There’s no denying that winter in NYC can be rough, but the freezing cold weather has its perks. For one, it’s officially ramen season. And the luxury of living in New York means you can walk right outside of your apartment and into a cozy noodle shop that feels more like Tokyo than Manhattan. Or you can order delivery and slurp a giant bowl of happy right from the comfort of your couch. So yeah, we’re counting on these steaming bowls to get us through April. Here’s where to find the best ramen in NYC.
16 Noodle Shops with the Best Ramen in NYC
•
Published Dec 21, 2020
Hannah Loewentheil
1. Chuko
Just three blocks from Barclay’s Center, we’d easily make the trip to Brooklyn just to slurp down a seriously rich bowl of Chuko’s sesame garlic ramen, which comes loaded with mustard greens and mushrooms. Each ramen on the menu is vegetarian on its own, but you have the option to add anything from roasted pork to steamed chicken. Bonus: Chuko also has a bunch of creative appetizers to hold you over ‘til the main event like fried shrimp buns and Okonomiyaki tots. Make sure to order the homemade chili oil on the side...you’re going to want it. Currently open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
565 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn; chukobk.com
2. Ippudo
One of the better-known names in ramen, Ippudo hails from Hakata, Japan and landed in this East Village eatery. The specialty here is tonkotsu ramen: silky, creamy pork bone broth laden with thin and chewy noodles, slices of tender braised pork, mushrooms, scallions, and bamboo shoots. Don’t think twice before adding a soft boiled egg to your order. The dine-in lines can be daunting, but lucky for us Ippudo is also open for take-out and delivery.
65 4th Ave.; ippudony.com
3. Hinomaru
You might associate Astoria with Greek food, but this diverse neighborhood boasts that and so much more, including HinoMaru, a cozy ramen shop on Ditmars Blvd. Here, they specialize in ramen from seven different Japanese regions from Sapporo to Tokyo. We find ourselves ordering the signature Hinomaru ramen time and time again: made with Hakata-style pork broth and 17-hour slow cooked chashu, it’s the perfect balance of decadent and spicy. Currently open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
33-18 Ditmars Blvd., Queens; hinomaruramen.com
4. Jin Ramen
Just north of Columbia University and set beneath the 125th Street subway station, Jin Ramen serves Hakata-style Ramen with rich, pork-bone broth that originated in the snowy mountains of Hokkaido. The menu here is long and diverse: You’ll find a lengthy list of appetizers like chicken karaage and steamed buns, a bunch of broth-less ramens topped with anything from panko-crusted chicken and curry to tofu and vegetables, plus a selection of hot ramen soups. Now open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
462 Amsterdam Avenue; 125.jinramen.com
5. Kogane
The ramen noodles are made fresh daily in house at this Brooklyn Heights favorite, set just a quick walk from Brooklyn Bridge Park. At Kogane, you’ll find everything from traditional shoyu ramen made with chicken broth to more adventurous bowls like the miso lobster ramen, filled with pork belly and fresh lobster in a blend of miso and lobster broth. Nothing on the menu costs more than $17, so you can leave with your stomach and wallet feeling satisfied. Currently open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
76 Henry St., Brooklyn; 718-875-2828
6. Nakamura
You might not expect much from this studio apartment sized-restaurant on Delancey Street at the entrance of the Williamsburg Bridge. But the ramen at Nakamura is out-of-this world. The chef hails from Japan, and those in the know consider him a ramen superstar. Unlike the creamy, decadent bowls of tonkatsu ramen you might order at Ippudo or the like, Nakamura specializes in lighter flavors. Your go-to order here: torigara, a soup made with light chicken broth and filled with thin, pliant noodles, grilled chicken, and fish cakes. And while vegan ramen can be hard to come by, Nakamura’s silky truffle miso ramen could convert even the staunchest of carnivores. Open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
172 Delancey St.; nakamuranyc.com
Andrew Bezek
7. Momofuku Noodle Bar
Momofuku Noodle Bar has a sort of legendary status in the NYC dining scene. The East Village location was David Chang’s first Momofuku restaurant, and the quality of the food has remained consistent since it opened in 2004. It’s impossible to eat here and just order the ramen because the entire menu—from the fluffy steamed buns to the Korean fried chicken—deserves serious attention. But ooooh, the noodles. You can’t go wrong with any bowl on the menu, but we can’t resist the smoked pork ramen, a big ‘ol bowl of barley noodles, pork belly, and poached egg in rich pork broth. Open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
171 1st Ave.; momofukunoodlebar.com
Mr. Taka
8. Mr. Taka
This popular spot is the brainchild of two Japanese chefs who decided to open a ramen shop on Allen Street. The space is small, minimalist, and no-frills, but you’re here for the noodles, after all. The menu boasts six different kinds of ramen, two different kinds of noodles (one long and thin and the other flat and wavy) plus about two dozen toppings you can add to customize your bowl, so the options are plentiful. Plus, you’ll find some unconventional ingredients here like white miso, yuzu, grilled tomato, and even Parmesan cheese. Open for takeout and delivery.
170 Allen St.; mrtakaramen.webs.com
9. Ichiran
Ever since this Japanese ramen chain opened its doors in Bushwick, people started lining up for bowls of their famous tonkotsu. A wait is almost inevitable and Ichiran is more expensive than your average bowl of ramen. In fact, a bowl of the classic tonkotsu ramen will set you back $18.50, and that’s before you add any extra noodles or toppings like soft boiled egg, mushrooms, or scallions. But a real ramen experience like this one is worth it. And if you’re looking for a true Japanese ramen experience, Ichiran even gives solo diners the option to slurp down their noodles in little private booths. Currently open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
374 Johnson Ave, Brooklyn; ichiranusa.com
10. Yuji Ramen
This Brooklyn ramen shop started as a pop-up, but now you can find Yuji, a dinner-only ramen shop, housed at Okonomi in Williamsburg. The space is intimate and cozy and the menu is small but mighty. You’ll find a handful of mazemen options (aka brothless ramen noodles topped with things like Maine uni and bacon) plus some hot ramen entrées. The menu changes often so you never know exactly what you’ll find, but you can expect some unique flavor combinations like ramen in fish broth with tuna belly chashu and leeks. Open for takeout and delivery.
150 Ainslie St., Brooklyn; okonomibk.com
11. Tonchin
Yet another Tokyo-based ramen chain to infiltrate the New York City noodle scene, Tonchin is one of the few restaurants we’d actually travel to midtown for. The house specialty is the classic creamy Tokyo tonkotsu ramen, but we actually love the vegan friendly miso ginger version. In any case, the noodles are freshly made in house, so it’s hard to order wrong. Go hungry and order some starters like the spicy fried chicken wings and hearty rice balls filled with tempura maitakes. Currently open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
13 W 36th St.; tonchinnewyork.com
12. Minca Ramen Factory
Whenever the temps drop below 40, we find ourselves dreaming about a piping hot bowl of ramen from this East Village hole-in-the-wall. From the quaint, brick-walled interiors to the seemingless endless bowls of noodles in decadent broth, Minca Ramen Factory is pretty much our definition of cozy. The cash-only spot allows you to choose from thick, thin, wavy, whole wheat, or bean noodles, and with about 13 bowls to choose from (including plenty of vegetarian and vegan options) there’s something for everyone. Open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
536 E 5th St.; newyorkramen.com/minca
Courtesy of ROKC
13. Rokc
The R is ROKC stands for ramen and the C stands for cocktails, and both are excellent reasons to head to this excellent Harlem eatery. There’s been a lot of mentions of tonkotsu ramen on this list, but you won’t find any heavy, pork-laden soups at ROKC. Rather, the ramen here is mostly lighter, made of chicken, fish, and mushroom-based broths. Loaded with creative toppings and garnishes like king oyster mushrooms, white miso and truffle oil, these soups are still huge on flavor. Open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
3452 Broadway; rokcnyc.com
14. Shuya Cafe De Ramen
Walking into Shuya Cafe de Ramen in Astoria feels a bit like transporting yourself to Tokyo. The decor is cozy and minimalist: the walls are lined with wooden bookshelves, bonsai trees sit on the windowsills, and there are only about four tables total. Ramen is the main attraction here, but the tempura Brussels sprouts and pork buns should also be on your table. As for the noodles, Shuya specializes in lighter, balanced broths as opposed to the milky, fatty tonkotsu. And if you’re looking to try something new, the duck tsukemen is a bowl of chilled ramen noodles and perfectly seared duck breast that comes paired with savory hot broth for dipping. Open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
42-13 Broadway, Queens; 718-777-0430
Courtesy of Za-Ya Ramen
15. Za-ya Ramen (carroll Gardens)
If there’s one dish you’re ordering at this Carroll Gardens ramen-ya, it’s gyukotsu. This ramen made of beef bone marrow broth is usually very hard to find, but it’s always on the menu at Za-Ya. It’s deep in flavor and delightfully creamy but balanced, and it comes with a generous portion of thin, long noodles, tender braised beef, scallions, sweet onions, bamboo shoots, and cilantro. Open for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
545 Court St., Brooklyn; zayaramen.com
16. Mu Ramen
This Long Island City ramen shop is temporarily closed due to Covid, but any ramen round-up would be incomplete without mentioning Mu Ramen. Just thinking of Mu Ramen makes us sorely miss eating indoors: the restaurant is the size of a one-bedroom apartment with cozy exposed brick walls and an industrial chic-vibe. And ooooh man, the ramen. It’s layered with garlic, miso, soy, and chili. It’s velverty and fatty and savory and everything you could want in a single bowl. And make a note: The U&I appetizer, a powerful bowl of sushi rice, spicy tuna, uni, and ikura, is the perfect foray into your meal. We’ll be waiting for you when you reopen, old friend.
1209 Jackson Ave., Queens (temporarily closed)
