The Perfect Ramen

By: Katie Goncalves | January 4, 2023

As winter lingers on in the D, there are certain comfort foods that just make sense to cozy up to like soup and mac and cheese. But what if you took those two iconic wintertime hugs in a bowl and combined them for the ultimate winter dish? That food is ramen and Metro Detroit has some incredible spots to get a steaming bowl on the coldest days that are to come. Whether you love something mild or spicy, packed with protein options or on the lighter vegetarian side, these restaurants serving up ramen are sure to keep you warm all winter long. 

City Ramen 

321 South Main Street, Royal Oak 

Born in 2019, City Ramen has been Royal Oak’s top spot for bowls of noodles. Their menu is relatively straightforward: choose one of their carefully created ramen bowls jam-packed with ingredients or have the option of creating your own.  City Ramen also gets high praise for its sticky ribs and rice bowls.

Ginza Ramen 

6866 North Rochester Road, Rochester Hills

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Another recent addition to the ramen scene, Ginza Ramen has several different and unique options on its menu. They make their ramen broth fresh every day and have plenty of additional topping options for those who love to add extra ingredients to their bowl. Ginza’s katsu with homemade breadcrumbs is also a popular menu choice and the perfect addition to any noodle dish. 

Ima 

Madison Heights and Detroit

With three locations in Madison Heights, Corktown, and Midtown, Ima (pronounced ee-ma) is committed to providing delicious food for the wide variety of Detroit’s dietary needs. Each dish is prepared with either meat or vegetarian options and many dishes can be made gluten-free or vegan. The Shoyu Ramen is the perfect combination of flavors with a savory broth that is sure to warm you from the inside out.

Ramen from Ima

Johnny Noodle King

2601 West Fort Street, Detroit 

A downtown Detroit staple, Johnny Noodle King is a popular spot to find amazing ramen dishes. With a variety of options on the menu from chicken to pork to seafood, there’s bound to be something you’ll love. A personal favorite is the New Seoul which includes braised short ribs and a Korean chili broth. Oh, and don’t sleep on the bao buns. They’re absolutely incredible. 

Nagomi 

25750 Novi Road, Novi 

In my humble opinion, Nagomi is Metro Detroit’s best-kept ramen secret. You have to be paying attention because there isn’t a large sign directing you there nor do they have a website to peruse. Once inside, you order ramen by looking at the photos, selecting the corresponding slip of paper, and taking it to the register. The portions are enormous and always piping hot. This unassuming restaurant is at the top of my list and the Tantanmen ramen is perfectly spicy and savory. 

Shiromaru 

5365 Crooks Road, Troy

Shiromaru opened its doors early in 2022 and it quickly became a local favorite for good reason. They offer two broth options: Japanese creamy white tonkatsu and chicken paitan. The pork belly continuously receives rave reviews as well as the option to customize your ramen to your specific taste. 

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