If there is just one subject I feel I could claim to be an expert on, without a doubt, it’s Ramen restaurants in the Portland area. When I moved here six years ago, the Ramen scene in PDX was sad, uncultivated, and practically non-existent. I used to make regular weekend jaunts back home to Eugene where I would frequent my favorite Ramen spot, Toshi’s Ramen, order in bulk, freeze and vacuum seal my Ramen, stuff it in an ice chest and bring it back to Portland with me. At the time, it was the only way to get my Ramen fix, and despite the cost and distance, it was well worth the effort.
Fast forward to 2017, and Portland has suddenly become one of the premier Ramen destinations outside of Japan and New York. With multiple previously Japan-only Restaurants choosing Portland as the destination for their American debuts in the past two years alone, residents of Portland have more choices than ever for enjoying authentic Japanese Ramen.
In no particular order, here are the best bowls of Ramen I’ve had in Portland this year.
Garlic Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen – Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya – Beaverton, OR
Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya, formerly known as Kukai Ramen, is a well known Japanese Chain that has been expanding aggressively across the globe in recent years. It’s safe to say that since opening in Beaverton in 2015, Kizuki is highly regarded as the overall best place in town to grab a bowl of authentic Japanese style Ramen. Nearly every time I visit, regardless of the time of day, there is generally at least a 10 minute wait for a table. No matter how long the wait, I assure you that Kizuki’s Garlic Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen is worth your time.
Kizuki’s signature Ramen features an incredibly rich and thick Tonkotsu broth that is imbued with heaping amounts of Garlic in every spoonful. I make a habit to order mine with a side of Chili Paste and Corn to make an already delicious bowl even better. Outside of their incredible signature Ramen dish, what I like the most about Kizuki is the amount of options available to the customer for customizing their bowl to their exact specifications. I highly recommend Kizuki Ramen to anyone regardless of their experience with Ramen, as there is something on their menu for everyone to enjoy.
Red Tonkotsu Ramen – Marukin Ramen – Portland, OR
When Marukin Ramen opened up in Portland in 2016, it marked the first stateside location of the Tokyo-based chain. Eager to try the latest Ramen shop to arrive in the Northwest, I first tried their regular Tonkotsu shortly after their soft opening. To be honest, I wasn’t very impressed as I felt their Tonkotsu was lacking and a little simple for my tastes. While some of my friends preached the gospel of Marukin, I remained unmoved by their offerings. It wasn’t until I tried their Spicy Red Tonkotsu that I found what so many others claim is the best bowl of Ramen in Portland.
The Red Tonkotsu features a robust and rich broth that delivers incredible pork flavor while lacking the heaviness and oil of other Tonkotsu broths. The spice adds a beautiful color to the broth and just the right amount of edge to make it interesting without becoming overbearing. Marukin Ramen is one of the few places in Portland that makes their own noodles in house everyday and it shows. The noodles strike a perfect balance between thickness and chewiness and are arguably the best in town.
The only downside to Marukin Ramen is that they are fairly strict when it comes to substitutions or modifications to your order; Don’t even think about ordering extra noodles. While the Red Tonkotsu is available daily, Marukin is also known for rotating it’s menu of available broths based on the day of the week, so check ahead before trying them out to make sure your favorite bowl will be available.
As a major plus, Marukin has crafted some excellent vegan broth options specifically for their Portland locations. While I love my pork based Tonkotsu broths, my girlfriend doesn’t which makes Marukin an easy pick for a casual lunch or dinner date.
Yuzu Shio Ramen – Afuri – Portland, OR
Few other restaurants receive the amount of buzz that Afuri received when it announced it’s first planned expansion outside of Japan. Afuri has effortlessly elevated serving what is ultimately, Japanese working-class food, into a fine dining experience. Per the Portland Mercury, Afuri selected Portland for it’s first stateside base of operations primarily due to one reason: the pH balance of the water found in the Bull Run Reservoir, which serves as the drinking water source for the majority of Portland residents. According to the owner, it is the closest water source they found that matches the quality of the water used in their broths back home in Japan.
While that sounds incredibly snobbish on paper, I can assure you that level of precision and dedication to quality is reflected in the Ramen at Afuri. The signature ramen bowl, the Yuzu Shio Ramen, is brilliantly clean and light, all while bursting with an unmistakable citrus taste. The flame grilled pork chashu adds another level of complexity that you just don’t find in most Ramen establishments. Alongside a full Izakaya and an impressive selection of Japanese Whiskeys, Afuri’s Ramen offerings are among the best the city has to offer. Protip: Order the Gyoza.
Honorable Mentions
Ramen Ryoma – Beaverton, OR
Located just next door to Uwajimaya in Beaverton, Ryoma is a no frills, fast service Ramen joint that is ideal for lunch with colleagues. Great portions for affordable prices.
Noraneko – Portland, OR
Spin-off of Biwa, Noraneko serves up decent bowls of Ramen until 2:00am every night. While the add-ons to complete your bowl will make you feel like you’re being nickel and dimed, this little hole in the wall under the Hawthorne Bridge makes up for it with a live DJ on weekend nights and arguably the best Karaage in town.
Hapa PDX – Portland, OR
This Ramen Food Cart holds the designation of Best Ramen Ever Handed to Me out of a Window. Unfortunately, due to the closure of the Tidbit Food Cart Pod on Division in Late October, Hapa PDX has apparently closed for good. However, it appears the owners have established a more permanent location under the name of Aiko Ramen within the Portland Food Hall.
Did I leave your favorite Ramen place off the list? Do you have any recommendations for me to try? Leave a message below.
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