The Best Ramen in Boston

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Harvard Square

★★★★☆ 4.1 (1532) • $$

"Brief Summary:- Waitlist can be done with a tablet near the entrance- There is a nook of claw games- Indoor seating onlyIt was a slightly drizzling and cold morning in Boston, so ramen felt like a great meal to eat. We were walking around the outdoor areas of Harvard University, and this ramen restaurant is close to it. When we arrived around noon, it was filled with seated guests, so we needed to be part of the waitlist. Adding the name and party number was easily done with a kiosk. (This was not operated by yelp). We did most of the waiting by walking down the streets along this restaurant, which helped spend time without constantly thinking about hunger.The wait time didn't feel long either; after what felt like less than ten minutes, we received a text message that a table is ready and we were to return to the restaurant in 10 minutes. The distance wasn't far, so we were able to return to claim our seats. The staff guided to our spots, but due to them being busy, they have forgotten to leave a menu. This took a minute or two for us to call a staff over to receive it. The menu has a dozen of combos and combinations, so we started off with the simple and default sizes.I ordered the shio ramen with the shiyake rice bowl combo set. A relative of mine tried the vegetarian ramen. We all chose a regular sized ramen bowl.In total, we ordered three dishes, and the dishes arrived around the same time. The regular sized bowl felt just about right for us; enough to be content but not too much that we are full for the rest of the day. I liked the broth for this shio (salt) ramen bowl. My relative, who got the vegetarian ramen mentioned how it felt heavier than other vegetarian ramen bowls they have tried in the past. I also liked the shiyake rice bowl. The salmon covered the rice evenly and it had little savory pops from the ikura roe. The seasoning of the salmon is just right and it didn't require me to ask for more rice or needing an additional savory item. Overall, a perfect vision of what a ramen tastes like."

Ganko Ittetsu Ramen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1217) • $$

"I recently visited Ganko Ittetsu for the first time in many years and they are still as delicious as I remembered. The star of the show for me was the chicken karaage/ fried chicken. It came piping hot, was not dry at all and had great flavor. The pork gyozas were juicy and tasty. The ramen was one of my favorites I had in a while and I tend to try a new ramen spot at least once a week. It is as busy as I remembered it being a few years ago, however, the wait was not too bad. They offer you their menu to look over and you are able to order, so that by the time you are seated, your food is served to you. This is a great spot for yummy ramen and appetizers!"

Santouka Back Bay

★★★★☆ 4.1 (786) • $$

"Expect to wait in a line outside. That's how you know it's a good place. We didn't wait long, maybe 20 minutes. It was the weekend of the Boston Marathon so the streets were busier than normal. We were seated at a communal table. Most if not all were like this so they can fit more people. Fortunately my friend and I were seated right at the window so we only had people on one side. This is a no frills restaurant, which means don't dilly dally. You never feel rushed, but the atmosphere didn't make us feel like we should stay beyond what we needed to enjoy our ramen.Speaking of, we both got small sizes. It may look tiny, but we were both very full when we finished. Broth was creamy, thick, and savory without being salty or over powering. Noodles were perfectly cooked. I loved the menma and the ume on top. It was the perfect meal for a busy Boston day of walking around the city.Don't sleep on this place!"

Pikaichi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (737) • $

"Our go to ramen joint, small inside but so friendly and fast service. Recommend for parties of 2-4. They also have to-go options.You truly cannot go wrong, we have been coming here for years since their previous location in the Super 88. I love their Japanese curry which is so delightful or their shoyu or spicy miso ramen. The noodles are always fond to perfection and the broth is delightful.They have teas and juices but no alcohol."

Sapporo Ramen

★★★★☆ 3.6 (688) • $$

"Great quality and flavor, even for delivery food!I got a spicy miso Ramen and another pork Ramen. The appetizer wings were great as well with some mayo cabbage. My only complain was that the Ramen that came for the spicy miso was too small of portionI would definitely order from this place again or even pay a visit in person !"

Doragon Eatery

★★★★☆ 4.4 (450) • $$

"Round 2 featuring some new and different menu items, as well as a takeaway order! We have: funwari age tofu ($13), roasted sesame mazeman ($16), peanut mazeman ($16), black miso ramen ($17), tonkotsu ramen ($17), and hellfire broth ($4.50).We all decided to try the non-hellfire broth menu items with a hellfire broth on the side for sipping, which I highly recommend for intermittent spice. The two broth ramens were both rich. I would argue that the tonkotsu ramen wasn't as rich as the Doragon hellfire version, but still quite flavorful. The real stars of the show here are the mazeman dishes and the aged tofu. The aged tofu is made with fish paste -- gives it this very seafood-like flavor -- and is fried perfectly crisp, making it an underrated app. Would highly recommend a little chili in the soy sauce used for dipping and it's perfect. The peanut mazeman is very heavy on peanut flavor, but if you like a sweeter, nuttier sauce that's got punches of curry, then it's an amazing dish! I personally loved the newer mazeman, the roasted sesame, because it's a little more savory and spicy with some mild sweetness from the sesame seeds. Both are definitely must try items if you're not feeling broth!Service as always was great and this spot still offers a small seating area but wonderfully upbeat music to help with general vibes while munching on ramen or finger foods. Still highly recommend!"

Soup Shack - Jamaica Plain

★★★★☆ 4.3 (337) • $$

"Soup Shack, located on Centre Street in Jamaica Plains, specializes in made-to-order Vietnamese pho, Korean ramen, and Thai noodle soups, and Japanese-inspired rice bowls. The ambiance is very casual with countertop seating facing the front window and the open kitchen (.. a consideration if you don't want to smell like cooked meats for the rest of your day ..) as well as a few tables and chairs outside. It's a small dining area with 12-15 seats, so you may have to wait for an open seat, but the staff does a good job serving the food quickly and turning over the seats. The service was very good with staff that's very personable and knowledgeable about the menu.Craving a hot soup on a slightly chilly and dreary Saturday, I opted for the special Mala Pho ($16), a generous portion of hot soup comprised of soft rice noodles topped with sliced steak, beef balls, flank steak, bok choy, cherry tomatoes, onion, scallions, and cilantro, served over a spicy mala beef broth. YUM! Loved it. My dining companion tried the Fried Tofu rice bowl ($14), with lightly battered soft Japanese tofu, cucumber, bok choy, and scallions, served over Japanese steamed rice, which she really enjoyed as well.We will definitely be back next time we're in the area!PRO TIP #1: Soup Shack doesn't have its own parking lot, but there's plenty of on-street parking on Centre Street."

Isshindo Ramen

★★★★★ 4.5 (231) • $$

"You likely wont be stumbling into this place just walking around. It's almost hidden inside a grocery store food building that's fairly discrete. That's a good thing because there isn't much seating and already a wait time on the weekends. They don't need foot traffic because people who know, know. There is some good ramen here.If you're seeking some Ramen that isn't a fad restaurant tainted by Americanization of foreign cuisine this is very solid pick. No frills just good ramen. Ingredients are well curated, broth is beautiful (not overly cloudy) and fragrant. Meat is cooked very well, I've had most options and all of them are tender and flavor is balanced according to the dish. Thats true for all the dishes I've had, balanced and delicate. Prices are also notably fair. For a drink, ramen, and tip you can get out for around $25 or less which is pretty good for Boston. The only knock I have for this place is the drinks, they have some cheaper imported sodas that seem to not fit in as well for the rest of the menu. A tea selection, and better drinks, maybe even inclusion of an Umeshu would be stellar. Have returned and will return again."

Tsurumen 1000

★★★★☆ 4.3 (229) • $$

"The chashu in the spicy paitan ($18+tax+tip) was incredible, so soft! The noodles were also very bouncy. The broth was a bit salty and could have been more flavorful, and I didn't love the grittiness of the broth. The only big flaw was that the canned bamboo wasn't very good.A very good ramen offering! I see why the line was out the door on the weekend, though it was not very crowded on a weekday evening."

Chiharu

★★★★★ 4.6 (193) • $$

"Food was great! Very fresh! Folks are really nice. They are short staffed like a lot of restaurants now. Most customers order take out for pick up. Very unassuming spot. I've driven by a lot of times but wasn't aware this restaurant was here. Will have to order take out next time!"

Hakata Ramen & Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (205)

"Took a risk and a 1/2 hour drive to get ramen tonight since I am just recovering from Covid and wanted comfort food. We ordered vegetarian miso ramen, Tantan ramen, and chicken karaage. The ramen noodles have a good texture. Toppings are very fresh and simple. Good flavor on the vegetarian miso broth. Not spicy at all. The Tonton Ramen broth is a bit spicy and you can taste the sesame oil. The chicken Karaage was fried well, with a light batter and nice crunch. I liked the black pepper on the chicken. We won't make the drive every week for takeout but I'm so glad we did tonight."

Totto Ramen

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (336) • $$

"Very nice atmosphere and good ramen but not the best ramen I've had. I ordered the Paitan Ramen ($17). The ramen broth feels unique to Totto compared to other ramens I've had. I personally found the broth and chashu a bit under-seasoned. Not terrible, just not the deeply umami flavors I've come to expect from a pork ramen. The service was great, and the employees are respectful and helpful. We're grateful that they offer dog friendly outdoor seating, which was clean and comfortable. They're also located right by the Artisan East Parking Garage, which offers up to 3 hours of free parking. Overall, it was a good visit that "scratches the itch" for ramen."

Ruckus

★★★★☆ 3.6 (239) • $$

"TLDR: samurai champloo inspired decor with hit or miss ramen. The inside has a cool vibe with graffiti style artwork and hip hop music playing. A bunch of bar style seating that probably isn't good for groups at more busy times. I got the shoryuken ramen which was only ok. It had his weird Chinese herbal taste to it that I didn't like. The noodles were done perfectly and the soy hard boiled was good but everything else kind of meh. I also tried their chicken ramen which was delicious and creamy. I think the shoryuken has a place for a certain subset of people but not for me. Definitely try the chicken ramen when you're here and enjoy the cool insi"

Wen's Yunnan Noodle & Ramen

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (295) • $$

"I can't speak for their ramen, but if you're going to dine at a Yunnan Noodle place, you have to try their Yunnan-style noodle soups!! I was bedridden with COVID, and the only thing I wanted was chicken noodle soup. I could not have been more ecstatic that Wen's was still open at 9pm on a Sunday. I ordered on an app and less than 30 min later, was slurping down their Chicken Yunnan Rice Noodle Soup! The rice noodles were supple and slippery. The bowl was packed with thinly sliced chicken, scallions, marinated shiitake mushrooms, and salted bamboo. I opted for extra bean curd skin as my add-on. My favorite part though had to be the broth. It was soo rich and flavorful. I was surprised that the broth continued to be piping hot despite the travel time from restaurant to apartment. For someone who was heavily congested, that broth tasted like liquid gold. I can only imagine how it might taste when I'm not sick. Thanks so much, Wen's, for soothing my soul and helping me perk up if only for just a meal."

WakuWaku

★★★★☆ 3.9 (191) • $$

"Great option for ramen in Chinatown! My friend and I were searching for something warm on a cold day and this place fit the bill. It was pretty busy, even after peak lunchtime on a Saturday. I really liked the ambiance, with the fun red accents and nice mood lighting.As for the ramen itself, I had the Tonkotsu Ramen and was pretty impressed. The noodles had the perfect chew and the egg was cooked nicely. The pork was delicious, but be warned, it's pretty fatty. I just wish the broth had a stronger umami flavor. My friend got the Original Ramen and I sampled a spoonful. The broth had a great flavor, with a hint of sesame. I especially loved the pork katsu on the side. Very solid place for a quality (and substantial) bowl of ramen!"

One Ramen & Sushi

★★★★☆ 4 (164) • $$

"Simple, small establishment; chill atmosphere; sweet staff; and delicious food. I like going there for a quiet evening, enjoying a bowl of warm ramen and sometimes a sushi roll, with a table to myself. A perfect place to rewind after a long day at work."

Bosso Ramen Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.9 (143)

"Ambiance - 5 starsCustomer service -5 starsAppetizers (chicken karaage and hand rolls) - 5 starsRamen itself - 3 starsMine the Umami ramen didn't state it would contain Chasu, the menu description was "Umami means "essence of deliciousness" Flavored egg, scallion, kikurage, red onion." But it came with huge portion of in my case, unwelcome chasuI did feel the appetizers were superior to the ramen itself, my bf agreed but our dining companions who reside in Boston felt their Karami ramen bowls were 5 star worthyTo each their own.i would come back for apps and my bf for the Sapporo on tap and friendly service!"

Soup Shack Porter

★★★★☆ 4.4 (111) • $$

"I stopped by Soup Shack Porter for a late lunch/early dinner after finishing my errands nearby. I picked this place because I was looking for nearby place that offerred Asian food (since my current city doesn't really offer many good options).Overall, I was satisfied with the food they offerred. Frankly, I was really surprised that the place was run by a Thai person...and had, therefore, changed what I wanted to order to a Thai dish...just because..I felt that...a Thai dish just gotta be more authentic than any other dish...and I wasn't disappointed at all! I ended up ordering dried BBQ and wonton noodles..and was very satisfied with its taste! It was something I definitely missed and it was on point! I also ordered Takoyaki..which was good..but maybe I wasn't as impressed of it as the wonderful dry noodles dish that I had!While they have lots of options for you to choose, being that the place is run by Thai people, my recommendation is to go for a Thai dish! I did with my noodles dish and was rewarded with a taste I had been missing out for so long living in my current city.Note: the dish is actually quite generous..because I ordered a side dish (takoyaki) and dried noodles (ba-mee-hang), I couldn't finish the whole noodles dish....although I loved it quite a bit, too! So..pace yourself!"

Berklee Noodles Factory

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (184) • $$

"Fast and reasonably priced, Berklee noodles factory provides a filling meal with good flavor and fairly good portion sizes. I tried several options here, covering a wide variety of options from the scallion pancake that had a fairly good flavor when dipped with a sauce, but a texture that wasn't exactly crisp nor exactly soft either. I also tried the vegetable ramen that looked a bit strange, but actually tasted quite good. Surprisingly the tomato broth actually tied all the elements together perfectly and the corn provided just the right amount of sweetness. Finally the homestyle braised eggplant was the star here, with a good strong garlic flavor and a nice semi-firm texture that wasn't mushy and a good sear for some wok hay.Overall, simple and quick. I'd eat here again if I need a fast flavorful meal."

Kyuramen - Brookline

★★★★☆ 4 (131) • $$

"Very nice Ramen restaurant! Really enjoyed the ambiance and color scheme. If you're lucky enough to score a booth section you'll have quite a bit of privacy (though it's not insulated so you'll be able to hear people and vice versa). If you need service there's a call button you can press!Overall they had quite the selection of ramens with various soup broths to choose from. I chose the Katsuobushi Pork Ramen ($16.99 with an additional side of chashu ($3) as of 9/2024. The soup broth was very creamy and rich and the ramen itself was perfectly cooked. They use braised pork belly instead of chashu pork which was a bit hit or miss. Some parts of the pork belly was delicious and tender while other parts were dry and tough. The Chashu side that I got was fantastic however. Overall I was quite happy with the meal despite it being part of a chain and will look forward in returning to try their other ramens!"

Sushi Kappo

★★★★☆ 4 (118) • $$

"Super yummy lunch place! I tried the Kappo sushi burrito and it hit the spot :) I loved the different fillings--great flavor and texture, and I felt like the ratio of fresh vegetables to fish was good. I also appreciated how there wasn't too much rice, which sometimes detracts from sushi burritos at other places that use it as filler. Poké places often have sushi burritos that taste more like poké--this one tasted closer to a maki roll with extra veggies and crab salad packed in.I think it was a good amount of food for me--I was quite full after finishing, but I could imagine other people with bigger appetites being not quite full with just a sushi burrito. There are a number of other options on the menu that look great, though!Overall though, it was super delicious, and I'm definitely going to try to come again! The outdoor seating was great for social distancing and was nice during the midday, especially now that it's springtime."

Menya Jiro - Harvard

★★★★☆ 3.7 (95) • $$

"For a late dinner I decided to get some ramen at Menya Jiro. Arriving on Saturday at 9pm, the venue was almost empty, so I received seating immediately and made my order of chicken karaage ($8.5) and Sakurajima ramen ($15), both of which arrived within 10 minutes.The chicken karaage arrived with a spicy aioli - unorthodox for Japanese, but well-paired nonetheless. The karaage itself seemed to have a crisper breading layer than usual. I suspect it had been double-fried, which most places skip. This allows for a greater texture contrast. When the stiffer initial resistance finally gives way, it immediately brings you to the juicy chicken.The Sakurajima ramen arrived as a slightly spicy bowl with 2 pieces of chashu and garnish. The chashu and garnish seemed decent. Notably, the ramen noodles possessed a firm, al-dente texture. You could also taste and feel the alkaline hydration that went into the making of the noodles. Either they were made in house or sourced from a high-quality supplier. Otherwise, the broth itself had a light mouth feel (think shio ramen broth), but its flavor lay between shio and tonkotsu. While my initial description may not warrant 5* instead of 4*, I left impressed by some technical details, namely the double-fried karaage and the noodles."

Wen’s Noodle & Ramen 过桥米线

★★★★☆ 3.7 (95)

"A good place for noodles and other Chinese. It has pretty healthy stuff. Wen's Noodle across from Boston Common is a small place that gets mostly Asian eaters because it's authentic and not Americanized like Panda Express and shit like that. Basic noodles like pho and ramen. There's a variety of noodles and of proteins as well. It has mostly Chinese along with Korean and Thai cuisine. Lots of variety to get here. There's a nice range of levels of spice. Among the Thai items are curries. These come with a choice of a protein like chicken or tofu. I like the Vegetarian Curry Over Rice. It's $10.89 for a pretty big portion of this. There's the protein along with some vegetables. A mild level of spice. This an also be adjusted and it can be way hotter than this. Curry sauce is also good. The noodles dishes are good too but just know to substitute rice noodles because these are the egg free ones. Has a small dining area inside. It doesn't have a whole lot of tables so it can be hard finding a seat. This is a reason why most people get takeout."

Kakkoii Sushi and Ramen

★★★★☆ 3.6 (84)

"Um, no...just no. This is not what one should ever consider good ramen, or even mediocre to be honest. This broth might as have been store bought chicken broth. Now that I think about it, they are located directly inside a supermarket food court. Is it possible that they.....naaaaah! That's too bad, as Kakkoii is a convenient 5 minute ride from me and the folks that run this are quite pleasant. It's with sad hearts I come before you today to say "Yelp nation, you have failed me". That's ok, it can't always be rainbows and unicorns!"

Coco Ramen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (52) • $$

"Enjoyed the spicy miso. The broth was smooth, creamy, and had the perfect amount of spicy that makes your nose drip. The eggy noodles were chewy and exactly the texture I enjoy. The half ajitama egg was almost perfect but delicious nevertheless. Good amount of corn, bamboo, bean sprouts, etc. However, the slices of pork were paper thin. My fellow diner had the dirty ramen and the broth was clean, light, and delicious.Small restaurant with only a few seats. Metered parking outside. Quick service. Everything you'd expect of a small ramen place."

Wakuwaku Ramen & Sake

★★★★☆ 4.2 (47) • $$

"Five stars! Great food, great vibe, and great indoor air ventilation!They have outdoor seating as of October 2023. Always a nice feature for the Harvard Square area. Nice menu with clear allergy labeling for vegetarian, soy, etc. Service is friendly. The indoor area is great for individual and small group dining. If you have 5+ people, you may want to consider another ramen place nearby. Most of the seats are for 2 or 4 people.Ramen isn't cheap, it starts at around $15 per bowl. Appetizers are around $8 or so. Music is pretty loud, so hard to hold a conversation."

Nagoya

★★★★☆ 3.6 (61)

"Probably not viable addition to Medford Square. This place has this "let's make it Japanese" Chinese restaurant feel, which fails. A Japanese restaurant doesn't have several pages of "anything you want" menu. I do not intend to return. I don't like lack of focus. The restaurant is not bad, but far from great. We had a couple of ramen dishes. The soup wasn't bad. Very spicy though. Okay for me, but may be not for most. The ramen seemed to be of industrial grade. Not the delicate taste that expert chefs would produce. I'd rather wait for the Sunday ramen at the Japanese market across the street."

Sapporo Ramen at H-Mart

★★☆☆☆ 2.2 (147) • $$

"I love the ramen here. It's cheap, convenient and good. I usually order the miso ramen ($13) and it fills me up! There's plenty of seating area (max 30 minutes) and it's in the same building as hmart. They also have sushi for about $10-15. I've come here during different times of the day and week, and there's always enough tables. The food is prepared very quickly and the employees are nice. Sapporo is easily accessible by the red line, but parking may be difficult as central square is often busy. Overall rating: 9/10"

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Allston

★★★★☆ 4 (44) • $$

"The best parts of this place are the staff and the options of 3 size bowls.The menu is pork heavy. Pretty much all pork. While the noodles were good, the broth had no depth. It felt like one of those places you go out to eat and wonder why you didn't just make this at home. The pork itself isn't tender. I compare this to my favorite local shop and the pork there melts in your mouth. Hokkaido feels like a fast food version of Ramen. The butter corn is just canned corn with a square of butter dropped on it. Not even melted. It was like they just stopped trying. Good Ramen places with roast and season the corn before it gets to you. I was super disappointed in the food here. It's not terrible. It's just bland and boring. If this was the first Ramen I ever had in my entire life, maybe I would give 5 stars. I can name a dozen local spots I would rather go to than here. Kudos to the nice staff. They're awesome."

Waku Waku Ramen & Sake - Waltham

★★★★☆ 4.2 (26)

"I was excited to see another ramen place opening up in Waltham, especially on Moody street. I came with my husband, toddler and baby and overall had a great experience. The food was very flavorful and I loved that they had options my toddler would eat. The service was very quick; once we ordered, we only had to wait a few minutes before our food arrived, which was perfect for an impatient toddler. My only complaint is that the restaurant was a bit tight so there wasn't much space for us to bring in our stroller which is unfortunate since we are walking distance to the restaurant! They also didn't have a full high chair available, only booster seats made for older toddlers. Overall, I'll likely be back since my toddler really enjoyed the food!"

Yukiya Ramen

★★★★☆ 4 (19)

"Very cute and clean Ramen takeout and sit down restaurant. I enjoyed my bubble taro tea, gyoza, and my tonkotsu tamen. Everything was really good and the service was friendly. Restaurant is in a very popular area in Allston so was surprised it was pretty empty."

Niku Ramen

★★★★☆ 3.7 (17) • $$

"Literally a one man operation next to tiki rock (they're owned by the same company I think). Small counter but we were able to get seats right away. I had the spicy tonkatsu, which was great. Wife had the truffle ramen as she's vegetarian. She wasn't the biggest fan, and they also were out of veggie potstickers which was a bummer. Pretty normal ambiance, it's a tiny place so not much to report. I'd eat there again."

mojoramen

★★★★☆ 3.8 (16)

"I've had mojoramen delivered twice (via DoorDash) and enjoyed my meal both times. They do a great job making sure that the ramen is packaged neatly (broth, noodles/toppings, and seaweed packaged separately). The Miso ramen and the Mojo ramen are both solid options. Is this the best ramen I've ever had? Maybe not. Is this a great ramen option at a reasonable price? For sure. I found the ramen broth to be incredibly flavorful, the portions were reasonable, and the fixins were ideal. The noodles are the perfect texture, but the pork is a bit on the fatty side and today it tasted as if it were cooked from frozen. I've also ordered the veggie rolls as an app. They come with four per order and are generally pretty good. Today one (of the four) came burned/charred on the outside, but hey, it happens. I will continue ordering from here as part of my quarantine delivery rotation and would recommend giving this place a shot next time you're in the mood for a bowl of ramen."

Taquisimo Birria Tacos

★★★★☆ 3.7 (13)

"Been wanting to try this place for a while now because it's hard to find good Birria tacos near Boston! This location is inside Bow Market in Somerville so it is very small. There are places to eat outside in the actual market but not inside. Food: We got 3 quesabirria tacos with consomé. The birria was juicy, flavorful, and soft. The consomé was warm and surprisingly not too salty. I was able to drink the consomé on its own. The tortilla also crisped up nicely but did get a little soggy 7.5/10.Price: It was $17 for 3 tacos and the consomé. This is way too pricey for me to buy this again. They were also a bit skimpy on the meat so it was not worth the price 6/10."

Thazia

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"I ordered the szechuan chili chicken bowl to go and it was delicious. The chicken was crispy and the sauce was both sweet and spicy. Beautiful presentation as well. I would recommend."