The 11 best ramen restaurants in Boston

What it is: Tsurumen opened with the goal to only operate for 1,000 days. However, in July of 2021, the team announced it was here to stay. We're glad they did. 

Why we love it: The sparse setting at this Davis Square ramen joint allows guests to solely focus on the steaming bowls of delicate, Osaka-style ramen in front of them. Fresh ramen, tender pork and flavorful broth anchor each bowl.

Time Out tip: Check their social media for special collaborations with different chefs if you want a guaranteed spot, or just go when you’re hungry for excellent ramen and wait in line. It’s worth it.

Address: 420 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02144

Opening hours: Tues.-Sun. 11:30am-2:30pm and 5pm - 8:30pm

What it is: The Back Bay location of this Japanese chain is a prime spot for students and tourists to get a fast, nourishing bowl of ramen. There are also spots in Allston and Harvard Square.

Why we love it: The signature tonkatsu is made by simmering pork bones for 20 hours, resulting in a deeply flavorful broth. Santouka also offers the lesser-known toroniku ramen, made with tender pork cheek meat.

Time Out tip: The vegetarian option—featuring menma, kikurage mushrooms, soy-marinated wheat gluten and umeboshi—makes a real argument for meatless ramen.

Address: 66 Hereford St, Boston, MA 02115

Opening hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11am-9pm; Fri.-Sat. 11am-10pm; Sun. 11am-9:30pm

What it is: This Connecticut-based ramen joint has locations throughout New England, and opened up spots in the Seaport and Brookline. 

Why we love it: The spicy miso ramen has a nice kick but won’t have you reaching for your drink with every slurp, and the tonkotsu is made with a Hakata-stylem 24-hour pork broth that’s packed with flavor.

Time Out tip: The restaurant specializes in ramen and pho, but they also offer boozy bubble tea, like the creamy Thai iced tea spiked with whiskey.

Address: 44 Thomson Place Boston, MA 02210 and 285 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446

Opening hours: Mon.-Sat. 11:30am-10pm; Sun. 11:30am-9pm

What it is: This tiny shop in Brookline inside the arcade building serves Sapporo-style ramen and boasts only a few tables, as well as counter seats that let guests watch the chefs at work. They also have a location in Braintree (which has less of wait to dine).

Why we love it: Ganko is dedicated to their wok-made ramen, and their expertise shows in every delicious, filling bowl.

Time Out tip: The simple menu includes miso, shoyu, shio and tan tan options. The broth is made with both chicken and pork, and is packed with rich flavors.

Address: 318 Harvard St. Unit #3, Brookline, MA 02446

Opening hours: Mon.-Sat. 11:30am-10pm; Sun. 11:30am-9pm

What it is: This unfussy Japanese eatery serves a menu “based on the traditional vegan dining style of Buddhist monks,” so all of the options are plant based.

Why we love it: Lack of meat doesn’t mean lack of flavor here. The restaurant's Red Hot Miso ramen is rich in umami and spicy notes, and is made with vegan meat, tofu, corn, fried onion, spicy powder, and chili and garlic oils.

Time Out tip: The mac n' cheese appetizer is the "up the ante" moment you didn't see coming to your comfort food meal. 

Address: 294 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115

Opening hours: Daily 11am-11pm (Fri. and Sat. until 11:30pm)

What it is: This tiny Cambridge ramen spot is as quirky as it is delicious. From the cheerful shouts of “Irashaimase!” welcoming each customer to the singular focus on Jiro-style ramen, you’ll almost feel almost like you’re in Japan. The popular shop also has a second outpost in the Seaport.

Why we love it: Huge bowls of ramen feature thick, house-made noodles, and you can add an extra portion of the sweet, savory beef to most bowls (which you absolutely should do).

Time Out tip: The restaurant’s name means “talk about your dreams,” and you'll likely be asked to share yours out loud with everyone after finishing your meal, so be warned.

Address: 1815 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140 and 70 Pier 4 Boulevard, Suite 260 Boston, MA 02210

Opening hours: Check the website for hours.

What it is: This quirky izakaya, located within the Fenway area’s Verb Hotel, gets creative with maki rolls, robata, a large-format tiki drink menu and off-the-wall dishes like the BLT okonomiyaki.

Why we love it: The ramen is equally edgy, featuring a 48-hour chicken broth. Choose from the Funky Chicken (soy-marinated egg, menma, robata-grilled koji chicken) or the Spicy Miso (hatcho-miso, spicy pork, corn tempura, menma and soy-marinated egg).

Time Out tip: Pair your ramen with choices from one of the best saki menus in the city. 

Address: 1271 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215

Opening hours: Mon.-Sat. 11:30am-midnight; Sun. 11:30am-10pm

What it is: Take a trip on the Red Line to Quincy for ramen made with a savory, pork bone broth, with tonkotsu, miso and tan tan on the menu, along with a vegetarian option. The restaurant has two more locations—one in Boston’s Back Bay (called Berklee Noodles Factory) and the other in Waltham.

Why we love it: All the ramen can be made spicy, if you dare, and sushi and donburi are also available, if you’re in the mood for more than noods.

Time Out tip: The Tempura ramen adds a bit of a crunch, with shrimp and veggie tempura added to the pork bone-based broth.

Address: 673 Hancock St. Quincy, MA 20170

Opening hours: Daily 11am-10pm (Fri. and Sat. until 11pm)

What it is: With locations in NYC and Taipei, Totto Ramen sports some serious street cred. The paitan-style ramen is thick and hearty, with house-made noodles. There are two locations: Somerville/Assembly Row and South Bay.

Why we love it: The broth is chicken-based, rather than pork, with miso and spicy options available. Get your bowl with char siu pork or chicken. (There’s also a vegetarian version with a seaweed and shitake base).

Time Out tip: Customize your bowl with toppings like spicy bamboo shoots, kikurage mushrooms or a seasoned boiled egg. If you’re really hungry, go for the oversized mega ramen that includes all the pork variations.

Address: 463 Artisan Way Somerville, MA 02145 and 20A District Avenue Boston, MA 02125

Opening hours: Check the website for hours.

What it is: This ramen shop in Harvard square is described as a “Japanese ramen izakaya” tavern, and they serve ramen inspired by the Boso Peninsula, with a rotating menu of ramen with names like emni, meaning savory, and karami, meaning essence of spiciness.

Why we love it: The shop also offers a variety of umami-rich small dishes like norishio fries, ponzu shishito, edamame shiro-miso hummus and sushi.

Time Out tip: Their sister spot in Back Bay on Newbury Street has Sunday all-you-can-eat sushi.

Address: 24 Holyoke St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Opening hours: Check website for hours.

What it is: a sleek, welcoming space in Central Square.

Why we love it: House-made alkaline noodles rest in a bowl filled with satifying and flavorful broth, pork belly, umami oil, nori and a six-minute egg.

Time Out tip: Chef Tracy Chang helmed the ramen pop-up Guchi’s Midnight Ramen, and her famed bowl is now on the menu here at Pagu alongside modern Japanese small plates.

Address: 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139

Opening hours: Thurs.-Sat. 5-10pm, Sun.-Wed. 5-9pm

Love the Japanese soup-and-noodle phenomenon? Then behold, broth-heads: the best ramen in America, from tonkotsu to mazeman.