In this blog, we’ll share our our personal top picks for the best ramen in the Bay Area! We’ll explore the unique features of each spot and what makes them a must-visit for any ramen lover. This blog will explore the area’s vibrant ramen scene to bring you the best spots around. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick lunch or a hearty dinner, we’ve got you covered.
#1 Best Ramen in the Bay Area: Momiji
By far, if you are looking for one of the most consistent and flavorful ramen places in the Bay Area, Momiji is the place for you. Located only in Colma, this place offers a variety of dishes like gyu don and curry, but their main dish is their ramen. Their ramen menu encompasses a lot of different flavors, from the regular House Ramen to Vegetarian Ramen to Black Garlic Ramen. Aside from their varied ramen options, Momiji offers additional broth options to suit anyone’s needs. The shop offers tonkotsu, shoyu, miso, shio, and even soy milk broth.
If you are looking to try this place, we would definitely recommend the spicy House Ramen with tonkotsu broth. While spice is not everyone’s cup-of-tea, we would highly recommend getting this option as it greatly enhances the flavor of the ramen broth. The tonkotsu broth is warm and hearty while the thick noodles soak up the tonkotsu broth and deliver a lot of flavors. In addition, the ramen comes with soft and melting cha-shu, kikurage mushroom, spinach, and half of a soft boiled egg. Also, pairing options that we would recommend with this ramen are their signature Takoyaki and their Thai iced tea if that peaks any of your interest. If you’re feeling for a warm and hearty meal, Momiji ramen is one the best there is.
#2 Best Ramen: Hinodeya
Next up on our recommendations is Hinodeya Ramen. Located in San Francisco Japantown, Union Square, San Jose, and Newark, Hinodeya has one of the clearest but flavorful broths on this list. Their signature broth preparation creates a light yet rich aroma that serves as the backdrop for their thin noodles. Their ramen selection contains regular menu items like their house, spicy miso, and clam ramen. One of the best perks for Hinodeya is their spice levels, ranging by numeric order from level 1 to 20. Hinodeya’s innovation in ramen making has led them to create some of the most surprising dishes we have tasted.
Our recommendation for Hinodeya would be their Spicy Miso Ramen! This combines the light dashi broth and a spicy miso base, creating a thicker and more flavorful broth. In terms of spice levels, the Spicy Miso originally comes at a level 2. If you are feeling adventurous, we recommend doing level 3-4 for an enjoyable experience. The Spicy Miso Ramen is definitely a must-try if you are planning to visit Hinodeya.
#3: Marufuku
Marfuku has gained a lot of renown in the Bay Area in recent years. With stores opened in San Francisco Japantown and Oakland Temescal. Marufuku ramen is one of the most sought-after ramen places, with their Hakata-style tonkotsu broth and unbelievably tender cha-shu. Their ramen noodles are considered very thin compared to other ramen places, but are still a perfect combination for their broth. The ramen selection is limited at Marufuku, consisting of four options: Hakata Tonkotsu, Chicken Paitan, Vegetable Ramen, and TanTan Men. While it may be limited, it is safe to say that specializing in these options has allowed Marufuku to hone them perfectly.
Our recommendation for Marufuku Ramen is their signature Hakata Tonkotsu. This comes with their tender pork belly, soft boiled egg, kikurage mushrooms, and bean sprouts. For spice, we recommend either no spicy to savor the richness of the broth or spicy for all of you spice enjoyers. The Hakata Tonkotsu is truly an experience for any that have not tried this kind of broth before. You’ll often find yourself finishing the broth before the noodles.
These are our personal top picks for ramen in the Bay Area! If you have any other ramen places that you’d love for us to try, please leave a comment below! Also, please to check our posts on Facebook for updates!
Also, be sure to check out our other blogs like our top picks for boba drinks or our Korean food spotlight!
