At Ramen Hero, we’re obsessed with ramen. We eat, sleep, and breathe the warm bowls of soupy goodness.
Our team has consumed thousands of bowls of ramen at over one thousand restaurants all over the world. From coast to coast, Japan, Peru, Singapore, you name it. Where there is ramen, there is a Ramen Hero!
We wrote this article to share our love for the ramen bars we love best near our headquarters in the Bay Area.
If you occasionally find yourself wondering, “Is there any good ramen near me?” then allow us to give you the inside scoop.
Without further ado (and in no particular order), here are our picks.
1. Mensho Tokyo (San Francisco)
No list of SF’s top ramen would be complete without Mensho Tokyo, which is widely considered a gold standard for ramen.
Local ramen critic Abram Plaut and ramen master chef Tomoharu Shono established this branch of the popular Japanese chain in their quest to bring honest-to-goodness authentic ramen to SF.
Mensho’s signature dish is their Tori Paitan, a creamy chicken ramen decadently trimmed with thick slabs of tender pork and succulent duck chashu.
For those who prefer to go down the culinary path less traveled, give their experimental flavors a try—Mensho once cooked up a surprisingly delectable chocolate-lamb ramen for Valentine’s Day!
672 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
2. Nojo Ramen Tavern (San Francisco)
Nojo Ramen Tavern started out as an Izakaya (Japanese pub) but decided to go all in on ramen a few years back. It’s clear now that they made the right move.
As one of the first ramen shops to introduce Tori Paitan (creamy chicken ramen) to the Bay Area, Nojo has made a name for itself.
Tori Paitan requires a degree of technical sophistication and process management that many ramen shops can’t muster.
However, Nojo goes above and beyond just offering delicious ramen. Yes, their broth is excellent in spite of myriad culinary challenges... but the dish's presentation is where Nojo really sets themselves apart.
231 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
3. Nagi (Palo Alto)
If you appreciate the freedom to customize your bowl, Nagi is the ramen bar for you.
With a variety of broth flavors and toppings to choose from, you can mix and match your way to ramen perfection!
This popular ramen chain had a humble beginning as a wandering pop-up on the streets of Tokyo in 2004. Since then they have rapidly expanded across Asia and North America.
Along the way they’ve developed a knack for incorporating local flavors into their recipes. This imbues their ramen with a one-of-a-kind flavor profile only made possible by cultural fusion.
541 Bryant St, Palo Alto, CA 94301
4. Taishoken (San Mateo)
There are few people who can claim the title of master ramen chef and fewer still who have invented an entirely new type of ramen. The founder of Taishoken can claim both.
San Mateo based Taishoken is a relatively new branch of the ramen restaurant that gave birth to a style of ramen called Tsukemen almost seventy years ago.
Tsukemen is unique in that the thick, chewy noodles are served cold and separately from the concentrated broth. You eat it by dipping and slurping up the flavor soaked noodles.
The San Mateo Taishoken is run by the son and grandson of Masayasu Sakaguchi, the creator of the dish. You can be sure Taishoken offers the most delicious and authentic Tsukemen you can find anywhere.
47 E 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401
5. Kirimachi (San Francisco)
While this ramen shop may fly under the radars of many lists, don’t be fooled.
Kirimachi works magic by infusing their ramen broths with a potently flavorful dashi, the Japanese fish stock that serves as the foundation for umami in many varieties of ramen.
Their house special is a Tonkotsu Gyokai ramen that’s delightfully savory. The unique blend of pork broth and traditional dashi creates a synergy of flavor that absolutely bursts with umami.
The owners of Kirimachi are a lovely Indonesian couple who fell in love with ramen and have devoted their lives to perfecting the dish.
They often journey to Japan to stay up to date on the latest trends in the ramen world so be sure to ask about their most recent travels if you stop by.
3 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111
6. Ramen Dojo (San Mateo)
Approaching Ramen Dojo, you will surely notice the one or two hour queue.
While Ramen Dojo is not great for a quick bite, it’s enduring popularity after over a decade of business serves as a testament to the sheer quality of their ramen.
Ramen Dojo doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to broth. All three of the varieties they offer (Soybean, Soy Sauce, and Spicy Garlic Pork) are packed with flavor.
Their toppings are also exceptional. Soft quail eggs, fresh chives and mouth-watering chashu are piled on to produce a bowl of pure umami that leaves you craving more.
805 S B St, San Mateo, CA 94401
7. Ramen Hero (Anywhere, Continental USA)
Last but not least, we couldn't finish this list without a shameless plug from yours truly.
Ramen Hero may not be a traditional brick-and-mortar ramen shop but we can go toe-to-toe with any of the restaurants on this list.
Our ramen has been developed by a master ramen chef who’s worked at many of the top ramen establishments in Japan.
High quality ingredients and a slow-cooking process that lasts days produces a wide array of indulgent, original flavors.
With Ramen Hero, your home becomes a world-class ramen bar. That means no drive, no line, and no wait.
Simply heat up the broth and toppings. In just ten minutes you and your loved ones will be enjoying some of the best Honkaku ramen you’ve ever tasted.