Welcome to Eat Like a Local! From late-night burgers in Nashville to a life-changing date shake in Palm Springs, we traveled across the U.S. to find the spots that are really hitting home.
There was a time when ramen was niche, the territory of homesick expats and manga-reading Americans. But the country has officially gone Ramen Crazy. Whether you’re in Denver or Kansas City, you can’t chuck a six-minute egg without hitting some new Japanese soup joint. Blame Momofuku Noodle Bar for its chef-y touches like bacon dashi. Blame Sun Noodles, the New Jersey supplier to ramen stars. Or, rather, thank them. Because wherever you are in the U.S., there’s a bowl of soulful broth and irresistibly chewy noodles waiting for you.
Eight different cities, eight ways to slurp up America’s new favorite noodle soup.
Where: Ken’s Ramen, Providence, RI
What: Thirty-hour broth with kikurage mushrooms, nori, and chili oil (the hell part).
Where: Noraneko, Portland, OR
What: Order extra garlic and press the whole raw cloves right into this dashi-seasoned classic.
Where: Ramen Tatsu-ya, Austin
What: The “spicy bomb” chili paste too hot for ya? This fiery, porky bowl also comes “Mi-So-Not.”
Where: Osaka Ramen, Denver
What: Chef Osaka tried more than 50 versions of Sun Noodles before he landed on the perfect chew.
Where: Ramen Kazama, Minneapolis
What: This chili-bean-sauced spicy miso is fittingly dubbed “Magma.”
Where: Meshikou, Columbus, OH
What: Bone broth who? This veg-friendly version gets its umami from miso and house-made sake.
Where: Ramen Shop, Oakland, CA
What: Trust a couple of Chez Panisse alums to serve ramen with leeks and bok choy from local farms.
Where: Saltine, Jackson, MS
What: Mondays are Ramen Night at this oyster bar, where andouille and crawfish get to hang with noodles, too.