The Ramen Shop Newtown grew from a series of Wellington pop-ups in 2013 into a permanent Riddiford Street restaurant the following year. Its founders wanted ramen made beyond the limits of a packet, and the kitchen still describes its approach as Japanese ramen principles reshaped with Kiwi ingenuity. Making as much as possible from scratch is central to that identity. The result is deliberately accessible rather than ceremonial: a neighbourhood ramen joint set up for dine-in bowls, quick takeaway and delivery throughout the week.
Pork broth anchors several of the signature bowls. The standard tonkotsu carries double pork belly with sprouts, nori, corn, pickled cucumber and fried onion, while a spicy version adds egg and toasted chilli. Black-garlic tonkotsu deepens the profile with mayu, fried garlic, bamboo shoots and black fungus. These are substantial combinations, but each keeps the basic logic of ramen clear: broth, noodles, meat and a set of toppings arranged to add sweetness, heat, crunch or savoury depth with each mouthful.
Chicken bowls take a noticeably different direction. Tokyo Chicken Ramen sets karaage and teriyaki sauce in chicken broth with sprouts, spring onion, nori and pickled cucumber, while Spicy Chicken uses seasoned mince, corn, capsicum and coriander. A meat-free spicy miso bowl gives vegetarian diners a full ramen option rather than a reduced substitute. Sides broaden the meal beyond noodles, including chicken karaage, crisp potato croquettes, okonomiyaki dressed with mayonnaise and tonkatsu sauce, and prawn katsu.
Newtown is the original shop in a small Wellington group that now also includes Karori and Johnsonville, so the branch name matters when arranging a visit or order. The restaurant at 191 Riddiford Street operates daily and supports dine-in, takeaway and delivery, making it flexible enough for both a solo bowl and a shared meal of ramen and sides. Its story and menu line up neatly: pop-up energy became a permanent local address, while familiar Japanese foundations continue to leave room for the shop's own combinations.
Address: 191 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
The Ramen Shop Menu
Option tags, such as Vegan Option (VGO), mean the dish can be made that way on request: ask for that version when you order.
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Entree
V-Vegetarian VV-Vegan. Gluten Free Options Available Please Ask Staff.
Steamed Bao Buns (2p)
Pork, Chicken or Tofu (V)
Dumplings (6p)
Housemade pork and chive dumplings
Karaage
Japanese fried chicken with kewpie mayo
Takoyaki (6p)
Deep fried savoury balls with octopus, served with mayo, tonkatsu sauce & katsuo-bushi
Ebi Katsu (5p)
Deep fried prawn katsu served with tonkatsu sauce & mayo
Potato Croquette (3p) (VV)
Deep fried potato croquettes served with tonkatsu sauce
Kimchi (VV)
Housemade vegan kimchi
Seaweed Salad (VV)
Wakame seaweed seasoned in a sesame vinaigrette
Kinoko Salad (VV)
Kinoko mushrooms seasoned in a sesame vinaigrette
Edamame (VV)
Salted soybeans
Rice Bowl
V-Vegetarian VV-Vegan. Gluten Free Options Available Please Ask Staff.
Pork Rice Bowl
Braised pork & kimchi topped with mesclun & sesame
Chicken Rice Bowl
Spicy chicken mince, egg & BBQ sauce topped with mesclun
Karaage Rice Bowl
Karaage chicken & mayo topped with mesclun
Curry Rice Bowl
Curry sauce, potatoes, carrots, onions topped with spring onion & sesame. Choice of beef, chicken, potato croquette or ebi
Unagi Rice Bowl
Grilled unagi, teriyaki sauce, spring onion & Japanese sansho pepper
Yakiniku Beef Rice Bowl
Japanese style BBQ beef, fried onions, egg topped with spring onion & sesame
Tofu Rice Bowl (VV)
Tofu, mixed mushrooms, eggplant & mapo sauce topped with spring onion & sesame
Ramen
V-Vegetarian VV-Vegan. Gluten Free Options Available Please Ask Staff.
Tonkotsu
Pork broth, double pork belly, sprouts, nori, corn, pickled cucumber & fried onion
Spicy Tonkotsu
Pork broth, double pork belly, spring onion, egg, corn & chilli threads
Black Garlic Tonkotsu
Pork broth, double pork belly, bamboo shoots, black fungus, spring onion, fried garlic & mayu
Tokyo Chicken
Chicken broth, karaage, teriyaki sauce, sprouts, spring onion, nori & pickled cucumber
Spicy Chicken
Chicken broth, spicy chicken mince, spring onion, corn, capsicum & coriander
Dan Dan Chicken
Chicken broth, peanut sesame sauce, spicy chicken mince, spring onion, fried onion & corn
Mala Chicken
Chicken broth, soy peanut sesame sauce, mala oil, spicy chicken mince, spring onion, black fungus & corn
Paitan Ramen
Chicken broth, chicken chashu, corn, spring onion, black fungus & sesame
Gyu Ramen
Chicken broth, Japanese BBQ beef, sauteed onion, corn, spring onion, black fungus & sesame
Spicy Ebi Ramen
Spicy soup, ebi katsu, corn, spring onion & nori
Yakisoba
Choice chicken or pork, stir fried noodle with mix veges topped with spring onion, katsoubuchi, tonkatsu sauce and mayo
Pork Abura Ramen (brothless)
Double pork belly, tonkotsu sauce, bamboo shoots, fried onion, egg, nori & furikake
Shoyu Shitake (VV)
Vege broth, sprouts, nori, spring onion, fried onion, pickled cucumber & pickled shiitake
Miso Ramen (VV)
Miso broth, kinoko mushrooms, nori, corn & marinated tofu
Spicy Miso (VV)
Spicy miso broth, fried veges, bamboo shoots, corn, spring onion, nori & chilli threads
Kids Ramen
Choice of teriyaki pork, teriyaki chicken, marinated tofu with teriyaki sauce (VV) all served with corn
Extras
Pork Belly
Tempura Ebi
Slow Cooked Egg
Marinated Tofu (2p)
Pickled Shiitake
Pickled Cucumber
Bamboo Shoots
Spring Onion
Sprouts
Corn
Nori (Seaweed)
Black Fungus
Fried Garlic
Mayu (Black Oil)
Chilli Oil
Kewpie Mayo
Extra Noodles
Extra Broth
Steamed Rice
Gluten Free Noodles
Johnsonville – Entree
V-Vegetarian VV-Vegan. Gluten Free Options Available Please Ask Staff.
Okonomiyaki (2p)
Deep fried savoury japanese pancake served with mayo, tonkatsu sauce, seaweed and Katsuobuchi
Korean Shake Shake Fries
Fries shaken in special seasoning served with spicy mayo
Dessert
Mochi Ice Cream
Green Tea / Vanilla
Drinks – Non-Alcoholic
Coke/Coke Zero
Housemade Soda
Lemonade, Ginger beer & Chai cola
Apple Juice
Ramune
Japanese Lemonade
Kids Beer
Japanese Sparkling Apple Juice
Tea
Genmaicha
Drinks – Alcoholic
Asahi 5%
Sapporo 5%
Yebisu 5%
Panhead Super Charger 5.2%
Garage Project TINY 0.5%
Fugazi 2.2%
Drinks – Sake/Spirits
Sake
Ginger Sake
Umeshu
Drinks – Wine
Red
Pinot Noir
White
Pinot Gris; Chardonnay
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