Looking for the best ramen in DC? Want to know what to order? Keep reading!
Where Is The Best Ramen In DC?
This article details the top ramen spots in Washington, DC. These are listed in no particular order and all represent some of America’s best ramen spots.
Chaplin’s In Shaw
Chaplin’s in Washington, DC is a Japanese Ramen House and Cocktail Bar that serves ramen and other Japanese cuisine. They are also well known for their delicious drinks and happy hour where you can find many post work young people having a good time.
Some of the best ramen dishes at Chaplin’s include the Miso Ramen, the Tan Tan Men, the Veggie Shio Ramen, the Shoyu Ramen and the Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen. There is also spacious outdoor seating, weather permitting. If you’re looking for ramen and a vibe, head to this popular place in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Jinya Ramen Bar
Jinya Ramen Bar is located on 14th street in Northwest, DC and is rated the highest Ramen bar in DC. Their most popular dishes are the spicy creamy vegan ramen and the spicy chicken ramen. They offer a wide variety of different ramen customizations along with a chef’s special. Their pork bun appetizers are also loved by customers.
Jinya Ramen Bar was started by Tomo Takahashi. This restauranteur and entrepreneur has over 140 locations of ramen places across the country including ramen houses in New York and Los Angeles. He knows what he’s doing.
Ramen By Uzu
When Hiroaki Mitsui first came to DC to play semi-professional basketball. During this time, he was always looking for Japanese comfort food. Inspired by his own cravings, Hiro started Ramen by UZU as a small pop-up in 2016 inside of Honeycomb Grocer, which was located inside of Union Market.
Ramen by Uzu was named the DMV’s best cheap Japanese restaurant by Washingtonian Magazine. Hiro’s partner, Takashi Nakajima joined Ramen by UZU in 2017. The two had met at Toki Underground during previous jobs with the restaurant.
Menya Hosaki
Menya Hosaki is a ramen restaurant located in Washington, DC. It is known for serving high-quality ramen bowls, including the Triple Threat ramen, which combines pork, chicken, and smoked fish broth into one bowl. The restaurant has received many positive reviews in The Washington Post as well as the MICHELIN Guide. Menya Hosaki has also been recognized as a Bib Gourmand restaurant in the 2022 MICHELIN Guide USA.
One of the most popular dishes at Menya Hosaki is the Triple Threat ramen, which combines pork, chicken, and smoked fish broth into one bowl. The restaurant is also known for its tonkotsu ramen and truffle shoyu ramen, both of which have received high praise from various sources, including Yelp and The Washington Post. Ultimately, the best dish at Menya Hosaki may depend on personal taste, but these three ramen bowls are highly recommended.
Basebowl Ramen
This ramen restaurant is very close to Nationals Park. Some of the best dishes at Basebowl Ramen in Washington, DC include the Signature Bowl, Switch Hitter, Soup Bao Dumplings, Veggie Lover Gyoza, Shrimp Tempura Sushi, and Batter’s Favorite. Basebowl Ramen also offers ramen delivery as well as take-out and curbside pickup options. It is a popular stop before heading to watch a game at the stadium.
Toki Underground
Toki Underground is known for serving some of the best ramen in DC. It has been reviewed positively by various sources, including Yelp, The Infatuation, and Eater DC. The restaurant also has great appetizers in addition to classic chef-made ramen.
The Toki classic with chashu pork and a soft egg is a signature dish and highly recommended at Toki Underground in DC. The broth is also said to be slurp-worthy and its stick-to-your-bones porky intensity is especially memorable.
Daikaya Ramen Shop
Daikaya Ramen Shop is located in the Penn Quarter neighborhood near the National Portrait Gallery. They serve Sapporo-style ramen, which is the most popular style in Japanese culture, and make all of their dishes with a pork-based broth. Their most popular dishes are the Spicy Miso Ramen, the Shoyu Ramen, the Salty Shio and the Pork Belly. They also offer a vegan ramen, which does not contain the pork-based, that is raved about by customers. Daikaya Ramen Shop is a smaller place, however their ramen is amazing and one of the best spots in downtown DC.
Haikan Restaurant
Haikan Restaurant is located in the Shaw Neighborhood on V street in DC. Haikan is the sibling restaurant to Daikaya. Starting with the appetizers, the Old Bay Crab Rangoons are the most talked about item on their menu and a must-have at this restaurant. The Spicy Shoyu Ramen is one of the top menu items here, and is loved due to its base being soy sauce and spices. The Vegetarian Ramen is also a top item at this restaurant and is loved by both meat eaters and vegetarians. Haikan Restaurant is a top ramen restaurant in DC that offers great ramen as well as mouth watering appetizers.
Kaiju Ramen
Kaiju Ramen in Washington, DC is a popular ramen restaurant in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. It has overall Yelp rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 based on over 300 reviews. Some of the best dishes at Kaiju Ramen in Washington, DC include the Spicy Pork Tonkatsu Ramen, the Spicy Chicken Ramen, the Gyoza, and the Kaiju Kobe Ramen
Akira Ramen & Izakaya
Akira Ramen & Izakaya iis located in the Adams Morgan Neighborhood on 18th street in DC. Their most popular dish is the Spicy Akira Volcano Ramen. This dish is constantly raved about by customers as the favorite ramen dish they have ever had. This restaurant is known for their large portion sizes and for adding a lot more toppings than other restaurants. They also serve sushi and other basic popular dishes. Akira Ramen is a great place to go for all ramen lovers.
Sakuramen Ramen Bar
Sakuramen Ramen Bar is located in the Adams Morgan Neighborhood on 18th street in DC. The Spicy Pork Bun appetizer is top notch and loved by customers. At this restaurant, customers are encouraged to customize their ramen bowls to the way they want it and they offer a variety of selections of toppings and customizations for each of the specialty bowls. The most popular dish amongst ramen lovers is the Spicy Miso Ramen, and this restaurant is the perfect place for it since it offers a large portion with numerous delicious and tender meat to fit right in with all the toppings and the amazing broth. Sakuramen Ramen Bar is a great place to go to customize and enjoy your ramen experience.
Oki Bowl @ Georgetown
This restaurant is located on Wisconsin Ave in Georgetown. This restaurant offers a cozy ambiance with its signature Oki Curry Ramen leading its most popular dishes by a lot. This dish has a curry and coconut milk broth, garnished with shallot, pickled cabbage, fried chicken and crispy noodles. They also offer many other delicious ramen dishes. Oki Bowl is a great place to go for everybody when visiting the Georgetown area!
Bantam King
Bantam King has several popular dishes, but here are some of the best dishes to order. The Chicken Ramen is Bantam King’s signature dish and is made with a rich, flavorful chicken broth, tender noodles, and juicy chicken. The Spicy Miso Ramen is also very popular. This ramen bowl is made with a spicy miso broth, tender noodles, and flavorful toppings like ground pork, scallions, and bamboo shoots. It is a popular choice for those who like a bit of heat in their ramen.
What Is Traditional Ramen?
If you do not know what ramen is, it is a simple dish consisting of noodles in a miso or soy sauce broth and topped with different meats and vegetables of your choice. It usually has the following:
- Broth: Traditional ramen broth is typically made by simmering meat (such as pork, chicken, or beef) and/or seafood with vegetables, herbs, and spices for an extended period. This slow cooking process extracts flavors and creates a rich and savory broth. There are different styles of ramen broth, including tonkotsu (pork bone), shoyu (soy sauce), miso (fermented soybean paste), and shio (salt).
- Noodles: Ramen noodles are made from wheat flour and are typically thin and slightly chewy in texture. The noodles are cooked to the desired firmness and added to the broth before serving. The thickness and texture of the noodles can vary based on regional preferences and the specific ramen style.
- Toppings: Traditional ramen is often served with a variety of toppings that enhance the flavor and texture of the dish. Common toppings include sliced chashu (braised or roasted pork), marinated soft-boiled eggs, sliced green onions, bamboo shoots, seaweed (nori), bean sprouts, and sometimes corn or menma (fermented bamboo shoots). Additional condiments like chili oil, sesame seeds, or garlic may be offered for customization.
Traditional ramen is a beloved comfort food in Japan and has gained popularity worldwide including in Washington DC.
Best Ramen In DC 2023: Summary
Ramen has been one of the most popular dishes in the world. There have been many ramen bars and ramen shops dedicated to serving it. The best ramen bars and best ramen restaurants include Jinya Ramen Bar, Toki Underground, Daikaiya Ramen Shop, Haikan Restaurant, Oki Bowl, Sakuraramen, Chaplin’s, Ramen By Uzu, and Akira Ramen.
