An update for 2023. My original list didn’t change much, but I can add one new ramen place to the list. I will only share the places that I would want to go back to.
Since 2017 I have been exploring the ramen scene in The Netherlands (mainly near Rotterdam). Below are restaurants which I often go to if I need to get my ramen fix. This list is based on my personal preference.
My requirements are:
- El dente and chewy noodles
- Soup with a lingering feeling on the back of your tongue, rich in umami
- Soft and flavourful meat
- Toppings that match well with the soup
Zuid-Holland ramen
Yokohama Ramen Saito | Schiedam
The first ramen place that gave me the ‘oh, ramen-can-be-this-good’- experience. Favourite ramen: deep thick Tonkotsu broth with broad chewy noodles, soy version, topped with extra menma.


Tensai Ramen | Rotterdam
Tensai taught me a new Tonkotsu flavour. Favourite ramen: Black Tonkotsu, a tad lighter than Saitou’s Tonkotsu. Creamy, floaty and an addicting broth. Very thin and straight noodles, hakata style.


Ajisan Ramen | Rotterdam
Nice creamy chicken broth and bouncy noodles. Not that salty compared to other ramen from this list, but still a lot of umami in the soup. They don’t use any MSG.


Ramen Nikkou | Delft
Favorite ramen: Toripaitan shio (chicken rich soup noodles). Light, flavourful, and good quality broth. Very soft meat topping. You can do take-out using your own 1L container. Very sustainable.


Noord-Holland ramen
Ramen-Kingdom | Amsterdam (Closed 😭)
I had chicken, but not sure if the broth was 100% chicken or a mix of chicken and pork. The soup had pepper flakes which give the soup a nice oemph. Very chewy noodles, I loved it. After soaking in the soup for a while they are still bouncy. The toppings were presented so beautiful. Very correct in place. Chicken was sous vide soft, a nice soft boiled egg and spunky bamboo. They also had a pepper kick. All in all, wonderful eating experience. – from instagram/Lazypigpassion


Ramen recommendations from others
Amsterdam
Susam from bySam.nl suggested:
- Men Impossible for freshy homemade noodles and it’s vegan.
- SORA Sapporo Ramen for a nice bowl of tonkotsu.
Mr. Saitou recommended a new branch of Fou Fow Ramen, specialized in udon.