From simple street food to gourmet phenomenon, ramen has come a long way—and suffice to say it’s hot. The popular Japanese comfort food offers the perfect nourishment on a frigid day and can be customized to your liking, whether it’s classic tonkotsu you crave, a vegan elixir, or one of the many offbeat creations taking social media by storm. Visit these area eateries for a warm bowl of happiness.
Boru Ramen
Warm up and then catch a flick or live show. This casual Japanese restaurant on the Pike serves up hot dishes of ramen, donburi (a Japanese rice bowl with a variety of toppings) and more in a narrow space next door to the landmark Arlington Drafthouse. Ramen choices here include the bestselling “Hakata” Tonkotsu Ramen (silky pork bone broth, ramen noodles, chashu (pork belly), seaweed, egg, bamboo shoots, scallion and roasted sesame) and Shio Tempura Ramen, which has three shrimp tempura atop light chicken broth and adorned with seaweed, egg, bamboo shoots and fish cake. Add more toppings for an extra charge, such as chashu, teriyaki chicken, tofu-edamame balls, extra veggies or even a double portion of ramen noodles. // 2915 Columbia Pike, Arlington
Ichiban Sushi & Ramen
Ramen bowls are among the most popular offerings at this Shirlington storefront. All dishes are topped with baby bok choy, soy-poached egg, bean sprouts and fresh scallions. Just pick your broth base (miso, spicy miso, soy, tomato or kimchi stew) and your topping (chicken, pork, beef shrimp or vegetable) and slurp away. Still hungry? Add on from the extensive sushi menu. Some of the more unusual offerings include the Chicago Bull (deep fried jalapeno with spicy tuna inside, topped with seared steak, jalapeno, eel sauce and sriracha) and the Mamma Mia—a black pepper tuna and avocado roll topped with crunchy, spicy scallops and seaweed grass with spicy mayo and wasabi yuzu sauce. // 4251 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Jinya Ramen Bar
The Ballston and Mosaic District locations of this ramen purveyor are among the chain’s more than 60 restaurants across the country. Jinya’s avowed focus is kaizen, the Japanese practice of continuous improvement. Noodles undergo a special aging process and menus feature signature ramen dishes created by chef Kazuya Takebe featuring handmade noodles and slow-simmered broths. The Chef’s special Red Garnet ramen lives up to its name, with crimson-hued chili-garlic broth, pork chashu, spinach, green onion and kikurage (wood ear mushrooms). Enjoy it alongside a signature craft cocktail or mocktail, such as the watermelon delight or the Smokey Wokashi, Jinya’s twist on a classic Old Fashioned. // 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington ( Ballston), 2911 District Ave., Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Kizuna Sushi & Ramen
It might be a little tough to find this Tysons eatery, tucked in a mini-glen off of Route 7 and down a back lane known as Howard Ave. On arrival, you may see garden boxes in the parking lot where, in warmer months, Kizuna grows vegetables, spices and herbs used in its food. Open since 2015, the restaurant makes its pork and chicken broths inhouse, along with all of its ramen toppings. That list includes toro chashu—pork belly marinated in soy sauce, mirin and sake, then braised for seven hours, wrapped, chilled, sliced, torched and charbroiled. Add an order of the fan favorite chashu-topped tater tots; they’re laced with spicy mayo and topped with crisped pork chashu and scallions. The restaurant has a small patio that’s open in warmer months. // 8221 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Kura
The conveyor belt sushi bar circling this Tysons izakaya makes it fun to eyeball and choose among the more than 140 menu items. Order from the touchpad and a robot may deliver your drink. Kura offers four ramen options, all of which include braised pork, boiled egg, green onion and sesame, but each starts with a different type of broth as its foundation. Select miso (soybean paste-based), shoyu (soy sauce-based), tantanmen (creamy spicy miso) or tonkotsu (creamy pork). There are also three udon noodle options: beef, shrimp tempura and kitsune (tofu pockets). Save room for Japanese desserts such as soy milk donuts, sesame balls or Taiyaki ice cream topped with a warm, crispy fish-shaped pastry. // 8461 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Kusshi
This Westpost eatery opened in 2022, joining a sister spot in Tysons. Oysters (including the eponymous Kusshi oyster) are mainstays, along with gyoza, sushi, teriyaki and a host of noodle dishes. Find three types of hot soup, including ramen with a pork-based broth, udon noodle soup with your choice of protein (chicken, seafood or shrimp and vegetable tempura) or vegan ramen. If you prefer your noodles sans broth, try the green tea soba noodles with tempura or sashimi. Or dig into a bowl of Kusshi noodles—stir-fried udon with chicken, shrimp, and beef in a spicy drunken noodle sauce, spritzed with orange. Then stay for a drink or two. Kusshi claims to have the area’s largest collection of sake. // 1201 S. Joyce St., Arlington (Westpost), 8365 Leesburg Pike, Vienna (Tysons)
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Kyuramen
This Falls Church specialty shop aims to make ramen an affordable dining-out option for the working class and student population in a stress-free environment. Carefully crafted “white,” “thick,” “fresh” and “fragrant” soup bases are served with a Japanese-style pork roast, a 7-minute boiled egg and chopped green onions. A smaller menu features other toppings such as chicken, vegetables and a Yingyang bowl with chashu pork and shrimp tempura. // 918 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Maneki Neko
The name of this restaurant means “beckoning cat,” and its waving storefront mascot is a traditional symbol of good fortune in Japan. This Falls Church eatery has been welcoming customers inside for more than 20 years. In addition to several varieties of traditional ramen, the kitchen dishes up some special and original options, including lobster ramen; tom yum seafood ramen with scallops, shrimp, squid and noodles in a hot-and-sour soup; and oxtail udon soup. The menu also includes a variety of sushi, sashimi and donburi—rice bowls topped with various protein and veggie combos. // 238 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Ryu Izakaya
This Japanese kitchen and sushi bar offers tapas-style Japanese small dishes, sushi and fusion foods. You’ll find several types of ramen and other hot noodles featuring house-made broths, including the fan-favorite tonkatsu and curry ramen topped with red onion, tangy pickled cabbage, lime and cilantro. A happy hour hot spot, this eatery offers $1 sushi every day from 4-7 p.m. and a full drink and cocktail menu, including a selection of sakes. // 3030 Columbia Pike, Arlington
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Wagamama
This U.K.-based Asian restaurant is all about ramen, from a basic chicken broth with seasonal greens to modern creations such as grilled duck (crispy duck leg in rich vegetable broth, ponzu sauce, bok choy, chilies and half a tea-stained egg), short rib beef (with chicken broth, carrots, snow peas, red onion, sweet potato and seasonal greens), and the vegan Kare Burosu (shichimi-coated tofu, grilled mushrooms, chili, udon noodles and curried vegetable broth). The expansive menu also includes numerous noodle and rice dishes, including ginger chicken udon noodles, spicy salmon teriyaki over soba noodles, and spicy beef brisket and red onion donburi. Wash it all down with a selection from the juice bar (the restaurant’s freshly-pressed juices are designed to boost immunity) or pick something a little less virtuous from the wine, beer and extensive cocktail menu. Sip on SOTO Junmai sake-crafted creations, a Vietnamese espresso martini or a passionfruit paloma. // 2950 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)