30 Popular Okayama Ramen Shops

The ultimate list of 30 must-try ramen spots in Okayama — good enough that people travel from other prefectures. Along with classic shops in Kurashiki and long lines in Okayama City, it also features Kasaoka-style ramen, famous for its clear chicken–soy sauce broth. Covers tonkotsu, shoyu, and niboshi, so it’s perfect for planning your lunch while traveling.

When people in Japan talk about “Okayama ramen,” they often mean a light chicken-and-soy base with a little pork bone added for depth. You can still find the old-school chuka soba style, but there are also shops using seafood stock or modern toppings, especially around Kurashiki and central Okayama City. Many places get lines at lunchtime, so it’s easy to add to a sightseeing day.

One local style that ramen fans from other regions come for is Kasaoka Ramen. It uses broth made from old laying hens, so the soy sauce soup is very clear but powerful, and instead of pork chashu it’s topped with chopped chicken. It looks simple, but it’s super addictive — and it even works as a “morning ramen.”

In recent years, younger shops have started serving richer bowls, mazemen, and tsukemen, so you can compare the classic Okayama style with new-wave ramen in one trip. Because each area has its own character, it’s fun to rent a car and do an “Okayama ramen drive,” hitting 2–3 shops in a day.