【Wakayama Guide】 Wakayama Ramen: A Local Staple Nurtured by History and Culture

• Table of Contents
• What is Wakayama Ramen?
• Restaurants where you can eat Wakayama ramen

What is Wakayama Ramen?

Its basic soup is a combination of pork bone and soy sauce, and in some shops chicken bones are also added. The noodles are thin, straight, and often cooked to a softer texture. Typical toppings include chashu, menma, green onions, and kamaboko.

Wakayama ramen, which has a long history, attracts many visitors with its simple yet flavorful soup and ingredients, as well as its unique food culture. Another unique feature is the unique food culture of eating it with hanare-sushi (pressed sushi made with marinated mackerel) and boiled eggs, which are served in the restaurant.

Wakayama ramen is generally divided into two major styles:

● Shakomae‑kei — Clear, Soy‑Sauce‑Forward Broth
This style originated from the food stall “Marutaka,” which once operated near Shakomae Station of the former Nankai Wakayama Tram Line (commonly known as the “City Train”). It is characterized by a clear, fragrant soy-sauce broth with a sharp, clean flavor. As the “Marutaka” taste became beloved in the Shakomae Station area, many shops began carrying on its flavor, and it has long been cherished by locals as the classic, old-fashioned chūka soba
● Ide‑kei — Rich, Cloudy Tonkotsu Broth
This style traces its roots to Ideshōten, founded in 1953. Its signature is a rich yet smooth pork-bone broth—born accidentally when the “Shakomae-kei” soup was overcooked—that still finishes surprisingly light.

Restaurants where you can eat Wakayama ramen

Photo courtesy of Wakayama Prefecture Tourism Federation

Have these descriptions made you want to try Wakayama ramen? If you’re wondering “Where can I eat it?”, please check the links below. You’ll find a list of shops offering Wakayama ramen throughout the prefecture, as well as places where you can enjoy many other types of ramen!

List of Wakayama ramen spots

Wakayama ramen offers everything from light, soy-sauce–based bowls to deeply flavorful pork-bone bowls, making it a special food experience for all visitors. When you come to Wakayama, be sure to try an authentic bowl and savor its unique charm! (●ˇ∀ˇ●)