular bowl (not spicy) and my husband got the special bowl (spicy). we were both extremely pleased and full, and we did not have to eat again until close to dinner time even after walking 15,000+ steps around Shibuya all day. I would highly recommend Ramen Nagi to friends, family, and anyone else looking for authentic Japanese ramen.
Crystal Brooks
00
We reached the restaurant by 11:30am on Thursday and needed to queue in a very narrow alley for 25 minutes. When it was our turn, the server called us to go to the restaurant located on the second floor. The stairs were very narrow and steep. We were requested to make our order through a machine located on the narrow stairs. Only could use cash and no change for balance. The seating area was so narrow. We hardly can move. Only complimentary iced water was provided. Surprisingly, although the restaurant was so narrow, it has a toilet in here. We could watch the chef when he prepared for the noodle. Live show. But the chef was too shy to appear in my photo or video. Special niboshi ramen was super delicious. The broth was flavourful and addictive. We liked the wide noodle and the anchovies. The noodkevwas silky smooth and fine. The BBQ pork was too salty. Other ingredients were ok. We finished off until the last drop of soup and didn't feel thirsty afterwards. 1900 yen was value for money. 5 stars We also ordered the wide noodle with dipping sauce at 1800 yen. The wide noodle was so fine, smooth, and bouncy. It was cold, but when dipped into the warm soup, the kind of feeling was difficult to describe. Adding the black pepper to the dipping sauce would elevate the taste to the perfect level of satisfaction. 5 stars
Hock Sing Tan
00
Nearby Attractions Of Sugoi Niboshi Rāmen Nagi Shinjuku Golden Gai
Omoide Yokochō
GENKI foot・body massage Shinjuku
Hanazono Shrine
Shinjuku Piccadilly Cinema
HANDS Shinjuku Store
Sekaido Shinjuku
Shinjuku Station
Shinjuku Wald 9
Susokan Store
Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku

Omoide Yokochō
4.2
(5.3K)
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GENKI foot・body massage Shinjuku
5.0
(3.6K)
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Hanazono Shrine
4.3
(3.3K)
Click for details

Shinjuku Piccadilly Cinema
4.0
(3.3K)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Sugoi Niboshi Rāmen Nagi Shinjuku Golden Gai
Haidilao Shinjuku Branch
Gyukatsu Motomura Shinjuku Main Store
Gyopao Gyoza Shinjuku
Hinomaru
Momo Paradise Shinjuku Higashi-guchi
YAKINIKU WASHINO SHINJUKU
Ichiran Ramen
Gyukatsu Motomura Shinjuku South exit Store
Lad's Dining
Shisha Cafe & Bar C.STAND+ Shinjuku Kabukicho

Haidilao Shinjuku Branch
4.7
(3.2K)
$$
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Gyukatsu Motomura Shinjuku Main Store
4.9
(2.9K)
Click for details

Gyopao Gyoza Shinjuku
4.8
(3K)
Click for details

Hinomaru
4.8
(2.8K)
Click for details
Basic Info
Address
Japan, 〒160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukicho, 1 Chome−1−10 2階
Map
Phone
+81 3-3205-1925
Call
Website
n-nagi.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.2
(2.4K reviews)
Ratings & Description
attractions: Omoide Yokochō, GENKI foot・body massage Shinjuku, Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku Piccadilly Cinema, HANDS Shinjuku Store, Sekaido Shinjuku, Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku Wald 9, Susokan Store, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, restaurants: Haidilao Shinjuku Branch, Gyukatsu Motomura Shinjuku Main Store, Gyopao Gyoza Shinjuku, Hinomaru, Momo Paradise Shinjuku Higashi-guchi, YAKINIKU WASHINO SHINJUKU, Ichiran Ramen, Gyukatsu Motomura Shinjuku South exit Store, Lad's Dining, Shisha Cafe & Bar C.STAND+ Shinjuku Kabukicho

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