What is it? A nontraditional Japanese ramen restaurant that will warm you from the inside out on any typical Seattle day.
Why we love it: The best thing to eat on a cold, rainy Seattle day is ramen, and Ooink is where you need to go. Conveniently located in Fremont and Capitol Hill, Ooink’s nontraditional Japanese-style ramen will surely have you slurping every last bit. Most of the ramen served at Ooink is mala-forward, so if you love those spicy, numbing flavors, then you’re in for a treat. Not a huge fan? There are other varieties for you, too, and you can always pick your own spice level. The rich, flavorful kotteri ramen is best in show if you’re a garlic lover like me. (They also have a mala kotteri ramen to add that iconic mala level to the dish.) They even have a few non-ramen dishes that sell out quickly: If you’re in luck, try the spicy ayam goreng or the spicy crispy chicken sandwich.
Time Out tip: The team at Ooink follows the philosophy of “respect the ingredients” and also makes sure no ingredients go to waste—you can even find extra noodles free for the taking sometimes at the Fremont location.
Address: 3630 Stone Way N, Seattle, WA 98103; 1416 Harvard Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Opening Hours: Fremont: Sun–Thu 5–9:30pm; Fri, Sat 5–11pm. Capitol Hill: Sun–Thu 11:30am–9pm; Fri, Sat 11:30am–11pm.
Expect to pay: $25 per person