Bowled over by all the ramen shops? Your guide to the new imports, locals and stalwarts
Melbourne's ramen scene is thriving with a surge of new Japanese imports and local favorites. Diners are increasingly willing to pay premium prices for authentic experiences, with some bowls costing upwards of $30. This trend is fueled by a post-COVID increase in tourism to Japan, leading to heightened expectations for Japanese cuisine in Melbourne.
- ▪Ginza Kagari's tori paitan ramen, imported from Tokyo, has become a popular choice among diners in Melbourne.
- ▪Cafe Ogawa, a new ramen shop in Ascot Vale, has a digital waitlist with diners waiting up to two hours for a table.
- ▪The influx of Japanese ramen shops in Melbourne has been driven by a significant increase in Australian tourists visiting Japan.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-05-20T19:00:00Z","datePublished":"2026-05-20T19:00:00Z","description":"As imported broths and premium ingredients edge prices towards $30 per bowl, we’re here to help you pinpoint the best.","headline":"Bowled over by all the ramen shops? Your guide to the new imports, locals and stalwarts","keywords":"Best of, For subscribers, Japanese, Restaurant news, Hot & new","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Harvard…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at SMH Good Food.