Top 10 Toyama Black Ramen From Original to Popular Shops in Toyama City

In the birthplace of the original Daiki
Experience the history of Toyama Black ramen.

Nishimachi Daiki

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This is the birthplace of "Daiki," known as the originator of Toyama Black ramen. Although it temporarily closed due to various circumstances, it was spurred on by many voices hoping for its revival, and new members have taken over the business, restarting as "Nishimachi Daiki." The key to this ramen lies in the salty bamboo shoots. The strong seasoning, which makes it a great side dish for rice, is a remnant of the time when it was intended to replenish the salt of manual laborers. Mixing the noodles and toppings vigorously with the rich soy sauce-based soup mellows the saltiness, creating a harmonious flavor. Combined with coarsely chopped green onions and coarsely ground black pepper, it is a powerful bowl of ramen that you won't forget once you've tried it. Be sure to savor the history of Toyama Black ramen with rice.

If you want to enjoy comparing different flavors, this is the place to start! The Nishimachi main store is right next to the Toyama City Glass Museum. There is also a Toyama Marche store inside the train station and a Futakuchi store in the suburbs.

Nishimachi Daiki Nishimachi Main Store

Address	1-1-7 Otaguchi-dori, Toyama City
Opening hours	11:00 ~ 20:00
Closed days	Wednesday (open on public holidays)

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A tradition passed down from the days of street stalls
"Young" - a rich yet crisp flavor

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This is a traditional ramen shop run by the third generation of the family, which started as a diner, then operated as a food stall, and finally opened a shop in 1998. The shop's Toyama Black ramen is commonly known as "Young." Originally created as a secret menu item for young people during the food stall days, this rich ramen came to be called "Young," and the name has been passed down even now that Toyama Black has become established. The secret to its blackness is the rich soy sauce base, which is made by simmering it down many times. The richness of the pork and the umami of the soy sauce are tightly concentrated, and the aftertaste is clean and crisp. The homemade medium-thick, hand-kneaded noodles go well with the soup, and it's sure to become addictive. The other signature dish, "Ganso," is a lighter version that has been around since the diner days, and it is said that preferences are almost evenly divided. Are you a Young fan? Or a Ganso fan?

This restaurant has a spacious tatami room, making it easy to visit even with children. You can also order a ramen with a richness level between "Young" and "Original," allowing you to enjoy a bowl tailored to your preference.

Darumaya Ramen Toyama Kitadai Branch

Address	5332 Kitadai, Toyama City
Opening hours	11:00 ~ 21:00
Closed days	Monday (open on public holidays)

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Supported locally for over half a century
"Char Siu Ramen"

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Founded in the late 50s, Daiki Nezukaten has been faithfully making char siu ramen in Nezuka-cho, Toyama City. The first generation owner trained under Daiki's founder, Koreyasu Takahashi, and has run the restaurant for over half a century since receiving permission to do so. The sight of local regulars flooding in as soon as the restaurant opens at 11am speaks volumes about its popularity. The "Char Siu Ramen" boasts a well-balanced flavor that is not just rich. The soup is characterized by a deep richness and a clean finish, and the thinly sliced ​​char siu, piled so high that it almost completely covers the noodles, is incredibly satisfying. A set meal with Toyama rice is a staple, and the style of slurping the noodles heartily from the bowl without using a spoon is a tradition inherited from the original restaurant. Enjoy the taste that has been etched into the memories of the people of Toyama.

With its elegant exterior resembling a traditional Japanese restaurant, it has a welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy for female customers to enter. Since it's open all day, you can easily stop by during your sightseeing.

Daiki Nezukaten, a specialty restaurant for char siu ramen.

Address	4-2-8 Nezuka-cho, Toyama City
Opening hours	11:00-19:30 (LO)
Closed days	Wednesday

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A head-on competition based on the natural flavors of the ingredients!
A rich and flavorful soup you'll want to drink to the last drop.

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Located in front of Toyama Station since 1997, "Ramen Isshin" is a popular ramen shop that serves ramen made with no chemical seasonings and homemade noodles. Isshin's Black ramen is all about the pure taste of the ingredients. The key to the flavor is the dark soy sauce that is fermented and aged for three years by a local soy sauce brewery. The char siu is simmered in this superb soy sauce, which highlights the sweetness of soybeans and the aroma of wheat, and the sauce, which is then reduced further, is combined with a chicken bone-based soup. The deep flavor, infused with the rich aroma of soy sauce, gently permeates the body, making you want to drink every last drop. The owner's attention to detail is also evident in the toppings, such as the golden boiled egg and the two types of char siu with different textures.

In addition to the most popular Black ramen, the menu is extensive, including Echigo miso, Himi dried sardine, and mazesoba with thick, curly noodles. Enjoy a bowl of ramen made with carefully selected ingredients.　

Ramen Isshin Toyama Station Main Store

Address	1-1-36 Sakuramachi, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, Toyama Chitetu Building 1F
Opening hours	11: 30 to 22: 00 (LO21: 30)
Closed days	Sunday

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The aroma and umami of the fish sauce are irresistible.
The catalyst for Toyama Black

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Menya Iroha is known as the driving force behind the nationwide spread of Toyama Black ramen. This highly-regarded restaurant holds the unprecedented record of being the top-selling ramen shop five times at the Tokyo Ramen Show, Japan's largest ramen festival. The CiC store, located in a building in front of the station, is conveniently located about a 3-minute walk from the south exit of Toyama Station via an underground passage, and is bustling with customers from both within and outside the prefecture seeking the local flavor. The "Toyama Black Black Soy Sauce Ramen" stimulates the appetite with the aroma of fish sauce rising from its jet-black soup. The first sip surprises you with its mildness, contrary to its appearance, and as you continue to eat, the deep umami of seafood spreads throughout your mouth. The crispness and deep richness are truly the essence of Toyama Black ramen.

They also offer take-out instant noodles so you can recreate the restaurant's taste at home. The "White Shrimp Broth Salt Ramen," which uses white shrimp—the jewel of Toyama Bay—is the second most popular dish after the Black Ramen!

Menya Iroha CiC Store

Address	1-2-3 Shintomi-cho, Toyama City, CiC Building, B1F
Opening hours	11: 00 to 22: 00 (LO21: 30)
Closed days	Open all year round

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The sweet and salty combination is addictive.
A long-established black ramen shop representing Toyama

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Established in 1952 as a food stall, Marutakaya is a long-standing ramen shop that has made a name for itself for three generations in Toyama, a city known for its fierce ramen competition. Based on the popular Marutakaya Ramen, a soul food of Toyama, their Black Ramen is rapidly gaining popularity as a new specialty. The rich pork bone and soy sauce broth, enhanced with their original black honey soy sauce, has a unique sweet and salty flavor that is addictive. We recommend changing to thick noodles (+110 yen). You can also customize the taste to your liking by adding the fried pork back fat flakes and odorless grated garlic available on the table. Be sure to try the half & half with Marutakaya Ramen. It's open until late at night, making it a great place for a quick drink.

In Toyama City, in addition to the station-front store, there are a total of five stores: Ushijima Main Store, Shinjo Store, Toyota Store, and Akada Store. They can be used for any occasion, from solo diners to families.

Marutakaya Ekimae Store

Address	2-4-2 Sakuramachi, Toyama City, MEL Building 1F
Opening hours	Tuesday to Thursday, Sunday 11:30 AM to 25:00 AM, Friday and Saturday 11:30 AM to 27:00 AM
Closed days	Monday (in the case of a holiday, the next day)

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Faithfully preserving the original taste of Daiki
Authentic Black Ramen

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Shuzo Nakajima, the founder of "Nakajima," was one of the direct disciples who trained under the founder at Daiki, the originator of Toyama Black ramen. In February 2025, the current owner, Mr. Ueda, took over as a black ramen specialty shop to preserve the taste of this little-known ramen that was quietly served in an izakaya (Japanese pub). The key to the flavor is the secret soy sauce base, which takes more than three months to prepare. The crisp taste and beautiful jet-black appearance reflect the shop's sincere commitment to tradition. The shop faithfully reproduces the original Daiki, using medium-thick straight noodles from the same noodle factory and allowing customers to add black pepper to their liking from the table. This true black ramen, which the owner was determined to preserve, is definitely worth trying.

First, we recommend trying the traditional, richly flavored "Toyama Black Ramen." We also have "Modern Black," which has a milder flavor and is easier to eat.

Toyama Black Ramen Nakajima

Address	2-10 Saiwai-cho, Toyama City
Opening hours	11:30 ~ 14:00
Closed days	Monday

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Preserving the flavors of the Showa and Heisei eras for the present day.
The famous "Daiki" is back!

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Founded over 90 years ago, Maruzen has been a beloved soba noodle restaurant. In November 2025, the fourth-generation owner, Richie, reopened it as an izakaya (Japanese pub), serving Toyama Black ramen "Daiki," a recipe inherited from the third-generation owner, Kensuke Kubota. Mr. Kubota worked at the original Daiki from the Showa to Heisei eras. The bowl, recreated by Richie using his late father-in-law's recipe, boasts a rich, traditional flavor. The homemade thick, curly noodles hold the soup well, and the coarsely chopped green onions and char siu pork complement it perfectly. The anecdote that the pepper was sprinkled on the table before serving to prevent theft during the chaotic post-war period adds another layer of depth to the flavor. Enjoy "Daiki," a ramen loved across generations.

At the restaurant, you can also enjoy dishes from Richie's hometown, Australia. Even if you only want to visit "Daiki," you're welcome. It's perfect as an accompaniment to drinks or as a final dish.

Richie's Bar Maruzen

Address	1-5-5 Sengoku-cho, Toyama City
Opening hours	17: 00 to 22: 00 (LO21: 30)
Closed days	Closed on Sundays and Mondays, and other irregular days.

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Perfect for lunch or as a late-night snack after drinks.
A mild and gentle drink at an izakaya (Japanese pub)

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Located in the Sengoku-cho shopping arcade in Toyama City, "Nekohachi" is an izakaya (Japanese pub) that specializes in ramen and yakisoba (fried noodles). It is open all day and night, and its casual atmosphere, where you can enjoy not only meals but also drinks from early in the day, is very popular. The "Kinsen Soy Sauce Ramen" is made using the same recipe as "Kinsen," an izakaya in the city where the owner, Mr. Fujie, trained. The sweet and mild soup, rich in dashi (broth), has a gentle flavor that is perfect as a finishing dish after drinking, as is typical of an izakaya. On the other hand, the thick slices of char siu (roast pork), chunky diced bamboo shoots, and plenty of green onions assert the robustness characteristic of Toyama Black ramen. The "yakisoba," which is grilled to a fragrant crisp using the same special noodles as the ramen, is also a dish that you should definitely try.

During lunchtime from 11:30 to 14:00, they offer a complimentary marinated egg. After 14:00, a menu of snacks is added, allowing you to enjoy it as an izakaya (Japanese pub).

Izakaya Nekohachi

Address	3-15 Echizen-machi, Toyama City
Opening hours	ランチタイム11:30〜14:00、居酒屋タイム14:00〜22:00（フードLO20:45）
Closed days	Closed on Wednesdays and other irregular days. *Please check Instagram for opening days.

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A strong, rich soy sauce and black pepper
Toyama Black Ramen with a powerful punch

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"Gutsy! Ebisu-ko" is a popular restaurant in a prime location right in front of Toyama Station, offering generously portioned meals. Their signature dish, "Toyama Black," features a jet-black soup made from a blend of several types of soy sauce. The richness of the soy sauce and the punch of black pepper create a truly impactful bowl. The generous toppings, including hand-cut char siu, make it truly "hearty." You can also add soup to your liking, so even black ramen beginners can try it with confidence. Furthermore, the connoisseur's way to enjoy it is to add a raw egg to make "Tsukimi Black." Dipping the noodles and char siu into the beaten egg transforms it into a rich yet mild flavor reminiscent of sukiyaki. Don't miss the evolved version of Toyama Black, which can be enjoyed as "tsukemen" (dipping noodles).

Open from 9 AM until late at night, it's perfect for a quick stop while waiting for your train. Why not enjoy one last bowl of Toyama Black ramen to cap off your trip?

Ebisuko

Address	Patio Sakura 2F, 1-4-20 Sakuramachi, Toyama City
Opening hours	9:00〜24:30（LO24:00）、金・土曜9:00〜25:30（LO25:00）
Closed days	Open all year round

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