Isshindo Ramen at 1 Brighton Ave is brand new and very good and in Boston. Totto Ramen on Brighton Ave is also good and in Boston. I agree with Ganko Ittetsu but it's in Brookline. Sapporo Ramen in Cambridge (Porter Square Leslie College Building) is outstanding also.
given to Oisa, Ruckus, Ganko Ittetsu (which I reviewed in late 2015: https://www.improper.com/food-drink/noodle-nirvana/ ), and Yume Wo Katare (which I reviewed for The Boston Phoenix in late 2012). Yume does jiro ramen, an unusual style that is not for everyone.
I also recommend Tsurumen, Pagu, and Little Big Diner.
Tsurumen is back open--they're on maybe day 212 of the second phase. The new flat noodle choices are the Formula 1995 (a chicken wonton ramen that you can also add the pork cha siu to) and a miso paitan ramen that comes in mild and spicy versions. Both choices are great--the spicy miso ramen is especially good.
Whenever I've had ramen at Ruckus(or there sister restaurant Shojo) I leave lunch still hungry. That shouldn't happen with ramen. Ramen shops in Japan serve big portions and many will even give you extra noodles for no charge. Unfortunately I have yet to find a ramen shop in the Boston area that I love.
I will give a shout out to Soup Shack in JP. Theirs was a pretty tasty bowl for a place that doesn't specialize in ramen. Their takoyaki was good too.
I know their aim is more high-end, but would be awesome if this new South End place had Ramen, even if only (say) before 6pm and after 10pm.
Or maybe replace the former Tremont 647's Taco Tuesday with Ramen Mondays. They'd be able to sell some drinks on a quiet weeknight and bring in more of the neighbors for a quick dinner at the same time.
that's the thing though. as somebody who grew up eating that food i don't trust multi-cuisine joints. maybe one of their cusines is good but the more styles you add into the mix the less likely it is to be good. i would roll the dice on this in dorchester or in allston with their strong asian communities but JP isn't exactly known for transcendant Asian food.
Had to google it, but if this was the place in super 88, it was great. Looks like it has been replaced though.
Will never understand the line at santouka on Hereford. Ate there once. No gyoza, mediocre ramen and way overpriced. The shop that was there previously was much better.
a bare handful of ramen options in Boston, take it or leave it. I don't love Santouka, either, but I think its broths, noodles and pork are rather better than that old place, the broth at which always tasted to me of soup base. We're spoiled for choice for ramen these days, ditto for Korean fried chicken and Chinese hot pot, compared to just a few years ago, but I still prefer to support local indies over the big chains.
I like the heavily miso based soup broths - spent a good portion of time in Japan from 1985-1997 and loved a hearty bowl of udon noodles. Ramen though (especially the better ramens) are often served with a clearer broth like you mentions - and really good stuff is served cold - but I still prefer more the "salaryman" base heavy on the miso - often with a nice bit of spice added. Granted - if it's on the menu, will usually take a tonkatsu (fried pork) or katsudon (fried pork over rice and egg). Have really struggled to find a seriously good katsudon. The best places in Japan have a very tasty sauce that gets drizzled over the rice - and that is missing or lacking in most of the bowls I've had stateside.
PS - thanks for your food reviews and sharing your knowledge and expertise with the Uhub crowd!
Also, I don't call "expertise" part of my brief. I have an appetite, the discipline necessary to dine out for research purposes even when I don't feel like it, and strong opinions, but for any given cuisine, there are countless people who know way more about the subject than me. (South Coast Coney Island dogs might be an exception.)
katsu (a pounded cutlet of pork, chicken, steak, ground beef, or fish, crumbed with panko and fried -- it's the Japanese analog to schnitzel, which inspired it in) over rice. The more traditional sauce is tonkatsu sauce, which is a bit like British AP sauce or American A.1. sauce, but sweeter and thicker.
Now that you mention it, I've had that H-Mart food court version: very good, and a bargain. I generally go for the Korean soups there: a bit less post-lunch nap-inducing.
I lived in Japan for half a year. Since coming back no ramen holds a candle to what I had over there (obviously), but the ramen that most tastes like what I ate in Japan is Santouka (Harvard Sq and Back Bay).
Shabu & Mein and Santouka (either Back Bay or harvard sq) are my go-to places. Still won't compare to NYC or Cali, but quite good. They have been consistent.
#1. Yume Wo Katare in porter
#2. Neponset Cafe In obviously Neponset (bit salty)
#3. Ganko ittesu in Brookline (plainer)
#4. Twelve Hours in Brighton (they have about 50 million noodle soup choices)
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ramen
Isshindo Ramen at 1 Brighton Ave is brand new and very good and in Boston. Totto Ramen on Brighton Ave is also good and in Boston. I agree with Ganko Ittetsu but it's in Brookline. Sapporo Ramen in Cambridge (Porter Square Leslie College Building) is outstanding also.
Ganko Ittetsu in Coolidge
Ganko Ittetsu in Coolidge Corner is delicious. Be prepared to wait for a while on Friday and Saturday nights though.
The last few awards from The Improper have been
given to Oisa, Ruckus, Ganko Ittetsu (which I reviewed in late 2015: https://www.improper.com/food-drink/noodle-nirvana/ ), and Yume Wo Katare (which I reviewed for The Boston Phoenix in late 2012). Yume does jiro ramen, an unusual style that is not for everyone.
I also recommend Tsurumen, Pagu, and Little Big Diner.
Tsurumen
Is it open again? It was closed for a bit after its phase one ended....
Is jiro ramen the star ramen of Tampopo? ;-)
Tsurumen is still open, as far as I know. I haven't
been in for a couple of months. (And I suspect you know that Tampopo is my favorite food-themed movie.)
yes, they're back. now
yes, they're back. now serving Formula 1995 (chicken wonton ramen) and paitan miso ramen. Both are great!
Tsurumen is back
Tsurumen is back open--they're on maybe day 212 of the second phase. The new flat noodle choices are the Formula 1995 (a chicken wonton ramen that you can also add the pork cha siu to) and a miso paitan ramen that comes in mild and spicy versions. Both choices are great--the spicy miso ramen is especially good.
I know not everyone is into
I know not everyone is into it, but Ruckus does the best delivery game for ramen I've had.
Whenever I've had ramen at
Whenever I've had ramen at Ruckus(or there sister restaurant Shojo) I leave lunch still hungry. That shouldn't happen with ramen. Ramen shops in Japan serve big portions and many will even give you extra noodles for no charge. Unfortunately I have yet to find a ramen shop in the Boston area that I love.
I will give a shout out to Soup Shack in JP. Theirs was a pretty tasty bowl for a place that doesn't specialize in ramen. Their takoyaki was good too.
Had high hopes for Whaling in Oklahoma to have Ramen, but no
I know their aim is more high-end, but would be awesome if this new South End place had Ramen, even if only (say) before 6pm and after 10pm.
Or maybe replace the former Tremont 647's Taco Tuesday with Ramen Mondays. They'd be able to sell some drinks on a quiet weeknight and bring in more of the neighbors for a quick dinner at the same time.
Best ramen
Best I've had is at the Neponset Cafe in Dorchester. Surprising, right? But true.
Soup Shack in JP
This place is pretty new, but the Ramen is on point.
Don't be scared off by the fact that they also do Viatnamese Pho and Thai Soups as well
but thats kinda of it
that's the thing though. as somebody who grew up eating that food i don't trust multi-cuisine joints. maybe one of their cusines is good but the more styles you add into the mix the less likely it is to be good. i would roll the dice on this in dorchester or in allston with their strong asian communities but JP isn't exactly known for transcendant Asian food.
Pikaichi
123 Boston Ave Medford
He used to be in Somerville.
Super 88?
Had to google it, but if this was the place in super 88, it was great. Looks like it has been replaced though.
Will never understand the line at santouka on Hereford. Ate there once. No gyoza, mediocre ramen and way overpriced. The shop that was there previously was much better.
I remember when Men Tei on Hereford was one of
a bare handful of ramen options in Boston, take it or leave it. I don't love Santouka, either, but I think its broths, noodles and pork are rather better than that old place, the broth at which always tasted to me of soup base. We're spoiled for choice for ramen these days, ditto for Korean fried chicken and Chinese hot pot, compared to just a few years ago, but I still prefer to support local indies over the big chains.
My Tastes
I like the heavily miso based soup broths - spent a good portion of time in Japan from 1985-1997 and loved a hearty bowl of udon noodles. Ramen though (especially the better ramens) are often served with a clearer broth like you mentions - and really good stuff is served cold - but I still prefer more the "salaryman" base heavy on the miso - often with a nice bit of spice added. Granted - if it's on the menu, will usually take a tonkatsu (fried pork) or katsudon (fried pork over rice and egg). Have really struggled to find a seriously good katsudon. The best places in Japan have a very tasty sauce that gets drizzled over the rice - and that is missing or lacking in most of the bowls I've had stateside.
PS - thanks for your food reviews and sharing your knowledge and expertise with the Uhub crowd!
Thanks for the kind words! I'll poll my social-media
friends for their favorite katsudon.
Also, I don't call "expertise" part of my brief. I have an appetite, the discipline necessary to dine out for research purposes even when I don't feel like it, and strong opinions, but for any given cuisine, there are countless people who know way more about the subject than me. (South Coast Coney Island dogs might be an exception.)
Does the katsu over rice at
Does the katsu over rice at the H Mart in Cambridge count? I'm not super familiar with the authentic side of things, but its more of a katsu curry.
Yes: katsudon literally means
katsu (a pounded cutlet of pork, chicken, steak, ground beef, or fish, crumbed with panko and fried -- it's the Japanese analog to schnitzel, which inspired it in) over rice. The more traditional sauce is tonkatsu sauce, which is a bit like British AP sauce or American A.1. sauce, but sweeter and thicker.
Now that you mention it, I've had that H-Mart food court version: very good, and a bargain. I generally go for the Korean soups there: a bit less post-lunch nap-inducing.
Boston Public Market
They have the Noodle Lab that sells katsu, udon, and ramen!
Yep, that’s him
i think 88 hiked the lease up too much. Haven’t gone to the new location yet but it’s on the agenda. They are my fav ramen in Boston, hands down.
Stop n a shop?
They have a pretty big selection to choose from give it a go.
Do you answer all questions
Do you answer all questions wrong, or just this one?
Good Ramen
I lived in Japan for half a year. Since coming back no ramen holds a candle to what I had over there (obviously), but the ramen that most tastes like what I ate in Japan is Santouka (Harvard Sq and Back Bay).
What part of Japan?
The longest we've been in Japan (at one time) is 6 weeks -- which I didn't consider long enough (though my wife was ready to go home).... ;-)
Ramen
Shabu & Mein and Santouka (either Back Bay or harvard sq) are my go-to places. Still won't compare to NYC or Cali, but quite good. They have been consistent.
#1. Yume Wo Katare in porter
#1. Yume Wo Katare in porter
#2. Neponset Cafe In obviously Neponset (bit salty)
#3. Ganko ittesu in Brookline (plainer)
#4. Twelve Hours in Brighton (they have about 50 million noodle soup choices)