Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori

This is a small ramen shop that I visited about ten years ago. The taste is just as good as I remembered, though the wait time has increased a lot! But it's definitely worth it considering the price and flavor compared to other shops. The menu is limited, and you have to order from an automatic vending machine before entering. The machine gives you a ticket with an estimated wait time for when your order will be ready. The shop focuses on quick service, so it's a self-service style where you pick up and clean up after yourself. There are many tourists, so it's best to avoid peak hours, especially around noon and in the evening when the queue is longer. Outside the shop, there is a large dragon statue with tears in its eyes, holding a marble in its mouth.

Was there on Sunday before 6pm and there was a Q. Took us about 30mins in the Q to reach order machine. There's just 2 type of ramen: basic and more char siew. We got one each and the machine excepts cash, visa/masters, R pay etc for payment. Once there's available table, the staff will give u a number in exchange for your coupons (the ones u get from the machine after paying) and you can take a seat and wait for your order. There's free flow ice water as well. When they call out your number, u can collect your ramen and add the toppings u want. Ramen is great, especially in the cold winter. The taste were just right for us, soup was thick enough. We didn't add any topping as we prefer them Al dente. Will recommend.

This ramen shop has had a long wait the few times I've been down here. I stopped by shortly after 11am and it was about a 10 minute wait. I wanted to see what all the hype was about. The people eating here was a mix of locals and tourists. The ramen took a few minutes once seated to get. The flavor of the broth was ok. The meet was a bit tough though.

I had the chashu ramen ¥1100 at this corner outpost. There’s also a standalone resto nearby. Outdoor seating, devoid of ambiance, leads to mediocre atmosphere score but the ramen here is very good. Plenty of slices of chashu, though a tad dry, and a rich porky broth. Noodles had good texture. But really the star for me were the cabbage and leek kimchis, don’t forget to load your bowl with them. Like really, both were one of the best I’ve ever tasted. I would have bought bottles of them if they were for sale. So yummy! On a return visit, I’d probably just order the ramen at ¥800 and load my bowl with the kimchis.

Totally underrated. We came as a family at 01:00am on a Sunday, the wait was short and the ramen was great. You will get water only but can buy drinks across the street at any convenience store and bring it in. Highly recommend!

Broth was thick although there's alot of MSG, but is what makes it flavorful too. The taste of the pork and the noodles was thick and bouncy. The pork tasted so good and it was thick!

the ramen is good, and not very pricey, as a tourist, saw lot of Japanese people having here as well. I assume this shop is as good as local favorites 👍

Kinryu Ramen is another well known restaurant in Dotonbori, easily recognisable for it's incredible Dragon facade. Also has another branch on the street off the main area of Dotonbori. Came to their main branch twice on my recent trip located near the Tazaemon Bridge at around 11AM - 12PM and for me, it was one of those restaurants you have to try at least once when visiting Osaka. This restaurant can have a queue to dine in as on both my ocassions it did but it moved fast. Costs ¥800 for Standard ramen and ¥1100 for Cha Shu ramen (more meat), tried both of them on my visits and they were tasty, They also have garlic, chives and kimchi as condiments, kimchi is very interesting for ramen I must say. Definitely the cheapest ramen joint in Osaka. What is also good is is that this restaurant is 24 hours, so if you fancy a late night ramen, this would definitely be on your late night dining lists. Will certainly be back when I'm next in Osaka and sending some love from Melbourne, Australia!!

What's up: When in Osaka, you have to go to Dotonbori to experience the food and the nightlife! And because it was chilly, we opted to grab a bowl of ramen to warm us up. With the giant dragon looming over this place and the long line, it has to be good! Access: A 12 minute walk from JR Namba Station. It's a 4 minute walk from the famous Dotonbori Glico Sign (the running man). Environment: Despite the long line, it does move fast. As you get closer to the front, you'll see the ticket machine where you insert your cash and purchase the ramen you'd like. There's only two options: ramen or ramen with extra meat. Nice and simple. You'll give the ticket to the staff and you'll be seated when it's your turn; the ramen will be brought to your table when ready. The tables are raised above the floor and you'll have to either sit with your legs to the side or take off your shoes to sit cross legged. Everything else is pretty much self service: from the counter, grab your own ice water, toppings (nira, garlic, kimchi), chopsticks, and napkins. When done with your meal, return the bowls to the counter and off you go to the next adventure! What was ordered: - Ramen (so, so good! Broth is perfect and not super salty. Noodle texture is on point) Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. I love the ramen here. It's so good and you get it fast. Don't expect too much attention from the staff here since you can get everything yourself. Things are fast paced and tables clear up fast. Cash only.

Great affordable Ramen with a lot of meat. But you have to be patient while waiting for your turn in line to use vending machine and get a table.

Kinryu Ramen Dontonburi | Osaka | $35 $7 Chashu Ramen Idk why this place has a line tbh. It's literally 2 pieces of chashu and some noodles. Tbf, this would cost $12 dollars in the US, so I'm slightly less mad about it. Still, even after the club, I was hoping for more in the birthplace of Ramen.

No frills place! Not here for the ambiance but the noodles are great and we love the texture! Free kimchi too! The pork isn't the most tender and soup isn't rich but flavorful, so that's why it's 4 stars. Very easy to order your noodles at the machine and select what you want, add money, get the ticket and give it to the guy, sit down and he'll give it to you when it's ready. Very fast and efficient service! The seating is a little different where you can kick off your shoes and fold your legs and eat your noodles. Their other restaurants may not even have seating, so you'll stand. It's not a sit and lounge kind of place, but a quick stop to fill your tummy and get going! Perfect for locals who are working or going to school.

Highly recommended place on TikTok with long lines. Not sure what the hype is about. The soup and ramen was decent but not the best. Would skip the wait and try smaller/less known place. At least it didn't cost much.

We came here for late night ramen after walking by and seeing the crazy long lines during the day. While the ramen wasn't bad, based on all the ramen shops I tried in Japan, I would probably choose others over Kinryu. Their ramen is pretty basic and they offer only two options: regular ramen and ramen with extra pork. I got the regular and shared with the bf. It was tasty and the pork was good, but the ramen was nowhere near as satisfying as Ichiran right around the corner! I prefer my broth richer and heavier. However, a couple pros: 1) their regular ramen is only ¥600 so you really can't beat that price-wise, and 2) unlike so many places in Japan, they let you share a bowl so you don't have to stuff yourself after trying all the other food in Dotonbori.

This is thee best bowl of $6 ramen that I have ever had. You can't get a better value-for-money meal after a night of drinking and pub-crawling on the always-busy Dontobori in Osaka. This is a solid 3.5 star place for what it is offering and for the crowd they want to attract. This is ramen for everybody and at affordable price. What's even better is that this place is open 24 hours so you can always find yourself a hot steaming bowl of ramen. It's good to note that they have two shops that are very close by to each other. The more picturesque one with the giant dragon on the corner doesn't have a lot of seats but it attracts the tourists. The other location is much larger and about one block away on the adjacent corner and usually is a lot less crowded too. The vending machine has English so that you can decide between their very short and succinct menu options: 1. Ramen with chashu 2. Ramen with extra chashu Hand in your ticket to the always busy staff and wait until they call your number. The food does come out rather quickly here so try to find a good seat and keep your ears on alert. The pork broth is thick and creamy while the ramen noodles are done respectfully. They are el-dente with the right amount of chew and slurp up great. It is topped off with a few slices of chashu and a sprinkle of green onions for the finish. Kinryu also offers free sides that you can help yourself while having a bowl of their yummy ramen. You can get some kimchi, pickled spicy green onions/chives, and minced garlic cloves. The tables at Kinryu are kind of unique. They are raised tables where you can take off your shoes and sit cross-legged whilst enjoying your bowl. It's a little more awkward to eat it with your legs dangling off the side but I would encourage you to take off those shoes. This is the best place for a meal before, during, or after your time on the dotonburi!

Goood place for a quick ramen fix. Please don't expect too much of this joint. However with the price you paid for this area it's worth it. However this store is dirty. Just finish eating and move on. It's not a place for you to sit and relax. Eat then go. Nothing else I could say.

Two simple choices without all them fancy toppings to purchase. I, however don't care about lack of choices here. When you finally get your bowl of ramen, be sure to go to the counter and add these items that are from three bowls with chopsticks already stuck in them. Kimchi, leek/chives and garlic. Also white pepper from a canister. It's what takes their ramen to the next level. After trying a bowl of ramen here, I would say it's up there with Ichiran ramen.

Read about this place in a Dotonbori guide, so I told my friend we must try it if we find it. We each got a bowl of ramen, but it was just okay. It was still probably a lot better than any ramen you would get in the states, but for Japan...meh lol. You cannot have your shoes on the platforms, so if you want to sit, you would have to take your shoes off unless you sit sideways. Very cheap ramen, however, so it is worth a try!

Decent $6 ramen. Located in a super touristy shopping area and has a dragon on top of the shop so you can't miss it. Really limited options and you pick what you want at a machine. Dining area is out in the open so when it's cold it might be difficult to eat. They have toppings that you can self-serve add to the ramen. Quality wasn't bad: flavorful broth and good amount of ingredients for the price. Decent place if you're just having a simple ramen craving.

NOT worth the hype. I have had better ramen; the ramen place next to it is much better. Their broth was tasteless; the pork was boiled with no spice. I would not go there again. I think it works coz its cheap- $6

It's sad to see how lowly this place is rated. If you're looking for a basic but delicious ramen shop, which is all I wanted, this is a nice spot. You order one of two options by vending machine (ramen or ramen with extra pork). You'll be spending only 600 yen for the first option and you'll leave feeling full and satisfied. Give the ticket to one of the chefs and have a seat in their table area, in a prime spot for people watching. They have a few toppings available like kimchi but I prefer my ramen plain. The noodles were cooked well, the broth was rich but not too rich, and the pork was not super tender but not tough either. Can't ask for more than that for 600 yen. There are other locations but this one is in a bustling area and it's fun to watch people walk by.

This was my least favorite ramen during my trip to Japan. There is only one kind of ramen here and you have to option to get extra meat. You can't miss this place by the big green dragon at the top of the restaurant. There are two locations of restaurant at Dotonburi. The con of this place is that the ramen is really basic, nothing compared to the other ramen shops around. The pros of this restaurant is that they have two kinds of kimchi and rice that is all free. It is also all you can eat for these sides so feel free to fill yourself up.

Situated in Dotombori, there is a noodle shop in a corner lot. The place is easy to spot because if you look up, you'll see this giant gold dragon. This is a ramen shop without any fancy bells or whistles. You line up and purchase your ticket at the machine. It's a pretty simple menu: ramen or ramen with extra meat. When ready, the staff will collect your meal ticket and direct you to a table. The table itself is pretty interesting as it's raised above the floor and you basically have to take off your shoes to sit cross legged. If you're lucky, you can manage by sitting to one side and avoid taking off your shoes. The staff will call out from behind the counter when your food is ready. Go pick it up and add any toppings that you desire. Bring the food back to your table and enjoy! Once done, bring the bowls back to the counter and you're good! Overall, it's a quick meal that's pretty satisfying.

If you're a ramen connoisseur or enjoy good ramen, skip Kinryu Ramen. Kinryu is a chain that's found all over Osaka. The one on Dotonbori is especially flamboyant because the giant dragon head protruding from the roof of the shop. I decided to try the ramen here only because of the dragon head. Bad idea. Could have used stomach space on something else. The ramen here is very basic and very cheap. Toppings are optional, but also very limited. Don't expected gourmet or innovative ramen.

$6 ramen or $9 for extra pork. Only one flavor. You buy a ticket through a vending machine then bring it up to the counter and the guy there would then make it. This place opens 24 hours and offers good ramen.

This is definitely the worst so-called ramen (it is not even an authentic ramen) place in dotonbori. My boyfriend had food poisoning over their meat. That looks like just a trimming from a double dead pork. I can tell that it is the cause since we both order the same thing, it's just that he took all the pork from my noodles. So disappointed. We've been always traveling to japan for years now and this is the first time we've encountered such unsanitary and improper food handling. I saw one staff while waiting for my order getting some sliced pork in a huge tray, uncovered and exposed (considering that their stall is just along the street and had no idea how long was that tray of pork has been sitting there) and putting it one by one in those ramen bowls with NO GLOVES! wow! To all the tourist out there, don't get fooled with the long queue of this restaurant.

Had a bowl of good ramen here at Lonely Planet's recommendation - my husband liked it more than I did it, I found it a little on the basic side, but loooooved the marinated green onions, garlic, and kimchi toppings! That makes it worthwhile to me. The roasted pork in it was actually rather good, big meaty pieces unlike some places that offer pretty pathetic, scant fatty bits of meat. It's a fun place to have a good bowl of noodles and watch the world go by, but it won't change your life. Fun to sit in the middle of Dotonbori though, and experience the hustle and bustle!

Decent bowl of ramen, nothing special. When we were finished eating, many black pieces of some material fell from the ceiling vent into the ramen. DISGUSTING!! Didn't take pictures, as I just wanted to get out of the restaurant. Besides that, the restaurant was already disgustingly dirty and not a good place to eat at. Would not recommend at all. 0/5