FRIDAY FIVE
Temperatures outside are dipping, and the hours of sunlight are dwindling, which means it’s ramen season — and we aren’t talking about the kind you devoured drunkenly in college. Indeed, the beloved Japanese cuisine is a go-to in winter months thanks to its soothing combination of bright-yellow noodles, lip-smacking broth and exotic veggies. It’s the best kind of blanket for chilly California nights, after all.
Lucky for us, the East Bay is home to some of the tastiest ramen joints in the country. Here are our favorites:
1. Itani Ramen
Located in the heart of Telegraph Avenue, Itani is known for serving regional Japanese ramen. Prefer oxtail over pork? That’s not a problem at Itani, although their pork miso ramen is a popular dish, too, so maybe consider ordering both. The menu is inspired by chef Kyle Itani’s travels throughout Japan and is meant to provide patrons with an authentic Japanese experience. Don’t fret—in typical Bay Area fashion, they do serve vegan ramen too.
TBI tip: Itani is a great place to grab ramen before a show at the Fox Theater (it’s open until 11:00 p.m.).
https://www.itaniramen.com—1736 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
2. The Ramen Shop
Not your typical Japanese ramen shop, this joint has more of a hipster vibe. Located in Oakland’s trendy Rockridge neighborhood, the Ramen Shop is known for putting its own California-quirky spin on this traditional Japanese dish. For example, vegetarians usually opt for the Veggie Meyer Lemon Shoyu Ramen. Carnivores rave about the Liberty Duck Shoyu Ramen; the veggies in this dish include Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.
TBI tip: Be prepared for a long wait if you go on the weekend.
www.ramenshop.com—5812 College Avenue, Oakland
3. Marufuku Ramen
This ramen joint is new to the Temescal neighborhood in Oakland but not the San Francisco Bay Area. Its first establishment has been a popular go-to in San Francisco’s Japantown for quite some time. Ramen snobs in the East Bay are happy to have Marufuku nearby, though, as it’s known for its seriously delicious broth. The noodles are handmade, too, which is a detail that does not go unnoticed.
TBI tip: You can never go wrong with the Hakata Tonkotsu.
www.marufukuramen.com—4828 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
4. Shumi Ramen
Located in Castro Valley, this ramen shop does not get praise for its ramen presentation, but that’s OK because its tastes makes up for it. In other words, this is a no-frills ramen joint, which means it’s the real deal. Shumi Ramen is known to get the broth-to-ramen ratio just right, which is often lauded by ramen lovers, in addition to getting “spicy” just right.
TBI tip: There’s plenty of parking.
https://www.facebook.com/shumiramen—18911 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley
5. Ippudo
Located in Berkeley, this ramen shop is no stranger to press and making it on various “best of” lists — and for good reason. Ippudo is also known for its amazingly delicious broth and for striking the perfect balance between broth, meat and veggies. Its history is what is equally appealing about this place, though—Ippudo got its start in 1985 in Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, and has opened up restaurants around the world. The Berkeley joint opened its doors in 2017.
TBI tip: Add the pork buns to your ramen order too.
http://ippudo-us.com—2015 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
Hey! The Bold Italic recently launched a podcast, This Is Your Life in Silicon Valley. Check out the full season or listen to the episode below featuring Hunter Walk, investor and former head of product at YouTube. More coming soon, so stay tuned!
