Ramen is one of my all-time favorite foods. And no, I don't mean the dried noodle-in-a-cup variety that I subsisted on in college. (Although, I still sometimes eat instant ramen with an egg dropped in and enjoy every second of it.) I'm talking about thick bone broths that have been cooked down for hours, filled with slurpy noodles, and topped with a whole slew of fresh things for a textural eating adventure.
Lucky for us New Yorkers, there is some seriously next-level ramen available across almost every borough. From classic and authentic to fusion and more modern takes, there's a warming bowl out there for every ramen-lover (which is everyone, right?). Ahead, find a few of my favorite spots in the city right now, and stay tuned for updates.
Chuko
Chuko is hands-down one of the top ramen spots in the city. It's not a super traditional bowl, but I am partial to the kimchi ramen. Ground pork and big chunks of kimchi are surrounded by a thick, spicy soup. It's great with a soft or hard egg. And don't forget to order a side of the kale salad; it's not ramen, but it's still delicious.
Chuko, 565 Vanderbilt Avenue (at Pacific Street); 347-425-9570.
Photo: via @chukobk
Another Brooklyn favorite, Yuji Ramen serves up mazemen and seafood-broth based ramen on weekday evenings at Okonomi in Williamsburg.
Yuji Ramen, 150 Ainslie Street (at Lorimer Street); 718-302-0598.
Photo: via @yujiramen.
Ivan Ramen
Ivan Ramen had two successful locations in Japan before the Long Island-born chef Ivan Orkin decided to bring the company to New York. Orkin makes his iconic rye or whole wheat noodles from scratch, which are paired with a few different broth options.
Ivan Ramen, multiple locations.
Photo: via @ramenjunkie.
Totto ramen's chicken ramen is the stuff of comfort food dreams. The regular paitan broth is thick and satisfying on its own, but the spicy version takes the bowl to new heights. And we can't help but add a few of the customizable toppings for good measure.
Totto Ramen, multiple locations.
Photo: via @totto_ramen.
Ippudo
There's always a line at Ippudo, and for good reason. The tonkotsu (pork-based) ramen is the perfect consistency, as is the sliced pork that gets placed on top. There are a bunch of variations that include different toppings and levels of spice, so there's always a reason to go back for another bowl.
Ippudo, multiple locations.
Photo: via @ippudony.
Takashi
If you want to try the ramen at Takashi, you're going to have to eat a little later than usual — 12 a.m. to be exact. That's because the restaurant has a totally different menu during normal hours. But on Fridays and Saturdays at midnight, diners can try the beef broth ramen. Trust me, with homemade noodles and braised beef belly it's worth staying up for.
Takashi, 456 Hudson St (at Barrow Street); (212) 414-2929.
Photo: via @deer_cyanideLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?