Hiroshima Ramen: The Regional Style Almost Nobody Talks About

Hiroshima has one of Japan's most distinctive regional ramen styles — a light soy broth with thin noodles and a raw egg cracked in at the end. Almost no one outside Japan knows about it.

Hiroshima is visited for the Peace Memorial Museum, Miyajima island, and okonomiyaki — the city's other famous dish, a thick savoury pancake with noodles layered in. Ramen here doesn't get talked about internationally, which is partly why it's interesting. The style that developed here is quite different from anything you'll encounter in Tokyo or Fukuoka.

The Hiroshima Style

Hiroshima ramen typically features a light, clear broth made from a combination of pork bone and chicken, seasoned with soy sauce. It's closer to a delicate shoyu style than the heavier broths of Sapporo or Fukuoka — but with its own particular character. The noodles are thin and straight, similar to Hakata-style. The most distinctive local custom is cracking a raw egg into the bowl near the end of the meal, letting the residual heat from the broth cook it slightly. This is so common that some shops do it by default.

What to Order

Most Hiroshima ramen shops keep menus simple — a basic bowl with chashu, menma, and green onions, plus optional toppings. The egg addition (生卵, nama tamago) is usually a small surcharge or sometimes included. Spring onions are generous. Some shops offer a slightly richer version with more pork influence in the broth, but the defining characteristic remains the lightness.

Where to Eat

The best Hiroshima ramen is found in neighbourhood shops rather than tourist-facing restaurants. The area around Funairi, Nishi-Hiroshima station, and the shotengai (covered shopping streets) south of the main station have established local shops. Avoid ramen shops immediately adjacent to the Peace Memorial area — they cater to tourists and the quality reflects this.

Combining With Okonomiyaki

Hiroshima okonomiyaki (different from Osaka-style — it layers rather than mixes the ingredients) is the other must-eat in the city. Don't try to eat both in the same meal. Okonomiyaki is a substantial pancake with noodles — it's a full meal by itself. Ramen for lunch, okonomiyaki for dinner, or vice versa, is the sensible approach. Read how regional ramen differences stack up in our city comparison guide.