5 New Bay Area Ramen Spots to Try

By Flora Tsapovsky   |   May 7, 2018, 10:07 am

Last month, the closure of Ken Ken Ramen, the intimate, cozy Mission favorite, had many ramen lovers devastated. The restaurant, which fed hungry noodle slurpers for five solid years, is no longer open due to a mix of the owner’s personal and financial reasons. While it will be forever missed, mourners are more than welcome to fall in love with other egg-meets-noodle creations, at these new Bay Area ramen parlors.

Ippudo SF

The Berkeley branch of the international restaurant chain still draws the longest lines, but when the newer San Francisco location opened downtown in January, its grandeur truly matched the flavorful menu, sending a slew of ramen fans its direction. The famous Ippudo ramen are color coded, with the classic tonkatsu broth shown off in a white bowl and the addictive Akamaru Modern, topped with the signature umami paste, served in a red one. Try them all, and by all means, don’t skip the pricey cucumber appetizer. It’s totally worth it.

18 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco

 

Torraku Ramen 

The beloved Mission Bay food truck got a permanent location in late 2017, catering to the normally ramen-deprived  Design District residents and office workers. On the menu, hungry customers will find a dazzling variety of colorful, appetizing ramen options, from the familiar miso and shoyu to a curry ramen and a shrimp-loaded seafood version. An adventurous pick or a traditional, comforting bowl? You decide.

300 De Haro Street suite 338, San Francisco

 

Marufuku Ramen

As Ippudo expanded from the East Bay to San Francisco, the Marufuku management did the opposite, opening their second spot on the buzzy Temescal portion of Telegraph Avenue. The authentic eatery, which replaced the yakitori restaurant Kushido, specializes in Hakata-style ramen, featuring a milky rich broth and the most delicate variety of noodles. Another curious yet delicious option would the chicken Paitan, a stunning, white brothy creation.

4828 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

 

Iza Ramen

‘Passion for a bowl of ramen’ is Iza‘s obvious slogan. The second location of the Lower Haight’s beloved restaurant opened in the SoMa last February, conquering another part of town and even more warmed hearts. Unlike some incredibly ramen-centric spots, Iza’s appetizer game is strong and sophisticated, and the sake choices are intriguing. The ramen itself leans towards the lighter side of the scale, with a delicious vegetarian ramen and a unique cold option in the mix.

237 Fillmore Street, San Francisco

 

Shinmani 

Shinmani, the commute-worthy Uptown Oakland spot, opened last summer and quickly reached cult status. Their ramen, like the classic tonkatsu and the shoyu, are delicious, but there is also izakaya small plate options (the Japanese version of a tapas bar), which means the menu is loaded with tasty, surprising, little dishes. Don’t skip the star of the show, obviously, but do try an unusual potato salad and a couple of offerings from the robata grill while you’re at it.

1517, 1825-3 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland