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The Guide · Ramen Spots

The Best Ramen Spots in Minneapolis (2026)

Four restaurants across Minneapolis. Compare neighborhoods, price tiers and what to order, then read the full reviews.

Kou Thao
By Kou Thao Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis · Updated October 2026 · How the score is built
The Best Ramen Spots in Minneapolis (2026)
THE MINNEAPOLIS DINING GUIDES 4 restaurants
Compare all 4 restaurantsNeighborhood · price · score · first order
In the same order as the guide. Scores are out of 10; dollar symbols show the listed price tier.
RestaurantNeighborhoodPriceScoreWhat to order
01 Kajiken RamenMinneapolisShoyu ramen
02 moto-iMinneapolis$$Tuna Bao Buns
03 Ramen KazamaMinneapolis$$Tonkatsu Ramen
04 Tenka RamenMinneapolis$$Tonkatsu ramen

4 restaurants · In guide order

1 Kajiken Ramen Yelp

Kajiken Ramen

Ramen · Minneapolis

Shoyu ramen is the order most regulars settle into, though the tonkotsu draws its own following. The booths come stocked with condiments so diners can adjust their own bowls, and the room handles groups well, with private-style seating and a check-splitting system that keeps larger tables moving. Gyoza rounds out the order. A dependable weeknight fixture more than a special-occasion room.

What to orderShoyu ramenTonkotsu ramenGyoza Call Directions Scored from the full review record 9 E 66th St, Minneapolis, MN 55423 · (612) 682-9888
2 moto-i Yelp

moto-i

Izakaya · Minneapolis · $$

Bao buns carry the menu here, not ramen broth, and the tuna version consistently outranks the crispy chicken and pork versions among regulars. Moto-i works as an izakaya rather than a noodle shop, with dim lighting that suits date nights and holiday visits alike. Benny buns show up as a seasonal variation. Worth knowing before walking in expecting a classic ramen bowl.

What to orderTuna Bao BunsCrispy Chicken Bao BunsPork Bao Buns Call Directions Scored from the full review record 2940 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · (612) 821-6262
3 Ramen Kazama Yelp

Ramen Kazama

Ramen · Minneapolis · $$

Tonkatsu ramen is the anchor bowl, built on a broth diners describe as light rather than heavy, with noodles and pork that hold their texture. Miso and shoyu round out the menu. The counter-service room leans into a straightforward Japanese ramen shop format, no frills, and it draws a following that treats it as a genuine cold-weather destination in Minneapolis.

What to orderTonkatsu RamenMiso RamenShoyu Ramen Call Directions Scored from the full review record 3400 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · (612) 353-6160
4 Tenka Ramen Yelp

Tenka Ramen

Ramen · Minneapolis · $$

Tonkatsu ramen and bubble tea are the combination regulars mention first, with the broth landing on the creamy, comforting side of the spectrum. Ordering happens at tablets near the entrance, and service moves fast even midweek. The room sits inside the Eat Street Crossing corridor on Nicollet, making it a straightforward stop for a quick bowl rather than a lingering meal.

What to orderTonkatsu ramenShoyu ramenBubble tea Call Directions Scored from the full review record 1404 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · (612) 825-4128
What to know before choosing a restaurant

The top picks: Kajiken Ramen, moto-i, and Ramen Kazama, with all 4 rooms ranked below.

Ramen in Minneapolis runs from Dinkytown counters to Northeast izakaya rooms, and the shoyu and tonkotsu bowls below hold their own against any coast. None of these are St. Paul rooms, and none need the Green Line to make the case for a cold-weather bowl.

Frequently asked

What is the best ramen near me in Minneapolis?
It depends on the neighborhood. Kajiken and Ramen Kazama are straightforward noodle shops good for a fast, warming bowl, Tenka Ramen sits along the Eat Street Crossing stretch of Nicollet for a quick weeknight order, and moto-i is really an izakaya best treated as a bao bun and small-plates room rather than a ramen destination. Check the Insider Score on each listing to compare.
Is moto-i actually a ramen restaurant?
Not primarily. Its reputation is built on bao buns, tuna, crispy chicken, and pork versions among them, served in a dim, date-night-friendly room in Minneapolis. Diners looking specifically for a ramen bowl should look to Kajiken, Ramen Kazama, or Tenka Ramen instead.
Which of these ramen spots is best for a group?
Kajiken stands out for groups. It offers private-style seating and an easy check-splitting setup, which makes it more practical for a larger table than the counter-service format at Ramen Kazama or Tenka Ramen.
How are these restaurants ranked?
Each restaurant carries an Insider Score built from the public review record, not paid placement. No restaurant on this list or anywhere on the site pays for inclusion or for a better position; the ranking reflects what diners have actually said about the food and the room.
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The data first, then the verdict

We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →

About the writer
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis

Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.

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