West Village Ramen: The 5 Tastiest Noodles Spot To Devour
Image Credit: Ramen Danbo West Village

In the US, more than 23,000 restaurants—or 3.5% of all eateries—serve ramen, a popular dish of slurp-friendly noodles. Even now, ramen is served in elegant dining settings and is an inexpensive, speedy supper in American markets. 

Ramen can be classed in a variety of ways, but in general, there are four main sorts based on seasoning: shio, shoyu, miso, and kare. 

Shio, which means salt, is the oldest of the four variants and usually appears pale and yellowish when added to the soup. Shoyu, or soy sauce, gives the soup a salty and savoury flavour. Shoyu ramen is traditionally made using curly noodles rather than straight ones. Miso has been regarded as "uniquely Japanese," as it originated in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, Japan. The broth contains an excess of miso mixed with an oily chicken or fish. Finally, kare is the newest of the four flavours, similar to a curry soup with pork bones and veggies.

Other variations of ramen include champon (where the noodles are cooked alongside the other ingredients) and tsukemen (where the noodles are served separately from the broth). 

So many choices can be flooded in American spots opened by Skilled chefs or family masters in culinary art. If you want to taste the best of these four ramen types, visit these five places. 

The 5 Tastiest Noodles Spot To Devour

1. Ramen Danbo West Village

Ramen Danbo is a Japanese chain restaurant that serves Fukuoka-style tonkotsu ramen. The first Danbo Ramen restaurant opened in 2000 in Chikushino, Japan. The chain's third US location opened in West Village, New York, in 2020. Tonkotsu Ramen is a best seller in the place. It has rich pork bone broth served with thin, straight noodles, slices of tender chashu pork, marinated soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots, and green onions. It goes best with matcha green tea. 

Location: 48 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014, United States

Timings: Mon-Sun: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

Must-Try Dishes: Tonkotsu Ramen

Price for 2: $60 approx.

2. E.A.K. Ramen By Machida Shoten West Village

The restaurant was founded in 2008 in Machida City, Japan, by Sho Tagawa, the president and representative director. The restaurant's name, E.A.K. Ramen, is a way to pronounce iekei, a ramen that originated in Yokohama, Japan, in 1974. Tsukemen is the most ordered dish. It is a style of ramen where the noodles are served separately from the broth. The thick, chewy noodles are dipped into a concentrated broth made from pork, chicken, and seafood and are packed with umami flavours.

Location: 469 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011, United States

Timings: Mon-Sun: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

Must-Try Dishes: Tsukemen

Price for 2: $60 approx. 

3. Ramen Takumi

Haruhiko Saeki and Okada founded Ramen Takumi in 2007. In 2021, Takumi added vegetarian and vegan options to its menu. The ramen noodles are made from wheat flour and oil, with additional flavoured ingredients like salt or potato starch. You can order Spicy Miso Ramen. It is a hearty bowl of ramen that has a spicy miso-based broth. These noodles are typically medium thickness with toppings such as ground pork, bean sprouts, cabbage, green onions, and a marinated soft-boiled egg. It goes very well with Sake. 

Location: 1 University Pl, New York, NY 10003, United States

Timings: Mon-Sun: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

Must-Try Dishes: Spicy Miso Ramen

Price for 2: $60 approx.

4. Karakatta

Karakatta is a ramen restaurant in New York City that focuses on spicy ramen. It is a second location for the Lower East Side's Mr. Taka and is owned by Takayuki Watanabe and chef Takatoshi Nagara. The ramen here is an instant hit. The best options you can get here are Spicy Miso Ramen and Tan Tan Ramen. Both dishes have a rich miso-based broth with spicy chilli oil, served with tender cha shu pork, bamboo shoots, green onions, and a marinated soft-boiled egg.

Location: 230 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012, United States

Timings: Mon-Sun: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

Must-Try Dishes: Spicy Miso Ramen and Tan Tan Ramen

Price for 2: $60 approx.

5. Menkoi Sato

Menkoi Sato is a noodle restaurant in the West Village of New York City specialising in Sapporo-style ramen. Menkoi Sato serves three types of chicken-based broth: shoyu, miso, and spicy miso. Menkoi Sato offers a warm and inviting atmosphere. Also, it has a friendly staff and a cosy interior that makes diners feel right at home. Shoyu Ramen tastes the best here with clear and soy sauce broth, served with thin noodles, slices of tender chashu pork, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and a seasoned soft-boiled egg.

Location: 7 Cornelia St, New York, NY 10014, United States

Timings: Mon-Sun: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

Must-Try Dishes: Shoyu Ramen

Price for 2: $60 approx.

Ramen served in these spots are no doubt delicious. Try out all the places when visiting to soothe yourself and your cravings.