Local food writers reveal the ramen spots they return to again and again.
Ever wish you could call up a local food writer in an unfamiliar city and get them to spill the beans on their favorite dining spots? Consider this a cheat sheet. Food & Wine polled a group of trusted local food writers for their dining recommendations in cities across the country, from Charleston, South Carolina, to Seattle, Washington. Collectively, these journalists have been reporting on their local restaurant scenes for decades — and they’ve got the insider recommendations to prove it.
Below, find five essential ramen shops that local experts stand behind. They include a tsukemen powerhouse in San Francisco and a D.C. favorite retrofitted into an old Burger King outpost. The next time you’re in town, add these shops to your itinerary.
Akahoshi Ramen (Chicago)
Picky diners who seek noodles with the ideal level of bite and tension should head to Akahoshi Ramen, the lair of the chef known as “Ramen Lord.” Mike Satinover’s shop thrives on creativity by rotating specials inspired from his travels to Japan. The menu showcases regional styles — like tonkotsu gyokai — that are harder to find in the U.S. Satinover’s fanatical passion isn’t just limited to specials, either. Classics like miso and shoyu are also presented with thoughtful spins that honor the original renditions. — Ashok Selvam
Taishoken (San Francisco)
It must be hard to live anywhere that isn’t the Bay Area, because that means a lack of access to the only U.S. outposts of Japanese ramen superstar Taishoken. The main attraction here is tsukemen. The cold-noodle-dipped-in-hot-broth style is widely credited to Kazuo Yamagishi, who pioneered the format at Taishoken in 1961. There may be no better place to try this punchy, deeply rich ramen in the U.S. — Paolo Bicchieri
Bantam King (Washington, D.C.)
The first ramen stop for most D.C. residents is Daikaya, located on the edges of Chinatown right across the street from Capital One Arena. If you walk just a few blocks farther, grab a seat at Bantam King, a quirky sibling spot retrofitted into an old Burger King location. In addition to restorative shio ramen with Sapporo-style noodles from Daikaya Group, you can add snacks like a plate of steaming white rice smothered in chicken drippings and butter, or a generous chocolate chip cookie fortified with schmaltz…