The Top Three: Ramen

For authenticity seekers

SHORYU

9 Regent Street, SW1 (shoryuramen.com)

The menu at new venue Shoryu is all about staying true to authentic tonkotsu ramen noodles from the chef’s home of Hakata in southern Japan. Try the Shoryu tonkotsu (£9.50), which comes with an egg, mushrooms and barbecue pork, and order a yuzu vegetable salad (£2.90) to offset the richness of the broth.

For slurping with mates

BONE DADDIES

31 Peter Street, W1 (bonedaddiesramen.com)

This recent opening is a buzzy Soho spot where you perch on stools and try to ignore the queue behind you. Tonkotsu ramen (pork-bone broth with noodles) comes with spring onion and pork (£10), or try tantanmen (£10), which is chicken based. Drinks include hot and cold sakes — go for the cold Nanbubijin Tokubetsu (£6.80).

For an elegant date

COCORO

31 Marylebone Lane, W1 (020 7935 2931; cocororestaurant.co.uk)

Rather than specialising in ramen, at Cocoro it’s just one of the many tasty Japanese dishes offered. There’s a flavoursome miso ramen that you can also get as a spicy version (from £13), so vegetarians can have a taste, too. There is an incredible range of sushi and sashimi and the set menus, especially at lunch, are good value.