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Monohon Ramen
RamenRamenAbura SobaSoupless RamenOld StreetShoreditchOsaka-trainedAuthenticNo Reservations
London's most obsessively authentic ramen shop — founder Ian Wheatley spent years training in Osaka's ramen kitchens to create a 32-seat Old Street counter where everything, down to the noodle flour sourced from Japan, is made from scratch.
- Price
- ¥¥
- Area
- Old Street
- Since
- 2016
- Chef
- Ian Wheatley
Plate № 720
About
Monohon Ramen opened in 2016 after Ian Wheatley fell in love with Japan's backstreet ramen culture during years living in Osaka in the 1990s and later undertook formal ramen training there. Wheatley's kitchen produces every element in-house: noodles pressed daily from specialist Japanese flour and softened London water, tonkotsu broth boiled furiously for a full day until emulsified to a monitored viscosity, a ten-ingredient soy tare calibrated by refractometer, and slow-braised chashu cooked for up to five hours. The restaurant is widely cited as one of the most authentic ramen experiences in the UK. No reservations are taken; the 32-seat space fills quickly, particularly Thursday–Sunday evenings. First in London to offer abura soba (soupless ramen). No Michelin recognition, but a cult following among Tokyo-trained ramen aficionados.
Neighborhood & visiting
Monohon Ramen sits in Old Street, one of London's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional ramen restaurants often close between service periods.
Why it's on Washoku Guide
- Widely regarded as London's most authentic ramen, founded by Osaka-trained Ian Wheatley
- Every element made in-house: noodles, broth, tare, chashu, eggs — nothing bought in
- London's first soupless abura soba, alongside tonkotsu and mazemen
- A true Japanese ramen-ya experience: tiny, no-reservations, queue-forming
Official address is 102 Old Street EC1V 9AY. The address 8 Mallow Street EC1Y 8RP sometimes cited refers to the adjacent street grid but the restaurant entrance is on Old Street.
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Frequently asked
About Monohon Ramen
- Is Monohon Ramen an authentic ramen restaurant in London?
- Yes — Monohon Ramen is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for ramen in London: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused ramen format.
- Where is Monohon Ramen located?
- Monohon Ramen is located at 102 Old Street, London EC1V 9AY, London, UK in the Old Street neighborhood.
- Do I need a reservation at Monohon Ramen?
- Monohon Ramen does not publish an online reservation link. Walk-ins may be possible, but for popular ramen restaurants in London we recommend calling ahead.
- What is the price range at Monohon Ramen?
- Monohon Ramen sits in the ¥¥ price range — typical for ramen of this format in London.
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