The story
Mamaya Ramen, tucked away on Via Ostiense, has quietly become a Roman institution for Japanese comfort food. Giuliacrossbow calls it her favorite ramen bar in the city, a place she’s visited since 2018 for ramen she describes as “solid and natural.” Bruce Pappalardo echoes the sentiment, calling it a “hidden gem” with excellent homemade ramen and Japanese appetizers, noting its consistent quality has made it a reference point for years.
The menu leans into both classic and creative. Giuliacrossbow insists the Sangone bun is a must; she also highlights the Crocchette di Patate e Maiale, the Ramen con Brodo di Manzo, and mochi filled with red bean jam and walnuts. Pappalardo praises the onigiri, Daon, shrimp and pork bao, and two broths—chicken and beef—plus a vegetarian ramen with miso and oat milk. While a splurge can hit 71 euros for two, a normal meal runs 20–25 euros per person.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2022.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 13 dish mentions say about the food
The Sangone ramen earns unanimous praise for its rich, deeply savory broth and tender chashu. Overall, reviewers describe Mamaya Ramen as a warm, comforting haven serving soulful, high-quality bowls.
“This is my favorite — a steamed bun with low-temperature cooked salmon, marinated cabbage, Tropea red onion jam, robotized mayonnaise, yuzu green sauce, and sesame seeds. The bun is super soft, and the salmon isn't like smoked salmon — I don't go crazy for smoked salmon because it saturates easily, but this is different. The yuzu green sauce brings freshness to the bun, and since everything is soft — even the onions are caramelized and delicate — it doesn't overpower the salmon. It's a perfect balance.”
What creators say
2 creators have covered Mamaya Ramen. Most active: Giuliacrossbow, Bruce Pappalardo
MaMa-Ya Ramen is my favorite ramen bar in Rome — I've been coming here since 2018, the ramen is solid and natural, the sangone bun is a must, and even though we over-ordered and spent 71 euros for two, a normal meal is around 20-25 euros per person.
Dishes mentioned
Crocchette di Patate e Maiale
These croquettes have a breading made with panko, which makes them extra crunchy compared to the classic breadcrumbs we Italians use. The potato and pork inside is good, but I would have liked a bit more pork — it's a bit too potato-heavy for me. At 8 euros for two, I think they're overpriced; my mom used to give them to me for free when I was little. I'd skip them next time.
Sangone
This is my favorite — a steamed bun with low-temperature cooked salmon, marinated cabbage, Tropea red onion jam, robotized mayonnaise, yuzu green sauce, and sesame seeds. The bun is super soft, and the salmon isn't like smoked salmon — I don't go crazy for smoked salmon because it saturates easily, but this is different. The yuzu green sauce brings freshness to the bun, and since everything is soft — even the onions are caramelized and delicate — it doesn't overpower the salmon. It's a perfect balance.
Ramen con Brodo di Manzo
I got the 'Gioco Su Ramen' — beef broth with fresh spaghetti-like noodles, braised pork belly marinated for 30 hours in soy and ginger, a soy-marinated egg (marinated 24 to 48 hours), and shiitake mushrooms that I added extra. The egg is like a candy — soft, fatty, it melts right into the broth. The noodles are slightly al dente. The broth is solid, strong on its own, but I'd add a bit of acidity to balance it. The pork belly is tender and flavorful. I love that they don't use flavor enhancers — you can taste it's natural. The base ramen starts at 13 euros, but with all my toppings it came to 22 euros.
Mochi con Marmellata di Fagioli Rossi e Noci
We also got the classic Japanese dessert — mochi with red bean jam and walnuts. The mochi is made with glutinous rice flour, which I love, and it's soft and chewy. The red bean jam has citrus zest notes that give it a light, fresh touch — it's not too sweet, which I appreciate because Japanese desserts are generally not very sweet. The walnuts are in small pieces and you can really taste them. It's a dangerous bite if you don't chew well — I almost choked! But it's delicious.
Mamaya Ramen is a hidden gem in Rome that serves excellent homemade ramen and Japanese appetizers, with a consistent quality that has made it a reference point for years.
Dishes mentioned
onigiri
I thought onigiri were round, but this one is triangular. The rice looks sticky but then it all melts in your mouth. The filling is sweet and ultra acidic — a very strange sensation. I can't tell if I like it or not, it's really peculiar.
Daon
This is incredible. It's crunchy on the outside and then melts inside. It's fatty but then there's a soy sauce with rice vinegar that cleanses the palate. I haven't eaten this in years. What a sensation — I could run a kilometer after this.
Bao di Gamberi
This is extremely summery and light. Very fresh, slightly sweet. You don't taste the shrimp strongly. It's delicate and simple — easy to like. The crema di melanzana doesn't come through much, I get more of the sweet carrot.
Bao di Maiale
I like the texture of the pork — it's not melt-in-your-mouth but stewed and has consistency. Good, but the ginger is a bit sleepy; I'd add more and put it inside. The bread is excellent too.
Ravioli alla Piastra
Look at that beautiful sear — it's not pan-fried like in the supermarket, you can see they're handmade. They roll the dough very thin. The soy sauce with rice vinegar cleanses the palate. This has nothing to do with what I've eaten before. It's crunchy and then melts inside. Very balanced, not garlicky at all.
