Ramen Dai – Jiro style ramen in Nagoya

24/07/2025

Contents

There is always a line in front of this ramen restaurant.

Ramen Dai in Fushimi, Nagoya is a popular Jiro-style ramen shop.
It’s very famous, and there is almost always a line of people waiting to eat.Many locals seems to love it.

What is jiro style ramen.

There are two types of “Jiro-style” ramen: original Jiro-style and Jiro-inspired ramen.

Original Jiro-style ramen comes from Ramen Jiro, which started at the Mita main shop in Tokyo. Chefs who trained there opened their own official branches across Japan.
Jiro-inspired ramen is made by other shops that copy the style, but they are not official Ramen Jiro stores.

Both have big portions, thick noodles, rich soup, garlic, and pork, but only the original shops are part of the Ramen Jiro family.

Important Note for Visitors

Ramen Jiro is famous in Japan, but it also has many unique rules that even Japanese people including me find difficult or confusing.
For example, how to order, what to say, and how to behave in the shop are often very strict.
Because of this, some people feel uncomfortable or avoid going.

If you are a foreign visitor, it’s safer and more comfortable to go with a Japanese friend who understands both Japanese language and Jiro-style ramen culture. This will help you enjoy the experience without stress.

My experienc in Ramen Dai

Actually, this was my first time trying Jiro-style ramen. I didn’t even know that Ramen Dai was a Jiro-style place—I just stopped by because there was a line. I bought a meal ticket from the vending machine and took a seat as instructed by the staff.

It was only after sitting down that I realized this was Jiro-style ramen. At Jiro-style shops, you choose your meal from the vending machine, but you also have to tell the staff how you want your toppings, soup, garlic, and so on—using a unique kind of Japanese. This is called a ‘call.’ Since I had no idea what to do, I just copied the person in front of me.

This is the ramen I ordered, shown in the photo. I selected the large portion from the vending machine, but the amount was overwhelming. In Jiro-style ramen shops, leaving food behind is considered unacceptable. I knew that you’re expected to finish what you order, so I took my time eating it. The flavor was very strong. I had copied the person in front of me who said ‘karame’ during the call, which apparently means adding extra soy sauce. That’s probably why the taste was so intense. The pork was also thick and plentiful—it was honestly a challenge to finish.

Our map

I’ve compiled a list of Nagoya’s places that I’ve personally visited. Is Nagoya boring? Not at all! While it has developed as an industrial city, it also hides interesting places full of history and culture. Use this guide to explore Nagoya and discover its hidden gems.